Chapter One Addie
Arcadia, Present Day
“Addison Mae Mills, you are under arrest.”
Detective Cole Vaughn’s words echo through my head as he marches me toward the nearest exit.
I hate getting pulled away from Linc and Merritt’s wedding reception, but the jerk isn’t listening to me.
I look down at my cuffed hands and mutter a curse.
He’s damn lucky my wrists are currently bound, or I’d punch him right in his exceedingly smug, slightly handsome face.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so pissed off in my entire life.
Who does this man think he is? I mean, really?
To barge into my friend’s party while we’re celebrating his marriage to the Princess of Arcadia and arrest me in front of everyone?
He has no idea the wrath I’m about to unleash on his unsuspecting ass.
The only reason I haven’t completely let loose already is because this is Linc and Merritt’s special day, and I refuse to create more of a scene than necessary.
Stomping outside, ready to spit fire, I spin to face my adversary—the Denver PD detective who’s been up my ass for months, hell-bent on pinning various crimes on me. What nerve! I didn’t even commit some of those thefts. Geez.
Before continuing my rant from inside, I pause, Mom’s words coming back to me.
Having a silver tongue can get you out of a jam.
I take a few deep breaths and think before I speak.
You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, Addie.
But, dammit, this man pushes every single one of my buttons. He doesn’t deserve my honey.
Gritting my teeth, I lift my hands and jangle the cuffs. “Read me my rights or uncuff me. Immediately.”
Vaughn lifts his hands. “Relax. I just want to talk.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I fire back.
“If I take the cuffs off, will you hear me out?”
My only answer is a cutting glare that I hope makes his balls shrivel.
He hikes a dark brow. “Addison?”
I huff out an annoyed sigh. “Where am I going to go, Vaughn? We’re on a damn island. Although I may be tempted to dive into the sea and start swimming if it means getting away from you.”
So much for my silver tongue. I can’t help it.
This man rankles me in every possible way.
And it doesn’t help that I find him slightly attractive.
It’s his eyes. They’re unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
So much more than just hazel. A striking blend of brown and green with gold radiating out from his pupils.
They remind me of warm sunlight spilling through the verdant tree canopy.
Or, better yet, the shifting colors of autumn, my favorite season.
When he doesn’t comment, I clench my molars and grit out, “Fine.”
His suited shoulders seem to slump a bit in relief. He lifts the small key, and I hold my hands up, playing along, allowing him to unlock them. Because, c’mon, if I’d really wanted to, I could’ve slipped out of them already.
There’s no reason for him to hold both of my wrists in one of his large hands while he turns the key with the other, and I bite back a curse—er, maybe a moan—refusing to acknowledge the way his touch sends a jolt through my body.
It’s just because you haven’t had sex in a while, I tell myself. Any man would affect you in the same way. There is absolutely nothing special about Cole freaking Vaughn, or his stupid sun-dappled forest eyes.
As the cuffs click open, our gazes lock.
For a moment, I allow myself to get pulled into the swirling depths of his eyes.
Okay, I can admit it—they’re nice. No big deal.
They’re warm, but troubled, and I glance down, wondering why my annoying detective is still holding onto my wrists after the handcuffs fall open.
“Addie?” Knox calls, striding over with Hunter.
I pull my hands away and turn to face Knox Beckett and his fiancée, Hunter McGrath. Knox is like a brother to me, and right now he looks ready to go all protector hero and defend me from Vaughn. Same with Hunter. She’s a former military pilot with crazy skills. Totally badass.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, but he frowns, eyes narrowing in anger at the detective.
“What’s going on?” he demands. Knox is known as The Charmer.
He’s a smooth-talking pretty boy who gets along with everyone because he has such a laidback personality.
He’s also insanely good with numbers. We teasingly refer to him as the Human Calculator.
But right now, he sounds ready to rip out someone’s throat.
I turn a questioning look toward Vaughn. Because I’d like to know, too. Just why in the hell is he here? What is so important that he flew all the way to Arcadia and crashed Linc and Merritt’s reception?
“I’d like to speak to Addison alone, please,” Vaughn says cautiously.
He knows he’s outnumbered, and so far out of his jurisdiction it’s laughable. Anything he gets from me is a courtesy, and I guess that’s finally sinking in.
“That’s nice, Detective, but let’s see what Addie wants.” Knox gives me a questioning look, and I nod.
“It’s okay. Go back in and I’ll be back shortly.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.” I send him and Hunter a grateful look. It’s nice knowing they have my back. My whole little ring of thieves does, and it makes my heart happy. They’re my family, and I don’t know what I’d do without them.
Knox reaches for Hunter’s hand. As they walk away, he glances back over his shoulder, giving Vaughn the stink eye, and my lips twitch. Vaughn shifts, raking a hand through his shaggy, brown hair. There’s a touch of silver at his temples, but it only makes him look sexier.
