An Eye For Illusion: A Private Investigator Romantic Suspense: (Dunn Security Group Book 2)

Chapter 10

“Ijust miss you is all,” I lie.

I don’t miss him.

Those words coming from my mouth has my skin crawling with the need to take them back. I almost didn’t answer the phone call at all, but I have to get to the bottom of what’s going on with Elliott.

I don’t know if he’ll fall for the doting fiancé act, but I have to try. At this point, I’ll try anything to end this charade.

He doesn’t speak for a moment, like my words took him by surprise. He finally clears his throat. “I know, hun. I miss you, too.”

He’s on speakerphone, so Bridgette makes a barfing noise. I give her a stern look in return, and she cackles under her breath. She gestures with her hand for me to keep going. She’s the one who helped me come up with this plan to throw him off his game, hoping he’ll make mistakes.

Something has to give.

Her surprise visit tonight is just what I needed. We’ve had wine and watched sappy movies that I’d only watch with her. She’s the only one who knows about what happened between Moore and me. She’s the only one I can talk to about any of it.

“Well, I haven’t seen you since dinner two nights ago, and you cut that short. I know you said it’s work related, but what could’ve been going on that late in the evening?” I hold my breath and pray he gives me some bit of truth.

He blows out a frustrated breath. I bet he’s pacing back and forth in front of the giant ass mirror in his room, raking his hand through his hair while likely wishing I’d just leave him alone.

“Just work, babe. That’s all I can say.”

I sit up a little straighter. Was that a slip? Bridgette’s eyes widen some. She caught it, too.

“What do you mean? Who said you can’t say something?” My voice is raised, so I clear my throat, trying to scale back my reaction.

“Uh, it’s just a private deal. Um, high profile. Yeah, it’s a high-profile couple making a major purchase. They don’t want it leaked to the press.”

He just made that lie up as he stumbled through it. It isn’t outlandish to think that scenario could happen, but I don’t believe him.

“Who? Anyone I would know?” I press him.

“I can’t tell you that. It’s my client.”

“You’re a broker dealer, Elliott, not an attorney or a doctor. Geez. I’m your fiancé, for heaven’s sake.”

Bridgette raises an eyebrow at me, and I mouth I know. He won’t spill the beans about the secret life he’s leading, but this is the closest I’ve been to some kind of clue in months.

He never gives me answers with any substance. Hell, for the past few weeks we’ve barely spoken. Tonight, however, he seems keen to play into my little game, and I’m all for it.

He remains silent, and my earlier hopes of getting him to talk more are dashed.

“Can I see you this week?” I soften myself a bit to reel him back in.

“I’ll do my best, but I’m not sure when I’ll be free. I have to go, okay?” He sounds stressed and rushed. I almost feel bad for him, but then I remember what’s at stake.

My freaking freedom and my father’s safety.

Any compassion I may have had for him was squashed the night he threatened the one person I would give up everything for.

“Okay.” Asshole.

“Love you. Bye, babe.”

He ends the call before I respond. I toss my phone beside me on the sofa. At least he didn’t call me snookums. I loathe when he calls me that. He didn’t even really give me the chance to say I love you back, though I wouldn’t have wanted to. I haven’t ever told him I love him. That should have been the first red flag for both of us.

I’d think a man would want the woman he plans to marry to tell him she loves him at least occasionally, but Moore has never questioned me or demanded I say it. This is an arrangement in the truest form, one that I desperately want out of.

“Well, that line of questioning certainly made him nervous,” Bridgette says as she sips her wine. Her face is a perfect illustration of concentration.

“Something is going on with him.” I slam my fist down hard onto the cushion. “I just wish I fucking knew what it is!”

“The PI will find something. You just need to give it time,” she says.

“I don’t have time. That’s why I need to get something going on my end. Every day this damn wedding draws closer, the more I start to break out in anxious hives.”

I grab the bottle of wine from the coffee table in front of us and refill my glass.

