“The truth is,” she said, twirling hair between her fingers, “Paul has a point in all this, and he sounds convincing. He fooled me for a while. He’s smart and makes good sense when you talk to him.”
Ken leaned into her, caressing her arm with the back of his hand. Shelley tried to tamp down her body’s reaction to his touch. He was handsome, powerful, and interested in her. That fulfilled all the criteria she normally required to take a man immediately to bed.
“Don’t worry.” He moved his hand to her leg, resting it above the knee. “No one on my team works for him. They wouldn’t do that.”
“You’re sure? They’d think they were doing the right thing. Helping people, not hurting them.” She moved closer to him. “There’s no one who suddenly has more money than usual? Or maybe they’ve been more secretive, stopped going out with the others for a beer after their shift?”
“Why don’t we stop talking about work?” Ken’s hand slid up her thigh. “It can wait until later. All I’ve wanted since first meeting you is to find out whether your lips are as soft as they look.”
He leaned into her, angling his mouth toward hers.
Shelley took a deep breath, torn about what to do. How far was she willing to go?
“Sorry to interrupt, but your food’s ready.” Their teenage waitress stood over them, her hands full.
Scooting back from Ken, Shelley smiled at the girl. “No interruption at all. I’m starved, and that smells delicious.”
Ken glared at the plate set in front of him. “Once we’re done eating, we should finish this conversation in your hotel room.”
***
Jenessa wiped a smear of mayonnaise off her chin. “Let’s not beat around the bush, Gavin. Tell me what happened at Graystone Spa and Resorts.”
Gavin chewed his fry thoroughly, trying to cover his surprise. “You guys sure move fast. I didn’t tell Nick where I worked. How did you find all this out?”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “My job is information. I know you were in juvenile detention from the age of fourteen until eighteen, got your GED there, and then went on to college for a degree in business management.”
“How did you...?” Gavin shook his head and took a gulp of soda. His records should have been sealed, but he’d heard rumors about information the government had access to. Besides, from what Shelley said, there were no secrets from Jenessa. She hacked into encrypted computer files as easily as Gavin slipped into locked offices.
“After that,” Jenessa continued around another mouthful of hamburger, “you went to work for Aaron Graystone, and your future looked bright.”
Gavin handed her extra napkins from the dispenser on the table. Good manners obviously weren’t a requirement for everyone at the FBI.
She had the grace to blush and wipe her face, thankfully chewing the remainder of what was in her mouth without speaking.
“It’s always nice to hear my history from someone else,” he said, hoping she didn’t miss the sarcasm. “Especially my sealed juvenile records.”
“What happened at the Graystone? There was a police complaint that was later withdrawn by Aaron Graystone himself, but the initial report says embezzlement.” Jenessa shrugged. “Nick has a good feeling about you, but he won’t bring someone into our group full time that he can’t trust. Care to explain?”
“Some women will cheat and lie to get what they want.” He sighed, staring out the diner window and wondering where Shelley was even as he said this. Had she really gone off with Ken Travers for a date? “I became romantically involved with Aaron Graystone’s daughter, Crystal. She decided to be done with me just when Daddy decided I was the perfect match as partner for his company.”
Jenessa’s eyes went wide. “So you knew he’d fire you when Crystal lost interest, and you embezzled money to get back at them for dropping you?” She almost sounded impressed. “How much did you get away with?”
Breathing deeply, Gavin reminded himself Jenessa didn’t know him. All she knew was he stole diamonds and spent time in juvie. Of course she thought he embezzled money. “It wasn’t like that. I didn’t do anything wrong. Aaron planned to make me a partner. He wanted Crystal and I married. She was supposed to dump her...friend and stay with me. I wouldn’t steal from Aaron. He was my mentor. Closest thing I’d had to a father since mine passed away.”
“But then...” Jenessa shook her head. “I don’t get it. Crystal was diddling some other dude and Daddy didn’t like it. How’d you get in trouble?”
