Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Later that night . . .
Coulter tugged at the collar of his starched white shirt, stretching his tense neck as he knocked on Alex’s door. He shouldn’t be nervous. He was CIA, for crying out loud.
I don’t get freaking nervous.
Yet here he was, waiting for her to answer the door like a wired teenage boy preparing for prom. Only this wasn’t prom, and unfortunately for him, he wasn’t Alex’s date. He was simply the one who’d be watching from the shadows while she was wined and dined by that asshat Crawford.
His knuckles tapped against the door’s smooth surface a little harder than before. As soon as he did, Coulter forced his lungs to pull in a long, calming, deep breath. He blew it out slowly, willing himself to chill the hell out.
The one-man surveillance show he had planned for tonight was something he’d done a million times over. It was just dinner. One meal and after that, Alex would be out of Crawford’s dark orbit forever.
Coulter lifted his hand, preparing to knock a third time when the door suddenly opened. His jaw dropped open, and the world around him stood still.
Holy mother of—
His mouth went desert dry, and his lungs suddenly ceased to move. He froze, his stunned gaze warring with his mind to accept what he was seeing. It was Alex, only this wasn’t like any version of the beautiful artist he’d seen before.
She was breathtaking—literally—and for a brief moment in time, all he could do was stare.
Her dark, chin-length bob had been pulled back on one side by a hidden clip. Thick, wavy curls surrounded her gorgeous, flawless face in a way that reminded him of timeless Hollywood glamour.
Alex’s makeup had been done in a way that highlighted the woman’s natural beauty. Her lids were smokey, her lashes long and thick. A touch of pink graced her cheeks, and her bow-shaped lips were a perfect match to her shimmering dress.
That dress.
The haltered cowl neck draped low, giving him a clear glimpse of her shallow cleavage and a slight peek of the swells of her exquisite breasts. The sequined material kept her modesty intact while simultaneously showcasing the woman’s obvious sexual appeal.
Tapering in at the waist, the shiny, red fabric hugged her flat midsection and the feminine curve of her hips. Coulter’s gaze continued lower, not stopping until he reached its hem. The dress stopped mid-thigh, and his imagination went wild as he wondered what she was wearing underneath.
A soft clearing of Alex’s throat brought his focus back up to her stunning gaze. There was a kind of knowing there. A glimmer of confident humor, and it was all he could do not to reach up and check the corner of his mouth for drool.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Her ruby red lips curved ever-so-slightly. She eyed his suit with a hint of a frown. “Nice suit. Hot date?”
“If you call hanging out at an over-dressed, overpriced restaurant alone a hot date, Sure. We can go with that.”
Her brow fell flat as his words sank in. “You aren’t seriously going to—”
“Spy on you and Crawford? You bet your sweet ass, I am.”
“Colt—”
“It’s Cole, and this is my job, remember?”
“To spy on me?”
To protect you. “To keep an eye on my target. But don’t worry. I promise you won’t even know I’m there.”
“This is insane.”
“It’s just a precaution. Oh, and I almost forgot.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvety rectangular box. “This is for you.”
Alex looked down at the small case as if it were poisonous to the touch. “What is it?”
“Open it up, and you’ll see.”
She reached for the box, her fingers brushing against his as she took it from his hand. Coulter schooled his expression, unwilling to let her see just how powerful her fleeting touch could be.
“Go on,” he prodded. “Open it.”
She eyed him suspiciously before prying the hinged top open. A tiny hitch of her breath sounded with the slight parting of her ruby red lips.
“Co—”
“Cole,” he reminded her softly. “And don’t worry, it didn’t cost as much as you think.”
The diamonds weren’t real, but to the naked eye, they sure as heck looked it.
“I don’t understand.”
“What’s to understand?” He shrugged. “I know you like bling, and I figured it would go nicely with whatever dress you chose. Here let me help.” He gently took the box back and removed the piece of delicate jewelry before closing its lid. “Give me your wrist.”
She lifted her left hand up and waited patiently as he secured the dainty clasp.
“It’s beautiful. Unnecessary, but beautiful.” Her appreciative gaze returned to his. “Thank you . . . Cole.”
A twinge of guilt made its presence known, but he pushed it aside. “You’re welcome.” He tore his focus away to glance at his watch. “Crawford should be here any minute. Come on. I’ll walk you to the elevator and then I’ll head for the stairs.”
“The stairs?” She motioned for him to keep the door open while she grabbed her purse from the chair resting a few feet away. “Why not just ride down with me?”