“I’m sorry for interrupting the party, but I happened to be in the neighborhood. And knowing how hard it is to track you down, I decided to pop in.”
“You mean catch me unawares,” I correct coolly. Because it’s not that I’m hard to track down; it’s that I avoid Cole Vaughn like the plague. His presence throws me off my game, and I don’t like feeling out of control.
But at least he’s apologizing.
“Something like that,” he admits, his lips quirking up in a half smile.
My traitorous belly flutters as my attention dips to his mouth.
He has a permanent five o’clock shadow—which is sexy as hell—and he lifts his hand to scratch his cheek, looking almost boyish.
Look away, Addie. His sexy masculinity is like an eclipse.
It’s safest not to look directly at him.
Forcing my eyes back up, I steel my expression.
He clears his throat. “I need a favor.”
Is he kidding me? I stifle a laugh and lean into my anger instead. “How about you go fuck yourself.”
It’s not a question.
“Addison, please.”
I don’t miss the desperate edge in his deep voice.
“All I’m asking for is a meeting. Once you’re back in Denver,” he quickly clarifies.
Hmm. I’m definitely curious now, but why should I bother? He’s made my life a living hell this past year, chasing my crew around and trying to pin thefts on us that we didn’t commit. I mean, I know our reputation precedes us, but c’mon. It gets tedious.
Especially since we’ve been on the good side lately.
Our recent objectives have been completely justified and only targeting the most assholish of assholes.
We’ve been re-acquiring items they stole.
For example, our latest reacquisition was Princess Merritt’s diamond and pearl crown, which had been stolen by a conniving man who’d wanted to marry her and weasel his way into the royal family.
And talk about assholes, he also forced Linc into a cage fight to the death. Luckily Merritt and Laurent, a fellow thief, came to his rescue in the nick of time.
“Why?” I ask Vaughn, not even trying to hide the suspicion in my tone. I trust the good detective about as far as I can throw his rumpled, suit-wearing ass. And it is a very fine ass. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed on more than one occasion.
“There’s a group of players in town causing havoc,” he tells me. “Simon Nyx, for one.”
I’m quite aware of Simon Nyx and his unscrupulous methods. He’s a thorn in my side, and that would make him a huge pain in the ass to Vaughn.
“Not my problem,” I say, crossing my arms. Even though I’d like Nyx to disappear, I’m not a police detective, or a public safety vigilante. In other words, it’s not my job.
He sighs wearily, probably because he knows I’m not going to just roll over and do his bidding.
“Don’t make me play hardball,” he growls.
Ooh. That feral sound makes me perk up, and my belly tightens. I like it too much. Because let’s face it, I’ve never been the good girl. “Is that a threat, Detective?”
Another sigh and his shoulders hunch a little. I don’t miss the dark circles under his eyes. It looks like he hasn’t slept in a month. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to make this easy on him. Not after all the grief he’s put me through.
“Look, I have something you’re going to want to see.”
Crossing my arms, my eyes dip just below his belt buckle, and I smirk. “Oh, really?”
His jaw tightens, and I think his breathing picks up, but he doesn’t elaborate.
That’s it? That’s all he’s going to give me?
I drum my fingers on the side of my arm, debating what to do.
I could drag the suspense out, but that would mean missing more of my friends’ celebration.
And the truth is, I’m damn curious. What could he have that I’d want to see?
Other than a possible dick pic? Because, well, again, I’m curious like that.
“Fine,” I relent with a bored sigh. “One meeting. But right now, I have a wedding reception to return to. Thanks for interrupting that.”
I gingerly rub my wrists where the cuffs were earlier even though he’d been careful not to make them too tight. His attention dips and he scrubs a hand over that delectable stubble.
“Sorry about that,” he mumbles.
“Are you?”
Something flashes in his hazel eyes—something heated?
His fingers tighten around the handcuffs, the gold in his eyes turning molten.
Tingles erupt across my body, and I can feel my nipples harden.
Damn this man. Lifting my arms to cover my traitorous breasts, I briskly rub my skin, pretending I’m cold.
But I am the furthest thing from cold. Inside, I am burning like someone just turned my thermostat up.
“Seems like we always get off on the wrong foot, doesn’t it?” he asks, voice low, and far too husky.
This is not a conversation I want to have right now. “I need to go back inside.”
When I turn to leave, he reaches out and grabs my arm. “Careful, Addison. You’re skating on thin ice.”
“With the Denver PD? Or you?”
His grip tightens before I shake it off and give my hair a toss. When he doesn’t answer, I send him a dazzling smile.
“The only crime is getting caught,” I say breezily. “And you, Detective, will never catch me.”