“I don’t know, Li.” He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up her hand. “I want to catch this thief as much as the rest of you, but I don’t know that I’m willing to sacrifice myself in that way.”
“I think it’s going to be the only way we can truly find out if she’s behind these robberies. And if she’s not, it’s no loss really.”
“There are thousands of people at these casinos,” Savannah said. “And yes, I consider this woman a prime suspect. But I don’t like the idea of the whole team waiting outside my door when there could be another thief at work.”
“Fine. Not the whole team then. Just a couple of us. Myself included. Come on, boss. At least think about it. Don’t just dismiss it out of hand.”
“I’ll think about it. Now, shall we work on other strategies? In case she’s not the culprit?”
“Sure. Although I think we’re doing everything we can,” Li said. “And I think the fact that there was no robbery in Macau had a lot to do with our presence.”
“I think that’s a possibility. Of course, our thief might have just had an off night. Or maybe he or she wasn’t even in Macau.”
“Why wouldn’t they be? They’ve been at every major tournament for the last month or so.”
“True,” Savannah said. “Very true.”
“I’m perplexed about it. I think it was a one off. I’m sure they’ll strike here in Lisbon and we need to be ready. I think you should think seriously about seducing that woman. If she’s our suspect, what better way to catch her?”
“I tell you what. I’ll consider it. But I make no promises.”
“Fair enough.” Li stood. “I think it’s time for me to explore Lisbon. See what this city has to offer. When are we meeting as a team?”
“Friday. At four in my suite. I’ll see you then?”
“If not before.”
After Li left, Savannah went back to bed. She was exhausted. Even though she’d slept hard in Kit’s arms. She’d felt safe and secure. Which was dangerous. Because if Kit robbed her, she’d be devastated. She didn’t know how she’d allowed her heart to become involved with the rogue, but it had. In a big way.
She woke at five and climbed into a hot bath. It was soothing and relaxing, though the water felt like a lover’s caress. And she wanted to feel that in reality so desperately. She hoped against all hope that tonight would be the night that Kit finally gave in and made love to her.
Savannah got out and rinsed off then slipped the fluffy white robe on again. She got on her laptop to check the dress requirements for an evening cruise. As she expected, she needed to dress nicely. Not a problem. She’d had all her dresses dry-cleaned in Macau.
She chose a red, form fitting cocktail dress. She wore ruby earrings and a diamond choker. She checked herself out in the mirror. Was it too much? Was it obvious she was trying to tempt Kit? She didn’t know. She exhaled heavily. Savannah grabbed her purse and headed to the street to hail a taxi.
Kit greeted Savannah at the boat slip with a low wolf whistle.
“I swear you’re more beautiful every time I see you,” she said.
“You’re too kind.”
“I only speak the truth. Are you ready for that romantic evening we discussed?”
“I’m more than ready.”
Kit smiled at her and took her hand.
“Great. Let’s do this.”
Dinner was delicious and the soft music playing in the background had Kit ready for more than just having Savannah sleep in her arms. She was keyed up. Her hormones were raging. Try as she might to convince herself to wait, it was a losing battle. She knew she had to stay strong, but her heart and other body parts were overruling her brain.
“What are you thinking about?” Savannah said.
“Nothing. Everything. I don’t know. Why?”
“You look upset. Is there anything I can help with?”
“You can dance with me.”
“I’d love that.”
They danced several songs until the closeness of Savannah and the press of the other bodies on the dance floor caused Kit to overheat.
“Let’s go on the deck,” she said. “I could use some fresh air.”
It was windy topside, and Savannah turned her head to keep her hair from blowing in her face. It was a natural move, but so seductive at the same time. Kit couldn’t resist. She leaned in and nibbled on Savannah’s exposed neck. Savannah shivered.
“What was that for?” Savannah said.
“Does a boi need a reason to nibble her girl’s neck?” Savannah leveled a stare at Kit. “What?”
“Am I your girl then?” Savannah said.
“I’d like to think so. That is, unless I’m not the only person you’re seeing right now?”
“Oh no. There’s no one but you.”
“Will you be my girl, Savannah? Or is it too soon for you to move on? Either way, I’ll understand.”
“I’d like to be your girl, Kit. I need to move on. It’s time. And there’s no one I’d rather move on with than you.”
Kit kissed her then. Under the full moon with several onlookers close by. She didn’t care. She was falling hard for Savannah and wanted Savannah to know.
“I really like you, Savannah,” Kit said. “Like really.”
“I like you, too. As I’m sure I’ve made perfectly plain by now.”
“That you have.”
Savannah pulled Kit close and whispered in her ear, “Let it be tonight, Kit. Show me how much I mean to you. Claim me. Make me yours.”
Kit’s knees went weak. The feel of Savannah’s soft breath on her ear, as well as the words she said, made Kit’s resolve weaken tremendously. She made up her mind. She’d throw caution to the wind. That night would indeed be the night.
Kit led Savannah to the bow of the boat, and they watched as it was tied to the dock.
“What shall we do now?” Kit said. “The night is still young.”
“Let’s go back to my suite. Please?”
“Sure, Savannah. We’ll go back to your place.”
