Page 6 of Secret Sin

Taking a deep breath, I dialed Pippa and waited.

“Hello?” The sound of her sexy, vibrant voice eased the vise that had clamped tight around my chest the second I realized she had disappeared. That was, until I heard a man’s voice in the background.

“Let’s go back to the bedroom. I’ve got something special to show you.”

Every muscle in my goddamn body threatened to snap with strain. Who the fuck was with her?

“It’s me,” I forced past clenched teeth.

“Oh!” she said with genuine surprise. “I didn’t know you had my number.”

“Am I interrupting something?” My voice was as sharp as a blade. It was a little much, but I couldn’t help myself. The thought of her already off with someone else had me itching for a fight. “It’s only been a few hours since it was my bedroom you were checking out. Seems awfully quick to do more exploring.”

“Excuse me?” Her voice dropped to a hushed whisper. “Are you seriously upset with me?”

“Not crazy about you running out after everything that happened.” I could hear how crazy my words sounded, but there was no stopping them. Emotion got the better of me.

Pippa sighed. “Listen, it’s not a big deal, okay? I’m sorry that I misled you, but you don’t have anything to worry about. I’m not expecting anything from you.”

I didn’t think she could have said anything that would have pissed me off more. Like she thought I’d be relieved to cut and run.

I took in a slow, deep breath to calm myself.

“You and I need to talk,” I managed to say in a civil tone just as the man’s voice in the background spoke again, rattling my newfound control. “Who the fuck is that?” I demanded.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but it’s myreal estate agent. No need to get your panties in a wad. I’m looking for an apartment, and one unexpectedly came on the market. Now, I don’t want to waste his time, so I need to go.”

“I need his name,” I demanded.

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re alone with this guy, and I want to know where to look should anything happen to you.”

Another sigh. “You’re being ridiculous, but I don’t want to argue. His name is Clint McAllister. Happy?”

“Hardly,” I shot back dryly.

“Bye, Bishop,” she sang before the line went dead.

* * *

“This is Tom Pruitt.I’m a lending agent at First National. We’re trying to close on the Central Park South property and have some big problems here. I’ve tried to call Clint McAllister, who is listed as the buyer’s agent, but he’s not answering his phone.” I infused as much authoritarian urgency in my voice as possible. People are innately followers. Present yourself with sufficient confidence, and you can get people to do just about anything.

“Oh! I’m so sorry, sir. He’s with a client at a property right now.” The receptionist’s voice was wrought with worry. As I’d planned, she had no desire to be pinned with the responsibility of a sale falling through.

“This twenty-million-dollar deal is in jeopardy of not closing if I can’t get to him. Do you know the address where he’s at? I could send someone to get him a message in person.”

“Yes, of course. Let me get that for you.” Not bothering to check my name or credentials, the woman read off an address located not five minutes from my place.

Perfect. I should be able to get there in time.

“Thanks for your help.” I hung up and rushed from my apartment.

Ten minutes later, I was stationed in the lobby of a swanky apartment building when Pippa and her real estate agent stepped off the elevator. She’d changed her outfit into a baby-blue sheath dress that brought out the golden color of her skin. The look was striking but professional, and I hated that she might have wanted to look nice for the asshole at her side. Clint McAllister was close to my age, maybe a couple of years older. He was fit, reasonably attractive, and standing ten inches too close to my woman.

Your woman? Have you lost your goddamn mind?

I didn’t know what the hell had come over me, but there seemed to be no stopping it.

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