Page 90 of Cozen

Cozen shrugged. “Did you find anything interesting? My life has been pretty boring.”

“Hard and difficult, I thought.”

“Pardon?”

“Your life,” he clarified, reaching out to cup her cheek with his warm palm. “It has been hard and difficult.”

Cozen swallowed hard at the feeling of his thumb stroking her skin. She had no real attraction to this man—no desire to want him, or love him. And yet, he seemed to genuinely care about her in some ways.

She had long since learned to play her part in a job, and shut off the tap of emotions that might trickle down with something useless like guilt, or otherwise. Sure, Jett seemed like a decent man from the outside. An older man, but still good-looking, and holding onto his prime. He had lost his wife, and was left with two adult sons. He was like any man, but he was not like every other man, too.

He was also a criminal.

He lived in shades of gray.

Like her.

He just didn’t know about her.

She knew about him.

“But did you enjoy yourself tonight, and your gifts?” he asked again.

“I said yes.”

His gaze looked her over. “I think blue is definitely your color.”

Cozen smiled, finding her chance to drop a hint. “I think you should see me in red, then.”

His laughter colored up the library.

Jett came closer, and Cozen reached up to pat his hand still resting on her cheek. He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek, and then backed off just as fast.

“Something came up in my call,” he explained, “and I have to get back to it. I asked the guests to leave, and it’s well after one in the morning, so I know you must be tired. Someone is waiting outside to drive you home.”

Cozen frowned. “Oh, okay.”

His thumb stroked her cheek again. “Don’t be sad. We’ll have another day.”

“Soon, right?”

Because time was running out.

And she was so close to the prize, now.

Jett grinned. “Very soon, Cozen.”

“Maybe next time you could be the one to show me around the mansion, then.”

“Would you like that?”

Yes.

Far more than he knew.

She only needed a little bit of time to work.

“I would,” Cozen settled on saying.