Chapter 36
Thirty-Six
brISTOL RESISTED THE URGE to stiffen as Dalton wrapped her in his arms.
“Come in,” he said, stepping back and ushering her inside. “I thought we could start off the day with a nice swim. What do you think?”
“I’d love to, but I don’t have a suit. I can go back to my apartment and grab one.”
“No need.” He waved his hand. “I bought you several. I’m sure one of them will fit. I got you the same size as that sequined dress you left here.”
That had been a magical night. One she thought he might propose on, but now the very thought of it made her stomach slosh back and forth. Back and forth.
He furrowed his brows. “You all right? You look a little flushed.”
“Nope. All good. Excited to see my new suits.”
“Well then, follow me.” He gestured toward the stairs, and she followed him up and into his bedroom. There were a handful of swimsuits laid neatly across the navy comforter.
“You like?”
She moved for the canopy bed. “They’re beautiful.” She forced a big smile. “I don’t know how I’ll choose.”
“That’s the beauty of it. You don’t have to.”
“No?” Her brow pinched.
“They’re all yours. You just have to decide which to wear first.”
She’d already hugged him once, but it would be out of character for the woman he knew not to hug him again.
She smiled. “Oh. I love them,” she said, scurrying over and embracing him. “Thank you.” She fiddled with the collar of his shirt, smoothing it. “You spoil me.”
“You’re very welcome, my sunshine.” He kissed the top of her head, and swallowing the nausea shaking her, she pulled back.
“I guess I better pick one.” She tapped her index finger to her chin.
“You take your time. I have a call I need to make. Just come down whenever you’re ready. I’ll try not to take too long. I put out towels and have refreshments waiting for us.”
“Okay. Sounds lovely.”
“And I heated the pool high. Eighty-nine.”
“Fabulous.”
He blew her a kiss and shut the bedroom door behind him.
She took off her necklace and laid it and the pillbox on the bed—Aubry didn’t need to hear this part—and scooted for the secret room, a thrill surging through her.
Slipping behind inside, she hurried to the laptop and opened it up. The screen blinked for a password.
Hmm. She had to get it right or who knew what would happen—Dalton would probably have an alarm trill or something of that sort.
Swallowing, she tried Spatina. No. She tried her name.
Nada. Sweat beaded on her brow. If she wasn’t careful, she’d get him locked out.
One more guess, and she’d have to try another time.
But who knew how often the opportunity would present itself?
Okay, girl. You’ve got this. She ran through his past pets’ names he’d shared, his mom’s name, and then it hit her.
Sunshine. She typed in the eight-letter word and held her breath.
Bingo.
Look for the money.
It’s what always came first. Dalton made his money in a vile way. He didn’t deserve to have it. What she’d do with it, she didn’t know, but she refused to leave it in Dalton’s murderous hands.
It didn’t take long to find the bank login. Caymans. Nice. This time she didn’t have to guess a password. The fool was logged in. Come on, Dalt. You’re smarter than that.
She glanced to the stillness of the bedroom through the cracked bookcase door, but she didn’t trust Dalton to be gone long.
Getting up, she searched for a safe. No way he’d have a hidden office without one, and before long she found it behind the oh-so-obvious mirror on the wall.
But she couldn’t take time to open it now.
She moved for the main bedroom door and, cracking it, listened. Dalton’s voice still murmured from his office below. She returned to the secret office, passing the bed and her necklace on the way. How would she explain the prolonged silence to Aubry?
She bit her lip. She couldn’t worry about that now. She had a task at hand and a brilliant con to launch.
Setting up a secondary bank account just one number off in the same bank took no time, transferring the money a little longer.
Her heart thumped faster as she watched the money drain from one account and fill the other.
She impatiently tapped the desktop with her rose-colored nails until the deed was done. Now she just hoped it would work.
She shut the laptop and the bookcase, then grabbed the first swimsuit she came to and bolted to the bathroom. When she stepped back out, she found Dalton sitting on the edge of the bed by the pillbox and necklace, waiting for her.
Her heart drummed in her throat.