Chapter 3 #2
The dashing blond moved even closer and she could easily tell what he was thinking. “Your French is beautiful.”
Who the hell was he kidding? “You’re so sweet. At least you speak English.”
“How can I help you?” he asked in a manner that suggested he would be off duty in about ten minutes.
She kept the plastered smile on her face as she used her hand as a fan, hoping she was also displaying a fake blush.
“You are such a cutie pie. Well, it seems that my date last night was a no-show and a good little southern girl like me isn’t used to that.
I was wondering if something might have happened to him. ”
“Is he a guest in the hotel?”
“You know, I don’t think so, but the dear man told me that he gambles only in this location every time he’s in Monte Carlo.”
He shrugged and looked both ways, as if what he was about to tell her was one huge secret. “If he’s a high roller, then we keep track.”
“You keep track? Really?” Sophia beamed, getting sick to her stomach. Playing undercover in this manner wasn’t her style.
“What’s his name?”
“Stephen Wallace. He’s mighty fine-looking and I was so eager for the evening we were going to share. If you know what I mean, sugar.”
He lifted an eyebrow, his grin raw and gritty. “I know Mr. Wallace very well and he is definitely one of our high rollers. He has a suite here often. Let me see what I can find for you, miss.”
When he moved toward his computer, she took another chance.
What the hell. “By the way, sugar, do you actually have an Officer Pierre Renier on your staff working as security?” Sophia already knew the answer.
Leaning against the reservation desk, she scanned the perimeter of the opulent lobby, admiring all the beautiful people coming and going.
Her working attire for the day? All tourist. The splashy tropical dress screamed of an American in France, vying to have a fabulous time before her next birthday. A little vino, a night of gambling and…
No, she was going to try very hard not to think about the night before, even if her pussy muscles still constricted every time she thought about him.
His rugged good looks.
His dazzling emerald eyes.
His suave attitude.
His rough and tumble actions.
His passionate kisses.
She dug her nails into the palm of her hand to break the psychotic vision.
“Officer Renier? Yes, he’s been with us for about two years. Are you by any chance in trouble with the law?” He winked after looking up from the computer.
Damn it. “Just a little disagreement. That’s all. Tall guy, shaggy dark hair, and the most mesmerizing eyes this side of the Mississippi?” She could see the clear confusion on his face.
He frowned, obviously processing her words. “Ah, I understand. He is that way.” Happy with his answer, he returned to his computer.
Well, damn it all to hell. The man was a real policia. Then what the hell was the game about?
“Miss. Mr. Wallace was indeed supposed to stay last night, but he did not check in. There is a notation that he was delayed.”
“Delayed?” This was an interesting development.
The blond shook his head. “That is all I know. He will be back tomorrow. Would you like to leave him a note?”
A note. Fuck. Where in the world had he gone?
With his anticipated stops in Belgium and London after this trip, she had no idea where he could be.
She’d leave that to her stateside partner to find out.
“That’s all right, sugar. I’ll just surprise him.
” She blew the blond a kiss. “You are such a doll.”
She walked away before he had an opportunity to ask her out, which she had a feeling was on the tip of his tongue.
She walked outside, shoving on her sunglasses and yanking her burner phone from her oversized purse.
Two minutes later she found a secure enough location, one without prying ears.
This was one call she’d risk out in the open.
The phone rang five times before there was an answer.
“Hell-lo,” the gravelly voice managed to spit out.
“David. Wake up.” David Camden had been her partner for long enough that she trusted him without question. He put up with her quirks and she put up with his stupidity.
“Sophia? Do you know the fuck what time it is?”
“Early or late depending. I need your help.”
“You always do.”
She rolled her eyes. “Our boy is missing.”
“What do you mean missing?” Now he was wide awake.
“Didn’t show up as scheduled.”
“Director Montgomery is going to be pissed.”
She lifted her middle finger, laughing at her instant reaction. “Tell me something I don’t know. What other interests does this guy have?”
“Don’t you know?” David snarked.
“BDSM. Right? He has some thing for BDSM clubs.” The thought made her shudder, a reminder of Pierre’s words, his dominating actions.
The fact he’d shackled her to the bed.
Oh, no. She wasn’t going down this road.
