Cassie’s head was tipped down as she fingered through some garments, so she didn’t see him approach her. He reached around her waist from behind and squeezed her to him. When she nearly dropped her bags in surprise, he kissed the side of her neck, then whispered, “I hope you bought something with me in mind.”
“I guess you’ll find out later, won’t you?” She wriggled free from his grasp to pull a forest-green sweater off the rack. She held it up to her chest and asked, “What do you think of this color? Does it look good with my eyes?”
“Everything looks good on you, babe.” He saw a wrinkle start to form between her brows, so he continued, “But that green makes your eyes look incredible, so buy it, and let’s get out of here.” Before she could protest, he took hold of her arm and led her to the checkout counter. He paid the cashier, then ushered her out of the store.
“What’s the hurry?” she said, looking at her watch. “I’m not late. It’s only eleven-thirty. We’ve plenty of time before the hotel checkout.”
He only hesitated for a second before answering. “We’re not leaving.”
“What? Why?” Her voice rose in pitch. “But we were going to spend the holidays in Jersey.”
Daryn had to convince her quickly, before she worked herself into a panic. “I know. I know, babe. But something’s come up that’s more important than Christmas in Atlantic City.”
She rolled her eyes, and he knew she was on to him. It would come as no surprise when he told her it was a scam.
“What’s it this time, hon? Another nice elderly couple that we’re going to swindle out of their savings?”
Her sarcasm wasn’t wasted on him. “Now don’t tell me you’re going soft on me,” he shot back.
“Of course not. I just thought we’d take a little break.”
He shook her shopping bags. “A break? How can we take a break when you’re always doing this?”
Tears welled in her big eyes. Oh shit. He hadn’t wanted to upset her. “Baby, calm down.” He draped his arm over her shoulders and walked with her across the street. “Let’s not do this out here.”
“Do what? Make a spectacle? Attract attention?” Her voice rose at least an octave or two.
“I mean it, Cass,” he said icily. “Don’t push me.”
“Are you threatening me?” She stopped in front of the hotel.
“Damn it, woman. Of course not. I just don’t want to wind up in jail.” He took her by the elbow and herded her inside. “Now just hold on, at least until we’re back in the room,” he said under his breath. When they reached the reservation desk, he pasted on a smile. “Hello. My sister and I have decided to extend our stay in town through the holidays. We won’t be checking out now after all. We’ll be here until the first of the year.”
The clerk, a middle-aged balding man, couldn’t take his eyes off Cassie. “Of course, sir. We’re pleased to have you both continue your stay with us. If there’s anything I can do to make your visit more comfortable, please don’t hesitate to ask for me.” He took a business card from behind the desk and slid it across the counter to Cassie.
She picked it up, and Daryn could tell she gritted her teeth as she did so. He shot her a warning glance, and she forced a half-smile at the clerk before spinning on her heel and marching toward their rooms.
Once inside, he knew all hell would break loose if she had her way, so before she could say a word, he put one hand over her mouth. “Now, just listen to me. Luck is with us, baby. I’ve stumbled across a great score. And there’ll be no forging wills or falsifying documents. This one’ll be easy. I promise you.” He took his hand off her mouth and replaced it with a kiss.
He was tender at first, but as his need for her grew, his kiss deepened until he thought he’d explode with desire. In a flash, he had her clothes off and his as well. He pushed her back onto the bed and straddled her, then played with her until she screamed with delight. When she was ready, he mounted her and thrust hard into her. That was the way she liked it. And he had no problem complying.
When they were both spent and covered with sweat, he rolled off her and lit a cigarette. He didn’t smoke often, but after sex was the time he enjoyed tobacco the most. The taste of Pall Mall and Cassie on his tongue was intoxicating.
He closed his eyes while he smoked and chose his words with care. “I saw a woman in Miller’s this morning pay for her purchase with a wad of cash. I mean she had a lot of it, so I pulled the you-dropped-your-money scam on her to see how easily she’d con, and boy was she simple.”
He opened his eyes and directed his gaze at Cassie. The sight of her splendid body sent desire raging through him. He fought the urge to make love to her again. Business came first, and they needed to discuss it. They had to come up with a foolproof plan before he scheduled a date with Ally.
Cassie stared at him as if he’d lost his mind.
“What?” he snapped. He didn’t like it when she looked at him that way. It made him feel like she thought she was superior to him.
“Nothing.” I’m just wondering why some lady buying stuff with cash would make you think she’d be a good score. I mean, when I see people paying with cash, I don’t think that.” She shrugged. “Just wondering. That’s all.”
He tried to hide his annoyance. “I told you; she had a lot of cash. She whipped out five-hundred bucks like it was nothing.”
She sat up and covered herself with the sheet. “How old do you think she is?”
Daryn knew where this conversation was headed, and he didn’t like it. “I don’t know, Cass. Twenties probably. What does it matter?”
“It doesn’t. Just curious,” she replied.