Keeping an eye on the hallway for any possible eyes or ears, Colt explained, “I can’t risk him seeing us together.”
Alex returned in seconds, but just as she was about to step out of her room, her nude-heeled foot paused over the threshold mid-stride.
He watched her closely. “What is it?”
“Is this really going to work?” Uncertainty had her dark brows dipping together in the center as she lowered her foot to the floor. “I know I’m the one who fought to keep my plans with Gordan, but now . . .” A deep sigh had her bare shoulders falling. “I don’t know if I can do it.”
“Do what?”
“Sit across from him and act like everything’s normal.”
“Normal’s highly over-rated,” he attempted to lighten the mood.
Her lips curved in the tiniest of grins. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.” Coulter nodded. “I also know you’re going to be fine.”
“What if he asks me about you?”
“If he does, you stick to the story. We met here last night and shared a ride to his party.”
“That’s not all we shared.” A slight flush crept into her cheeks. “Gordan saw us kissing, remember?”
It was a moment he’d never forget.
“It was one kiss, Alex. And like I told him last night, we got caught up in the moment and let the atmosphere and champagne go to our heads.”
For Coulter, it had been a gametime decision meant to shield Alex from Crawford’s sights. He’d convinced himself it was the perfect way to ensure she didn’t appear a viable prospect for his personal endeavors.
The plan backfired stupendously, however, because the man still invited her to dinner after the fact. As for Coulter—
I’ll have to live the rest of my life knowing exactly how sweet she tastes.
He’d called Crawford earlier, while they’d been at the boutique. Had done his damnedest to get the other man to switch his plans. The rich bastard wouldn’t hear of it, insisting they meet up at his gallery tomorrow, instead.
Coulter had agreed, of course. What choice did he have?
I’m not waiting until tomorrow.
“We should go.” He stepped to the side. “Don’t want to keep your date waiting.”
Alex held his stare a moment longer before stepping past him and into the hall. Together they walked silently down the carpeted corridor toward the set of elevators.
He reached out, pushed the button, and took a step back. Seconds later, they heard the telltale ding, and the doors slowly began to open.
“It’s okay,” he told her when she didn’t immediately move. “You won’t see me, but I’ll be there the whole time.”
“It’s just dinner.” She nodded with a smile that looked suspiciously forced. “No big deal, right?”
Just dinner with a maniacal billionaire who sold innocent women and girls as sex slaves.
“Right.” Coulter sent her a supportive smile.
Alex stepped into the awaiting cart, giving him a clear view of her bare back. He worked past the sudden dryness in his throat, and he felt as though he was about to swallow his own damn tongue.
On a normal day, the woman was already the epitome of temptation and sin. But in that dress?
Lord, have mercy and give me strength.
They shared a final look before the doors slid closed.
The moment they did, Coulter started the short trek to the door at the end of the hall marked Exit.
By the time he reached the lobby, Alex was already outside.
From a safe distance—and with the help of a tall, rectangular pillar—he remained out of sight as he watched her through the building’s glass doors.
She smiled at Crawford before climbing into the back seat of his black Cadillac. With his own sleazy grin, Crawford dipped his head on his way inside. The door shut; the parking lights disengaged, and a few seconds later, they were gone.
As they drove away, Coulter put on his best Cole Morris mask as he approached the valet attendant eagerly waiting at the podium near the door. Once he was locked in tight behind the wheel of his borrowed car, he took off in the same direction as Alex and Crawford.
He didn’t wait long before retrieving the tiny earpiece from his pocket and securing it inside his left ear. There was a slight crackling sound before the reception became clear. Once it did, he could hear everything the couple was saying thanks to the bracelet on Alex’s wrist.
“I hope you’re hungry.” Crawford’s deep voice filled Coulter’s ear. “Chez Martine has the most exquisite food.”
“I am.” Alex’s tone was a bit softer than usual. “Trying new restaurants is one of my favorite things about traveling.”
Coulter could hear the slight tilt in her voice as she spoke. It was the smallest change, but he’d been around her enough to tell when the woman was nervous.
You should have tried harder to convince her to cancel. You should have called this whole thing off.
But he hadn’t, so all he could do now was wait for the evening to end. Before he got too far down the road, Coulter used the car’s hands-free option to send an expected text:
They’re on the move.
Twenty-seven minutes later, he was pulling up to the curb in front of Chez Martine. Tossing his keys to the valet, he took the small card with his customer number to hand back to the kid when he was ready to leave.