Page 26 of The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold
She was swinging their hands between them as they walked among the crowds of tourists. People rushed around them, selling cool bottles of water and little bags of coffee, paper fans and fake emeralds. He would have been tempted to buy a hat for himself, but he wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction.
“You’re drawing too much attention to yourself.” Because of course she was. She was the only cool thing for a hundred miles. She was brighter than the sun and more refreshing than the breeze, and every person who laid eyes on her spent a moment wondering who she was or how King got lucky enough to be the man holding her hand. And it was unacceptable. Every bit of it.
“Oh, darling. I can’t help drawing attention to myself. I’m adorable.”
“I know.” King had always prided himself on his excellent poker face, but the look on hers... “I mean, I know that you can’t help it.”
“Oh well...” They stopped in the shade of a church spire, and she reached for his white linen shirt—toying with the buttons. She raised her head slightly, eyes hidden from the world behind the brim of that ridiculous hat, but he could see her. He couldalwayssee her. There wasn’t an ounce of teasing in the voice that said, “I don’t say mercy, remember?”
“I remember everything.”
King regretted the words as soon as they were out, but Sterling just smirked up at him.
“Because I’m special?” The tease was back in her voice.
“Because I’m cursed.”
That, at last, surprised her. “What do you—”
“Okay, you two, this is a work trip, or do you need the reminder?” Merritt’s voice was in his ear then. Because Merritt’s voice wasalwaysin his head. “The shop is the one on the corner with the vines arching over the doorway.” They knew this already, but Merritt wasn’t in the mood to take chances. “Our man is Señor Lozano. His buyers are coming to town tomorrow morning. You need to get him to open the safe so we can see if our stones are in there. Then, if you get a chance, make the switch. If you don’t, we’ll send a black bag team in to do it tonight. For right now, we just have to get eyes on those stones.”
“We know,” King said, feeling frustrated. “We’re”—he couldn’t help but look down at the woman beside him—“ready.”
But the strangest part was when he realized it was true.
Chapter Fifteen
Alex
“Baby, come look at this one.” Alex beckoned to King from across the jewelry store. “What do you think?”
She pointed through the glass to an emerald that was deep green and perfectly clear and the color of the little rings that circled the blue of King’s eyes. Alex hated it instantly. She also wanted it desperately.
“Not big enough.” It was the size of a postage stamp and easily worth six figures, but Michael Kingsley III managed to look at it like it was a pebble in his shoe.
“But, sir...” the clerk started.
“Have you seen her?” King pointed at Alex. He let his hand linger on her back, then dip to the curve of her butt and tug her closer. He was still staring when he said, “Something bigger.”
“This is our largest stone on the floor at the moment, señor.”
“So it’s not the largest stone you have in the store?” King challenged, and the man blanched. He was young, and his suit was cheap and he had the nervous eyes of a dog that’s been kicked—hard and often.
“Well, we do have one larger stone in our office safe, but I’m afraid...”
“We’ll take it,” King said.
“But you have not seen—”
“Then show it to us.” King sounded impatient—maybe it was the role. Or maybe it was just him.
“It is not insured for the floor, señor. If you can come back in a few days...”
“Oh no!” Alex put a little extra whine in her voice. “We’re leaving tomorrow. Can’t we go to the office and look at it there?”
The door to the back opened and an older man emerged. Dark suit. Dark eyes. Slicked-back hair and perfect posture. Lozano. The salesman bristled just enough to show exactly who had been doing the kicking as Lozano headed their way.
“I’m afraid it’s now or never, my man,” King said. “Take us to the office if you have to, but if you can’t find a stone worthy of us, we’ll have to look elsewhere.” When King looked at Alex that time, there was something like hunger in his eyes. “My wife does not wear baubles.”