“I understand why you want to push this along, but what if it backfires on you? We don’t know what he’s up to, and it could be dangerous,” Bridge scolds.

“The damn PI hasn’t found anything yet,and he followed Elliott and me to dinner the other night. What the hell does he think he’s going to get from us having dinner together?”

My frustration grows deeper day by day. The fact that I can’t get Colin calling me beautiful out of my head doesn’t help. It plays on a damn loop, over and over, until my panties are soaked, and I’m ready to punch him or crawl onto his lap to devour him.

At any given moment, it’s a toss-up on which emotion I feel.

She furrows her brow as she takes in the expression on my face. Suddenly, a goofy grin slides across her face. “Maybe he just wanted to see you all dolled up.”

I groan. “Not a chance…and ew. He’s not my type.” I wrinkle my nose, thinking of his cocky demeanor…

…and chiseled jawline.

I slap my hands on my thighs. “That’s enough of that talk. Colin is working for me, nothing more. Even if I were interested, and I’m not, I wouldn’t entertain it. I’m more professional than that.”

“Hmmm, I see.” Bridgette turns up the wineglass again as I pick up the remote, hoping to find a new movie to watch as a distraction.

“Have you ever told him you love him?” she asks after a few minutes of silence.

“Who the hell said anything about love? I just told you I can’t stand him!” I sit up straight on the couch, flabbergasted that she would even suggest something so outlandish.

She looks at me slack-jawed. “Woah, woah, woah, back up. Who are you talking about? Cause it sounds an awful lot like you’re talking about Colin—your strictly professional PI—and not your fiancé.”

My cheeks immediately heat, and an uncomfortable pounding starts in my chest. What in the absolute freaking hell just happened? Why did I just assume she was asking if I love Colin?

I stutter, “I… I… I…didn’t mean Colin.”

“Oh, my god! You absolutely did!”

“No! I really meant Elliott. I did!”

She sits wide-eyed, staring me down like I’m an animal on display at the zoo.

I slap my knee. “I did Bridgette, I swear!” I will die before I admit my first thought went to Colin, a man I barely know, instead of the man I’m freaking engaged to.

“Oh, honey. I don’t believe you, but for your sake, we can go back to the original question.”

I take the out she so graciously gives me. “I don’t think he’s noticed I haven’t said it back.”

She straightens on the couch and puts on her psychologist hat. I love this girl to death, but sometimes she just can’t turn off her work brain. Not that I can blame her. I have a hard time doing it as well.

“When the hell did he start telling you that he loved you?”

I try to think back to the first time. My memories with Elliott are now separated into two groups. There’s a “before that night” group and an after. Everything in the before is muddied and fuzzy.

“I think it was after a dinner with my father. We came back here, and he just randomly said it. There weren’t any feelings behind it. It almost seemed like he was saying it out of obligation. I just smiled and said, ‘You don’t have to do that.’”

Bridgette’s eyebrows furrow. “What did he say back?”

“He seemed a little surprised, but then said he wanted to. I don’t understand it. This relationship was never about love.”

“What’s he playing at here? In his mind, he already has you on the hook, so why is he trying so hard?” Bridgette contemplates.

“I don’t know. To keep me complacent? Quiet? Or maybe he’s deluded himself to the point that he believes this is real and that I truly want to marry him. At first, I was confused after that night. He didn’t say it for weeks after, but one night, he just started back. It was so jarring that I dropped the fork I was holding while I was eating.”

I think back to that night when we were out to dinner with my father, and he just casually threw it back out there. I wanted to throw up and stab him in the eye at the same time, but I couldn’t because he chose to say it in front of my father. A strategic move.

He knew how I felt after everything he’d said, and he knew I was stuck marrying him. It took everything in me to sit there and continue dinner like nothing had changed.

Because everything had fucking changed. Everything.

“Do you think there is a part of him that means it?” she asks.

I scoff. “No, I don’t. It always seems like he says it as an enticement. For what? I don’t know yet, but I sure as hell plan to figure it out.”

