Page 3 of Liar For Hire (For Hire 1)

“He? Ah, you mean your latest connection. What was the site you found him on—Take My Money and Give Me a Loser Dot Com?”

“You’re not funny.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No you aren’t. Now, will you listen?” She told him about the client, one of many with the same issue. The client wanted him to charm the target, either into a deal or out of one.

Declan never took money illegally, of course. His job varied according to his client’s needs. This particular client needed him to turn his partner’s head.

“I don’t normally take a case like this,” he said with caution.

“You mean you can’t handle a man?”

“Don’t be absurd.”

“Is that a yes or no?”

He brought the information up on Janessa’s date. Earlier, he had managed to get the man’s name and it was all smooth sailing from there. He didn’t like what he saw on the screen and frowned.

“Are you there, Declan?”

“I’m here. Are you sure this guy is what you’re looking for?”

“Hang on.” He watched her cup a hand around the phone, and her voice lowered. “I’ll call you back.”

Declan knew why she ended the call. Her date returned from the restroom. Declan climbed out his car and leaned against it. He had parked in a good spot where a large tree shaded him and his vehicle sufficiently. He could keep an eye on Janessa without her spotting him.

The man of average height and build sat down with Janessa and reached across the table to take her hand. Her laughter carried on the evening breeze, and he imagined it sounded forced. Janessa didn’t enjoy empty compliments, although that was probably his fault. He was the master of them.

Declan strolled around his car to stretch his legs and then leaned against the tree. He prepared for a long wait for something interesting to happen. To his surprise, the date stood again as he checked his phone. He spoke to Janessa and left the table.

On cue, Declan’s phone rang. Janessa called him, but he decided to let her wait for a bit while he followed her date. After circling around to the restaurant’s side entrance, Declan almost bumped into Janessa’s date. He scurried past Declan, hardly seeing him, and ducked into an alley. Declan, of course, followed.

“I’m sorry I’m running late,” the man was saying into his phone. “I won’t be too much longer. I promise.”

Wait until he finishes his conversation, Declan.

Even as he instructed himself to be patient, he strode over to the guy and nabbed his phone. With a rough jab, he ended the call and tossed the phone back. The man almost dropped it on the ground.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”

Declan kept his tone even. “Tell you what, why don’t you go on to whatever date you have after this one. And you can lose her number.”

The man snarled. “You’ve got the wrong one, pal.”

“Janessa Waverly, correct?”

The guy’s eyes widened.

“That’s what I thought.” Declan nodded. “I’m telling you to get lost. Forget you met her. Don’t go back to the table. Just beat it.”

“My date isn’t over.”

“It’s over. Don’t waste her time or mine. Go on to the next one.”

Normally, when Declan veiled a threat in a smile and a pleasant tone, the person got the message. This guy was stubborn.

“Oh, I see how it is,” he said. “You want her, and you don’t want anyone else to have her.”

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