Chapter 2
Chapter Two
He had not intended for this to be their first kiss.
A first kiss should be special. Romantic. It should be about passion. Lust. Need. It shouldn’t be used as a distraction technique because he’d screwed up and two guards were running toward him with their guns drawn.
But…it was what it was.
And he believed in making the best of a bad situation so…
Ryan Quinn took a moment to enjoy the kiss. To thoroughly enjoy the softness of Simone’s plump lips. To find her seductive taste to be utterly intoxicating. Her mouth was open, and it was just too easy to slip his tongue inside. To feel lust burn sharp and hot within him.
He pulled her tightly against him, curling his body around hers. Both to shield her completely from the jerks with the guns and to have the added bonus of feeling all of her lush curves against him.
Wanting Simone so badly had never been part of his original plan. He did not mix business and pleasure. And yet…
And yet…
She shivered against him.
“Get the hell away from her! And both of you—put your hands up!”
The alarm was still blasting, and Ryan was very much enjoying the feel of Simone in his arms, but duty called.
Duty, work, whatever. Slowly, he eased away from her and turned toward the two guards.
Guards who struck him as entirely too eager to point a gun at an unarmed man and woman.
Ryan made sure to blink a few times, as if utterly confused, then he winced.
“Can someone please turn off that horrible noise? Pretty sure it’s splitting my ear drums.”
“Put your hands up!” Ah. That would be the Russian barking that particular order. Alexei Morozov. A mercenary for hire who had left far too many bodies across Europe.
Ryan lifted his hands. He also made sure to keep his body in front of Simone’s. Her getting shot was not on the agenda. “I fear we set off your alarms,” he said. Because…obviously that screeching was from one of the many alarms in the gallery.
And, finally, the screeching ended. It ended as Frederick came running through the open gallery doors. Frederick gripped a small remote in his hand, and he pushed a button that sent blessed silence into the cavernous space. “No one else gets in,” Frederick barked behind him.
Someone—more guards or mercenaries—immediately shut the doors behind him.
Frederick’s face was twisted in rage. His tux coat flapped open as he rushed toward Ryan. “What in the hell is happening?” Frederick thundered.
“We caught them stealing,” Alexei announced.
“Oh, for shit’s sake.” Ryan rolled his eyes. “You caught me making out with a beautiful woman. Potentially stealing her heart? Sure, trying to do that. Definitely stealing a kiss. Not stealing Frederick’s art.”
Frederick came to a shuddering stop about three feet away. “Ryan?” He craned his head to look beyond Ryan’s body. “Simone?”
“Um, hello, Frederick,” Simone returned after a delicate clearing of her throat.
Frederick’s face flushed dark red. “What the fuck are you two even doing in here?”
Hugo glanced at Alexei, then at Ryan, his confusion plain to see. “I…I thought you wanted—”
“I wanted a tour,” Ryan cut through the man’s words to say.
Not like he wanted Hugo to out him in a lie then and there.
Things were certainly awkward enough without that admission.
Hugo Thomas was a relatively new hire, Ryan’s intel had told him that.
Former British Special Forces. He might look nice enough with his round face and friendly eyes, but Hugo could be just as dangerous as Alexei. Maybe even more so.
“A tour?” Frederick huffed. “No one gets a tour without my express—”
“You caught me. I’m a liar.” Ryan nodded.
“Oh, no,” Simone whispered behind him. “Do not…oh, don’t…”
Oh, but yes. Yes, he was. Because he knew how to play this scene to save his ass.
And, unfortunately, he was going to have to use the lovely Simone in order to make things work out.
Sadly, that was what he’d been doing since the day they’d met.
He’d taken one look at her big, blue eyes…
at her gorgeous body, at the elegant lines of her face and thought…
I can totally use her to accomplish my mission.
Did that make him an asshole? Absolutely.
Was he an asshole? Absolutely. But he was an asshole who would make sure that Simone didn’t get hurt, so, there was that element to perhaps even out his karma.
“I didn’t really give a damn about the gallery.
” This declaration was for Frederick and his trigger-happy guards.
“I just wanted somewhere I could be alone with Simone. I told the guards I had permission to come in.”
“Uh—” Hugo began.
“I got carried away in here,” Ryan continued determinedly.
“I was kissing Simone, and I must have bumped up against something that set off an alarm. My apologies.” So, right then, he really needed for Simone to stay quiet.