Although her tone was restrained, her pupils had darkened, and he knew an explosion wasn’t far off. Daryn had to tread carefully, or he would regret ever having brought up the subject. He reached over and rubbed her shoulder. “Look, it’s no big deal. We don’t have to do another scam right now. The idea just came to me when I saw all that money, and I thought I’d be able to get you a really special Christmas present if we did one more quick one.”
She turned to face him and ran the back of her hand across the side of his cheek. “Really? You want to do this for me?”
“Of course,” he lied. “I know how much you love beautiful things.”
“Oh, sweetie.” She leaned over and kissed him. “Thank you for thinking of me.”
“Hey, I think of you all the time. You should know that by now.”
She swung her leg over his as if claiming ownership of him. “I do. It’s just sometimes I can’t help but worry—”
“Babe,” he cut her off before she could finish. He knew what she was going to say, and he didn’t want to deal with Cassie’s jealousy right now. “You don’t have to worry about anything. I promise you, I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.” He draped his arm across her shoulders and pulled her close.
“Do you have any idea how you’d like to play this one?” she asked, seemingly pleased with his response.
“I haven’t figured it all out yet, but I thought we’d scope out her place.”
“You know where she lives?” she asked.
He hesitated a moment before answering. “No, but I have her phone number.” Cassie’s complexion darkened, as he’d expected. “Before you go and get all worked up over nothing, hear me out.”
Her bottom lip quivered ever so slightly. “Okay. This better be good.”
“I asked her out for coffee in order to get her name and number.”
Cassie moved over to the other side of the bed, leaving a good foot of space between them. “And of course she said yes. What does she look like? Is she pretty?”
“Shit, Cass. Why do you have to do that? What difference does it make what she looks like?”
She folded her arms across her chest. “Do you really want me to answer that question?”
“I’m not gonna lie to you. Yeah, she’s good looking. So what? Why would I want hamburger when I have ste
ak at home? Huh?” He flashed her a toothy grin.
A small smile curved her lips. “Daryn Cramer, you sure have a way with words.”
He was glad the tension between them was gone. He hated to waste time trying to reassure her everything was okay when he had business to attend to. Daryn took the paper out from his pocket and dialed Ally’s phone number.
* * *
Alice answered the phone on the second ring. It must be Jack calling to cancel their date for this evening. She hesitated, then said, “Hello.”
“Ally?”
“Yes.” The caller wasn’t Jack.
“This is Ross…Saunders. I’d like to buy you that cup of coffee.”
This charade was beginning to really wear on her. She hadn’t expected him to call and certainly not this soon. She must have made quite an impression on him. “When did you have in mind?”
“I could pick you up in, say, thirty minutes?”
Thirty minutes? No. That was much too soon. Besides, Alice had never done anything spontaneous in her life. She was about to turn him down when a vision of the old Alice—miserable and alone—made her change her mind. Why not see Ross? What did she have to lose?
“I’d prefer to meet somewhere, if you don’t mind.” Jack had often warned her not to be so trusting. This world was different from the one she’d grown up in. He’d made her promise never to open the door to strangers, and she was sure he’d frown upon her getting into a car with one. As nice as Ross seemed, she needed to get to know him better before she invited him to her home.
“Of course. How about my hotel? The restaurant serves wonderful lattes.”
“Fine. I’ll see you soon.” When Alice hung up the phone, she realized her hands were shaking. She had dates with two very attractive men and on the same day. Who would have thought her simple life could become so complicated? She took a few minutes to freshen up, then called Silvercreek Cab Company to take her to the Wayside Inn.
She hesitated briefly before entering the hotel and wondered if agreeing to meet Ross had been a wise decision. After all, she knew nothing about him. There was a sour feeling in the pit of her stomach, and for a second, she considered leaving, but if she kept running away from her opportunities, life would pass her by again. Hadn’t Ross been a complete gentleman? He’d found her fifty dollars, and instead of pocketing the money, he gave it back to her. How many people in this day and age would be honest enough to do that? From the stories Jack had told her, not many.
She scanned the hotel lobby and spotted the restaurant across the way. As soon as she entered the doorway, she saw Ross seated at a table by the window. He saw her at the same time and waved.
She summoned her courage and, with a confident stride, headed toward him. When she arrived at the table, he stood and pulled out a chair for her. He was even more handsome than she remembered. His features were near perfect, making him almost too beautiful for a man.
“Thank you,” she said, as she sat beside him.
There were two lattes on the table. He slid one in front of her and took a sip of the other, then said, “I went ahead and ordered for us. Hope you don’t mind?”
She shook her head as she smoothed a napkin on her lap.
He openly studied her, and by his look of approval, he apparently found her attractive too. “I’m so glad you agreed to meet me,” he went on. “With all the traveling I do, it can get pretty lonely.”
She stared into his extraordinary tawny eyes—flecked and ringed with gold. “What is it you do for a living?”
He took another sip before answering. “I help families get their affairs in order. Mutual funds, life insurance, wills, that sort of thing.”
