“It’s all hearsay without legal proof.” Melanie knew how to fire us up, that fucking word, hearsay. It was probably Adeline’s least favorite word in the entire English language. It wasn’t hearsay, they knew all this for fact, but they needed more than a few fuzzy pictures, a horrendous audio recording, and a forged signature on a quick claim.
“I’ll get the proof, I promise.” Adeline stood and walked over to her closet door where Olivia had hung the dress. She slipped it on and then turned around for someone to zip her up. When she turned again, all three ladies let out a chorus of wolf whistles.
“Hot as hell,” Melanie whispered.
“Chill, this isn’t a real date, remember? This is for work.”
“Whatever you say.” Melanie rolled her eyes. “But I’m not buying whatever it is that you’re trying to convince us of. I’ve seen the way you look at him. I can tell there’s something between the two of you whether you’re ready to admit it or not.”
“Don’t forget the protection,” Olivia hollered.
“You saw me attach my holster.” Adeline misunderstood Olivia on purpose.
“You know what I meant.”
“Yep, and I’m still not acknowledging it.”
“I think he’s here.” Sunday ran over to peer out Adeline’s window. “Yep, just pulled up.” Melanie, Olivia, and Sunday headed out, and Adeline gave herself one final look over in the mirror before moving into the living room.
Taking several deep breaths, she opened the door just as he rang the bell, and she was glad she had gotten her breathing in order. If she hadn’t, it was very likely she would have started hyperventilating. There was nothing sexier than a man in a penguin suit. His black tuxedo was expertly tailored, and Adeline loved that he was wearing a tie instead of a bowtie with a vest. It made him look much more fashionable.
“Adeline.” She felt a tap on her back and turned to see Melanie standing behind her. “Would you like me to put those in water for you?”
Adeline looked back at Riley, totally lost. Put what in water? What in the hell was Melanie talking about? Then she saw that he was holding a bouquet of long-stem white roses. “Oh my, those are lovely, thank you.” She gratefully accepted them, drinking in their fragrance one time before turning and handing them to Melanie. “I would appreciate that.”
Then she turned and allowed Riley to escort her out to a Cadillac CT6. “Where’s your truck?”
“I figured that it might be difficult to hop up in a dress, so I pulled out the Cadi. You look exquisite, by the way.” Adeline shivered as Riley’s words mixed with his warm breath brushed along her neck a second before he was helping her slide into the car.
As Riley drove, he kept one hand on the steering wheel and one hand resting face-up on the center console. Adeline kept staring down at muscular hand. It was like an invitation, asking her to trust him…give him her hand.
Chapter Fifteen
Riley
Riley opened the door and held out one hand. For the first time in his life, he felt like a real-life fucking Prince Charming as he assisted Adeline out of the car before heading toward the doors of the Bohemian. Riley rolled his eyes at the pomp and circumstance for the evening: ropes, carpet, and uniformed guards, not to mention valets to park the cars when there was plenty of parking less than twenty feet away. Handing his keys off, he hurried over and placed a hand on the back of Adeline and they were stopped by the flash of a camera.
“I can’t believe Loren pulled it all together so fast.” “Name?”
“Name?” A woman holding a clipboard asked them.
Riley looked up and saw Lance, Greg’s assistant, hurtling toward them. “This is the mayor’s brother-in-law, move,” Lance snapped, basically elbowing the woman out of the way to lead Riley and Adeline inside.
Adeline had to walk double-time just to keep up as Lance maneuvered through the crowd. Riley decided that now was the perfect time to lose the rude asshole, so he tightened his grip on Adeline’s hand and pulled her back to him, slowing his pace until Lance was long gone.
“You’re here.” Riley and Adeline looked up to see Loren stepping toward them. She was holding a glass of champagne and wearing a pale pink evening gown.
“Hey, sis.” Riley leaned down and placed a kiss on Loren’s cheek. “We were just admiring how fast you throw a party together.”
“Remind me later how much I hate the two of you for this, I haven’t slept in days.”
“Adeline, you look beautiful. My god that dress, it was made for you.” Loren gave her a hug, which Adeline returned, and something about their camaraderie warmed Riley. He liked seeing his sister and this woman . . . Adeline . . . his ex-sparring partner, get along.
“Thank you, Loren, you look amazing yourself. Your gown is stunning.”
“Greg said that he’s very excited to spend time with the two of you.” Loren used air quotes when she said excited.
