Page 54 of The San Marco Heist

Visions flitted through my brain. Of everyonly one bedromance novel I’d ever read. He’d be staying with me tonight, but in a suite. I’d already slept there since Monday. There were two whole bedrooms, with a sitting room between them. How was I going to sleep with him so close?

Damn Rav and his change to our plans. Hell, I’d slept in the same bed as Rav more than once, and even after a few drinks, nothing ever happened. Our relationship was special. He was my protector, and I was his savior.

But goddamn Malcolm Sharpe. Mr. Didn’t Like How My Mom Treated Me.

“Except every time I touch you, you pull away.” He went to take my hand again, and I dodged it. “How do I know that’s not going to happen tomorrow night, even if I have your authorization? Because one little flinch could give us away.”

He was right again, and I hated him for it.

“Because it’s part of my job, Malcolm. You can be sure I’ll handle every situation exactly the way it needs to be handled. Trust me, if it’s appropriate, there will not be any flinching whatsoever.”

“There won’t be any on my end, either.” He shifted closer. Too close. So close I could smell his bergamot and vanilla cologne. See the tiny rim of green along the edge of his right iris, despite the dim lights. His eyes flashed down to my lips and back up again. Heat poured out of them and through my entire body. “I may be the newcomer to your little team, but I’m a professional, too.”

More visions. Of me grabbing his shirt and yanking his lips to mine. Of running my fingers through his hair and reveling in how soft it would be. Tasting the beer on his tongue. Inviting him to share my bed tonight.

Something slammed on the table, and I jumped away from Malcolm. Rav had taken a glass from the tray, more forcefully than need be, sloshing its contents over his hand. “I won.”

Malcolm lifted his glass in congratulations, no fear at the threat in my security specialist’s eyes.

Like he’d said. Not a flinch.

Chapter 22

Scarlett

Afterlastnightatthe pub, Malcolm and I had walked back to the hotel together, his arm around me, chatting and laughing. His luggage had already been moved into my room, so we were a couple to the outside world.

I’d barely slept. Every quiet noise sounded like him creeping toward my room. Some insane part of my brain hoped it was true, but he stayed away. He even showered and got dressed in the morning before coming out of his room.

Dec and Jayce were at Will’s place, going over the plan ten more times. Rav had spent most of the day with them but was collecting the Bentley.

Malcolm and I fell into our roles with ease. I’d put on the engagement and wedding rings I traveled with for cover, and he’d donned the one we picked up for him. We had brunch together in the hotel restaurant and wandered the hotel’s small art gallery. At three o’clock, I went off to the spa for a massage and beauty treatments, while he had a professional shave and a manicure.

Had it not been for the hours meeting virtually with the team before heading to the spa, I could have called it the perfect day. Pretending with Malcolm was easy. He took the job seriously and didn’t try to irritate me or throw me off once. Instead, he told jokes, talked about the places he’d visited, and asked a million questions about growing up that I couldn’t answer. Work was also off the table. As was my father. And his father.

We had a surprising amount in common, particularly the way we both had so many forbidden topics.

I stared at myself in my bathroom mirror. The ankle-length navy dress was covered in vertical pleats, with a halter which tied behind my neck in a large bow. Gold cuff bracelet, diamond drop earrings, and crystal-studded three-inch heels to match the clutch. Hair piled high at the back of my head with loose strands to frame my face, designed to highlight the plunging back of the dress.

It was almost go time. I dropped my phone, lipstick, fake ID, and a credit card into my clutch. Will had made quick work of adding a secret compartment within the lining for lockpicks, just in case.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. We’ll get the Chalcis Ring and bring Emmett home.

Head held high, I strode out of my room, rolling my suitcase behind me. We weren’t coming back after the party. Where we were headed with the ring was anyone’s guess, though.

What I should have seen was Malcolm, ready to go. Instead, he stood there with a buttoned tuxedo shirt, cuff links on the sitting room table, and a half-tied bow tie. He dropped the ends of the bow tie, his eyes dragging down the length of my body.

The dress wasn’t tight, but it skimmed over my curves, the subtle pleats leaving little to the imagination. That was the goal, but the way he looked at me, drank it all in, I felt utterly naked.

“I’m useless with a bow tie.”

“Try an internet search. Lots of sites will give you instructions.” I turned away from him, and he made a noise deep inside his chest that ricocheted all the way to my toes and back up to my core. The fabric of my dress shifted with each step, gliding over my hips, the plunging back falling to a few inches above my tailbone. Each movement had me imagining his hands exactly where his eyes likely were.

“You could tie it for me?”

I retrieved a bottle of sparkling water from the fridge and twisted it open. My makeup was perfect. Drinking from a bottle would leave a cranberry-colored stain on the bottle and I’d need to touch up. I didn’t actuallywantthe water. I needed something to hold on to. “We should review the levels of physicality one more time.”

“Of course.” A video began playing behind me, with bow tie instructions.

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