“Yeah.” Snickering, her partner was far too amused for her liking.
“I’ll send you some locations of various BDSM clubs in town.
Maybe he’s staying with some chick. Who knows with these wealthy businessmen.
However, I don’t know if you should go alone.
Foreign country and all. Beautiful woman.
You might end up on a slave ship heading for some third world country. ”
“Very funny,” she chided, hearing his laughter.
“I’m not entirely kidding. I know an agent who’s been working on a nasty slave trade operation. You’re alone, which still pisses me off.”
“Yeah, well, this was supposed to be one night; securing Mr. Wallace then a return trip.”
“Then you lost him.”
Another round of laughter. She was going to kick his ass when she returned. “Fuck you, David.”
“That’s what you get for waking me up in the middle of the night. Just see if you can find a group of women to go with. That’s all I’m suggesting.”
She exhaled, a prickly sensation rocking down the back of her legs. She turned in a full circle, trying to find the source but could swear she was being watched. “That’s fine. Also, find out if his business trip took a different path and call me.” The face was unforgettable, the body mouthwatering.
“O-kay. I can do that.”
Pierre stood off in the distance, his hands in his pockets. He was staring at her intently. “There is an officer here by the name of Pierre Renier. Find out everything you can about him. I have a feeling he’s not who he purports himself to be. A picture would be good.”
“Jesus Christ. Can’t you—”
She ended the call before he finished the sentence, taking a deep breath as Pierre walked toward her, the biggest shit-eating grin she’d ever seen on anyone’s face. She’d learned to trust her instinct from day one on the job. She wasn’t going to stop now.
“I hear you missed me,” he said, lifting his sunglasses and whistling as he dropped his gaze far too slowly. “Woo-we. You are truly gorgeous.”
“How could I miss what’s clearly not wanted?” she retorted, even though her nipples hardened immediately from the sound of his husky voice alone. At least she knew he was who he said he was. Supposedly. “I guess there are no secrets in this town.”
“When a scrumptious woman asks for the likes of me, that is news.” He raked his hand through his hair, the move far too sexy.
Damn him. Damn the situation. And damn the fact her pussy was quivering, already dampening her panties. “Just cut the crap, Officer.”
“You’re still angry with me for handcuffing you to the bed but you can certainly call me Pierre after what we shared.”
Sophia slowly removed her sunglasses, allowing him to see the glare in her eyes. “Very funny gesture. Do you shackle every woman you have sex with? A perk of your profession perhaps?”
“I would have returned. Eventually.” His eyes twinkled.
Even if the man was on the up and up, the cavalier attitude was enough to warrant him a swift kick in the balls.
Twice.
“We had our evening. Now, why don’t you stay the hell away from me?
” She gave him the sweetest smile she could muster before turning and walking away.
How had she allowed the asshole to get to her in the first place?
Her grand idea wasn’t going to work. She couldn’t stomach or trust him long enough to even gather a look inside a freaking BDSM club.
Pierre jogged in front of her. “You are pissed and with good reason. I am no gentleman. That was a horrible thing to do.”
Why did he have a shit-eating grin on his face?
“Yes, it was.”
“Allow me to make it up to you.”
She laughed, stopping short, ready to punch the hell out of him. Then she realized that having him around just might come in handy. “And how do you propose to do that?”
“Dinner at a fabulous restaurant. Wine. Music. Dancing. We have some delicious and very kinky clubs in town. Then who knows what else? We will watch the sunset together as we dream about all things dominating.”
“Uh-huh. Your style of bondage leaves much to be desired.” He certainly seemed to know his way around. Maybe this could work, if she didn’t beat him to death.
“Bondage can be a very beautiful thing, as long as trust is involved. Passion and pain go hand in hand. You don’t have to hide your desires and longings that no one else knows from me.”
“You don’t know a thing about me,” she said bitterly then reminded herself that she’d been trained to go undercover at a moment’s notice, no matter the circumstances. She could play the submissive with the best of them.
Maybe.
“But I truly want to. No more teasing about last night.”
The softness of his deep voice penetrated every cell, floating into her bloodstream. She attempted to fall into the act, vulnerable yet inquisitive. “All right. The club sounds… fascinating, but I’ve never been to one before. They actually frighten me, but do not use that against me.”