“Do you have any idea what he could be hiding?”

I shake my head. “I’ve racked my brain a thousand times. Embezzlement? Fraud? Money laundering? But I’d think that would mean he has a team or at least a partner. I can’t afford to have any lose ends here. What if it’s more than just Elliott and they come after us as well?”

Bridgette reaches over and grasps my hand. “We’ll figure this out together, and we’ll take that fucking scumbag down.” She pivots her hips so she’s fully facing me now. “Don’t you think you should at least warn Colin?”

Her question is one that I’ve asked myself a million times already, and I keep coming back to no. That may make me sound like a cold-hearted bitch, but I hired the best for a reason. If Colin is at least half as good as Dunn says he is, he will figure it out.

I don’t have any concrete proof to tell him or show him. All I have is a fiancé who threatened my father and me. Plus, he hasn’t earned my trust yet.

All I need is for Colin to do his job. If he does it well, I’ll be free and clear of Elliott Moore for the rest of my life.

“Not yet. I’ll tell him if I need to. I want to keep this as close to the vest as possible, and right now, Colin Fucking Brooks isn’t on the list.

Iwake up with new determination burning. Elliott won’t be able to brush me to the side with me standing in front of him. If he wants to screw with me, I’ll screw with him right back.

I slip into Elliott’s favorite form-fitting navy dress with a plunging neckline complimented by my best pushup bra. His eyes practically bug out any time he sees me in it.

Men. I roll my eyes at how simple they can be sometimes.

I curl my hair and decide to wear a pair of four-inch fuck me heels for added flare. I go lighter on the makeup since he isn’t a fan of lipstick stains. He mentioned that when we first started seeing each other. I roll my eyes at the memory of that conversation. I almost told him I wasn’t a fan of kissing him, anyway.

Ugh. What a dick.

I type out a quick text to my driver, Thomas, asking him to meet me outside in five. I don’t know exactly what I plan to do when I surprise Elliott at his office, but I know it’ll make my skin crawl to portray this over-the-top lovesick bimbo. But a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

I give myself another once over in my bathroom mirror, walk into my closet, and grab a small clutch before tossing my phone inside. If I weren’t going to see Elliott, I’d be thrilled with this outfit. However, the thought of him putting his hands all over me makes me scowl at my reflection. I walk out of the bathroom with a huff, slapping the light switch off as I leave the room.

When I open the front door, Thomas is waiting for me. He stands with the rear car door open.

“Ms. Foster.” He always greets me formally and with a kind smile.

“Thomas,” I offer a tight smile.

My mind is on the task in front of me. Schmoosing my own fiancé shouldn’t feel this disgusting, but I don’t really have a choice. Everything else I’ve tried so far hasn’t worked. I need Elliott to trust me, and the first step is to make him believe I actually like him.

I slide onto the backseat and wait for Thomas to close the door. He hurries around the front and gets into the driver’s seat.

“To the office, ma’am?” he asks as he pulls the shifter into drive.

“Uh, no, Thomas. Not yet. I’d like to go to Elliott’s office, please.”

His eyes immediately meet mine in the rearview mirror. He holds my gaze only for a few beats before looking through the windshield again.

“Yes, ma’am,” he says without another glance.

Thomas has never commented on any of my decisions or anything I’ve ever asked of him, but he knows my schedule and patterns. This is out of character for me.

I stare out the window on the drive to Elliott’s office. My palms grow sweaty the closer we get. I try to psych myself up for the performance ahead of me. It needs to be convincing because of how shaky things have been between the two of us.

I thought my plan was foolproof. I thought Elliott was harmless. I couldn’t have been more wrong, and if I don’t find a way to ensure he doesn’t come after my father and me, I’ll be forced to marry him to keep us safe.

My stomach churns at the very thought. I’m supposed to be smarter than this. I’m supposed to know better, but my drive to succeed is turning into a nightmare.