A heaviness centered in her chest, and a melancholy frown tightened her face. She just might need his services.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, obviously noticing her mood shift.
“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking of all those elderly people who need your help. They must be so indebted to you.”
He leaned back in the chair, stretching out his long legs. “Yeah, I’m sure there are any number who would love to show their gratitude, but once I’m through with a job, I don’t look back. Too many more out there to help.”
“You must be a very compassionate man,” she said softly.
His look was one of faint amusement. “I try to be. I get it from my mom. She was always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done.”
Alice blew on her latte before taking a drink. “Is it a family business?”
He paused a moment. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
“Is your mom stilling working?”
A touch of sadness flitted across his features. “No. She passed on.”
Alice dropped her lashes quickly to hide her embarrassment. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“That’s okay. She’s right here.” He placed his hand over his heart, and she thought she saw a tear glisten his eye. “Enough about me, though. I want to hear about you. Have you lived in Silvercreek long?”
She dreaded having to lie, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. She would have to tell another story. “No, actually, I don’t live here. I’m staying at my aunt’s house for the holidays. I’m from upstate New York.”
He raised a brow at her. “Is the rest of your family here too? Parents? Siblings?”
“Um, no. No one. Not my aunt either. She’s in New York with my dad.” He was looking at her oddly, so she knew she had to elaborate on her story. “They haven’t seen each other in years. This was a good time for them to reunite, and, well, I needed some time alone, so that’s why I’m here.”
“You’re spending the holidays alone?” A hopeful gleam brightened his expressive eyes.
“Not exactly. My aunt has a tenant who’s become a friend. He rents her upstairs apartment. As a matter of fact, I’m going to be seeing him tonight,” she said awkwardly.
Disappointment marred his handsome face. “I guess that means this coffee date won’t have a shot of becoming a dinner date?”
She shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Another time perhaps?”
He offered her a wide smile. “Absolutely.”
They chatted for a while, mostly about the benefits of small-town life, and after she finished her latte, she checked her watch for the time. “I hate to rush off but—”
“You have to get ready for your date.” He finished her sentence for her, and there was no mistaking the regret in his voice. “It was wonderful getting to know you a little.”
“I enjoyed it too.” She pushed her chair back and stood. A second later, he was at her side. He pulled a twenty-dollar bill out of his wallet and stuck the corner under his cup; then he placed his hand on the small of her back and walked her across the restaurant. When they were outside, he hailed her a cab.
“Thank you,” she said.
“My pleasure.” He helped her into the taxi, and she gave the driver her address as Ross closed the door.
What a nice man, Alice thought. It really was too bad she couldn’t have spent more time with him.
* * *
As Daryn watched the cab speed away, he put the address Ally had given the driver into his BlackBerry; then he sent a text message to Cassie, telling her to meet him in the hotel lobby right away and to bring the car keys. Ally had played right into his lap. He couldn’t have wished for a better scenario—an elderly aunt away for the holidays, leaving her young, naïve niece alone in her house. This was going to be the perfect scam. Just perfect.
Cassie arrived a few minutes later, and, before she could bombard him with a million questions, he took the car keys from her hand and ushered her toward the parking garage.
“How did it go?” she asked as they walked.
“Much better than I’d hoped.” When they reached the car, he opened the passenger door for her, then walked around to the driver’s side. He sank into the Beemer’s soft leather seat and thought how much he loved his profession. There wasn’t another job on
earth he could do that would yield the returns of this one. And with so little effort. Yes, he was a lucky man indeed.
He said a silent prayer of thanks to his mom for her excellent schooling, then, with a grin, he turned to Cassie and said, “We’re in the money. The girl, Ally, has an elderly aunt who’s in upstate New York, and Ally’s staying at her place. Alone. Mostly. There’s some tenant who rents an upstairs apartment. The good thing is, she’s going out with him tonight, so while she’s away, we move in. Couldn’t get easier than that.”
“Sounds simple enough,” she said.
“Yeah, piece of cake.” He plugged Ally’s address into his phone’s GPS and headed toward Main Street.
He spotted the house right away—a big, old Victorian in need of repairs. It must have been quite a place in its day, however. He parked across the street, far enough away so as not to be seen scoping out the place, yet close enough to have a clear view of the front door.
* * *
Jack studied his reflection in the bedroom mirror. He’d always been confident of his appearance, not cocky, mind you, but self-assured. Women had always been attracted to him, even from a very young age. It started in elementary school. Must have been fourth grade when Anna Hughs passed him that love note. She’d been a giggly bundle of nerves waiting for him to read her poetry. With her long dark ringlets and rosy cheeks, she was a nine-year-old boy’s vision of beauty. Was it any wonder he’d always been attracted to brunettes after that?
Once he saw beyond Ally’s makeup and fancy clothes, she fit his image of female perfection to a tee. Watch it, he warned himself. Remember the plan. Charm some information out of her tonight, but whatever you do, make sure your head rules and not your heart.
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