by Piper Stone
“Uh-huh. Let me guess, it has something to do with my ability to steal precious gems.” I was guessing, maybe even bluffing, but by the look on his face, I knew I was right. Crap.
“That is a discussion to be held with my client.”
I took a long hard look at the man again, realizing that his suit was handmade, his tie of raw and the finest silk. He was suave and polished and if I had to guess, well connected. “All right,” I mused as I walked closer. “If I agree to this charade, what kind of money are we talking about here?”
“I’m sorry, Devon. The actual full terms are disclosed after the two of you have had a chance to meet. If you both agree to move forward, then the final contract number will be provided to you to look over. However, I assure you that the sum is substantial, and it does include payment for taking your time to meet with him as well as for any expenses you might incur.”
The dude was actually serious. He really thought that any woman in their right mind would go along with some crazy scheme. I folded my arms, moving closer to his desk. Maybe I could at least get enough money to keep myself afloat for another couple of months until things picked up. “Payment, huh? This client is wealthy?”
“Yes, Devon. He is also a very powerful man.”
“Why would he do this? If he’s wealthy, then I’m certain there are hundreds of women who wouldn’t mind getting to know him better.”
He smiled. “Do you honestly think a man would seek out my help had he not already attempted to find what he was looking for?”
For some reason, his comment made me shiver. “Okay. Then if this person is so well off, I won’t meet with him for anything less than five thousand dollars.” As if Mr. Darke was going to go for that kind of money. He’d throw me out for attempted extortion.
The man laughed. My God, he had the freaking nerve to laugh at me. “Trust me, Devon. You will be extremely happy with the sum that you receive. If that means you agree to meeting with him, I’ll need you to sign a nondisclosure agreement and money will be wired to your account this afternoon.”
“That means you have my bank account information.”
He tugged papers from his desk, lifting a single eyebrow. “Yes, Devon. I take pride in the information I can acquire, but I promise you that what I’ve learned will never be used in any other manner, and none of this will be brought up again once an agreement has been signed. I am reputable and plan on keeping it that way.”
Maybe I should ask him for references. Somehow, I had a feeling that no one would ever admit using his services. I fought the inner girl inside, the one who’d been able to shut down the world she’d allowed herself to get sucked into. She was a risk taker, a woman who refused to take any shit. But I was still terrified of life, the loss of my parents only two years before difficult to get over.
“Okay.” Okay? That was all I could say to the man?
“Excellent, Devon. I have the paperwork for you to sign. This is nothing but your assurance that you won’t talk to anyone about the experience. The work we do is confidential.” He pushed the papers across the desk and I’d never felt so nauseous in my life.
Yet I walked closer.
“What is his name? Can I at least have his name? By the way, I will only meet him in a public place. No secluded homes.”
“We only use first names at this point. The man you will meet is Santiago. And yes, I require that you meet in a public location for the first time. You have nothing to worry about.”
I took a deep breath before taking the papers into my hand, reading them over thoroughly. There was nothing abnormal, no oddities that I could see. The paperwork was simply stating I wasn’t allowed to go public about the company or what I learned. I’d scrawled my name before I realized what I was doing, still terrified I’d made a huge mistake.
“Where am I meeting this guy?” Santiago. The name sounded like some of the names out of romance novels for the big, brawny alpha men. They were always gorgeous. They were always muscular. And they were always powerful, passionate lovers, taking what they wanted. Not from this girl. No freaking way.
“I will have the particulars of your meeting emailed to you by the time you return home. You should block out time in your schedule today as my clients make their decisions quickly. I will also have a copy of the nondisclosure sent over for your records.”
“Then what?”
He took the paperwork, pulling it across his desk and giving me a warm smile. “If your meeting with him is successful, then you will have twelve hours to decide to continue on. When you do, we will go over the contract as well as other requirements.”
“How long? As in how long will I be in this… man’s employ?”
“From my understanding, as long as it takes, but for a minimum of thirty days.”
“The pay had better be worth the disruption in my life. It’s not easy to find a job in this city.”
Daniel Darke gave me another one of his knowing smiles. “I assure you, Devon, that when and if you decide to return to work, it won’t be at a rough and tumble bar like Rowdy’s.”
Now I was intrigued.
Santiago. At least the name floated off my tongue. While I walked out of his office, I allowed myself to envision myriad heroes that had been depicted in so many romance novels. Maybe I’d get lucky and the man I was going to meet was a real hero.
I laughed all the way to the elevator. They didn’t exist. Might as well remember that going in.
“I can’t believe you called in sick from work,” Jodie said as she stared at me from just outside the bathroom.
“You were the one who pushed me into this. Remember?”
“I had no idea that it was going to lead to some crazy concept of working for some wealthy dude. What the hell do they want from you?”
I took a step away, glancing down at my dress. “Are you trying to suggest that a girl like me would never interest a powerful millionaire?” While I was just teasing her, that’s exactly the way I was thinking about the entire situation.
“Oh, my God. I could beat you. That’s not what I’m saying. You’re a tough cookie as well as a smart girl. You don’t know what the hell is going on here. That entire meeting could have been about smoke and mirrors. You know that,” Jodie huffed.
