The Arrogant Thief

by Mallory Crowe

  “Yes.”

  “Great. Let me get ready and we’ll do that. I’m fine, Gage. Really. I don’t need some drawn-out apology for a non-event that doesn’t even matter. Okay?”

  Why did this feel like a trap? “I feel bad about snapping at you.”

  She was quiet for a moment as she took a deep gulp. “You’re a thief, Gage. It should take more than that to make you feel bad.” And then she shut the door in his face.

  She was right. He’d barely snapped, and it wasn’t worth her storming off and making him feel like shit. But somehow her saying it didn’t matter made it worse.

  Even though he kept talking about how they weren’t anything and never would be, the fact that he wasn’t a big deal hurt him more than anything.

  And damn it if he didn’t feel like a piece of shit.

  Melissa looked through Sarah’s closet and was spoiled for choice. The excruciatingly nice socialite allowed Melissa to pick out whatever she needed. No exceptions. Melissa didn’t know enough about designer labels to recognize one offhand, but she knew enough about Sarah’s trust fund to know there was a fortune in this closet alone, and she now had free rein.

  She thought back to the days of hitting the clearance rack at the department store a few miles from the house. When it was back-to-school season and she needed to make sure Josh had all of his school supplies ready, in addition to an entirely new wardrobe so he could be cool in front of his friends and have pants that didn’t stop at mid-calf because the boy couldn’t stop growing, her checking account had been pathetically small. She remembered shirts being twenty dollars and way too expensive.

  There was probably nothing in this closet that cost less than twenty dollars. Hell, less than two hundred dollars. She would really have to send Sarah a gift basket after all this. Maybe her credit card wouldn’t be maxed out and she could even send a nice one....

  But that would have to wait until she actually survived everything before she could start thanking people. As pretty as all of Sarah’s dresses were, they weren’t about to go to any fancy parties. Besides, Sarah’s petite frame was much smaller than Melissa’s. She had a socialite body, and Melissa had a stressed-out mom’s body, even if she didn’t actually have any kids of her own.

  So she went for some yoga pants and a loose white T-shirt with a graphic pattern of black flowers on the front. But of course this wasn’t just a T-shirt. The fabric was soft and clingy, and the texture of the black flowers made them appear to jump off the shirt. So even this leisure outfit seemed way too fancy for Melissa.

  Then she was able to borrow some of Sarah’s makeup to make sure she didn’t look like a zombie and made her way out of Sarah’s wing of the house. Gage and Sarah were still in the kitchen, around the island. But Gage had changed clothes, into a black sweater that was loose and somehow also clung to the muscles in his shoulders and back.

  Sarah was still in her pajamas and robe, which was hardly surprising considering Melissa had been monopolizing her closet for the past half an hour. “All right. I’m ready when you are,” she said in a hopefully authentic-sounding cheery tone.

  In truth, she wasn’t upset with Gage. What was there to be upset about? He used a rough tone with her? If anything, last night had solidified that they weren’t anything. Whatever they had between them was just a fleeting moment. Even if she wanted more, he’d made his position clear.

  And why would she want more? Why would she call him her boyfriend? Sure, she’d had a crush on him for way too long, but now they’d gotten it out of their systems and could move on. He could continue with one-night stand after one-night stand, and she could go back to her life. Wander around the country with Hart Securities and have adventure after adventure without having to worry about a womanizing boyfriend. She’d be nothing but an anchor to a guy like him. A literal ball and chain.

  He was right. This wasn’t anything. They didn’t need a label or a talk about it. They were having fun and making the most of a bad situation and that was that. Today she was determined to be cool about it and not go crazy, stage-five clinger on him.

  “I’m ready now.” Gage stood. “Thanks for everything, Sarah.”

  She sat there and smiled at them. “Of course. Any time.”

  “Careful what you offer,” warned Melissa. “Give an inch and Gage will take a mile.”

  Sarah raised a brow, and Melissa had a feeling she was reading too much into her little joke.

