Chapter 3
Much to her relief, Sable found her missing thieves two days later.
She realized others were planning their assaults on the museum, but it drove her to madness knowing the group she’d discovered was wandering the city in secret.
She preferred it when she could keep an eye on the competition, so when she located the team again, her entire body breathed a sigh.
The golden egg’s defenses were impenetrable, and combined with a security team built of Fae special forces soldiers, there was no stealing Precieux’s egg.
It had taken her all of five minutes to understand the impossibility of this heist. It explained why so many zeros were attached to the prize money.
Which was one reason she was thankful she’d located the missing thieves.
She was one thief while they were a group of four.
They had more resources, more collective brain power, and more combined skills.
They might even steal the egg successfully—not that she had faith in that—but it would be significantly easier to commandeer the gold from the thieves than from the fortress that was the Merveille De L’art.
Sable glanced up from her book and pretended to appreciate her surroundings.
This particular novel was a gift from Peter.
When unlocked with her fingerprint, the pages turned transparent to form a viewing screen that connected to a drone fashioned after a chunky bumble bee.
It buzzed around the sky, acting as her eyes and ears, and to the crowd, she was just a pretty brunette reading.
In reality, her tiny bee was trailing the thieves.
They’d ventured downtown, remaining close to the museum, but so far, Sable hadn’t uncovered what they were doing.
Her insect didn’t have a far range, though.
She had to remain within a few blocks of her mark, and as the foursome passed beyond her sight, she rose from the city bench and aimed for their last location.
Holding the book out before her, she picked up her pace, but after searching for two blocks, her drone still hadn’t located her targets.
She glanced up from her pages to cross the street, confused by how they vanished so fast, but the sight that greeted her pulled a soft yelp from her lips.
The thieves stood across the crosswalk from her, readying to approach the second the traffic slowed.
Sable braced for a confrontation that never came. They hadn’t noticed her. She was merely a college student with her nose buried in a book, and recalling her bee, she ducked into the closest building to hide.
A fragrant wave of coffee and baked goods washed over her, and she inhaled deeply, the sugary and nutty goodness reducing her stress.
She needed to stay out of sight for a few minutes, and she’d already barged into the shop.
It would be suspicious not to order a drink, so Sable closed her book and stepped up to the counter.
“Welcome to The Percolator. What can I get you?” the barista asked.
“A latte please,” she said. “Can you sprinkle some chocolate on the foam too?”
“Sure thing.” The barista rang her up before turning to the expresso machine to brew her order.
She topped off the final foamy goodness with a generous dusting of dark chocolate, and Sable thanked her as she dropped the change into the tip jar.
She sipped a small taste of the chocolaty caffeine before leaving the counter, but she took one step and collided with a wall of muscle.
“Are you okay?” the obstacle asked, and Sable froze at the sound. Face-planting into the muscular chest, she’d been terrified the thieves had found her. But this? This was worse because she was currently pressed against the man who made her want to do something stupid. Something very, very stupid.
“You saved your coffee, I see,” Cash said, and she jerked backward, bright red with embarrassment. “I guess I know where your priorities lie.”
“Lattes aren’t cheap.” Sable brushed her hair behind her ears as she stared at the towering man. He was even taller than she remembered, and her cheeks burned hot with the desire to climb him like a tree.
“Save the coffee, not your nose… got it.” Cash smirked. “Although, might I suggest you take more care of your face? It’s a beautiful face. I’d hate for you to hurt it.”
Sable was certain she was on fire. Flames had engulfed her, burning her alive. How did no one else see them?
“So hit you with my scalding coffee next time,” she said. “Will do.”
“As long as there is a next time.” Cash winked, and Sable glanced around the shop. Seriously, how did no one see the fire? It was all she felt, but while flames should hurt, these felt delicious. She wanted more… until she noticed Clover staring at her with an odd expression.
“Hi, Clover.” She turned red for an entirely different reason. What was wrong with her? Throwing herself at this man while his son watched. Could she be any more embarrassing?
“Hi, Sable.” The kid flashed her a weird grin, and she pinched her eyebrows at him. What was that look? “I just got off from school. Dad said I could have a hot chocolate with marshmallows.”
