Chapter 13 #2
I pop open the door just as he reaches for the handle, earning a stern expression. He puts his hand up to stop me from stepping out, then shoos me back into the car. Thinking maybe he’s getting in and I’m not getting out, I scoot over.
But instead of climbing in with me, he shuts the door, waits a beat, then opens it himself and offers me his hand.
“Seriously?” I laugh, sliding my hand into his. “You’re very dramatic for a mobster-slash-businessman.”
He squeezes my hand and flashes a small smile. If I wasn’t looking right at him, I might have missed it, but it was there. And it was genuine, and it heats my blood.
This really has to stop. Nothing good will come of whatever this is between us.
People don’t stay.
And they sure as hell don’t keep me.
“You’re quite the smartass for someone who’s still wearing my belt marks on her ass.”
My ass, and other things, clench at the memory of being punished by him. I remember how easily the pain and humiliation only seemed to heighten my arousal, and how empty and sore I’d felt when he left me dangling on the edge of heaven.
It had been horribly perfect.
I make a mental vow never to repeat that insanity to him. Some thoughts are meant for me only.
“Where’s your coat?” He glances back at the SUVs that have already pulled away from the curb, probably to go hide out in the shadows until he gives his signal to return.
“I didn’t need one. It’s beautiful out tonight.
” I shrug. Though the fall breeze does cut through the thin material of my dress.
When he’d left word to be sure to wear a black dress tonight, I’d dug through my options.
Turned out there weren’t any options, just this one single dress I’d worn to a job interview last year.
I didn’t get the job, but I didn’t need to. What I needed was to get a back-office view of their security system, which I got. I made rent easily that month.
“You still should have brought one; it could get cold.” He starts to shuck out of his overcoat, but I grab his arm to stop him.
“I’m fine. I’m not cold. If I get chilly, I’ll tell you, all right?”
He pauses, firms his jaw, then agrees. “If you don’t—”
“You’ll bend me over the nearest railing and take your belt to my ass, yes, I know.” My voice must carry because a woman walking nearby snaps her head up.
He notices it, too. And tips his head toward her. Flustered, she goes back to scrolling on her phone and hurries away.
“Didn’t you say we were meeting people?” I change the subject before his head fills with so much arrogance he floats away.
“We are.” He pulls the manila envelope from my hands and eyes my dress. When his gaze lands on my breasts, it freezes for a long beat before sliding back up.
He pulls out two thick bundles of cash from the inside of his coat and drops them into the envelope before sealing it again.
“Don’t you want to check the papers?”
“Do I need to?” He asks picking up my hand and starts walking further onto the pier.
“I wasn’t able to do the seal on two of the documents,” I explain.
“It’s not a problem.”
“But without the seal they’ll be picked up as forgeries,” I continue as we walk along the pier.
“The seal will be placed later. Don’t worry about those. So long as the rest of the documents are well done.”
“They are,” I say with confidence. “The type setting was tricky, but I was able to find the right set in my kit. They won’t be able to tell the difference.
The paper is even the right weight. I got lucky on that one.
The watermark showed up on an image that was scanned online. I actually had some in my stash.”
A ghost of a smile tugs on the corner of his mouth. “You enjoy your work.”
“I like being good at something.” My cheeks heat.
The evening is still going strong. Families continue to explore the carnival rides. Music blasts from several of the restaurants we pass, and street entertainers continue their performances.
I stop at a man and woman, he’s playing the guitar and she’s singing a ballad. A small crowd has formed, and I stand at the back, watching over the shoulders of the people in front.
Gabriel runs his thumb across my palm. “You’re good at more than just forgery.”
I look up at him. He’s still facing the musicians.
“Was that a compliment? You should be careful; it might sound like you like me.”
He squeezes my hand hard. “Have I given you the impression that I don’t?”
“There is the constant threat of…well…you know.” I nod toward his belt.
He grins, and even though I’m only seeing his profile it’s enough to kick my heart rate up into a sprint.
“Do you think I would waste my time on anyone I didn’t like?” He licks at his bottom lip. “I have men who can easily deal with any annoyance. If I want a man’s skull crushed, I send a text. If I want a woman to warm my bed, I make a phone call.”
I can’t tell if he’s bragging about the amount of power he has over his and everyone else’s life, or if he’s really trying to show me that he doesn’t hate me.
“You’ll let me know if you make that phone call so I can move to the next room, right? I mean you take up a lot of the bed as it is, if you put another person in there with us—” I’m cut off with a kiss.
His hands frame my face, deepening the kiss until I forget what smartass comment I was trying to make.
“The guy I have to meet is here. Watch the performance; I’ll be right back.” He kisses me once more, then walks off down the pier.
The song changes to something more upbeat and the crowd sways with it. I step back so not to get bumped, and watch Gabriel step up beside a man in an equally long coat, staring out at the lake.
It’s a short conversation; then Gabriel hands him the envelope with my documents and his cash tucked inside. He stays a few more moments, slaps the man on the back, then turns and heads back to me.
His eyes catch mine, and I swear he smiles. But it’s gone in a flash as a man and a woman rush in front of him, cutting him off. When they pass, he’s back to looking his usual controlled self.
I wonder what exactly it would take to make that man crumble.
“He didn’t want to stay for the show?” I gesture over my shoulder at the pair belting out a new ballad. He picks a strand of hair from my cheek and tucks it behind my ear.
“He had other things to do.”
“If he works for you why did you have to put cash with the documents?”
“He doesn’t work for me directly. We have a partnership. The cash was so he could acquire the correct seals when he docks.”
“Seems like something someone with a lot less rank in your organization could handle. Why’d you have to take this meeting if it was only to give him the documents?”
“Such a detective tonight.” He slides his arm around my waist, pulling me into the warmth of his body, and leads me away from the performers.
“There are some deals best handled in person.”
“Okay, but you had me put on a dress, and I didn’t even meet the guy.”
He comes to a stop and turns to me, a new sort of smile planted on his lips. The kind that sends electricity shooting down my spine, directly to my panties.
“The dress is for something else.” He glances up the stairs at the enormous lit up Ferris wheel.