  Luckily, Gage wasn’t in the mood to linger. He was already headed for the exit, and Melissa was close behind. Sarah thankfully stayed in the kitchen so there weren’t any awkward good-byes.

  Was it odd that she wasn’t more jealous of him and Sarah? Before, the very idea of Gage with another woman had literally sent her running back home in defeat. But seeing them together somehow made her jealousy that much better. Sarah had seemed totally uninterested in Gage sexually, even if she’d claimed it had been good between them. If anything, she was more interested in the adventure aspect of the relationship.

  Reaching up to feel the choker around her neck, Melissa couldn’t help but wish for a little less adventure.

  “Is it bothering you?” asked Gage.

  Letting out a little laugh, she nodded. “Yeah, it bothers me.”

  “I mean physically. It’s not too tight or anything, is it?”

  She shrugged. What did she even say to that? “It’s been on for days. I’d give anything to get this stupid thing off. “

  “That’s rough.”

  “Like, threatening my life is terrible. But making me uncomfortable the whole time is just torture. Very rude, Courtney, if I do say so myself.”

  Gage gave a little smile to that, and Melissa was happy. There. One step closer to not being terribly uncomfortable the entire time they were together.

  Once downstairs, Gage hailed a cab and gave the directions. She couldn’t imagine living in the city and taking cabs everywhere all the time. She’d only been here a few days, and she was already getting sick of the awkward silence or small talk—she still wasn’t sure which was worse—and the herky-jerky driving every cabdriver seemed to share.

  She glanced over to Gage, and all of a sudden, she was filled with flashbacks of how they’d acted the last time they were in a cab together.

  Suddenly overheated, she tugged at the collar of the shirt she’d borrowed. She wanted to ask him about it, but that would firmly break the no-talking rule he’d set up.

  Had it all been about distracting her so he could get her to Sarah’s without her freaking out? Or had he really been overcome with desire as he’d pulled off a successful job? She’d always assumed that after pulling something off like that, the guys would have to be horny. Something she’d never asked Toni or Hart about. Considering how often they went at it, it seemed like everything put them in the mood, so they weren’t good indicators.

  And now she wasn’t sure whether her theory was right or whether Gage had just been sexually manipulating her. She never thought she’d be one to be susceptible to sexual manipulation, but apparently she was a prime target when the bait was right.

  The cab stopped, and Melissa was eager to get out and start distracting herself by any means necessary. Gage paid the driver and they looked up at the building. It looked like any apartment building. It was only when they walked into the lobby that they saw any signage for “Sky Living.” A resort for loved ones was how they billed themselves. If they were as high end as Gage implied earlier, it would make sense that they wouldn’t need much signage to attract clientele.

  “How exactly are we supposed to get in?” she asked as they took the main elevator up to the lobby of the resort.

  “Your dear mother is getting up there and we’re looking at options.”

  “My dear mother, huh? I doubt this place, as nice as it is, has a bar big enough for her to crawl into.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Truth.” If she couldn’t laugh about it, she’d cry. Laughing seemed like the best option.<
br />
  “Well, your hypothetical mother has been nothing but nice to me, so I want to make sure she’s taken care of.”

  “All right then. What’s my hypothetical mother’s name? Because if I use my real mother’s name, I might end up throwing up in my mouth a little.”

  “Whoa, careful there. Your bitterness is showing.”

  “A girl can only do so much.” She winked.

  “What about Toni?”

  She snorted at the suggestion. “No! We can’t get that Freudian.”

  “Emily then.”

  “Emily? Where did that come from?”

  He shrugged. “I’m a creative person. I just thought of it.”

  Before she could question his imagination any more, the elevator opened. The place did have luxury written all over it. The lobby had a decorative tile pattern on the floor, with a mix of white and teal. The water theme was perpetuated by the large fountain in the middle of the room, featuring happy dolphins spitting water out. Well, it surely made a first impression.