“In private, I stopped being with Crystal months earlier, once I found out about the new guy. She didn’t want to leave him. We kept up public appearance, but she wasn’t satisfied by that.” Gavin sighed and took another drink.
He wished he hadn’t trusted her to keep her word. Crystal swore if he kept her secret and didn’t tell Aaron she still had a playmate on the side, she’d make sure Gavin made it to the top of the company. Having lived on the streets and been forced to steal to survive, being on top sounded good. Certainly worth faking a relationship and throwing himself into honest, hard work.
“Crystal had a plan to get me out of the way so Aaron wouldn’t want me around, and she could have her new man. By the time I figured out what happened, it was too late. Her new boy toy was a wiz with computers and finance. He set it up to look like I was prepared to embezzle the money, but hadn’t moved it yet.”
Gavin ran a hand over his face. He still couldn’t believe it sometimes. Everything he worked so hard for came crashing down in seconds when Aaron walked into the hotel lobby with the police officers that afternoon.
He looked back at Jenessa. “Remarkably, Crystal and her guy discovered my deception right before the transaction would take place, saving the day and Daddy’s company.”
“And Aaron believed his daughter, because she was his daughter.”
“Yep. He dropped the charges eventually because he said he cared about me, but then went on to blackball me with every major business in the city. Some father figure.” Gavin was right back to being a thief in everyone’s eyes. Stealing the diamonds was the only way for him to get money. Would Nick and Jenessa understand that and give him a chance in their group? “Without a job and no prospects, I became desperate. When rumors circulated the streets about the diamond job and cash to be made, I figured it was my chance to hit it big and start over somewhere new. I contacted an old associate who made a name for himself in underground trade, and then headed to the opera house.”
All that led him to Shelley. He’d fantasized that it was some cosmic plan to get them together, but that was looking less likely. He never received a return text from her. Gavin’s greatest hope was that she worked on something. Their dinner might be a date in Ken’s mind, but maybe Shelley had a different agenda.
Jenessa clucked her tongue. “People do crazy things for lust.”
Surely Jenessa didn’t mean Shelley wouldn’t answer because of lust. He had to believe in her. Shelley was changing her life, the same way he was.
“If it makes you feel any better,” Jenessa continued, “I looked into Crystal when clues pointed to the two of you being involved.”
Right...she was talking about Crystal. That seemed like a lifetime ago. All that mattered right now was Shelley. As much as it would hurt him if she slept with Ken, he knew it would hurt her even more.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He had to forget what Jenessa said earlier and trust Shelley.
“Crystal got what was coming to her.” Jenessa grinned like a cat who found the cream, obviously pleased. “That new guy left her three weeks after you were booted from the company. He’s dating a French model now.” She let out a braying laugh and ate the last bite of her burger.
Somehow, that news didn’t make Gavin feel better. True, Crystal destroyed his life and he couldn’t exactly wish her well, but she was destined to spend a lonely existence unless she changed.
Gavin was determined to make a better life for himself. But was caring
about a woman like Shelley just revisiting the mistakes of his past?
***
Shelley fingered the manila envelope Jenessa gave her while Ken looked for a free spot on the street to park the car. “Are you sure we shouldn’t go to your house?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I told you, my place is a bachelor pad. Too messy for a lady of your beauty. I wasn’t expecting to meet someone so fascinating tonight.”
Chewing the inside of her cheek, Shelley leaned back in the seat. That confirmed what she had already thought. “Have you been thinking about who we should watch?” she asked. “I’m sure Paul has more planned besides the attack on the mall. I don’t want to have planning sessions in front of someone who works for him.”
Ken turned into a spot as another car pulled out, and then shoved the gearshift into park. “Why are you so convinced one of my people is corrupt? If the perp’s getting inside information, it’s more likely your department. We didn’t know anything about the diamonds or Agent Hart until this afternoon. How could we feed that information to anyone?”
