Page 62 of The Chief
He nodded, jerking his chin further down the driveway. “Housekeepers enter through the back. Where’s Ricky?”
He must’ve been the guy we stole the van from. “He—he was called away on another job.”
Tension made sweat bead on my brow as I waited for this guy to call me on my bullshit and hold a gun to my temple. But that didn’t happen. Instead, he just nodded and waved me through. Sending him a grateful smile, I put my back into moving the cartonce more, until one of the wheels became jammed on a raised cobble and it came to an abrupt stop.
My eyes darted to the canvas cover, then to the guard, who was now walking this way. Flustered, I shoved the cart. My slight weight made it tip, leaving it teetering on three wheels. Keir’s weight only made the tilt more prominent, and I hurried to set the cart back to level.
“Need some help, lass?” the guard asked from behind me.
I spun around, giving him a wide smile. “Some help would be great. Thank you.”
He moved the gun, so it was lined up against his back, then stood on the heavier side of the cart. “This thing is unbalanced,” he commented. “What have you got in there?”
Shit, shit, shit. More sweat dripped down my back. “It’s the Hoover,” I said. “The damn thing weighs more than me.”
He laughed. “Yeah, my ma used to say the same thing.” Using more brute force than I ever could, he shoved the cart back onto four wheels, then got behind it to push. With very little effort, he guided the trolley—and Keir—toward the loading dock.
When we reached the back door, he leaned an elbow on the lip of the trolley and asked, “What’s a pretty girl like you doing working this job? You could be modeling.”
I felt the blush rise on my cheeks and cleared my throat. “I’m studying right now, and the extra cash helps.”
“Ah, smart and beautiful. What are you studying?”
“Nursing.” I’d learned that the best lies were grounded in truth; he’d assume it was here in Louth, and I wasn’t about to correct him. Propping my elbow on the side of the cart beside his, I rested my chin on my hand and leaned in. Body language was the key to selling attraction. Having been on my own for a decade, I knew the value of information and gleaning it when I could by any means necessary.
He inched closer, ghosting the back of his fingers along my cheek. “Fuck, lass, you’re like the package deal. What’s your name?”
“Milly.” I smirked to myself. Keir had called me that when the asshole couldn’t remember my name.
“I’m Theodore,” he said. “Teddy.” His dark eyes bounced over my face, darting to my mouth for a second before fixing back on my eyes. “I’d love to take you out to dinner, Milly.”
“I’d love that,” I replied, making my voice saccharine sweet.
Teddy reached into his pocket for his phone, ready to get my number, but I stopped him with my hand on his forearm.
“But I can’t jeopardize my job.” I dropped my eyes, nibbling on my bottom lip in mock thought. But when I peered up at him again, I added, “Although, maybe one date couldn’t hurt?”
“It definitely wouldn’t hurt. It can be our little secret.”
Flashing him a wide smile, I squeezed his forearm before releasing him. “I like a man who can be discreet. I’ll put my number in your phone.”
He handed me the device, unlocked, and I entered ‘my’ phone number. When I handed it back to him, he leaned in like he was going to kiss me. I could practically feel the anger radiating out of the laundry trolley, hearing all of this would be driving Keir crazy. My hand landed on Teddy’s chest, stopping him.
“I’ll call you later?”
He straightened, looking over my shoulder, then back at my face. “You’d better.” He turned and walked away, rounding the corner of the building.
“You’re in so much trouble, Jynx.” Keir’s voice was dark—a roiling storm about to break.
“Shh,” I chastised in a whisper. “There are people around.”
There weren’t.
The loading dock was quiet, so I pushed the cart through the double doors and into the building.
“Where are we going?” I asked in a quiet voice.
“We need to find either their basement or private quarters. They’ll be keeping her somewhere close.”
