Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
I smiled since she was spot on with that last assessment. “True. Even I have limits.”
She laughed as she shook her head, bemused. Her eyes roamed over my face, my chest, my arms, but her gaze wasn’t sexual. It was…assessing. She was weighing my offer.
I had to be patient, though I wanted her to accept it. The last time I’d worked with a woman, I’d been burned, nearly lost everything. The difference was, this time, I had no plan to let Ruby into my heart. This was strictly business.
“All right,” she finally said, and bam. There it was. That tone of voice that said she was working with me, not against me. “I admit you have traits that would come in handy.”
“I come in very, very handy,” I said dryly.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m agreeing with you, Captain Adventure. You could wander around town, ask questions here and there, act like a tourist, and no one would think anything of it. That could be helpful to me.”
I leaned forward onto my elbows and took a conspiratorial tone. “Does this mean we’re working together, Ariel?”
She nodded, then lowered her voice to a whispered warning. “We are,” she said, a smile sneaking onto her face.
I wanted to kiss it off. She’d made me work for this one all right, and hell, if that didn’t make her more attractive. But I knew kissing would lead to trouble. I didn’t need any trouble. Seemed she didn’t either, since she said, “But just work. No more late nights on a lounge chair.”
I already missed those late nights we wouldn’t be having. But I agreed. “Business. Only business,” I said.
I didn’t fool myself that it would be easy to ignore the desire I felt for her. Still, for this to work, our affair had to end. I set down my fork and offered a hand for her to shake. “Partners.”
“Platonic partners,” she added.
“Platonic partners,” I repeated as we shook across the cake. I could do this. I could absolutely keep my hands off her—no problem.
But as she licked that cake and ice cream off the fork, I couldn’t help but be jealous of a utensil.
16
THE VIP TREATMENT
Ruby
I’d planned for the nightclub contingency.
While I was no clubber, I’d anticipated that I’d need to visit Sapphire at some point during my trip and packed accordingly. The slinky black dress hugged my hips and boosted my breasts, leaving little to the imagination. Ninety-nine percent of my wardrobe was shorts, bikinis, and tank tops, but even I needed a Little Black Dress. I trusted this one to help me blend in at the glittery, sparkling blue club that pulsed with music, liquor, and dark lights.
The beefy security guard lifted the velvet rope, ushering me inside.
“Welcome to Sapphire, Ms. Ashley,” the guard said.
“Thank you so much.”
I’d accepted Eli’s offer of the VIP treatment. Jake had made a valid point that I couldn’t slip through town unknown, so I would use my access to my advantage.
Our advantage now.
Last night, he’d been my beachside lover, but tonight we were hands-off partners. A call to Andrew after lunch confirmed that Jake was his man, so that was one less worry I had about teaming up with him. Besides, Jake had made a good pitch that we could crack this “case” much faster and easier together.
Even though I was entering the club solo, I wasn’t alone. Jake had arrived earlier, texting me to let me know that he was here.
A pretty woman with chestnut hair and a warm smile greeted me at the back door. “I’m Clarissa. I’m the assistant manager. Nigel is tied up, but I’m here to help with any requests you might have.” She flashed me a bright smile and offered her hand, which I shook.
“So great to meet you,” I said. “I’m excited to see the club.”
“Let me give you a quick tour, and then we’ll find you a place out front when Amelia performs.”
Like an efficient and helpful hotel concierge, Clarissa steered me through the club, pointing out the obvious. The long mirrored bar was, indeed, the bar, and the black hardwood floor was, in fact, the dance floor. But the VIP treatment was welcome when Clarissa plowed through the crowds on the winding staircase that led to the second level, where a balcony wrapped entirely around the dance floor, giving a perfect view of the crowds below.
Including Jake.
He leaned casually against the bar, a glass of what looked to be scotch in his hand. No Tommy Bahama shirt tonight. He wore a black T-shirt that showed off his toned, muscular arms and a pair of dark blue jeans. Simple, yet totally hot, even from a distance. I made eye contact, just for a moment, and he walked away from the bar.
On cue.
That was the plan—as I got the tour, he’d follow behind, peeking into corners, checking for secret passageways, assessing possible locations for a safe.