“Hmmm...” Shelley considered that. How well did Jenessa know the agents working with her at the FBI? Someone tipped Stephen and Terrance off to where Shelley and Gavin went after the opera. What if it wasn’t through their cell phones, but a double agent? “You have a good point.”
“Of course I do.” Ken pulled the keys from the ignition. He leaned into her, slipping his hand down her shoulder and across her chest while his lips brushed her cheek. “Now that that’s settled, which room’s yours, beautiful?”
***
Gavin paced his hotel room after showering. Still no word from Shelley.
Running his hands through his damp hair, he walked into the bathroom, flipping on the light and looking at his reflection. Finally clean shaven, he looked better than he had since meeting Shelley that first night in the opera house. He practiced a smile, flashing his dimple, and then splashed on aftershave that had been waiting in the room. The smell wasn’t too overpowering, and definitely better than nothing.
Then again, if Shelley was in bed with Ken somewhere tonight, she wouldn’t care whether Gavin wore aftershave or not. In his heart, he tried to believe she wasn’t doing that. Shelley must have a reason for going with Ken, even if she chose not to share it with him. Would she really just go to bed with the jerk, especially after Gavin told her Ken was married?
Shelley said she had a hard time with self-control, but she’d controlled herself around him. Could it be that his looks weren’t enough to turn her on?
True, he wasn’t as muscular as Ken, but other girls never had complaints. A thief couldn’t afford bulky muscles. Climbing buildings and hiding in shadows didn’t require him to be one of those men who couldn’t put his arms down comfortably at his sides. Not that he’d done a lot of stealing lately besides the diamond job, but Gavin did work out to keep himself long and lanky, preferring that look versus the over-developed bodies of other guys.
Gavin returned to the bedroom and checked his phone again. Still nothing. He’d like to sleep and pretend it didn’t bother him, but that wouldn’t happen. Even if he could convince himself not to care, the people in the room next to his talked so loud, the girl giggling so much, he doubted he could tune them out and sleep.
Plus, the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach spoke to the fact that he was starting to worry more than be hurt by her continued silence. What if Ken hadn’t taken no for an answer and Shelley was in trouble?
Galvanized by that thought, Gavin slipped on shoes and grabbed his key. He shot into the hallway and ran down five rooms to pound on Jenessa’s door.
It yanked open and her brown eyes met his. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Maybe. I have a bad feeling.” He shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Shelley still hasn’t answered. I wondered if you could call her and see if she responds to you. I don’t trust Ken. I think Shell’s in—”
“She’s here.” Jenessa pointed down the hallway to the vending sign. “I saw her at the ice machine about twenty minutes ago.”
His tension deflated and Gavin leaned against the doorframe, relief flooding through him. “I thought maybe... Well, never mind. Do you remember which room number she was given? Maybe she just didn’t get my message. I want to check on her, make sure she’s okay.”
“Maybe you should wait ‘til morning.” Jenessa grinned and gave him a wink. “I got the impression she isn’t alone tonight.”
“Oh.” Gavin stood still a few seconds, unsure what to do. “Oh.”
“Oh?” She bit her lip. “Did you and Shelley...get close last week?”
“It’s nothing,” he lied, wondering why he felt so numb. Shouldn’t he feel something?
Jenessa patted his arm and sighed. “Will this affect your working relationship?”
No matter what, Gavin needed the job with Nick. He already gave up the diamonds and didn’t have any other options. “Of course not. Everything’s fine.” He forced a smile. “I worried because Ken’s married. He took off his ring to trick Shell.”
“I knew there was something I didn’t like about that guy.” She wrinkled her nose. “What a scumbag.”
There wasn’t much more to say than that. “Yep.”
“Well, if you want to try and warn her, she’s got the room next to yours. Two-twenty-five.”
Great...that was the room with all the female giggling. Maybe subconsciously he knew it was Shelley and hadn’t wanted to believe it. And lucky him—Gavin would hear every second of her romp with the scumbag sergeant. It would be a long night.