  The comfortable-looking chairs and tables were on either side of the hospital-like doors that flanked the front reception desk. As they approached, Melissa took a deep breath. This seemed less stressful than any of the other less than legal things she’d done with Gage. Apparently she was getting used to these little heists. Was it strange that she was happy about it? Who didn’t want to be a bit more of a badass?

  The pretty woman behind the desk was dressed in khaki slacks and a fitted teal polo shirt. The nametag on her lapel read Rachel. Gage, as usual, took the lead in talking. “Hey there, Rachel. We’re the Harts, and we set up an appointment to tour the facilities today. Unfortunately our schedule got moved around and we’re here early. That shouldn’t be a problem, I expect.”

  Well, Melissa was impressed. He managed to sound friendly while making a completely asshole move and didn’t ask whether it was okay but said it as a statement. He was a good manipulator, her Gage.

  Not her Gage. Her friend Gage. Her acquaintance Gage. Her—

  “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Hart,” said Rachel with a wide smile on her face. “I’m so sorry about the timing. I’m sure we have some staff who would be more than happy to take you around. If you don’t mind, I’m going to run to the back and find someone for you right away.”

  “That’s great, Rachel. I appreciate it.”

  Gage sounded so friendly and pleasant. It was as if she were in bizarro land. Once Rachel was through the swinging door, Melissa raised a brow at him. “Who are you?” she whispered.

  But he didn’t answer her right away as he leapt over the desk counter in one swift move that didn’t move a single piece of paper out of place. “I’m a nice guy,” he said finally as he started typing at the keyboard. “Oh, Rachel, you didn’t log out when you left. Rookie mistake.”

  She snorted and shook her head. “So nice,” she muttered.

  “Oh, that’s right. Nice guys finish last. I should’ve remembered that. I guess I’ll go back to being a bad boy.” He winked. And then he was jumping back over the counter and standing right next to her again as though nothing had happened.

  “What was that?” she asked in a whisper.

  “I got the room number for Vance. I’ll need you to distract the tour guide, and I’ll question him.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Is that all I am to you? Your distraction girl?”

  “What can I say. You’re a hell of a distraction.”

  Damn it. When he said things like that, it was so much harder to maintain her distance. Emotionally or physically, because she now found herself leaning toward him as if he were a magnet and she had way too much iron in her blood.

  But before she got too carried away with infatuation, the doors next to the reception counter opened up and Rachel came out with a woman walking alongside her. Melissa found herself holding her breath as Rachel got back to the computer, not sure whether Gage had left any sign of tinkering at her station.

  The anticipation was for nothing, though. Rachel didn’t even glance at her computer. “Mr. and Mrs. Hart, this is the daytime manager, Marion Cole.”

  Marion was a tall, skinny woman in a pristine white skirt and suit jacket. “Sorry for the wait,” she said politely as she reached out a hand. “Feel free to call me Marion.”

  Melissa stifled a laugh. This woman was apologizing for being late to a meeting that wasn’t scheduled until much later. Rich people service....

  “I’m Melissa.” She held out a hand. She had debated giving a false name, but Melissa was common enough that it wouldn’t raise any red flags. Besides, the false last name should be good enough.

  “Brad,” said Gage casually.

  She frowned and glanced over at him. Brad? Where the hell did that come from? It sounded like the name of a male Barbie, not the bad boy she’d come to know and be constantly irritated by.

  Marion didn’t seem concerned by any of this. “If you follow me, I’ll give you a quick tour of our grounds.”

  Marion led the way through the doors, leading farther into the resort. Melissa and Gage followed. Even though the doors were the wide double hospital style doors, the hall seemed like a strange mix between hospital and hotel.

  There were subtle hints of hospital living all around them, but the smooth tiled hallways and dark wooden doors adorned with paintings of various pretty landscapes around the world really lightened the mood. And if the aesthetics didn’t do it, Marion was working her hardest to show them all the luxurious aspects of the building. She first walked them to the pool and fitness center, which included experienced instructors for free.