Chapter Sixteen
Adeline
Adeline felt a little out of place next to Loren. Sure, she could hold her own in the snobbiest of get-togethers, but Loren wasn’t snobby, she was sweet and classy. Whereas Adeline resembled a female trucker more than she did the demure housewife. Adeline told herself that this was just one of the many reasons why she and Riley could never be a we, she could never fit in with his crowd, his family.
“Uh-oh. He has just spied you two, he’s headed over,” Loren warned, interrupting Adeline’s self-examination.
“Riley, so good to see you.” Greg gave a half-handshake, half-hug. “Who do we have here?”
When the mayor stepped back and had to tilt his head, Adeline gave him her most charming smile and waited.
“Greg, I’d like you to meet Adeline Morgan, my girlfriend. Adeline, this is Greg, Loren’s husband.”
Adeline was giving Riley a mental high-five for his little dig of not using his name nor his official title. It was nice to remind people who thought they were all that and a bag of chips that they were normal human beings. Yeah, asshole, we are really here for Loren, you are just the by-product.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Delaney.” Adeline held out her hand to Greg.
“Oh, call me Greg. We are all family here.” Adeline had to fight back a laugh when she saw Riley roll his eyes. “Why don’t we let the ladies talk? There are several people I’d like to introduce you to.” Greg waited for Riley’s response, but Riley didn’t budge.
Adeline nodded. “Go. Loren and I can get to know each other better.”
“Sweetheart”—Greg reached for Loren’s hand and placed a kiss on it—“why don’t you take Adeline around and introduce her to some of the other ladies. We will meet you two at the table in a few for dinner.” Greg started to walk off, but Riley was still watching her to make sure she was okay. Adeline nodded once more to assure Riley that she was fine. She was still close enough that she could overhear their conversation, and thank god Loren caught on because she helped strategically move them to the aid in their proximity.
Greg’s voice was low, but Adeline could still hear him. “I was just telling them about your idea for affordable housing. Do you know Councilman Chatham?” Adeline’s heart raced at the name, she wanted to turn around and see.
“Can’t say that I do.”
“Dan, this is my brother-in-law, Riley Thomas, he owns RT Land. It’s a development company.”
Shit. Adeline was fidgeting, was Hillary here as well?
For the next ten minutes Adeline had to keep tuning out Greg and Riley to chat with random women who wanted nothing other than to talk. Adeline had never been one for small talk, in fact, she found it tedious and unnecessary. She had never understood why people felt the need to talk just to talk. What was wrong with being quiet? Well, she thought it was mundane until she heard the name Sienna Miller.
Adeline held her hand and got the weirdest vibe. The woman standing across from her was brunette, curvy, not quite as tall, and wearing a black gown.
“You two could b
e sisters,” Loren added in sweetly and innocently.
“So, Sienna, do you work with the mayor?”
“I do. I’m an intern.”
“How fun, do you like it?” Adeline didn’t really need to ask. She could tell just by the look on the woman’s face that she hated working for Greg. So, Adeline waited until Loren was talking to someone else and then whispered. “He seems so smarmy to me.” She gave a head tilt toward Greg. Sienna’s shoulders relaxed, the tiniest smile cracked her face, and the roll of her eyes told Adeline that Sienna was giving a silent agreement. “Are there many interns at City Hall?”
“Right now it’s just me, but there will be another one soon, I’m sure. We seldom go with just one.”
“Oh. Loren had mentioned that interns worked there for two years. How much more do you have to go?”
“Fourteen months and three days.”
“You’re counting, you must be excited to get out and start the next chapter of your life.”
“Yep, that’s it. Happy to get out and—”
“Dinner is about to be served.” Adeline turned and saw Lance standing just behind them, he must have first whispered to Greg sotto voce, before coming over to Loren.
“You heard the man, let’s go into dinner.” Greg started walking toward the main dining room, not waiting for Adeline and Loren to catch up or turning around to notice that they were just behind him.
“You and Adeline, you two serious?”
“You mean are we talking marriage? No. We’ve been together two months. It’s all still new.”
“She’s one fine piece of ass.”
Loren squeezed Adeline’s hand at those words.
“Those kinds of women are nice candy, but you don’t marry them. Keep them around, play with them, but don’t marry them. I wouldn’t be shocked if half the men in this room have been with her, she just has that look, you know? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good look, a real good look.”
