Chapter 5
Oh my god, I’m so glad you’re okay!” Sable flung herself into Cash’s arms and hugged him tight. “I rushed here as soon as I saw the news. The reporters are calling you a hero.”
“A hero?” Cash chuckled as he buried his nose in her hair, hugging her waist as fiercely as she clung to his neck. “Sounds romantic and blown way out of proportion.”
“They said you stopped another robbery attempt,” she said as he lowered her to the floor. “I was standing in my kitchen with a cup of coffee, then suddenly you were on the news. I’m so glad you didn’t get hurt, but I have to admit you looked incredibly sexy on my TV screen.”
“What do you mean?” she asked. “The news said you apprehended four thieves. That sounds dangerous to me.”
“I forgot how nice it is to have someone worry about me.” Cash pulled her around the corner, and after checking to make sure no one was watching, he planted a quick kiss on her lips.
“But the news is making it seem more dramatic than it was. I barely did anything. Those thieves were never getting into the building.”
“The reporter said they broke in through the sewers.” Sable sank against his chest as he leaned against the wall.
She couldn’t help but find the modest hero sexy despite the problem he presented to her mission.
She secretly found herself cheering for him when she’d learned he thwarted last night’s attempt, and not because he’d taken out her competition, but because she was proud of his success.
“Liars,” Cash chuckled, and Sable loved how his ribs rumbled against her chest. “I guess they need to make the segment entertaining for ratings, but there was no break-in. The thieves tried to come through the sewer access, but there’s more to the museum’s defenses than cameras, heat and motion sensors, and guards.
There’s a reason the Merveille De L’art hires the Fae to protect its artifacts.
There isn’t a single section of the building or the surrounding streets that isn’t protected by Fae security measures.
Those thieves were screwed before I even got here last night.
I made a lot of changes to the systems after I was hired.
The guards are mostly for show unless there’s an emergency since the museum is impenetrable. ”
“Oh, that’s good,” Sable said, his words confirming her suspicions. Fae magic and technology guarded the egg, and even as an Easter bunny, her chances of bypassing the supernatural security were ungodly low. “I still think you’re the hero, though.”
“Well, in that case, I single-handedly subdued the thieves with my bare hands.” He grabbed her hips, yanking her closer for emphasis, and Sable burst into laughter.
“We fought all night, and just when all hope was lost, I triumphed and took all four heavily armed men down with only my exhausted fists.”
Sable laughed harder as he flexed his considerable pectoral muscles, and she slid her palms up his chest, enjoying the sensation even if it was a joke.
“I literally saved the day, so I think that deserves a date,” Cash teased. “How about tacos and margaritas tonight?”
“Am I even worthy of being in such a hero’s presence?” Sable waggled her eyebrows as she feigned being star-struck.
“Oh absolutely. In fact, I would go so far as to say you’re the prize for my heroics. Saving the day is the only thing that’s made me worthy of getting a second date with you.”
“Well then, tacos it is.” She planted a kiss on his cheek, almost forgetting who she was as she cheered on his exaggerated success. “How can I deny our city’s savior?”
“Oh my god, how do you drink that?” Cash laughed as he choked. “It’s so spicy.”
“Because it’s delicious! And give that back before your coughing spills it all on me.
” Sable snatched the jalapeno margarita away from her incredibly handsome date.
Cash had found a sitter for Clover, and they’d been overeating tacos ever since.
They’d started with classic margaritas, and she’d opted for the spicy flavor next.
She loved them, but it seemed Cash wasn’t a fan.
“I like spice in my food, but not my drink,” he chuckled. “You can keep this. I need a palate cleanser after that.”
“Here, this should help.” Sable stood up and leaned across the table to capture his jaw in her grip. She pulled his mouth to hers and kissed him despite their audience, the kiss spicier than her jalapeno tequila and tacos combined.
“That…” Cash stared at her with a dazed expression when she finally released him and sat back down. “Yeah, that worked… I think. Actually, can you do it again?”
Sable swatted his hand playfully before lacing her fingers through his.
Why was the one man she couldn’t have the only person she’d ever connected this intensely with?
This wasn’t a fling. Yes, they’d only been on two dates, but supernaturals differed from humans.
When they met their soulmates, something changed inside them.
Their souls were like magnets, pulling and pulling and pulling until the hearts were forced together, and the pull on Sable’s heart had already begun.
She’d told herself she would use this dinner date to learn more about the Fae security, but the second she saw Cash in his jeans and sweater, all thoughts of the heist flew out the window to be replaced by the need to understand him.
They talked about their likes and dislikes, their pasts, and their funny stories.
She asked questions about Clover instead of magic technology.
She listened to tales about his time in the special forces instead of listening to his descriptions of the museum.
She was a thief, through and through, yet the conflict in her chest drove her to question how badly she needed this prize money.
She loved to take what didn’t belong to her, but suddenly that egg seemed pointless if it meant hurting this man.
Perhaps that was why she liked Cash so much.
He didn’t belong to her. He could never be hers, and maybe that’s why she wanted to steal his heart…
or maybe she craved him because fate was smarter than she was.
“Where did you go?” Cash squeezed her fingers, and Sable jerked to attention. “Am I boring you? After only two dates, that’s a bad sign,” he teased.
“Yup, that’s it. I’m super bored.” She stood up suddenly and pretended to leave the table. “I think I’m going to go home now.”
Cash rolled his eyes as he caught her wrist and gently yanked her backward until she fell into his lap. Sable collapsed across his thighs with a laugh and threw her arms around his neck, planting another kiss on his lips that was spicier than every jalapeno in this restaurant combined.
“Keep that up, and we’re going to be asked to leave,” Cash moaned against her mouth. “This place has amazing food, so it would be a shame to get banned because I can’t behave around you.”
“I think you know exactly how to behave around me.” She gave him one last quick kiss and pulled back, but she made no move to get off his lap.
Let the patrons judge her for eating the rest of the meal like this.
She didn’t know how much time she had with this man, and she wanted to spend every moment possible in his arms because she’d never find anyone like him again.
“I’ve had enough to eat, but would you like another round of drinks?” Cash asked.
“I’m in no rush to leave. Order me a jalapeno margarita, please.”
“Ugh, that poison? Maybe we should leave. You have no taste.”
Sable swatted his chest. “I have exceptional taste. I’m here with you, aren’t I?”
“I stand corrected.” Cash waved down the waiter as he tightened his grip on her hips to keep her from leaving his lap. “Would you like dessert while we’re at it? An excuse to stay longer?”
“Sounds great. I want something with chocolate. Or the Tres Leches Cake.”
“How about both?” He kissed her cheek and then turned his attention to their server to order.
Sable grabbed her margarita and took another icy sip, loving the sweet burn on her tongue, but as she set her glass down, her eyes locked with a stranger across the restaurant.
Every cell in her body went cold with alarm.
She could tell by the stranger’s gaze that he didn’t recognize her.
He didn’t seem to care about her in the least. It was her date that had captured his obsession.
He obviously assumed Sable was just Cash’s random companion and not a player in this competition, but she wasn’t so mistaken.
She recognized who sat across the room, stalking the Merveille De L’art head of security.
Corvid. He claimed the name in honor of thieving crows, and while Sable hadn’t known the four thieves arrested last night, she knew of Corvid.
If he was here, then every competitor had finally made their way to town, and it seemed she wasn’t the only thief following Cash.
The only difference between her and her opponents was she suspected the Fae guard might be her destiny, while everyone else viewed him as enemy prey to be taken out.
“Have you even tried getting into the museum yet?” Peter asked.