Page 27 of The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold
Maybe it was sound of hearing his inventory labeled as baubles—or maybe it was good old-fashioned greed—but Miguel Lozano stopped halfway to the door and asked, “Is there a problem?”
Sometimes covers were shelters, and sometimes covers were keys. Used properly, they could get you in anywhere (even the most exclusive jewelry store in South America). They could unlock anything (even that store’s state-of-the-art safe). But, most of all, covers were reality—at least for a little while—so Alex couldn’t help but feel grateful that King’s cover was “American Asshole” and they didn’t have to work too hard to make it stick.
“I told my wife she could pick out a present, but none of these are worthy of her.”
“I’ve been a very good girl,” Alex said, and King coughed but Lozano was looking at her, almost leering.
“Is that so?” The man’s gaze traveled the length of Alex’s body and she leaned a little closer to King.
She didn’t need Merritt’s dossier to know this man liked his women like he liked his cars—fast and sleek and meant for far younger men with better reflexes. Alex could tell from the way he watched her. King was unnecessary then. Just a prop—a crutch. She wasn’t afraid of Lozano, but she was glad not to be alone in his presence. Because her cover wouldn’t want that.
Her cover wanted Michael Kingsley.
So Alex let herself gaze up at him. His hand was warm throughthe thin fabric of her dress. It felt good against the chill of the air conditioner. She rested her hand on the linen of his shirt. Toyed with the buttons.
“What kind of stone would the lady prefer?” Lozano asked, but Alex didn’t face him. There was a loose thread on King’s shirt and it was, suddenly, the most fascinating thing in the world.
“Tell him.” King’s voice was raw and low and so close, she could feel his breath on her cheek.
“Oh. Well, I want a big stone on a long chain. But not too long. Just long enough to dangle...” She blushed and looked away, too embarrassed to say it.
“Tell him.” King wasn’t coughing anymore. His eyes were dark and his lips were parted and it was like this whole moment was a punishment—or a dare. She’d made her bed, his look said. He was going to make her lie in it.
“Here.” Alex brought her fingertip to the neckline of her sundress and brushed against her cleavage. She watched King’s gaze go dark.
“Here?” King’s finger dipped in beside hers, rubbed against her soft skin, and so help her, it was all she could do not to whimper. The air was getting sucked out of the room, and for a moment, their eyes locked. Alex felt herself sway. She was actually grateful for the way his arm wrapped around her, anchoring her and keeping her close.
“Like I said...” King never took his eye off Alex and his finger stayed tucked inside her neckline, but it was the look that had them entangled. “We’re going to need that bigger stone.” One more brush of his finger. Deeper. Slower. “She’s been averygood girl.”
Alex was going to kill him for that. Later. But right then his gaze was like a tether and she couldn’t bring herself to break it.
Because of the cover. And the mission. And the lie that even Alex was tempted to believe.
“I see.” Lozano spoke to his employee in rapid Spanish, something about a call from a customer and a timeline being moved up. Lozano needed to lock up the store because whoever was coming was in a hurry and they didn’t like company.
She could see on King’s face that he’d heard it too. That he knew what it meant. And a silent conversation took place between the two of them.
Our buyer is on the way, isn’t he?
Yes.
We’re not going to have the option of breaking in tonight, are we?
No.
Wehave todo something now, don’t we?
Youare going to do nothing.Iwill do something.
I could do something.
Do not—
“Tell me what you’re interested in, señor.” Lozano was talking to King because King was The Man, and The Man had the money and the power. And, besides, King’s finger was still tucked into the front of Alex’s dress, which meant no one was paying attention to Alex’s eyes—which was exactly how Alex liked it.
King was talking about carats and cut and clarity, but Alex was aware of the puppy clerk going to flip the sign toclosed. She could see the sky getting dark outside, but, mostly, she was aware of the way Lozano kept glancing at the door, nervous and distracted, even if he didn’t want to show it. He was subtly shifting side to side, and his left hand kept brushing over his jacket pocket, as if to make sure something was still in there.
Something the size of a small pouch.
