“I’m going crazy with worry here, Luke.”
What else was new? Josh had been worrying about his sister for as long as Luke could remember. He’d met Josh in sophomore year at high school, the year after Josh and Ellie’s parents had died in a boating accident. The Dawson siblings had been living with an aunt in San Francisco, though the woman was hardly what you’d call a responsible guardian. She was rarely home for her niece and nephew and, as a result, Josh became both father and mother to nine-year-old Ellie.
Over the years, Luke watched as Josh’s protective nature became almost stifling. He could be enormously unreasonable when it came to Ellie, but this time, Luke agreed with his friend’s position—Ellie didn’t belong in a corset and stilettos, dancing for a few beach locals. She belonged at home.
“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Protecting people is what I do, remember?”
“Just take care of her. Don’t let her coax you into leaving without her. I want my little sister home. No more of this nonsense.”
After he hung up the phone, Luke stared once again at the flashing sign. Under it was a small advertisement for the Dancehall Dolls, who apparently were quite popular among the townsfolk. Well, no kidding. Sexy women dancing to sexy jazz tunes? Why wouldn’t they be popular?
He blew out a breath. What had possessed her to move out to the middle of nowhere and become a dancing doll? Why hadn’t she returned to the Hartford Ballet Company?
He’d never understand Ellie. She was a complete mystery to him, always had been. And she’d always managed to drive him mad. As a kid, she’d been his shadow, following his teenage self around everywhere, annoying him with her pesky questions. As a college coed, whenever he and Josh had gone to visit her, she would purposely try to make him angry with her sarcasm and sheer stubbornness. Even now, when he hadn’t seen her in two years, she got to him.
Why was she here? He couldn’t even begin to figure it out. He knew about the car accident, how she’d broken her foot and had to take a break from ballet. But her foot was healed now—she’d proven at the club that she could move around on it. The company she toured with was one of the most prestigious in the country. Why had she given it up to become a Dancehall Doll?
He shoved the cell phone in his back pocket and took another breath, knowing all his questions would go unanswered the longer he loitered out here. The sound of music wafted from the open doors and he prayed it was just a song from the jukebox. The first show was supposed to be over by now. God, did he hope it was over. Because he couldn’t see Ellie in that corset again.
He didn’t think his dick could handle it.
***
Josh Dawson slammed down the telephone and let out a string of curses that had his secretary gasping. He was a little surprised to lift his head and find Alice lurking in the doorway since normally he knew where all his staff was at any given moment. He wasn’t going to apologize for his foul mood, though. After three years as his secretary, Alice was probably used to his temper.
“What is it?” he grumbled, leaning back in his leather chair.
“I finished making those phone calls.” Her expression was meek and timid, a common look among the people who worked for him.
Josh had once overheard one of his paralegals comment he was wound so tight that “one day the guy will explode,” an outcome that wasn’t far from unlikely. At fourteen, Josh’s entire life had changed. He’d had to grow up fast, and with growing up came a load of responsibilities, the main one being his little sister. After their parents died, he’d become her protector. He’d fast-tracked through high school, gone to law school, found himself a stable, well-paying career, all for Ellie’s sake. His goal had been to keep her safe, secure and happy, and he thought he’d done a good job.
Until she’d decided to take off, of course.
“Boss?”
Josh lifted his head. “Sorry, what were you saying, Alice?”
“I called those places in San Valdez, like you asked.”
“And?”
She held out a few sheets of paper. “All the information is here. Your sister rented a bungalow, paid in full for one year. I also checked out some of the other residents, and the only one who could be useful is Kendrick.”
A sharp look instantly creased his features. “Kendrick?”
Alice glanced down at her notes. “Yeah, a Vivian Kendrick. On the list you gave me there was a Tanya Kendrick, your sister’s old roommate. Maybe they’re related.”