“Yes, I know.” I shimmied past her, moving into my bedroom and yanking open one of the drawers. “I will say this, that damn payment for going out with this guy better come through. I spent almost the last of what I had in my checking account to purchase this dress.”
“And it’s gorgeous too. That doesn’t mean I’m not worried. How much are you getting paid to meet him?”
I finally found the necklace I was looking for. “I don’t know. Mr. Darke just said it was substantial.” After pulling the chain around my neck and fastening it, I walked to my phone. “Why don’t we see if the asshole kept up the end of this seductive bargain.”
“Where are you meeting this guy anyway?”
“Another thing I don’t know. I was told a car would arrive for me promptly at six-thirty.” I gave her a sly smile, although butterflies remained in my stomach. Yes, I was nervous as hell, although more comforted from the information in the email as well as a single article penned on the company.
“A car. The driver could take you anywhere. For all I know, you could be off to Spain by this time tomorrow.”
“Jodie, stop being melodramatic. I’m not a fool, you know.” I yanked my purse off the dresser, showing her the small handgun I’d purchased almost a year before. A girl couldn’t be too careful living in a city by herself.
She shuddered but gave me a respectful nod. “I hope that’s enough. What if he has men working for him, you know, like really bad men? Criminals?”
Now I had to laugh, rolling my eyes as I tried to look at my account. “You’ve really been reading too many novels lately.”
“Look who’s talking.”
I studied the screen, trying to catch my breath. No, this couldn’t be right. �
��Shit. They made a mistake.”
“A mistake? What are you talking about?”
She yanked the phone from my hand, her eyes opening wide. Then she shifted from one screen to the other with her fast fingers. “It looks legit. A real transaction number and the bank it came from a huge one out of New York.”
“How the hell would you know?”
“One of my many careers was being a bank teller. Did you see the amount?”
I sucked in my breath, my legs quivering. “Yes.” Five thousand dollars was an insane amount for a single meeting. What in hell was this guy into?
“Oh, my God, sunshine. Five thousand dollars for meeting some guy. That’s wonderful!”
“That’s insane and it has to be a mistake.”
“Well, if it is, don’t tell anyone.”
Hearing a knock on the door was enough to make my knees knock. I put on a brave front, but I wasn’t certain I could go through with this.
“Do I look okay?” I asked as I grabbed my purse, shoving my phone inside.
“You look fabulous. Why don’t you send me a text later so that I know you’re alive? If you don’t, I swear to God I will call the police.”
I squeezed her arm. “Stop worrying. I can take care of myself.” As I opened the door, I held my breath.
“Devon?”
The man reminded me of a chauffeur in his black suit and crisp white shirt.
“Yes.”
“I’m Jackson. I’m here to take you to your meeting.”
His smile was pleasant enough, not that I would know a murderer when I saw one. “Thank you. Can you tell me where we’re going?”
He kept the smile as he took a step back, allowing me to see the limo parked by the curb. At least Santiago had pulled out all the stops to impress me.
My God, the man was a chauffeur.
“I’m sorry, Devon. That’s something I can’t do. Santiago would not like it if I spoiled the surprise. In fact, he would be extremely angry. However, I can tell you that the drive will take us about thirty minutes.”
That left several parts of town the man could be driving to.
“Wow. At least you’re going in style. I still don’t like this,” Jodie hissed from behind.
“Lock up when you leave,” I managed.
“Call me.”
Famous last words.
The driver had been pleasant although refusing to offer any other information. He had plied me with champagne, Kristal to be exact. While I enjoyed a delicious glass of bubbly, the fact Santiago was doing everything in his power to show off pissed me off instead of impressing me. I was already weary of the asshole, and I hadn’t even met him.
I closed my eyes, thankful I’d brought a weapon with me. There was no other reason other than my hackles remained raised over the entire situation. When I opened my eyes again, I realized that we were in one of the artsy districts near downtown. The recent renovations had created a magnificent space with restaurants and galleries, swanky shops and specialized stores. There was a main square with glorious fountains and festive lighting, a location for bands and other musicians. I’d seen the area on television, but the location was completely out of my price range.
As the driver pulled to the curb, I was at least thankful the area was filled with people. Jackson opened the door, taking my hand and helping me onto the cobblestone sidewalk. I stood admiring the lights for a few seconds until he beckoned me to follow.
“We don’t have to walk very far,” he said encouragingly.
As we approached a small gallery, I couldn’t help but notice the gorgeous works of art.
When he placed his hand on one of the massive steel handles, I had to admit that I was impressed with Santiago’s choice. There was something so calming about walking inside, my senses immediately on overload from the wonderful Spanish guitar music coming from unseen speakers, the dim lighting creating a powerful ambiance while pointed LED lights highlighted the various pieces.
“This is gorgeous,” I whispered, although more to myself.
“Yes, ma’am. Please come this way.” He led me toward the back of the room, allowing me to see an entire table filled with tempting food. From fresh fruit to a display of shrimp on ice, caviar and other delicacies, there was obviously an event ready to take place.
