Page 30 of Dirty Little Sins

I blinked for a moment more before I began gathering my thoughts. "I have no plans to sleep with you tonight. We're supposed to be finding a blackmailer together and that's it."

His lips curved into something I'd say crossed between a smirk and a smile. "I almost believe that you believe that's all that's between us." His gaze went dark and molten in a blink. "Almost."

I didn't want to admit it, but getting lost in all that heat and control emanating from him didn't sound all bad. In a different time and place. I took a deep breath and released it nice and slow. My pulse raced and I needed to get it back under control.

"What are we doing?" I fell back against the seat and sank into the soft leather covering. That it felt like sinking into warm butter only made it harder for me to concentrate on doing the right thing.

"We're exploring, babe. We are consenting adults with intersecting interests. Why wouldn't we see where that goes?"

"I think that goes without saying, but I'll remind you anyway. There are pictures out there that could damage us both. Maybe me more than you, but still. I don't think either of us is ready for a huge scandal right now."

He nodded. "Agreed. That's why I've hired someone professional to investigate for us. It's too important for us to screw around with, wouldn't you say?"

I tipped my head forward and dragged my gaze to his. As usual the dark intensity of his beautiful eyes sucked me in. I wanted to give in, I really did. But my fear was still palpable as was the sting of being broke. The facade I had to maintain exhausted me, but I had to keep going like this until I got my career to the point I didn't have to worry quite so much.

Everything hinged on this restaurant opening. If that went well then I believed everything I'd dreamed of would finally fall in place. The network would want to renew the show and a successful Las Vegas restaurant would open doors far beyond my expectations.

To take another risk with this beautiful man right now would be too crazy.

Right?

"You told someone else?" I finally asked after putting the brakes on my runaway thoughts.

"Don't worry. Hiring him meant an ironclad non-disclosure contract and complete discretion."

Some of the alarm I felt dissipated, but not by much. "I don't know... Secrets in this business are almost nonexistent."

"Well, blackmail isn't. And if we don't find out who's responsible, there's the constant threat that it could happen again looming over us. I for one, will not tolerate that kind of thing and you shouldn't either."

Anger flared inside me. As much as I enjoyed Vincent's brand of sexual magnetism and control, when it came to my livelihood and career, I did not want the interference.

"Don't presume to know what is best for me. You should have come to me before confiding my secrets to a stranger."

A frown suddenly marred Vincent's beautifully carved face. His jaw hardened and that little muscle just below his cheek twitched.

"Don't look at me like that either. I am not a child. This is MY life."

"If you don't want me to look at you like that, then don't act like that. You are absolutely not alone in this situation. I'm in those pictures too."

"I thought you said they wouldn't hurt you." My anger had morphed into high gear and it was full steam ahead. "What's really going on here?"

I glanced toward the driver and the thin glass that separated us from him. He'd probably figured it all out too.

"It's soundproof. He doesn't hear anything I don't want him to."

I didn't care. That I had the sudden urge to stick my tongue out or flip him the bird unnerved me. I was starting to lose it again.

"This whole think sucks."

He stared at me for another heartbeat before he let out a chuckle and shook his head.

"Am I amusing you? Is that where we've gone now? You find this funny?"

His jaw tightened and his smile died. "If you don't want me to laugh, then don't be ridiculous. Hiring a discreet professional was the best option here. Or are you prepared to have to pay your blackmailer again? In my experience, once they get a taste for the money and they know they have you over a barrel, then nine times out of ten they will be back again and demanding more."

I took another deep breath and held it for a few seconds. I had thought of that, but at the time I didn't see any other choice.

"And what will you do when we find out who it is? How can we make it stop?"

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