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“Are you sore?” he asked.
“A little. But it’s nice pain.”
“I’ll have to go for the gentle approach.”
“Mmm… I don’t mind it the other way.”
He gave me a slow smile. “Which way’s that, Miranda?”
“When you go all feral on me.”
“Feral?” He laughed. “You do bring the animal out in me.”
And you me.
The invigorating evening breeze ran its fingers through my hair as we sped along the highway with the top down.
Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the Mexican restaurant and were seated at a table by the window.
Being at the beach always gave me a huge appetite, and when our meals arrived, my stomach rumbled.
Spicy, saucy, and deliciously cheesy, my beef enchilada exploded with flavor. I wiped my mouth. It was the best Mexican food I’d ever tasted, especially washed down with a tangy margarita.
Although the Mariachi band was a tad annoying. Their novelty wore off after the third explosive tune. The deafening din wasn’t helped by the people at the table next to us, who grew louder with each tequila shot.
“I’ll arrange the insurance and for the de Koonings’ sale in the coming days. Last week was pretty distracting,” I said, almost yelling. “Did Florian get back to you?”
Lachlan beckoned the waiter. “Check, please.” Then he returned to my question. “Yep.”
“Oh…” I met his gaze with a question.
I’d had a big week at the warehouse. Every time I’d called my new boss regarding paint for the walls, I’d gotten nothing but voicemail.
After paying for our dinner, Lachlan jumped up from his chair. “I’m going there now.”
“To Florian’s office?” I almost sprinted after him.
“Yep. I’m going to pay him a visit.”
“Right. Um… He may not be there. It’s Sunday and after eight.”
“He said he’d be there.”
Given Florian’s caginess, Lachlan’s frustration was understandable. But seeing his sour face was still jarring.
“Do you mind if I… tag along?” I asked.
“It’s up to you. I might actually punch the guy.” He stopped walking and turned to me, his face softening. “I can drop you off at the apartment first.”
“No, I want to come. Are you going to threaten him?”
“I already have. I’m sick of his fucking bullshit.”
My shoulders tensed as I hurried along. No matter how often Lachlan reassured me to the contrary, I just couldn’t shake off the guilt of having introduced them. And Florian had let me down too.
Ten minutes later, we arrived at the imposing tower.
As Lachlan held the car door open for me, I asked, “Is this going to get violent?”
He opened his hands. “Let’s put it this way: I don’t like being screwed around. Maybe you should wait here.”
“No.” I jumped out. “I’ve got questions too. He owes me my money.”
He stopped walking. “Who the fuck is this guy?”
I bit my lip. “I should never have gone to him. But he has a huge reputation. I could never have thought…” I gulped back a lump in my throat.
Lachlan stopped walking and took my hand. “You’re not to blame. Perhaps I’m just assuming the worst.”
A few weeks had passed, and with the Jackson Pollocks holed up in Florian’s vaults, Lachlan had good reason to be worried.
