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‘And making me look unkempt is your answer?’ he asked.
‘I’m aiming for grungy rich, not filthy rich.’
‘Your contact has something against money?’
‘Only the need to part you from as much of it as possible once he realises who you are.’
He started to shrug, but stopped when she placed her hand on his chest.
As usual, the simple act of her touch on him had the effect of stopping him dead in his tracks. He tried to breathe but only managed an inadequate puff.
She tugged up the collar of his leather jacket. ‘Okay, you’re ready.’
He nodded, unable to tear his eyes from her glossy lips.
‘Oh, and, Damion …?’
‘Oui?’ he rasped.
‘Let me do the talking, okay?’
Reiko sipped her drink and tried not to look to her right where Damion, the buttons of his jacket open to display his broad, black-shirted chest and entirely too-sexy body, was indeed letting her do the talking—albeit in a very distracting way.
When his forceful stare got to be too much, she swung her head towards him and raised her eyebrows. What do you think you’re doing? A slow, supremely sexy smile curved his lips and he stretched back further in his seat, his arm moving lazily along the back of it. His fingers grazed her arm, and she nearly jumped out of her skin.
Opposite her, Yoshi Yamamoto, her friend and contact in all things art, smirked.
‘What are you smirking at?’ she demanded in Japanese, desperately willing her pulse rate down.
His smile widened. ‘I’ve known you since you were six, Rei. I’ve never seen you this rattled by anyone—let alone a stuffy ex.’
Heat crept up her neck and she was thankful the club was dark enough to disguise it. ‘Shut up! I’m not all shook up. And he’s not stuffy. He … he’s French.’
‘He also looks like he can drop a few million on some German art I’ve come into possession of. Care to broker a deal? I’ll split the commission with you.’
‘He’s not interested. And don’t underestimate him. He’ll see right through you.’
He grinned. ‘Wow, you’re defending him. I guess it’s true what they say—there’s a thin line between lust and lust.’
‘That’s not what—’ She huffed. ‘I didn’t come here for you to take cheap shots at my personal life, Yosh. Do you have the information I need?’
Yoshi sobered and nodded. Beside her, Reiko thought she felt Damion stiffen, but when she slid a glance at him, he looked as relaxed as ever.
‘It surfaced again a few weeks ago, when lover-boy here started hunting for it. Word on the street is he’s willing to pay whatever it takes to get it back.’ His gaze drifted to Damion and returned to hers. ‘I guess him being here confirms it?’
Reiko waved away his interest. ‘Why didn’t you call me?’
He frowned. ‘You told me you’d retired.’
‘Do you have the buyer’s details?’
Yoshi tapped his phone. ‘I’m expecting a call in the next fifteen minutes with that information.’
A provocatively dressed woman approached their table and sank down next to Yoshi. She played with his hair and he absently rubbed her thigh. But the woman’s gaze kept straying to Damion, and the very keen interest in her eyes made Reiko’s insides clench with a powerfully dangerous emotion.
Recognising it as possessiveness, she felt her breath snag in her throat. She darted her gaze to Damion, fearful he’d somehow guessed, and found him watching her with focussed intensity.
‘With the crazy currents flying between you two, I’d say get a room—but, since this is a respectable club, why don’t you go dance with your man before I drown in all that sexual tension?’ Yoshi said suggestively, his tone amused as he pulled his girlfriend closer into his lap. ‘I’ll come find you when the call comes.’