“Sounds yummy. Enjoy your drinks.” She smiled at the boy and then offered Cash a quick nod before sidestepping them, but as she passed the duo, Clover cleared his voice obnoxiously loud.
She glanced at him, wondering if he was trying to signal her, but he was staring at his father with an expectant look.
Sable realized the noise wasn’t for her, so she resumed her exit when Clover cleared his throat again, even more obnoxiously than the first.
“Actually, Sable.” Cash caught her wrist before she could leave. “I’m headed back to work after I take Clover home, otherwise I’d ask you to have coffee with us.”
“No worries,” she said. Coffee with Cash was a bad idea. A genuinely horrible idea. Good lord, did she want to, though.
“But are you free tomorrow night?” he asked. “I’m supervising the morning shift, and Clover’s classmate invited the class to go bowling in the evening, so I was wondering if you’d have dinner with me.”
“Dinner? As in a date?” She glanced down at his son to find him nodding enthusiastically.
Little matchmaker. If only he understood the disaster their pairing would be.
She couldn’t date the enemy. Cash stood between her and a filthy amount of zeros.
She shouldn’t go out with him, and she absolutely couldn’t like him. It would be the death of her career.
“No pressure,” Cash said, even as Clover continued to nod. “But I would love to take you out.”
“I’m free,” she said, her mouth disobeying her brain. Why had she agreed? What on earth was wrong with her? She was a professional. She didn’t date the opposition. “Where were you thinking of going? So I know how to dress.” Why was she still talking?
“Do you have a preference?” he asked. “Do you prefer fancy, dive-style hidden gem, or somewhere in between?”
“Surprised me with whatever you think I’ll enjoy,” she said. She couldn’t help herself. This wasn’t her normal M.O., but something about Cash defied logic. He felt like someone her soul had always known, and she couldn’t say no to a once-in-a-lifetime connection.
“Wow, no pressure.” He chuckled as he handed her his phone. “Give me your number, and I’ll text you what to wear when I plan the surprise.”
“A plan and a surprise. I like this already.”
“I only hope I can live up to your expectations.” He took his cell back, and Sable was worried Clover’s face would split in half if he didn’t stop smiling so hard.
This kid had caught her snooping and was now trying to set her up with his dad.
Of all her qualities, she hadn’t expected that one to recommend her, but it seemed the boy was the architect of this date.
She was honored, but slightly ashamed. She was bad news for this family.
“Well, I need to walk him home before my shift, but I’m happy we ran into you,” Cash said before she could offer a delayed excuse. “I’m excited.”
“He is,” Clover confirmed, and Sable stifled a laugh as his father nudged him with annoyance.
“I’m glad. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She gave a small wave as she fled the shop, her brain arguing with her heart to justify her actions.
Dating the head of security would give her an edge in this competition.
She could ask questions without him getting suspicious, and she’d be welcome at the museum.
No one would suspect her of being a thief if she was seeing the boss.
But this date was a bad idea. She might break Cash’s heart.
She could end up breaking her own. She should cancel.
He was a distraction she didn’t need, but one she craved, anyway.
So she lied to herself. She forced herself to believe she was doing this for the heist. By going out with the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, she’d gain the advantage she needed to win this hunt.
Sable’s phone buzzed, and she twisted from her apartment’s elaborate computer setup to find an unknown number gracing the screen.
Unknown
Wear a dress tonight.
Sable smiled at the four words as she saved the stranger’s number to her contact list.
Sable
Heels or flats?
Cash
If I’m allowed to choose, definitely heels, but I want you to be comfortable.
I like heels. Plus, you’re tall enough for me to wear them.
Yeah…
Cash’s messages halted, and she wondered if that was the end of their conversation, but the texting bubbles returned a minute later.
I like how tall I am compared to you, so wear the tallest heels you have. They won’t make a difference.
Sable blushed so hard that she was thankful her computer didn’t have eyes because she’d have to don stilts to lessen their height difference.
I’m sorry. Was that inappropriate? I haven’t dated in a while. Single dad syndrome and all.
Not at all. Tall is good. Very good.