  Melissa rolled her eyes behind Marion’s back. Free considering you’re paying so much for a “membership.” When they toured an empty room, it became more apparent that this really was a nursing home and not just a resort. Each of the beds had rails and controls to raise and lower the mattress as needed for comfort. Each suite had a sitting area next to the bed and a window with a great view of the city. There was an emergency call button, and the rack of various medical machines stood off to the side, as if trying not to be noticed.

  Marion continued to list off the facts about the twenty-four-hour medical staff on board, the excellent privacy provided, and how the twenty-four-hour concierge desk was there to provide the patients anything they might need at any time of day or night. “We also make sure to track time between the guest making a request and our time fulfilling it. Currently, we’re at a ten-minute average. That means if the guest requests fast food or even an order of fresh flowers be brought in to them, that order is placed within ten minutes, or within ten minutes, one of our staff will personally run out for it.

  “There’s nowhere else to get this kind of personalized care. The guests here usually are struggling. They can’t do as much as they used to or as much as they want to. We want to make this transition as seamless as possible. They want for nothing. They need for nothing. They never have to go to a doctor because we will have the best doctors come straight to their bedside. Family will never have to worry about their loved ones being lonely, because we have enough activities and staff to give each person a level of care everyone deserves.”

  Well, Melissa was mostly sold. If only she had money and a mother in need of care. But as nice as this tour was, it wasn’t getting them closer to Albert. Melissa shot Gage a questioning look, and he turned his attention to Marion. “Do you mind if we have a few minutes to discuss things?”

  Marion smiled broadly. “Of course. We want this to be a no-stress environment, not just for guests but for prospective guests and family members as well. I’ll be in the hall, and if you need anything just let me know.”

  Well, it was great she was leaving them alone, but considering she was just outside, she was basically a guard dog as well. As soon as she was gone, Melissa ran her fingers through her hair. “I assume you have a plan?” she asked softly.

  “You’re really stuck on this plan thing. Sometimes less of a plan is better. It means y
ou can be more flexible and don’t freak out at the slightest change.”

  “I think if my life is indicative of anything, it’s that I’m very good with change.”

  “That might be true,” muttered Gage. “Vance is in room 105. I think we’re close, but I can’t go in with Marion on my tail. Do you think you can distract her while I question him?”

  Of course. Distraction girl. “What am I supposed to distract her with? Spill another drink?”

  He shrugged. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

  “Okay, fine. The old drink spilling distraction. I got it. But you owe me for this.”

  Gage smiled at her threat. “What do I owe you?”

  She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. All of the adequate payments she could think of on the fly were sexual, for some stupid reason. She finally shook her head. “I’ll tell you when I know.” With that, she opened the door and found Marion standing oddly close to it.

  But her smile was already in place, as if she never stopped. “How are things going in there?” she asked.

  “Um, right. I was feeling a bit thirsty. Is there somewhere that we can get a drink?”

  “Of course. If you go just a little bit down the hallway and look on the left, you’ll find coffee, tea, fountain drinks, and a whole assortment of beverages inside the refrigerator.”

  Melissa took a few steps and only belatedly realized that Marion wasn’t following her. In fact, just as she turned around, she saw Marion going into the room Gage was still in. Shit. What if she’d overheard them talking? What if she was going to call Gage on their plan?

  Well, that would be impossible, considering they didn’t have a plan. She was about to run to the room to check on him, but she stopped herself. Gage could handle himself, especially against only one woman. No, she should keep on track. Get a drink, something nice and sticky so she could pour it all over Marion’s pristine white outfit and distract her long enough to give Gage time to find Vance.

  It was easy enough to find the room Marion had pointed out. It was in the middle of the building, so there were no windows, but the pretty tables and chairs gave the room a cafe feel. Damn, this place was nice. Maybe when she was old and falling apart, she could get a space. Considering how long the waiting list probably was for Sky Living, she bet if she put her name in now, she might be able to get accepted in about fifty or sixty years.