"Hell yes! I mean, yes they would. They'd much rather have other men thinking they were up here having a good time with you instead of learning their ABCs and sums," he tittered. "They'll keep quiet about it, ma'am. I guarantee it. It'll be the best kept secret in Culpepper Cove."
"Well, one of them anyway," she drawled. "Whiskers," she announced with finality, "you've got yourself a deal!" Sticking out her hand she grasped his and gave it a firm shake. "Now let's get this letter written. I'll be on pins and needles myself until Miss Lorelei replies."
***
Thirty minutes later as Crystal descended the stairs with her hand on Whisker's arm the first thing she saw were the blazing eyes of Jasper Montgomery. Anger radiated from his body clearly visible in the stiffness of his tall frame, the white-knuckled fist holding his glass of whiskey, and the tightness around his mouth.
Gabe was strategically placed between Jasper and the staircase and Crystal's first instinct was to run upstairs and lock her door. Not that a simple lock would keep him out, but it might give her enough time to climb out the window and onto the roof. Where she'd go from there she had no idea.
Instead she stiffened her spine, walked down the rest of the steps and gave Whiskers a loud kiss on the cheek that set the crowd to howling.
"I had a lovely time," she loudly proclaimed. "Come back again soon."
"My pleasure," Whiskers replied, scurrying away to the hoots and hollers of his friends.
Crystal turned just in time to see Jasper's jaw snap closed.
"Buy a lady a drink?" she inquired softly as she moved into position beside him.
"Find me a lady," he growled, staring at her reflection in the mirror behind the bar.
"So that's how it's going to be?" she answered, motioning for Dottie to bring her a drink.
"Guess so."
"Nice to know who my friends are," she drawled sarcastically before tossing back a highly watered down drink. "Another, please," she sighed slapping the glass back down on the bar.
Jasper watched her closely.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Dottie whispered as she refilled the glass.
"Not at all, but sometimes life offers us few options," Crystal said with a wry grin before picking up the drink.
"Put that down," Jasper ordered.
"Go to hell." Crystal smiled before tipping the glass to her lips.
"You have options, little girl. At least you did before you took that old man to your bed," he spat, knocking the glass from her hand.
"I was just doing my job," she hissed back. "You're a gambler, I'm a whore."
"Gambling is a hobby, not my profession," he snorted in disgust.
"I don't have that luxury," she sassed. "Another drink please, Dottie."
"Gabe," Jasper bellowed, taking her arm in a firm grasp and looking around the room.
Within seconds Gabe was beside them.
"What can I do for you, Montgomery?" he asked, obviously amused about something.
"I'm taking Crystal home with me tonight," Jasper snapped. "If there's an extra charge, put it on my tab."
"Our gems charge what they want, you know that. Crystal, do you want to go home with this man?"
"No." Picking up her glass she got it halfway to her lips before Jasper growled in her ear.
"You put that drink down or I will upend you, pull your drawers down, and spank your bare bottom right here, right now," he whispered harshly. "Your move, fancy pants."
Crystal felt her hand begin to shake and saw his smile of grim satisfaction. Did she really want the entire bar to see her naked butt? No she did not. Carefully she placed the glass on the bar.
"How much?" he demanded.
"What?" she asked, humiliated by the speed in which she'd obeyed him.
"How much do you want to go home with me? You're a gem, so what's your price?" he growled.
"Two hundred," she snapped, placing her hands on her hips and tipping her head back to glare up at him. "The extra hundred is for putting up with your rotten temper and insulting attitude."
"Holy shit," Dottie gasped from her spot behind the bar. "He pays you a hundred dollars a night?"
"Yes," they both turned and shouted at her in unison.
"S..o..r..r..y!" she snapped back.
"Forget it," Crystal sighed. "I need to go up and get my things.
"You won't need them," Jasper insisted, slipping off his coat and putting it around her shoulders. Bending at the waist, he tossed her over his shoulder and strode through the crowd.
"Gabe?" Jewel called nervously.
"She agreed to go, honey," he informed her, shaking his head as he slipped up behind her.
"I've never seen him like this. I hope she knows what she's doing."
"I doubt it. Some girls need to learn things the hard way," he teased, patting her bottom.
Jewel rolled her eyes and dodged his hand, hurrying off to help Dottie, quietly reminding the smiling woman that cursing could get her own bum swatted.
***