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He lifted his eyebrow. “If you say so.”
“Keep your ear to the ground. If you hear anything, call me.” I grabbed a towel, wiping my face before reaching for my clothes.
“Yeah, I will. I have a bad feeling about this one, Alexei.”
His instincts were usually spot on. “There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“We shall see.”
A few phone calls would need to be made, a trip out of the country a possibility.
After throwing on my clothes, I headed out, making it to the car, allowing my thoughts to drift to her once again. Maybe it was time I checked out a few of Stephanie’s former cases. I couldn’t afford to allow the connection I’d made to interfere with a single decision or my usual method of doing business.
No matter how much I craved owning her.
* * *
Stephanie
I stared out the window of the plane, taking several deep breaths. It would be good to spend a few days by myself. As the pilot started to land, I couldn’t seem to take my mind off the mystery man. He’d left sometime in the middle of the night, but not without leaving me a small gift.
A perfect rose positioned on the pillow next to me. The moment I’d awakened, the sweet scent had given me a smile. There’d been no note, no promise of another date, the simple gesture somewhat out of place for the rugged man.
I bit my lip, only half listening to the pilot’s warning of a bumpy landing. As the plane smacked down on the runway given the shearing wind, I took a deep breath and held it. Since leaving the hotel, I hadn’t had the sense of being alone, but for some reason it hit me. I’d left no word with my office, hadn’t told my friends that I’d changed my plans. I’d simply gone on a private adventure of my own.
As soon as I disembarked and turned on my phone, it rang. As I glared at the screen, I shook my head. I should have known at least one of the girls would track me down. “Amelia.”
“My God. I was ready to call the police,” Amelia teased. “Are you in Paris?”
I took a quick glance out the window the small airport into the bright sun. “Not exactly.”
“What the hell does ‘not exactly’ mean?”
I held out the phone, allowing her to hear the colorful vibes of the piped-in island music booming throughout the airport. “Does that give you a hint?’
“You beast, you,” she huffed. “Why didn’t you take me with you?”
“You didn’t ask.”
“Very funny. I hope it’s a fabulous island where you can meet dozens of sexy men. One for breakfast. One for lunch. And two for dinner.”
“Two, huh?” I laughed as I headed to the taxi counter. “I’m not certain I’m ready for all that. I took my besties’ advice and headed to St. Martin. By the way, I doubt you’re going to admit to it, but however you convinced Mr. Hottie to break into my hotel room was brilliant. I owe you one.”
Amelia laughed. “What are you talking about?”
“The guy from the reception? The one I danced with? You know, the one Suzi called ‘the hottest man on the planet’?” When she didn’t say anything for a few seconds, the hair raised on the back of my neck. I stopped where I was in the middle of a crowd of people, hearing more than one asshole cursing me out. My mouth was suddenly dry, and I found myself scanning the perimeter. “You know who I’m talking about.”
“Oh, the man would be hard to forget. Seriously, Stephanie. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Does it mean that you and the sexy guy…”
“Don’t make it sound so lurid.” Although that’s exactly what the entire experience had been.
“Are you serious that he just broke into your room?”
“Well, he was inside when I arrived, although he certainly didn’t kick down the door if that’s what you’re insinuating.”
“Did you even think for a second that the asshole might have been a serial killer?”
I burst into laughter. “Who just happened to be invited to the wedding reception of two attorneys.”
