Page 65 of Choosing Stella

“No.”

She raised her head.

I sent the equipment request to Bancroft.

Then I set the phone down between us.

“We build the whole plan together before we go.”

Stella’s shoulders eased.

“So we’re doing this?”

I still hated the risk.

I pushed the phone toward her.

“We do it together.”

Tomorrow night, I was taking Stella back to The Exchange.

Chapter Five

Colleen Kavanagh, Bancroft Risk Group’s office coordinator, arrived with four garment bags in one hand and a black equipment case in the other.

She was in her mid-fifties, trim and polished, with a sleek silver-blonde bob, cool blue-gray eyes, and understated makeup. A structured wool coat hung open over tailored charcoal trousers and a fine-knit top. Small silver earrings caught the light when she turned her head, and her low black loafers made considerably more sense for hauling half a wardrobe than heels would have.

“Thomas said you needed options.”

Her attention moved from me to Geo, then toward the table already covered with notes for the Halloween operation.

“I brought dresses, shoes, accessories, and the equipment he requested. Anything you don’t want goes back with me.”

“I like you already.”

Colleen smiled. “Most people do when I show up carrying clothes someone else is paying for.”

Geo took the equipment case from her.

I’d given him my dress and shoe sizes earlier, along with a firm refusal to spend an evening trying to run in six-inch heels. Beyond that, I’d left the choices to whoever Bancroft trusted to solve problems like emergency casino wardrobes.

Apparently that person was Colleen.

She hung the garment bags along the exposed brick wall and opened the first one enough for me to see black fabric and a flash of silver.

“That one might work,” I said.

Geo glanced over from the equipment case. “Can you move in it?”

“I haven’t even put it on yet.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

Colleen glanced between us.

“I’m going to pretend this isn’t my problem.”

A laugh slipped out of me.