Elliott was supposed to be a safe choice. He’s successful on his own, and he’s attractive enough, though he’s not really my type. He has an energy that makes anyone around him comfortable. It’s why he’s so damn good at his job.

But I must have had the same blinders on that everyone else does, including my father. It’s why Elliott’s threat shook me to my core. It was the last thing I expected from the man I agreed to marry.

My mind veers off to a sinfully gorgeous man with the ego the size of New York. I scoff. Why can’t I get that frustrating man out of my head? He’s an infuriating, egomaniacal, pompous ass.

I shift uncomfortably on the seat to relieve the pressure that’s taken up residence in my core since the day I met him. I don’t trust my judgment anymore, and Colin Fucking Brooks is the last man I should be thinking about.

My thoughts once again go to Elliott while I focus out the window as we make our way down the city turnpike, heading toward the business district. Aside from our mutual clients, we don’t have any other people in common—friends or family. Well, except for his friendship with my father.

My heart sinks a little thinking of how hurt dad will be when this is finished. I know my happiness is ultimately Dad’s biggest concern, but the betrayal from Elliott will be an even bigger surprise for my father than it was to me.

I close my eyes and rest my head against the seat. Five minutes until I have to plaster a big fake smile on my face and gush over the man I’m desperately trying to free myself from.

I can do this… I can do this… I can do this.

Immediately, the images from my dream of Colin float into my mind, once again invading my thoughts. Hovering over me with his washboard abs on full display, his hooded eyes looking down at me beneath him while I ache for him to touch me. The sly grin on his face sends warmth through my body, immediately resting at my center. I press my thighs together to satisfy the ache between them.

The car slows to halt, and my eyes flutter open. We’re in front of Elliott’s building. Fuck. I don’t look at Thomas for fear he might show signs of knowing what I just fantasized about.

When the driver’s side door closes, I release a heavy breath. I sit upright and smooth my dress. Why the fuck is Colin Brooks haunting me while asleep and awake?

I allow that thought to fall away as Thomas opens my door and extends his hand to help me from my seat. Taking it, I step out of the car and smooth my dress again. It’s become a nervous habit. I reach back inside the car to retrieve my clutch.

I know Thomas senses my nerves when he says, “I’ll be right here when you’re ready, ma’am.” His kind smile eases the tension some.

“I won’t be long. I need to get to work myself. Just wanted to pop in to say hello to Elliott.” I force a big smile, and Thomas offers a genuine one, but I know he doesn’t buy an ounce of my bullshit.

I walk through the lobby with my shoulders squared and my chin held high. The persona I’ve made for myself is in full swing. I press the up button on the elevator, and the doors immediately open. A few people step off the elevator, leaving it empty for me. I press the button for the third floor and step back against the rail.

Just as the doors begin to close, a man passes in front of the elevator. I step forward, thinking I recognize him. The doors close before I can get a good look, and I shake my head.

“Get it together, Jade,” I scold myself. It wasn’t Colin, and I need to put him far from my mind in order to pull this off.

No distractions.

When the doors open, Elliott is standing in front of me. I’m startled, which is stupid. I’m here to see him, but I didn’t expect him to be right here, though.

“Jade,” he says with a contemplative smile spreading across his face. He’s just as surprised to see me as I was him just seconds ago.

I awkwardly open my arms, gripping my clutch in one hand and offer a big smile. “Surprise!” I say a little louder than I meant to. My nerves get the best of me.

Elliott looks up and down the hallway as his eyebrows draw together. It’s like he can’t quite believe I’m here, and he doesn’t know what to do with me. He plasters on a fake smile and steps into the elevator with me.

“I was just on my way out. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

Elliott presses the button for the parking garage, and the elevator doors close. It’s just the two of us in the small space, and I have to fight to keep from squirming. I steady my hands and walk over to him, pressing my body against his.

“No, I just…missed you.” I place a light kiss on his lips.

He sucks in a surprised gasp, but he doesn’t waste any time greeting me back. He wraps his arm around my waist, pulls me tighter against him, and then deepens the kiss, slipping his tongue past my lips. I force a soft moan because he has to believe I want this, that I’m ready to forgive him.

