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“If you puke in my car, I’ll take it out on your ass. Understand?”
She nods and rolls the window down, leaning against the door frame, the wind blowing her hair across her face.
“Where are you taking me?” There’s no fear in her voice. She’s accepted her fate. This is purely curiosity.
“Home,” I answer before rattling off her address to the driver. If she’s surprised, she doesn’t show it.
A small older gentleman opens the door when we arrive at her complex. I glare at him, but Nolan greets him like an old friend. “Gin! Lookie who I caught.”
“So you did, Mrs. Pierce. Will you require assistance?” I grimace at his question.
She glances up at me then grins back at this Gin. “Nope, I got it,” she says, fucking giggling like a school-aged teen.
It’s not until we step into the elevator that I realize it was charade. How many different faces does this girl wear? And which is the real Nolan Pierce? She sees me watching her, trying to work it out in my head, and whispers, “He’s innocent. Just a sweet old man.”
It’s then I understand. She doesn’t want me to harm him. She truly believes she won’t make it through the night and knows the old man is collateral damage. He saw us together. He could name me later, and she wanted him to see an innocent encounter. Even intoxicated, she’s looking out for him.
The elevator opens to a hall, directly across from a door. She presses a finger to the lock on the door. It opens, revealing a cozy space filled with warm, muted prints and bold splashes of color.
She starts stripping as the door closes. First her shoes. Then her top and pants. I lean against the door, watching the show. For a woman who expects death, she sure is intent on being comfortable. For the first time in a long time, I’m not sure how to proceed. Originally, I planned to scare her and demand to know what she was thinking when she dropped my name and threaten her to make her stop. But now, watching her slip inside a silk robe, I can’t help but wonder if maybe she has been handling me this entire time and if maybe, just maybe, I like it.
I push off the door and take a step toward her, then another, until I’m close enough to reach out and grab the two sides of her robe in my hands. She stands perfectly still, her own hands limp at her sides. I lean in closer, my breath tickling her ear as I whisper, “Is this another performance? Are you trying to tempt me into letting you live, little seductress? Is that the plan?”
Her skin prickles as I run my finger across her stomach. I skim over the top of her panties and then back up over the swell of her breast, breathing in her scent. Her own breath catches, her hand reaching out to touch my arm. I pull her closer, against the length of my arousal pressing against her, letting her know I could give her exactly what her body so clearly craves. And then I drop my hands and step away.
“I didn’t get where I am now by giving in to simple desires of the flesh. Sleep off your buzz.”
“Why?” Emotion is evident on her face, though she’s desperately trying to hide it.
“You know why. If you’re going to claim to know me, use my name for power, it’s only right I get something out of it too. Don’t you agree?”
There’s a note of fear in her eyes when I finish. I don’t wait for a reply before striding across the room. “I’ll be in touch,” I say and then let the door close softly behind me.
Chapter Three
NOLAN
There are two things you should know about me before we begin.
One. I like rules. They keep things clean and clear. You always know where to go and how to act. There are no questions if you follow rules. No surprises.
And two... I am a liar.
“Good morning, Mrs. Pierce.”
I paste a grin on my face when I walk through the door Gin holds open, his bald head catching the light. “Morning, darlin’. What do we have this morning?”
Gin smiles, letting the door close, and nods his head toward a couple in the back corner of the lobby. “Newlyweds there, barely off the honeymoon, and it seems hubby dearest is already sampling different cuisine.”
I watch the couple for a few minutes. They stand close, but the woman’s shoulders are tight with anger and her eyes flash with a smoldering flame that comes with betrayal.
“Interesting,” I say, scanning the lobby.
“Not nearly as interesting as the one you brought in last night.” He quirks an eyebrow, his eyes studying my face. “Didn’t stay long, though.”
I grin while inwardly thanking whoever protected Gin and me last night. I thought for sure that I was a goner.
“Not many are.”