They debarked, caught a taxi, and made out like a couple of teenagers the whole way back to Savannah’s hotel. By the time the driver announced they were at their destination, Kit was throbbing with need. Savannah was such a wonderful kisser and her tongue promised talent that Kit couldn’t wait to experience.
They kissed some more in the elevator and Kit forced herself not to molest Savannah as she followed her on shaky legs to her rooms. Savannah opened her door and Kit walked in. It was really going to happen. She was going to give in and give herself to Savannah. Savannah would be hers without a doubt after tonight. Kit’s gut clenched. Was she really ready? Could she trust Savannah implicitly?
Savannah took Kit’s hand and led her to the bedroom. She loosened Kit’s tie and pulled her close for another round of kissing that left Kit breathless. When she stepped back to look at Savannah, she saw a flushed face, large pupils, and eyelids that fell to cover half her eyes. She knew that Savannah wanted her. Her response was physical. That was obvious.
Kit stood there shifting her weight from foot to foot. She was as nervous as if this was her first time. God only knew how many women she’d been with, but this was different. This meant something. And she wasn’t used to that.
Savannah unclasped the diamonds from her neck and lay them on the dresser. She placed her earrings next to them.
“Shouldn’t you put those in the safe?” Kit said.
“Why? You’re not going to take them, are you?” She smiled.
Was it a test after all? Was Savannah trying to get her to steal from her? Did she care about Kit at all? The questions crashed through Kit’s haze of arousal and suddenly she was aware yet again of why she needed to wait. She needed to find out for sure if Savannah worked for the FBI. She’d asked around, but no one could confirm or deny that for her. Who knew if Savannah was even her real name?
“I need to go,” Kit said abruptly.
“Why? Because I
won’t lock up my jewelry? What’s going on, Kit? I don’t understand.”
“It has nothing to do with the jewelry,” Kit lied. “It’s just…well…I’m not ready. I thought I was, but I’m not. I’m really sorry.”
She turned and made a beeline to the door. Savannah caught up and grabbed her arm.
“Kit, please. What’s going on? Talk to me. Tonight you said I was your girl. Treat me like it. Make love to me. What did I do wrong?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, babe. I just need to be certain it’s the right thing. And I’m not certain yet.”
“When will I see you again?”
“Let’s have breakfast around five Sunday morning. After a night at the casino.”
“So I won’t see you tomorrow?”
“I don’t think so,” Kit said. “I think I need to do some serious thinking.”
“I hope you won’t run away, Kit. I really want to be your one and only.”
“I want that, too, babe. I really do. Let me get my head on straight, okay?”
“Okay. I’ll see you Saturday night then.”
Chapter Fifteen
Savannah latched the door behind Kit and fought tears. Why had Kit run off like that? Was the temptation of the jewels too much for her? Was she in fact the infamous jewel thief after all? The thought was too much for Savannah and the tears spilled. She wiped her cheeks and eyes, but they kept coming. She couldn’t stand the thought that she might have to arrest Kit, but reality was reality. She had a job to do. It was just a damned shame her heart had decided to get involved.
She undressed and slid into bed, missing Kit with every fiber of her being. She’d thought the ache would finally be relieved that night. She’d thought Kit was finally ready to seal the deal. And yet, there she was. Alone again. She was tired of being by herself. She longed for someone to share her life with. And she wanted that person to be Kit. Thief or not, she wanted Kit for a life partner.
Savannah woke at noon. She was still feeling morose and not in a mood to deal with anybody. Least of all her team. She didn’t want to plant traps to catch the thief. She wanted to forget about the thief, about jewels, about everything. She wanted to go back to Maryland and stay there. And she wanted to take Kit with her.
Her team showed up and she forced herself to focus. They discussed strategies then walked over to the casino to check out the lay of the land. They discussed who needed to be where when and then she dismissed them. She was confident they were ready, and she didn’t have the strength to deal with anything else. She just wanted to be alone.
Li walked with her to her hotel.
“Have you given any more thought to what we talked about the other day?” he said.
Savannah’s gut churned. She had to make a tough decision. Her job or her personal life? It sucked. It was a no-win situation.
“I’ll tell you what,” she said. “I’ll try to get her to bed tomorrow night. You can wait outside my room for four hours. If she’s not out by then, she’s not our thief.”
“Fair enough, boss. I think you’re doing the right thing.”
“I hope so.” And, if it was the right thing, why did it feel so wrong?
She ordered room service and sat feeling more alone than she’d ever felt. She was just finishing dinner when her phone buzzed. Her heart leaped. It was Kit.
Kit: I miss you.
Savannah: I miss you, too.
Kit: I’m sorry about last night. Cold feet and all.
Savannah: Just don’t let it happen again. LOL.
Kit: I won’t. I’m scared, Savannah. I haven’t felt this way in a very long time.
Savannah: I’m right there with you. It’s terrifying. Yet, at the same time, so right.
Kit: Yeah. Hopefully, I’ll be able to go through with it tomorrow night.
Savannah: I hope so, Kit. I’m miserable without you.
Kit: I hear you. I’ll let you go now. See you tomorrow.