When he retrieved a long flute, grasping a bottle of already opened champagne and filling the gorgeous crystal, I had a feeling the night was going to be very interesting.
He gave me a nod as he handed me the glass, a slight smile curling on his lips. “Santiago expresses his wishes for you to indulge in whatever your heart desires. He will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you, Jackson. When does the event start?”
“It already has.” As he walked toward the door, I realized he was whistling. After heading outside, I watched as he pulled a sign in front of the door, blocking the entrance. What in the hell was going on?
I took long strides toward the double glass doors, taking a deep breath as he walked toward the limo. This was more than interesting. This was…
Exhaling, I moved back to the main portion of the gallery, hating the fact my hand was shaking. I positioned my purse on the end of one of the overflow tables, able to get to it quickly if necessary. The champagne was perfectly chilled as well as delicious and as I roamed around the gallery, I was drawn to several of the magnificent pieces. I took my time gazing at one then another, finding myself close to the table of goodies once again.
I was way out of my element, thankful I’d found a lovely dress that accentuated my light eyes. It also hugged every curve, making me more self-conscious than normal. I was used to jeans and a tee shirt, not a sexy dress and high heels. Still, my attire was perfect for the evening.
And for meeting a mystery man.
After snagging a strawberry, I checked my watch. The man certainly liked to make an entrance. What the hell. There was nothing wrong with enjoying the moment all by myself. I nibbled on the luscious berry, the fruit sweeter than anything I purchased in the grocery store. I pretended as if I knew what I was looking at as I moved from piece to piece, the music soothing my nerves at least to a point.
I was lost in a particularly erotic photograph taken in black and white when I felt his presence. There’d been no sound, no footsteps echoing in the open space, but I knew he stood right behind me.
He remained quiet and I refused to turn around. If he enjoyed a game of cat and mouse, then he had no idea who he was sparring with. I found myself swaying to the music, still nibbling on the strawberry. However, I could feel his hot breath skating across the back of my neck as he inched closer. The moment I inhaled, his rich scent filtered into my system, the fragrance exotic yet so masculine. The combination of spices and a hint of sandalwood was almost intoxicating within seconds.
“There is nothing so beautiful. Don’t you think?”
While I’d learned his first name, that hadn’t proven his heritage. But when he spoke, the deep, velvety baritone and his accent were what I’d remembered from my time living in Spain. The deep husk of his voice created instant tingles. I was almost lightheaded, fearful of turning around.
“Yes. The photograph is lovely,” I managed.
“While the work of art is impressive, that’s not at all what I’m talking about.”
As I slowly turned, I held my breath. The man standing in front of me was exactly what romance novels were made of. At least six foot three, his dark wavy hair and long eyelashes accentuated his luminescent emerald green eyes and chiseled features. I was struck by his voluptuous lips, the kind that authors wrote about in their novels. They were meant for long periods of kissing on a cold winter night in front of a roaring fire.
He took a step away, allowing his gaze to fall to my heels then ever so slowly back to my face. After narrowing his eyes, he reached out, dragging the tip of a single finger across the bottom of my lip.
I was shocked by his actions, the way he brought his finger to his mouth. T
hen I realized that juice from the strawberry must have trickled from my mouth. A wave of embarrassment rushed up from my chest, tickling both cheeks. I couldn’t take my eyes off the way he suckled his finger, his eyelids partially closing. There was such electricity shared between us, the current enough to ignite all the embers I’d long since thought extinct.
Then he took the remaining bite of fruit from my fingers, bringing that to his luscious lips, a slight growl pushing up from his throat as he finished it off, chewing ever so slowly. The man had seductive down pat.
While well dressed in dark gray trousers and a matching jacket, he’d selected a simple royal cobalt tee shirt instead of a more formal shirt. The material stretched over his muscular chest, allowing me to imagine what the rest of him looked like.
I forced myself to look away, trying to keep from hissing under my breath. I wasn’t going to be that easy, falling under his spell like some love-struck schoolgirl. Hell, no. I took a purposeful step away, giving him a sterner look. “I presume you’re Santiago?”
He laughed, the sound sending another powerful ripple of electricity, leaving me wet and hot all over as well as hating my body’s reaction. This was ridiculous. He was gorgeous, but that meant nothing at this point.
“Yes, I apologize. I was mesmerized by your beauty.”
I took a deep breath, shaking my head. “You can cut the crap, Santiago.”
He seemed more amused than irritated at my sudden change in demeanor. “You are very direct.”
“Yes, that’s the kind of person I am. I’m Devon and you requested this meeting. I do appreciate the pomp and circumstance, but I think we should get down to details. Don’t you?”
Santiago kept the amused look on his face as he walked toward the table of refreshments. The bastard was actually waiting to give me an answer. While I had no desire to trail behind him, I found myself doing just that.
He took his time pouring a glass of champagne, glancing at mine then walking toward me with the bottle in his hand. “I would think that given your very careful nature that you would want to spend some time getting to know each other. Wouldn’t that be more practical?”