He turned down the hall, headed for his room. “You were right before,” he called over his shoulder. “She knows how to take care of herself.”
Chapter Seventeen
Shelley paced her room, turning off the standup comedian she’d watched to keep her mind occupied. Turning Ken away hadn’t been as hard as she thought it would be. Even though it pissed him off and he tried to press the issue, the choice had been easy.
She would wait to make love until she and Gavin were ready, if they ever were ready, happy with that decision. No longer would her desire for a man to love her force hasty choices about sex. Besides, Ken was a complete jerk. At least he gave her plenty of information. If it was one of the FBI agents Paul had corrupted, that could mean bigger problems for this case overall.
She really wanted to talk to Gavin about it, but he hadn’t answered his door when she first arrived at the hotel. Maybe she should knock again. It was getting late. He had to go to his room eventually. Jenessa said they ate dinner together and then he drove her to the hotel. Where could he be?
Although she didn’t have his cell number, she could call his hotel room. That would leave less possibility of someone catching her talking to him and tongues wagging about their involvement. Besides relaying what Ken said, she wanted to explain to Gavin why it was important they remain discreet around the other agents about their relationship. With her reputation, people would judge him. She didn’t want him to suffer professionally because of her past mistakes.
As she reached for the phone, a light knock sounded on the bedroom door. Her heart jumped with excitement. She hoped Gavin was on the other side. It was weird, but the few hours spent without him this evening felt like days.
Looking through the peephole showed him standing there. The sight left her giddy, and she nearly giggled. Schooling her face into a serious mask, she opened the door. “Agent Hart, how are you?” Glancing around the hallway revealed no one in sight. “Oh good, the coast is clear.”
She yanked him inside and closed the door, wrapping her arms around his waist and snuggling into him with a feeling of contentment. Gavin wore new musky cologne, a step up from bacon grease, and his smooth-shaven cheek rested on top of hers for a second before he stepped away.
“You’re okay?” he asked, turning to look around the room. “Where’s Sergeant Travers?”
“Ewww.” Shelley wrinkle
d her nose and walked to the bed to sit down. “Why would he be in my room?”
Gavin met her gaze, surprising Shelley with the anger in the set of his jaw. “Jenessa said you weren’t alone.”
“And you believed that?” Stunned was too mild a word to describe how she felt. “Did you think, despite our promise to each other, I decided to have sex with the first available dick to come along? Is that what you think of me?”
Gavin winced, but stared her down. “You’ve been pushing me away since we got here, and then blatantly flirted with him while telling me to run along. He told me his plan to get you into bed, and you didn’t want to hear me out. You were too wrapped up in batting your eyelashes at him.” He shrugged. “You had dinner with another man—a date. What should I think?”
Shelley blinked back tears. He was right. It looked bad. At least, it looked bad for a woman like her. “For most agents, you’d think she was on to something and working the case. If Jenessa went out with him, for example. Did it ever cross your mind I was working Ken?”
“Why should I think that?” He hesitated as a look Shelley could only interpret as guilt passed briefly across his face. “You were flirting, Shell. Besides, Jenessa isn’t my problem.”
Folding her arms across her chest, she whispered, “So now I’m a problem?”
He shook his head. “You know what I mean.”
“Yes, you’ve made yourself pretty clear.” Shelley stood and walked past him, heading for the doorway. “As you can see, my virtue remained intact. You don’t have to worry about me, Gavin. I’m nobody’s problem but my own. Goodnight.”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” He planted his balled fists on his hips. “Why didn’t you answer my text message?”
“I never got a message.” Shelley reached for the doorknob, but paused. She’d be damned if she’d take all the blame here. He assumed she slept with Ken, but she assumed he trusted her enough to realize what she was doing. Guess that makes us both asses. “I told the agent to let you know where I went so you wouldn’t worry. You should have known I’d find you as soon as I was done with dinner.”
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