Page 24 of Blind Luck

“Mav saw some video of your friend punching a man on a jet ski and decided that’s the type of woman he’d like to get to know.”

“I’m afraid he’s out of luck there. Erin isn’t interested in men.”

“Relax, I wasn’t going to give him her number.” Then curiosity got the better of him. “She’s into women?”

“She doesn’t date, period. So if you think this is going to be anything other than a surveillance job for her, then we’ll call off the arrangement right now.”

Ari sounded strangely protective. Fierce, even. Boy, she really didn’t want her assistant corrupted. Or had she googled Maverick Johansen and found out about his reputation?

“I’m not interested in anyone but my girl back home, and Mav is in Norway for another three weeks.” Maybe longer if the wedding turned into a shitshow. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Does it involve any lewd suggestions?”

“I’m not that kind of guy.”

And it actually hurt that Ari thought he might be. Hadn’t he acted the perfect gentleman with Erin earlier? Okay, so his hand had strayed close to her ass, but he’d been holding her over a sink at the time.

“In that case, go ahead.”

“If you were about to get married and your fiancé cheated with a stripper, would you want to know?”

“Too damn right, but someone better remove the scissors from the house first. Why? Is this something to do with the Kelsey case?”

“No, Mav’s at his cousin’s wedding.”

“Yikes.”

“I said he should get evidence and tell her, but he’s worried all the women in his family will hate him.”

“That’s a risk, but they’ll hate him more if they find out he knew and kept his mouth shut. So, surveillance… What time do you want Erin to meet you?”

“Kelsey’s staying at the Neptune, and she’s an early riser. She’s been going to the dining room for breakfast at seven, so I guess we should avoid going in there. I’ve been waiting in the seating area opposite for her to leave. There’s a palm tree big enough for a person to hide behind, but I’m not sure two people will fit.”

“First rule of surveillance—it’s often easier to hide in plain sight.”

“What if Kelsey sees us?”

“Just act as if you belong.”

“You make it sound simple.”

“I’ll have Erin meet you at Maverick’s place at six. Get some sleep.”

For a whole hour? Terrific.

The knock on the door came at five fifty-eight, and when Rusty opened it, Erin looked far too perky for that time in the morning.

“I would have brought coffee, but this place is fancy, so I figured you probably had a machine for that.” She hesitated for a moment, then squared her shoulders and walked in without being invited. “I’ll make the drinks while you put on a shirt.”

“You’re early,” was all he managed to get out.

“Better two minutes early than a minute late, that’swhat my momma used to say. Do you take milk and sugar?”

“Milk, no sugar.”

Okay, this wasn’t normal. Erin turned her back on him and skipped to the kitchen without ogling his abs, so maybe Ari had been lying about the lesbian thing? Every woman looked at his abs, even the ones who pretended not to. Rusty returned to the bedroom, bemused, and pulled on a Nevada Storm shirt he’d found in Mav’s closet. His conscience whisperedtraitor, traitor, traitor, but no self-respecting Commanders player would be seen dead with a rival’s logo on his chest, so the shirt worked as a disguise of sorts.

Fully dressed, he headed for the kitchen, where he could hear Erin opening and closing cupboards.

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