Page 5 of The Grandmaster's Pawn (Checkmate)

Her laugh leaves me undone, and I wonder how I’ve fallen so fast and so hard in only four days. She was a mark. Nothing more. Or so I thought. Until I met her in person. Now, I can barely focus on my plans to steal the Lewis Chessmen.

I want to know everything about Gemma. Her childhood. Her interests. What she tastes like. I haven’t thought of the Chessmen in more than twenty-four hours, and if I do not remedy this distraction, I fear I will lose something more valuable than the Chessmen. I will lose my edge. The cold detachment that makes me…who I am.

This morning, she wears a pale orange sweater that sets off her green eyes behind a pair of red-framed glasses. Short, unpainted nails, a simple silver bracelet on one wrist, a smartwatch on the other. No rings.

And her lips. Fuck me. I’m drawn to them. Just a hint of gloss. Full. Kissable.

“I should go,” she says as she drains the last of her vanilla latte. “I have a tour group coming in at one.”

“The Assistant Curator gives tours?” Offering her my hand, I help her to her feet just so I can steal one more moment of closeness. Her fingers curl around mine, and my arousal presses against my boxer briefs.

“On occasion. My master’s degree focuses on artifacts from the twelfth century, so when we get a group interested in that time period, I take over for one of the regular docents.” She smiles up at me. “I could giveyoua tour sometime. If you’d like.”

I step closer and rest my hand on her lower back. “A private tour? Perhaps…one that ends with dinner?”

The little hitch in her breath makes my heart beat faster.

“Get yourself under control, Daniel. Focus. You are here for the Chessmen.”

And then my dick—and perhaps my heart adds,“And Gemma.”

“Dinner?” she asks.

“My treat. I know a brilliant Italian restaurant not far from here.”

Gemma’s cheeks flush a delicious shade of pink. “Tonight?”

“Name the time.”

“I get off at 6:00. Come at 5:30 for a tour, and then you can take me anywhere you want.” Gemma wraps her fingers around my forearm for leverage and rises up on her toes. Her lips brush my cheek, and my cock rises to attention at her alluring scent. “Don’t be late.”

“Never.”

* * *

On my wayback to my flat, I stick to the side streets, my face hidden from the cameras by a black trilby. My mobile vibrates in my pocket, and I glance at the screen briefly as I tap my Bluetooth. “Tatiana. Tell me you have something.”

“Ulrich arrived in London five days ago. The day after you were so…sloppy.”

“Where is he staying?” Stopping at a traffic light, I let my gaze sweep over the crowds. No obvious threats, but that means little where Ulrich is concerned.

She huffs, and her accent thickens. “He is not so stupid as you,zadrota.”

“Keep looking.”

“Da. But get the package and get out of London. Or I fear this may be our last conversation.” Tatiana ends the call, and I grind my teeth together hard enough to give myself a headache. She’s right. If I can’t get the Chessmen before Ulrich makes his move, this could be my final job.

* * *

Gemma

My little compact mirror shows the frustrations of the day in the bags under my eyes. Digging into my purse, I retrieve my concealer and dot it over my skin. My first date in…well…three years, and I look like death warmed over.

The knock at my door startles me, and the concealer wand streaks across my cheek. “Shit.”

“Careful there.” Daniel’s smile warms me down to my toes, and he leans in and brushes his thumb over the smudge. All afternoon, I second-guessed myself over that quick little kiss. But now, caught in this moment, I want more. Much more.

When his other hand slides into my wavy brown locks, I tip my head up to meet his lips. His very firm, very demanding lips.

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