“I’m in,” Nikki whispered. “Keep up your boring-ass conversation.”
She patted Logan’s leg under the table as she faced him. “Sheila is the queen of coordinating the best outdoor summer events.” Turning back to Sheila, she added, “I’ve always thought you could sell your services. You handle every minute detail and make it look effortless.”
“Actually, since you’re here, maybe I could hit you up for some tickets to special exhibits at the Art Institute.”
While Sheila talked about the upcoming event, Mia nodded and forced herself not to look toward the hall where she knew Nikki would be stealthily climbing the stairs. Mia ate her meal of prime rib and seasoned asparagus without tasting much. She tried to focus on the conversation, but her heart was racing. How the hell did Nikki do this all the time without having full cardiac arrest?
“This thing is even more fucking hideous than the pictures you showed us. How can people not only waste money on crap like this but then actually hang it where others can see?” Nikki whisper-ranted in her ear.
Mia started to laugh but covered it with a cough, and reached for her wine. She took a sip.
“Are you okay?” Logan asked.
“Yes,” she said quietly and laid a hand on her chest. “Wrong pipe.”
“Nikki, stop talking. You’re making Mia laugh.”
“Swap is done. Safe for me to travel back downstairs?”
Mia was about to compliment Sheila on the delightful dinner, but then Logan stood. Mia almost shot out of her seat. “Where are you going?”
“Excuse me,” he said to Keaton and Sheila, “but I need to use the restroom.” He paused, waiting for directions.
“Wait. I’ll show you where it is,” Mia said quickly, tucking her napkin next to her plate. She hoped to God Nikki was listening.
“Got it,” Nikki whispered.
Mia walked with Logan back to the foyer. With a stealthy glance up the stairs, she walked a few steps down the hall and pointed. “First door on the left.”
Before moving, he pulled her close and kissed her. Against her lips, he said, “I’ve been wanting to do that since we got here.”
In her ear, Nikki said, “Bow-chicka-bow-wow.”
Mia ran her hand down his lapel. “Save it for later.” She waited until he turned and walked to the bathroom. When she looked to the top of the stairs again, Nikki stood there with a grin on her face, pumping her hips. Mia shot her a dirty look, pointed, and mouthed, “Wait,” and gestured to where Logan had just walked off to.
Nikki gave her a flirty wave and rolled her eyes.
Mia returned to the table and finished a few more bites of food, chewing nervously, waiting for Logan to come back.
“Here comes lover boy,” Nikki whispered.
A moment later, Logan returned to his seat.
“I’m heading out. Keep them all there,” Nikki said.
“I hope you’re all saving room for dessert,” Sheila said.
Sheila to the rescue.
“Of course,” Mia said. “Dessert sounds delightful.”
“I’m stuffed,” Logan said. “I don’t know that I can eat another bite.”
Mia smiled at him. “I hope you don’t think I’ll be sharing. In addition to being an excellent event planner, Sheila is known for being the best baker this side of the state.”
“Gotcha,” Nikki said. “Give me three minutes and I’ll be gone.”
“Mia, please don’t say things like that,” Sheila protested. “You’ll make his expectations much higher than they should be. Baking is a hobby. Something I do to destress. I’m no professional.”
“Don’t let her fool you. Whatever the dessert is, you want some.”
“I think you should just let me try a bite,” Logan said in a low voice that felt like it was about far more than a sweet treat.
* * *
Logan was full from the fine meal the Bishops provided, but mostly he wanted to get this charade over with so he could be alone with Mia. He’d watched her work these people all night. She was so good, he wasn’t even sure she was aware of how well she managed them.
When he asked to try a bite, her pupils dilated and her breath caught, just barely, but enough for him to notice. Part of the problem was that he was spending too much time noticing everything about her. How she could converse on almost any topic broached. How her crooked smile was reserved for people she truly liked—he had been on the receiving end, but the Bishops weren’t. How she touched him in ways that felt more intimate than their relationship warranted—not sexual, but careless in a way that expressed it was natural—and he wanted more of it.
To break her spell, and to prevent himself from touching her inappropriately at the dinner table, he stood. “Let me help you clear the table.”
“You’re a guest,” Sheila said. “Please sit.”
“I was taught that if someone else does the cooking, the least I can do is help clean up.” He lowered his head a bit and asked Mia, “May I take this?”
She stacked her plate on top of his and wrapped her cool fingers around his wrist. “Thank you. But I’m still not sharing my dessert.”
Sheila had already taken Keaton’s plate, so he followed her to the kitchen. He set the dirty dishes on the counter near the sink.
“Please just leave them there. Our housekeeper will run the dishwasher.”
“I really don’t mind.”
“I can see that. You’re a sweet boy.” She handed him a little white ceramic cup filled with some kind of chocolate pudding. “Now go take this in to your girl. Are you sure you don’t want one?”
“It looks amazing, but I really am stuffed. Besides, I think I can talk Mia into sharing.” He winked at the older woman and returned to the dining room. At the table, he set the cup in front of Mia.
