Page 10 of Hidden Dane
A smile grew on his face. She’d called him out. No one else had ever talked to him like she did, even though it didn’t go in his favor. He opened the door and held it for her. “Emily, I like being with you again.”
She stood in the hallway and waited for him to close her door and then brushed her hand against the necklace as she lifted her brow. “Because I won’t let you get away with trying to steal my necklace?”
Emily sashayed before him and he stared at her every curve. No other woman in these years had tasted anything as sweet as Emily. Her kiss had packed a punch when he was still just a boy and the sway of her hips now made him think she might be the only woman to get under his skin. “The bank could be dangerous and I want you to stay here.”
She hit the elevator button and stepped in front of him. “I’m going, Dane.”
The doors opened and he had no answer to how alive she made him feel. She was like a wind that just swept in and woke him up as he followed her into the elevator. “It was worth a try. Let’s go…”
The elevator smelled like Emily’s perfume, soft and floral, as they rode down in silence. The doors opened and he briefly brushed against her arm, but she didn’t wait.
Brady and Henry rose from their seats in the lobby and Emily walked over with her hand out in greeting. “Hi. I’m Emily Mira. Thank you for helping me get out of the club yesterday. I appreciate it.” She then turned toward him and asked, “Who is who of your associates?”
Right. If she was staying, then she needed to know everyone. He tapped his friend on the back. “Emily, this is Doctor Brady Booker.”
She smiled at Brady, who grinned back, his metal-framed glasses reflecting the light. . Emily turned toward his closest ally and nodded at Henry, who had a slight scar on his cheek like he’d lost a bar fight once. “That makes you, Henry Kavanah. It’s nice to meet you both officially.”
Brady offered his arm to leave the hotel. Emily accepted and continued to walk in front of him as they headed toward the limo waiting outside. Brady said, “Uriel doesn’t usually bring women on our adventures.”
She flipped her bobbed blonde hair and winked at Uriel as she stood near the limo. “Adventures. When was the last one you boys had?”
“Cairo,” Brady answered. In the same moment, Henry said, “Hong Kong.” Shaking his head, Uriel claimed, “Nowhere.”
“Interesting.” She ducked inside and the three men followed. Once Henry closed the door, she met Uriel’s gaze and said, “This morning at the bank will also beinteresting.”
Brady and Henry kept quiet, as if staying out of what was happening between him and Emily. His plan was simple. London police and security were top notch at the exclusive bank. So, they’d go in, retrieve whatever he had in the box, and leave. Once he saw the jewels to see what they actually were, he’d call the CIA and fly out of London within the hour. Not that Emily knew that.
Undaunted, Emily watched confidently out the window as if she belonged here, with him.
With Emily, andonlyher really, could he remember being just Dane and not hating his life.
Most of his teen years had been pure torture that he’d rather forget. All except the moments with her.
The limo stopped and her shoulders bounced as they parked in front of the bank. She said, “And we’re here.” She exited without waiting for the driver.
Was she nervous? Excited? A cold wind brushed against him as he stepped out and studied Emily, who stood on the sidewalk already. She somehow glowed like the embodiment of life itself. He pressed his hand on her lower back and quietly said, “Emily, give me the necklace now. I’ll give it back once we’re in.”
Her hands trembled but she unhooked the clasp and met his gaze. Her lips were full as she said, “Dane…”
“Stay with Henry.” He clutched the necklace, unable to believe it was finally in his grasp.
Now he needed to ensureshewas safe.
She brushed his hand off her back and walked toward the bank door with a simple word for him. “No.”
“Emily,” he said, while she reached for the door. He took the handle from her and held it open for him and the others.
“We don’t have time.” She motioned toward the desk behind a mahogany counter staffed with one man. Above him was a safety deposit box sign
The four of them headed over together, and he showed the necklace to the clerk, who asked him to sign in.
Behind him, he heard Brady ask Emily, “How do you two know each other?”
“Uriel took me to prom,” Emily answered. Uriel glanced backward and saw how Emily bounced up and down as she smiled at him.
His heart warmed as he signed his name in the ledger.
The banker then waved for him to follow and Uriel pressed his hand on Emily’s back, urging her forward.