Because if she said the wrong thing, if she admitted that the alarm had sounded before Ryan kissed her, then he’d be screwed.
He held his breath. If she contradicted him, this scene was about to get a whole lot messier. And a whole lot bloodier.
Frederick glared at him.
Ryan had made sure he did not get caught on the two mounted cameras that he’d spotted.
It had been easy enough to time his steps so that he’d stay out of sight as the cameras rotated.
Child’s play, really. Frederick should step up his system in the gallery.
The man was supposedly working in the surveillance field now, so the lax camera situation in his own home was almost an embarrassment.
A useful embarrassment, but, still, an embarrassment.
“Oh, come on,” Ryan muttered as the tension in the gallery stretched. “Like you wouldn’t have done the same thing.” He really had seen the way the dick looked at Simone. You want her. Too bad, you aren’t having her.
Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Ryan had to blink at his own possessive thoughts. Simone was a convenient cover. This was not personal. They were not real. They were not an actual couple.
“It’s my fault,” Simone confessed, sounding miserable behind him. “I…forgot myself.”
Now Ryan whipped around to face her because no way could he quite control his shock.
She batted her long lashes at him. Then she hurriedly scooped up the little bag that she’d dropped.
Ryan’s head cocked as he studied her. Interesting…Had she truly forgotten herself when they kissed? Was that what she’d meant? He would love to explore that intriguing development with her, but he had men with weapons waiting so Ryan turned back toward them. “Could we lower the guns?”
Jaw tight, Frederick motioned for the men to lower their guns. He also tucked his small remote back into his tux pocket. Inside pocket. Left side.
“Simone, we will be talking about this situation,” Frederick assured her. “I thought you understood your role at my company. Now I’ll have to reevaluate your worth to me.”
Oh, was the prick seriously saying that he was going to fire Simone?
Nope. Not happening. “I want to buy the Claudel,” Ryan announced.
He pointed toward the piece. “Name your price.” For the stolen artwork.
That one was stolen, and so was the Monet.
Frederick had been very, very naughty. “I also think I’ve made my decision about investing in your company.
” He reached back and caught Simone’s hand.
Now that the guns weren’t directed at him, he pulled her to his side.
He also brought her hand to his mouth so that he could press a tender kiss to her knuckles.
“Thanks to Simone,” he murmured, “I’ve seen the value in assisting with your expansion plans. ”
Her eyes widened as she stared at him.
Ryan lowered her hand but didn’t let go.
“I need to take Simone home.” The sooner he got her out of there, the better.
His head angled toward Frederick. “But let’s plan for a Monday morning meeting, shall we?
” Nah. They wouldn’t. By Monday, Frederick would be locked away, and Ryan would be in the wind.
But Frederick was eagerly swallowing his lies. A broad smile curved Frederick’s lips. “Excellent! I knew you’d see the benefit of working with me.” A pause. “But why rush off? The party is just getting started. In fact, many of my guests are staying the night.”
Nope, Ryan would not be staying. Or rather, Simone would not be because he was not about to put her at greater risk.
Before he could reply, Frederick advanced a step toward him and Simone.
“It’s a long drive back to town. I do believe the weather is taking a bad turn, as well,” Frederick mused.
“Far better for you both to stay here than to try and make it back to London in a dangerous storm. I have ample guest quarters. There is plenty of room for you both.”
“Thanks, but no thanks.” Ryan kept his voice polite. “Let’s just plan for that Monday meeting.” A dip of his head toward Frederick, and then, “Simone, let’s go, shall we?” He tugged her forward with his grip on her hand.
Or, he attempted to tug her.
Only to discover that her feet seemed to have become rooted to the spot.
“I would love to stay the night, Frederick. Thank you.” A shudder slid over her shoulders.
“I hate storms. Have ever since I was a child and my family was in a car accident during one of the worst thunderstorms I’d ever seen. ” Another little shudder wracked her.
Well, damn. He didn’t want the woman terrified on the road, but staying in the lion’s den wasn’t exactly an optimum situation. “I bet we can beat the worst of the weather.”
Her head jerked toward him. Her horrified eyes locked on his. “I…would prefer to stay.”
“You can stay, Simone.” Frederick’s voice had softened considerably. “Don’t you worry at all on that score. I’ll get the best room we have available for you.”