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“Thanks again for listening. I hope things work out for you.”
He folded his wallet and had it halfway in his back pocket when he pulled it back out. He shelled out ten one-hundred-dollar bills. “This should help with the operation.”
He held it out to her, and she shook her head. “Oh, I couldn’t,” she said, her voice wobbly. “You don’t even know my name.”
“But I’ve been where you are. I’m Dave, by the way.”
“Margaret,” she returned, still not touching the money.
He nudged her with it. “If you don’t take it, I’ll feel bad.”
“Thank you,” she said, leaping up and throwing her arms around him. He embraced her back, caught off balance by the display. I glared at both of them. Sam jumped up, poised to defend her too.
“What if I make you promise to call me once Henry is all better?” the guy asked as if he wasn’t giving her the cash out of the goodness of his heart.
“I can do that.”
She smiled as he handed her a business card and the cash. Then she kissed his cheek, and I nearly slugged him for having my tigress’s lips on him.
He left, and there was no trace of the sad woman who was losing her dog anymore. Sonya gave me a triumphant look, and I began a slow clap, to which she bowed.
“Well played,Margaret,” I said. She was a hustler, and a damn good one.
“Thank you,sugar.” It was obvious how pleased she was with herself. “And you’re welcome. I heard you don’t drink the house whiskey.”
“And you?” I nodded at her nearly empty glass.
She summoned the bartender and ordered us another round of Johnny Walker Blue, hers on the rocks. “I’m frightened having something in common with you.” She clinked my glass with what could be the world’s most insulting toast. I snagged her by the waist and bit her ear. “Still in the same boat, baby.”
I steered us to a large booth in back away from the windows. She slid in, and I caged her as best I could. I needed to be touching her.
“Old Sam here almost blew it for you, but I think you missed your calling,” I said, tipping my drink to the dog lying under the table at our feet.
“Did I?” she asked as if my opinion didn’t matter, batting her long lashes at me mockingly.
“I’m impressed. A thousand bucks for a half hour’s work. That’s over four million a year, assuming you only do a forty-hour work week.” I slid a hand up her thigh. She caught it and dug in with sharp nails. I grinned at her. “I’m not sure you could make that much as an actress.”
“I never wanted to be one anyway, and stop knocking my skills. Thanks to me, you got yourself a drink.”
“I’m not knocking what you did. Seriously, I’m a little in awe of you. You had me believing poor little Henry wasn’t going to make it.”
Her eyes narrowed in disbelief. “You’re not going to scold me for practically stealing that man’s money?”
“The way I see it, he handed the cash over all on his own. His choice.” I patted her down as best I could. “Unless you stole his wallet.”
Sonya smacked me in the arm. “Of course I didn’t. What kind of bitch do you take me for?” I shrugged. “I got his watch.” She proudly held up the Patek Philippe.
I laughed so hard and so long even Sam sat up to see what was going on.When was the last time I’d truly laughed?
“And we’re still at the scene of the crime? Ballsy, Tigress. Very ballsy.”
“He’d never suspect me.” The woman was certain of her skills. “Guarantee he’ll think he lost it on the way home . . .ifhe’s even figured out it’s gone yet.”
“I stand corrected.” I inspected the watch. “That’s about eighteen grand in thirty minutes.” I put my hand over my heart and batted my lashes at her this time. “I think I’m in love.”
“Shut up,” she shot back, but she was smiling.
“Did you want me to scold you, Tigress?”