And she was gone. Savannah’s hands shook as she set the phone down. Damn Kit for having this effect on her. Damn her for worming her way into her thoughts. And especially damn her for finding her way to Savannah’s heart.
She’d torn down the carefully placed wall that had been there for years. A wall that had been built out of self-preservation. A wall that had protected her well. And now it was gone. It was down, and Savannah was exposed. And tomorrow night Savannah had set up a sting to catch Kit in the act of robbing her. She’d never been more miserable.
Savannah forced herself to stay up late watching movies, but finally, at three, she could no longer keep her eyes open. She undressed and climbed into bed. She slept long and hard and woke at two the following afternoon.
Fifteen hours. Only fifteen hours until she saw Kit again. She couldn’t wait. She told herself to get it together. She needed to focus on the task at hand first. She needed to try to catch the thief before he or she got away with more jewels.
At eight o’clock, she showered and dressed in a blue gown. She wore diamond and sapphire earrings and a diamond necklace that was worth a small fortune. If she succeeded in seducing Kit that night, her jewels would be far too great a temptation for a thief. She’d know for sure one way or the other. It was only a matter of time.
Savannah slid her gun, key card, badge, and a wad of money into her clutch and took the elevator down. It was time to get to the casino. It was showtime.
She wandered through the casino as nonchalantly as possible, noting where her team was and making sure no one was out of place. Satisfied that everyone was where they were supposed to be, Savannah began making her rounds. She kept her eyes open and was on the lookout for Kit every moment. She finally caught herself. She took a deep breath and began the circuit anew, this time looking for anything or anyone suspicious.
There were older women everywhere decked out in millions of dollars of jewels. She paid close attention to any younger men or women who showed them too much attention. She saw one such young man and approached him.
“Are you enjoying playing blackjack?” Savannah said.
“I am.”
“Ma’am. Is this gentleman bothering you?”
“Nonsense,” the older woman said, “he’s my son.”
“Sorry to have bothered you then.”
She wandered off, adrenaline coursing through her. She’d been sure she’d been on the right track. Oh, well. There were plenty of other people milling about. It would be up to her to detect the thief in the crowd.
* * *
Kit watched Savannah make her way through the casino. She seemed to be on a mission. She followed her from a distance and saw her speak to a woman who was with a younger man at the blackjack table. She wondered what that was about. Did she think the young man might be preying on the older woman?
If so, that could certainly indicate that Savannah was an FBI agent. But it would also seem to indicate that she hadn’t made up her mind that Kit was the thief. That was a good thing. Could Kit actually settle down with a law enforcement officer? That went against everything she believed in. But settling down was exactly what she had in mind. She also had it in mind to make love to Savannah that night. She’d do that, not steal from her, and remove herself from the list of suspects. That would help things out tremendously.
But first, before that could happen, Kit needed to find a target. Which meant she’d have to quit following Savannah around like a lost puppy. She wandered through the casino on her own and kept her eyes peeled for any bejeweled woman sitting alone. She’d seduce her, rob her, and then head off to meet Savannah. She smiled to herself. It was going to be a good night.
She spotted a likely mark seemingly by herself watching a craps game.
“Are you going to try your hand?” Kit sidled up and asked.
The woman looked at Kit, glanced back to the table, and then back to Kit.
“Oh, I wouldn’t know where to start.” She laughed.
“I’d be happy to tutor you,” Kit said.
“I’m too fond of my money to throw it away. But thank you.”
“Are you here by yourself?”
“No. That’s my husband throwing the dice right now.”
“He’s a fool to be concentrating on that instead of you,” Kit said.
“Aren’t you a charmer?”
Kit flashed her best smile.
“I just don’t think beautiful women should be ignored.”
“He’ll be playing for hours. I’ll keep myself entertained. I’m used to it. But, thank you.”
“Well, if you don’t think he’ll notice if you disappear, may I buy you a drink?”
The woman looked Kit up and down.
“What’s your angle?” she asked.
“No angle. I just enjoy spending time with lovely women. And I meant that I hate to see you ignored. Let me show you a good time.”
The woman, most likely in her late sixties, with short gray hair and sparkling brown eyes, simply stared at Kit. Kit kept her eyes focused on the woman’s eyes and refused to drool over the diamonds she was sporting.
“I don’t know,” the woman said.
“Aw, come on. He’ll never notice and all I’m offering is a drink. Don’t deny me. Please?”
The woman laughed and seemed to relax.
“Fine. One drink.”
“That’s all I’m asking for.” Kit smiled again before placing her hand on the small of the woman’s back. “I think I saw a bar over this way.”
She guided the woman through the crowd and, once they emerged, looked around for any sign of Savannah. Not seeing her, she steered the woman to a bar and led her to a dark table in the back.
“Now, what can I get you to drink?” Kit said.
“Dom Perignon.”
Kit arched an eyebrow.
“Impeccable taste. I’ll get a bottle.”
She was back at the table and poured them each a glass.
“I said one drink.”
“One drink. One bottle. Same difference.”
“Are you going to try to get me drunk?” But the woman’s eyes smiled.
“I just thought we could have a few laughs. No harm, no foul.”
Thief of the Heart Page 11
