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“That doesn’t mean you’re not.”
“It means he’s off-limits.” We both fall silent, knowing the last man I went after was also off-limits. “I learned my lesson,” I add quietly.
“Meli,” she whispers, sounding sad, “that’s in the past. We’ve all moved on. Does Rosey know how you feel?”
I scoff, bending to pick up my things. “No, because I don’t feel anything for Arthur Taylor. He’s a criminal and bossy, he charms women into his bed, and—” I stop talking as a man’s shoes come into view. I trail my eyes up the grey suit trousers, over the crisp white shirt, and clocking the gold Rolex until my eyes reach Arthur’s.
“Don’t let me stop you,” he says, folding his arms over his chest and staring, waiting for me to continue.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Did you forget something?” I ask, my voice coming out high-pitched and squeaky.
“I thought I had, but I changed my mind,” he says coldly before turning and heading back out.
Hadley stares up at me with large, unblinking eyes. “Fuck. What do you think he came back to say?” I shrug, acting like I don’t care he just caught me slagging him off. “What if he was gonna ask you on a date?”
I screw my face up in disgust. “With Rosey waiting outside for him? That’s low. He doesn’t think of me like that. Rosey is much more his type.”
“Because they’re both psychos?” she asks.
We giggle. “Exactly.”
ARTHUR
I pull out a chair for Rosey to sit before taking the one opposite her. I like to have business meetings over dinner. If Rosey ever gets caught in her line of work, I can pass this off as a date, while a meeting at my office looks more suspicious.
The waiter pours us each a glass of wine and takes our order. I wait for him to leave before starting. “I have another proposition,” I tell her.
“Can’t we at least eat before we talk business?”
“It’s a business meeting, so it’s all business,” I remind her. “It’s not a full job. He gets to walk away.” She sighs. “I need you to lure him to me.”
“Not really my thing, Arthur. I like clean jobs where they don’t get to talk after.”
“I forgot, you like to do all the talking before they die,” I say sarcastically. “He’s got something I need. I want you to get that from him, and then I’ll come in and finish the job off. He’s just a kid trying to be a big man, nothing to worry about, and it’s good money.”
“That’s not clean. By then, he’ll have seen my face and yours. What does he have?”
“A recording on his smartphone.”
“Can’t I just break in and take the phone?”
“If it were that simple, I’d do it myself. But this guy needs to know he’s got to keep his mouth shut. If he begins shouting his mouth off . . . well, it won’t be good.”
“So, you want me to take his phone, lure him to you, and you’ll threaten him?” I nod. “What exactly is on the phone?”
“You know that’s not how I work, Red. I give you the details you need to know. What’s on that phone is irrelevant.”
She shrugs out of her jacket and my eyes are drawn to her breasts. It’s the effect she was after because she smirks. “Focus, Arthur.” I swallow and loosen my tie. “Aren’t you too high up the chain for this kind of thing?” she asks. “Beating people up seems so amateur.”
I nod in agreement. “Trust me, it wasn’t on my list of things to do this week, but it came up. Seeing me should be enough to let him know he’s pushed his luck too far.”
After lunch, I take Rosey back to the clubhouse, making my way through to see Maverick. I halt mid-step when Meli comes running from the kitchen, slamming right into my chest. I steady her, and her giggles fade as her eyes reach mine. Ollie, Rosey’s son, is behind her, and before he can stop, he throws something white in the air. It hits Meli on the back and sprays up, covering us both in flour. “Oh shit,” she whispers, trying hard not to laugh. “I am so sorry.”
“Sorry, Mr. Taylor,” Ollie splutters. “I didn’t mean to get you.”
“Yet you did,” I mutter dryly, releasing Meli and shaking my arm.
“Don’t brush it,” Meli says, gripping my jacket and pulling it from my shoulders. “You’ll make it worse.”