“Oh, chocolate mousse.”
She didn’t even look up as he took his seat. She continued to stare longingly at the dessert.
“What I wouldn’t give for you to look at me like that,” he said quietly.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. “Like what?”
“Like you can’t wait to be alone to devour me.”
The corner of her mouth kicked up. “Maybe I would if I had the satisfaction guarantee I have with this mousse.”
“That is one guarantee I can get behind.”
Instead of responding, she looked at Sheila as she set a cup in front of Keaton. “Sheila, this looks divine.”
Sheila smiled and pointed at Logan. “He said he was going to talk you into sharing.”
“He hasn’t yet made an offer worthy of chocolate mousse.”
“If that mousse is as good as you say, you can have whatever you want.”
Mia picked up her spoon and scooped the tiniest bit out of the bowl. He stared as she slid the spoon into her mouth, wrapping her lips around it, and closing her eyes. The image caused his blood to heat and race and he wanted to put his hands on her.
She let out a little moan as she slipped the spoon out of her mouth.
“It cannot be that good.” He leaned closer and whispered, “You’re a tease.”
“Yes, I am, but this mousse is magnificent.” She scooped another bite and this time held it to his lips.
He opened and tasted the chocolate. It was a burst of sweet, creamy dark chocolate on his tongue. He savored the flavor before swallowing. “I concede. It is that good.”
Sheila put her napkin on the table. “Would you like one?”
He held up a hand. “No, thank you. It is delicious, but I really can’t eat another bite.”
While Mia finished her mousse—the woman took her dessert seriously—Logan spoke to Keaton about the Moreau painting. “Mia said you’re selling your Moreau painting. Can I ask if there’s a reason? I thought part of the purpose of buying
art was to let it appreciate.”
“It has appreciated in value and in all honesty, I’ve grown tired of it. In addition, Sheila has never been fond of it.”
“That’s an understatement. It’s revolting. Have you ever looked at it?” Sheila fluttered her lashes. “Keaton wanted to hang it in the living room. I wouldn’t have it.”
“Well, it’ll be gone soon enough. Maybe even before the auction. Isn’t that right, Mia?”
Mia dabbed at her mouth. “Possibly. I’ll take some good photos of it and send them to my friend to see if we can make a deal.”
“Are you ready now, or would you prefer an after-dinner drink?”
“I’m ready.” She shifted her chair back.
Logan rose. “Sheila, how about I help you clear the table while these two go conduct business?”
“I think this one might be a keeper, Mia. So sweet.”
He looked over at Mia, who rolled her eyes at him. She stood and he leaned in for a kiss. It was brief, but he tasted the chocolate on her tongue. “I’ll meet you upstairs.”
Chapter Fifteen
The comm in Mia’s ear had been blissfully quiet for the last ten minutes. While Mia ate dessert and adequately teased Logan, Nikki had said she was clear of the house. Mia had finally been able to breathe freely. That, coupled with the delicious mousse, allowed Mia to relax. Now she just needed to do her part.
Keaton led the way back up to his office.
“I gotta say, Mrs. Bishop was right to hate this thing. Have fun keeping a straight face while pointing out a silly flower,” Nikki said in the comm.
In the office, Keaton turned on the ceiling light as well as the desk lamp and the track lighting he had over the painting itself. Mia pulled out her phone, stood on the opposite side of the desk, and snapped a few photos. She texted them to Jared.
“Would it be all right to take it off the wall so I can inspect it? My friend is going by my word and I want to make sure I can let him know of any imperfections or issues I see.”
“It’s in perfect condition, but we can take it down. Give me a minute.” He moved a stack of file folders from a side table.
Keaton removed the painting and set it on the table. Mia lifted an edge and peeked underneath. Then she used her phone to take a quick video. She bent over the painting and began inspecting it, inch by inch. But the stupid flower was glaring at her from the center of the canvas. She couldn’t rush to find it, though, as this was not her area of expertise.
“Looks good, right? Pristine condition. I had professional movers deliver and install it for me.”
She got to the flower and stepped back. Then leaned in and squinted her eyes. “Do you have a small brush or dust-free cloth?”
“What is it?” he asked.
“It might be nothing. Maybe a piece of dust caught in the paint, but I can’t be sure.”
He handed her a handkerchief.
“This might leave other fibers. Can you ask Sheila if she has an unused makeup brush?”
“Sheila!”
Mia started. She hadn’t expected him to holler.
Logan rushed into the room. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just need a brush. I think there’s something on the painting,” Mia said.
Sheila came in, wiping her hands on a towel. “What is it?”
Mia turned to her. “Do you have a new makeup brush I can borrow?”
Sheila pressed her lips together. “Possibly. I’ll go check.”
“What is it?” Logan asked.
“It might be nothing.” She waved him over and pointed at the tiny flower.
He reached out as if to pick at it. She slapped the back of his hand.
“Don’t. If it’s something stuck in the paint, you can cause a chip. Let me try a brush.”
Sheila returned and handed her a wrapped brush. It was fat and full.
