Page 10 of Fugitive Flirtation

“That’s just a detail,” Ice answers.“It’s enough for a reasonable doubt since in that bank he’s wired money in the name of the receptionist.”

“He did the same thing to Hilda? Can we prove it?” Alicia asks anxiously.

“Yep, we can because this time, the idiot felt so confident he could pull this off that he opened those accounts and transferred the money with a computer connected to his home modem. A few days later he went to this branch to move some money to another account.”

My jaw tightens as the pieces fall into place.

“Son of a bitch,” I mutter, anger rising. “He did set you up.”

Alicia slumps onto the couch, her hands trembling as she takes in the evidence.

“I can never thank you enough,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “I would never have found that on my own.”

I sink down beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ve got proof now. You’re in the clear.”

Relief washes over her face, and she leans into my touch, seeking comfort.

It feels like the most natural thing in the world. All my blood flies south, but I can’t think about my jeans being too tight—Ice clears his throat, reminding us of his presence.

“So, our next moves,” he says, his tone all business. “Ghost is working on tracing the money that just left the new account, but we need to move fast before Blackwell Junior catches wind of what we know.”

“I don’t think it’s David we need to worry about,” I say. “According to Alicia, he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer.”

“You’re saying he’s working with someone else?”

I turn to Alicia and ask, “You said he played poker every single night, right?”

Alicia nods.

“Are you sure he only plays with his friends?”

“I see where you’re going with that,” Ice says. “You’re thinking he got invited to more serious tables and got scammed.”

“Yeah, and the scammers would be the ones who had helped him set up this mess and hired some goons?”

“That would make sense,” Alicia chimes in.

“Okay then, I’ll ask Ghost to look into that too,” Ice says. “We’ll tie up all the loose ends while you baby-sit the lady.”

“You mean you’re going to keep me here?” Alicia asks.

“Yeah, and then when the coast is clear, we’ll bring you back to justice.”

“But, but…”

IgnoringAlicia, my boss presses on the alarm button that gives him 30 seconds to leave the place and slips out. She shivers beside me, and I pull her closer, offering reassurance I can.

“You’re safe now,” I murmur, my lips brushing against her forehead. “I’ve got your back.”

A few hours ago, I didn’t even know this woman and right this second, I can’t think of anything more important than ensuring her safety and clearing her name.

The tension between us is incredible but we manage to spend the day not acting on it. We talka lot, laugh a little, cook lunch, binge-watch a series, prepare dinner.

But as the day ends, as we pull out the sofa bed we need to share for the night, I find it impossible not to deny the magnetic pull drawing me closer to Alicia. Her eyes are wide, filled with a mix of fear and desire. I lean in, my heart pounding as our lips meet in a light kiss.

Alicia’s body melts into mine, her fingers tangling in my hair as our kiss becomes more passionate. The world around us fades away, and all that matters is the connection between us. I trace my hands down her back, pulling her even closer.

Suddenly, Alicia breaks away, her breath coming in short gasps. “We can’t do this.”

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