by AJ Nuest
Based on her breathy laugh and the way she kept her ass glued to the seat, her thigh warming his through his pant leg, she didn’t mind the compliment or the way he’d invaded her personal space.
Not that he bought into her act. She needed him, after all. Or rather, she needed his implied connections by way of a silent investor. Someone who held no interest in her business other than earning a small profit in exchange for providing several umbrella companies through which she could siphon her money someplace safe. He’d made sure of it by throwing up several firewalls and backing her into a nice tight corner so she’d have no choice but to reach out for help.
She tipped the glass to her lips with a wink and irritation firmed his jaw. He grazed his hand down the mutton chops he’d spirit-gummed on either side of his goatee in case his mouth accidently curled into a sneer.
Letting her believe he not only approved but was an integral cog in her self-serving bullshit made every neuron in his brain short circuit. For Christ’s sake, the victims who’d bought into her fake retirement communities were old enough to be his grandparents. Hard-working folks who lived on a fixed income and toted around a list of medical issues a mile long. Hell, a few had even shouldered additional debt when she’d stolen their identities.
Returning her glass to the table, she stuck out her bottom lip in a lame attempt at a sexy pout. “You’re not joining me in a drink?”
Well, well. She’d picked up on that, had she? As if the tangled maze of phishing traps and sock puppet accounts she used to cover her ass didn’t supply enough evidence to confirm her intelligence.
“We will have plenty of time to celebrate, Lisichka.” He reached into his breast pocket and removed the bogus contract he’d printed for her benefit, dropping the envelope next to his glass.
Five years, the Justice Department had been looking to indict her for fraud, and during that time, her scam-baiting expertise had continued to challenge the most experienced hacker.
The bonus content was, when it came to hacking, no one outdid him in the experience department. And as far as selling lies and working schemes, he’d been doing it for ten. “In Russian business venture, Mr. Yerovkin prefers we conclude negotiations before moving on to pleasure.”
Her focus dropped to the diamond cuff link peeking out from the sleeve of his suit coat before she lifted her gaze to his. “Lisichka?”
“Is Russian pet name.” He stared into her brown eyes even as the sour combination of coffee and cigarette breath made him want back off. Like, way, way off. “How you say in English…little fox?”
Her brows rose. “Oh, I like that.” The smile curling her lips came off as sincere. Which was well played, considering the woman didn’t have a genuine bone in her body. “Business before pleasure it is, then.”
She reached for the envelope and Xander plucked a German Montblanc from his breast pocket, offering the pen in her direction. Apparently, she was eager to move on to other things.
He stole a peek at the bartender. Quite frankly, so was he. “Mr. Yerovkin will be expecting payment the first of next month.”
Her gaze narrowed as she scanned the top sheet and then flipped the page. “That’s fine. Although, I must admit, signing my name to anything makes me a little nervous. I haven’t done that in ages, for reasons I’m sure Mr. Yerovkin understands.”
That was a lie. She signed stuff all the time, she just used a variety of aliases. Whatever stupid name she could invent to make sure Piper Farrow stayed in the clear.
She slipped the pen from his fingers and tipped her head, twiddling the tip over the contract. “Seems odd he would insist, considering the circumstances. Especially since we already confirmed the details via Skype.”
They sure had, and it had taken a no small groundwork on Xander’s part—writing a bug into the feed so the camera frequently froze or the picture pixelated. Using voice-altering software to change the register and syntax of his speech patterns so she wouldn’t recognize him once they met in real life.
But his efforts had been worth it to get her here, and her signature would provide the last bit of corroborative proof he’d need to guarantee she remained locked behind bars for a good long stay.
The name Piper Farrow was right up top on several Federal Watch Lists, and that same signature in her handwriting would substantiate she and Loretta Swinehart were one and the same.
“My employer is old-fashioned business man, Lisichka.” He shrugged and lifted his palm. “But if refusing his generous offer is best…”
“No, no.” Smoothing out the creases in the contract, she scribbled along the dotted line. “The next group is nearly ready. Please tell Mr. Yerovkin I should have everything I need to move forward by the end of next week.”
Yeah, that’s what he thought. And hey, that would only be five days too late.
“All right, there we go.” Loretta sat up and placed the pen on the papers, sliding the whole works toward his legs. “Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours.” She picked up her champagne, a clever twinkle in her eyes as she inched close and angled her chin. “Now. Let’s move onto pleasure, shall we?”
He cocked a brow.
Yes. Let’s.
Meet the Author
Multi-published, award-winning author and editor AJ Nuest resides in Northwest Indiana with her loving husband, two beautiful children, and a bevy of spoiled pets. Her four-part serial fantasy romance, The Golden Key Chronicles, was recently named the RONE Time Travel Romance of 2015 by InD’tale Magazine, and her contemporary romantic comedy, She’s Got Dibs, won First Place in the Heartland Romance Author’s Show Me the Spark! Contest, 2013. For more please visit her at ajnuest.com.