Mia pulled off the plastic and then twirled the bristles over the flower. “Huh. Didn’t work.” She picked up her phone and zoomed in on the spot.
After snapping the picture, she stepped away, and with Logan looking over her shoulder, she studied the picture.
“It looks like a flower.”
“It does. And I don’t believe it belongs there,” Mia said.
“Please turn to Bishop. I wanna see his face,” London said in the comm.
Mia turned and handed the phone to Keaton. “It looks like a small daisy. It’s easily overlooked, but Moreau wouldn’t have added anything like that to his painting. Definitely not this one.”
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t think this is an authentic Moreau.” She scrunched her face apologetically as she said it and reached for her phone.
“Impossible. Do you know what I paid for this? It was authenticated before it was insured.” He jabbed a finger at Logan. “Your company said it was real.”
Logan raised his hands. “I don’t know anything about this.”
Liar. Mia turned back to the painting. “Let me keep looking. Maybe I’m wrong.”
“Pictures don’t lie,” Logan said.
She shot him a look. Was this what he was hoping for? If so, then she’d played right into his hands. Mia continued her inspection of the painting. When she neared the bottom, the incongruent brushstrokes stood out. The color was off and the paint layered on much too thick. She turned around again to face Keaton. “I see another issue. There are some brushstrokes that aren’t right.”
Keaton stepped closer and she pointed at the discolored paint.
“I’m sorry. I can’t recommend this purchase to my friend. At least not without another certified appraisal.”
“This is ridiculous. You must be wrong.”
She crossed her arms. “I admit that I am not an expert, but I strongly urge you to have someone look at this before you send it to auction.”
“I’ll do one better than that,” Logan said. “We’ll have an appraiser here tomorrow. We carry the policy on this painting and if it’s a forgery, the policy is void.”
Keaton got red in the face and began to shake. “Are you accusing me of fraud? This is real!” He jabbed his finger toward the painting. “Bring your experts. You’ll see.”
Mia ducked her head to hide her smile. Now she understood why Nikki enjoyed this. “I think we should be going, Logan.”
As she walked past him, she masked her joy and looked at Sheila. “Thank you so much for the lovely meal.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
Behind her, Logan said to Keaton, “My office will be in touch in the morning.”
Logan walked beside her down the wide staircase with his hand on her lower back. She said nothing until they were in his car.
“I can’t believe it. What’s going to happen?”
Logan started the car. “How sure are you that it’s a forgery?”
“Positive.”
“You didn’t sound positive in there.” He stared into her eyes as if assessing her answer.
“I learned early in life that if you challenge men like Keaton Bishop, you better have the proof to make them fall. There is no room for error. Since I am neither certified nor an expert on Moreau, I let him yell and imply I’m stupid. But that painting is not authentic.”
He wrapped his long fingers around the back of her neck and pulled her close. A moment of panic struck at the thought of him seeing the comm in her ear.
“God you’re sexy.” Then he brought her to his mouth and kissed her deeply, stealing her breath, and making every nerve tingle with awareness and thoughts of the comm disappear. “I’ve been waiting to do that again since dessert.”
“That would have been totally inappropriate for the dinner table,” she said against his lips.
“You might want to take your comm out if this is going to continue,
” Audrey said in her ear.
For a brief moment, she’d forgotten about being listened to. She slid back into her seat. “So if your appraiser comes tomorrow and determines that the painting is a forgery, what happens next?”
“We cancel the policy on the basis of fraud. He’ll try to sue Atlas, but given that I didn’t see adequate security on the painting, he’ll have a hard time winning the suit.” He pulled out of the driveway. “Unless he can show proof of a break-in, which isn’t going to happen because what kind of thief steals a painting and leaves a forgery?”
“Us, bitches!” Nikki yelled in her ear. “’Cause we’re fucking brilliant!”
Under the guise of looking out her window, Mia pulled the comm from her ear. She’d had enough of Nikki’s commentary. She didn’t need to announce her brilliance. As she dug into her purse to drop the comm and pretend to fix her makeup, she said, “So he won’t be able to sell the painting, but then what?”
“What do you mean?”
“His plan to defraud some unsuspecting person failed, but he doesn’t suffer any consequences for the attempt?”
“Not really. Assuming he still has the original, he’ll be able to sell it and recoup his money. And if he’s slick and brings the original back tonight, I look like an idiot to my bosses for claiming it’s a forgery.”
There was zero chance of that happening, but she couldn’t let him know that. “I have the photos and a video recording. It will be time-stamped, so you have evidence of his scam.”
Logan reached over and took her hand. “Thank you for that.” Then he chuckled. “Did you see the look on his face when you pointed out the flower? I thought he was going to burst a blood vessel.”
“Yes, that was quite a show.”
He lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss to hers. “Thank you for your help on this. It might be just the thing I need to take to my boss.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your photos should be enough to get my boss to do a full audit of...clients in the area.”
To Catch a Thief--A High Stakes Romantic Suspense Page 15