The elevator slows to a stop, and he breaks our connection. I couldn’t be more thankful for the reprieve. This is even harder than I thought it would be, and I didn’t have any preconceived notion that it would be easy.

A small group of people wait for the elevator as we step off into the parking garage. I force a bright smile as I cuddle into Elliott’s side. He rests his hand on my lower back, almost on my ass, as he glides me out of the building.

He’s silent as we walk through the parking garage, and I’m too stunned to make conversation. I expected a little bit of pushback, or at the very least for him to be hesitant. Instead, he took what I offered and barely blinked.

What the hell does that mean?

When we reach his car, he catches me off guard again. He turns me and presses my back against the driver’s door. Without hesitation, he leans down to kiss me hard on the lips. It takes a colossal amount of focus to relax my body into his arms.

I lift my arms and rest them around the back of his neck like I imagine I would do if I loved him—if I wanted him to kiss me like this—but I don’t. I want to knee him in the balls and lean down to his ear while he’s writhing on the cold, concrete floor and tell him to go fuck himself.

Unfortunately, I do none of those things. Instead, I run my free hand up his chest, fisting his perfectly ironed dress shirt in my hands as I tug him closer.

This better fucking work.

His hands hitch up my dress on both sides. They slide up my thighs and cup my ass hard. It’s barely covered by black lace panties. His bare hand hits my skin, and I fight back the uncomfortable shiver the contact causes.

He pulls me against his erection, grinding it against me. He breaks our kiss to trail his lips across my jaw before whispering low in my ear. “Is this what you really want? Because if it is, I can rock your world, babe.”

My stomach flips. I definitely don’t want that. I want to push him far away, but I’m far too invested to simply give up now. I simply moan back to him.

That simple sound drives him on. He kisses down my neck and swipes his tongue across my collarbone.

The sound of my phone ringing makes us jump. I’ve never been so thankful for a phone call in my life. I thought I could do this, but now I’m not so sure. I give a shaky smile in apology for the interruption.

He steps back and watches me carefully, as though he knows what I’m up to. The look he gives me makes me even more nervous as I fish my phone out of my purse. As soon as my fingers wrap around it, it stops ringing.

My heart rate ticks up when I see it was Colin who called. I glance around the parking garage, and a small gasp slips out when I see Colin’s eyes boring into mine. I quickly look back at Elliott, not wanting to give anything away.

“What is it?” he asks.

“There’s an emergency at the office,” I lie before sending Thomas a quick text instructing him to pick me up on the third floor of the parking garage.

I want to get out of here. The need to wash my body where he touched me to rid myself of him entirely fills my soul. I’m also having way too many emotions about the fact that Colin caught me kissing the man I’m supposed to be marrying.

Fuck my life.

Elliott says nothing as he watches me straighten my clothes. My smile on the outside says I’m in love, but on the inside, it’s shaky, a little broken, and a lot scared.

I blow out a relieved breath when Thomas pulls up behind Elliott’s car. He hops out quickly, rounding the car to open the back passenger door for me.

He tips his head to Elliott. “Mr. Moore.”

“Thomas,” Elliott says, not friendly but casual.

I turn my attention to Elliott. “Will you call me later?” I hope like hell this little show isn’t in vain and that I’ve made some headway with him.

He leans down, his eyes zeroing in on my face as they scrutinize me. I want to squirm under his gaze, but I hold myself still. I won’t cower in front of this man.

“Yeah, babe. I’ll call you.”

The way he says babe causes my stomach to do another summersault. I don’t believe him for one second, but there isn’t much else I can do here. I nod and walk over to slide onto the backseat before closing the door myself.

I don’t look back at him again.

Thomas gets back in the driver’s seat, and we pull out of the parking garage. As soon as we’re on the road, I pull my phone from my bag and press Colin’s number. I hope he called because he found something. I don’t know how much more I can take.