Riley clenched his fist as Greg spoke. “I think you’ve misread Adeline, she’s a counselor, she works with women that have been mistreated.”
Greg let out a condescending chuckle. “If you say so, okay.”
“Adeline, I’m so sorry.” Loren’s words finally reached the two men in front of them and they both turned, Riley’s face was pinched, but Greg looked completely at ease and unapologetic.
“It’s okay, don’t worry about it. Can’t believe everything everyone says, can we?” Adeline peeked down at Greg’s crotch, and Riley fought the urge to chuckle. She felt Loren’s hand tighten around hers.
Greg turned and marched on in to the room.
“Holy shit, Adeline.” Loren let out a low whistle. “Truly, though, I’m sorry about what he said.”
“Loren, go on inside, we’ll be there in a few minutes.” Riley stepped out of the way of people walking and pulled Adeline along with him. “I’m sorry. The man is an asshole. We can leave if you want to. Or, I can go kick his ass if you want. The only reason I didn’t before was because I was worried you’d be pissed if I ruined the plan.”
“Are you kidding? If I wanted that, I’d kick his ass myself.”
“Yes, you will, tough girl.” Riley wrapped one arm and tucked her close as he led her to their seats, which were right next to Loren and Greg. Also at their table was Councilman Dan Chatham, but Hillary was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Hillary tonight, Dan? I don’t think she’s ever missed one of Greg’s events?”
“She had a really bad migraine.” He sounded genuinely concerned.
“Does she suffer from them often?” Adeline asked.
“No. I don’t remember her ever having one before, but she said her head was killing her. And Loren is right, Hillary never misses an event, so that told me that she was truly sick.”
“Well, tell her that we missed her.” Loren was genuinely concerned because she had no clue.
Adeline scanned the room as they ate, trying to casually take in every face. It didn’t take her long to nudge Riley’s elbow.
“Riley,” Adeline whispered.
He leaned over to her.
“Check out the man at three o’clock by the exit door.”
“Yep, already noticed him. There’s one more directly behind you.”
“Can you tell me why a mayor needs armed bodyguards? This is his dinner.”
“No clue. Need to find out if this is the norm. Are you ready to get out of here?”
The idea was music to her ears. She’d been ready for over an hour. Hell, she’d been ready since they pulled up in front of the Bohemian earlier tonight.
“Adeline?”
“Yes?”
“Once we get through all of this and I don’t have to play nice with Greg for you or for my sister, I’m going to cold-cock that son-of-a-bitch. No one and I mean no one will ever talk about you like that again, at least not within my earshot.”
Chapter Seventeen
Adeline
Adeline was getting frustrated and so was everyone else; it had been two weeks since she went to dinner at the Bohemian and still nothing. Adeline and Riley had been invited over to the Delaney’s home twice, and both times, Riley had mentioned being shocked that Greg had actually stayed home. But still they hadn’t been able to get a good hold, discover how they were going to ruin this man, or blow the case open for all to know what a dirtbag he was.
Adeline reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. “Hello?”
“Hey gorgeous, what are you doing? Got time for lunch?”
“I can make time, what do you have in mind?” Riley calling her midday and asking her to lunch had happened two other times since the dinner, and both times, she felt the same as she did then. Giddy. There was something so sweet and romantic about it.
“Greg just called and wants me to meet him and a business associate . . . are you ready for this?”
Adeline’s excitement faded, this was business not wooing.
“The business associate is named Trinity Reynolds.”
“Holy shit, I’m ready. Want me to meet you there? Just tell me when and where.”
“I’m actually on my way to your office now to get you.”
Adeline glanced at the clock, which read just after eleven thirty. “How far away are you?” She looked to her left as the elevator dinged and out walked Riley with the phone still up to his ear.
“I’m not far at all.” He smiled his adorable grin.
Adeline hung up and grabbed her purse. “I’ll be back. We are having lunch with Greg and someone named Trinity Reynolds.”
“No shit?” Olivia practically shouted. “As in Hillary Trinity Reynolds?"
“Do you think Hillary would be bold enough to show up?” Melanie asked.
Adeline shrugged, having no true way of knowing. Sunday was up and moving toward their backroom. Less than five minutes later, she was back with two small jewelry boxes. Adeline recognized them, and didn’t hesitate to swap the earrings she was wearing with the ones Sunday handed her. When she attached the back on one of them an almost transparent wire came up from the back of her ear and then slid into her ear unnoticed. Then, Adeline opened the second box, which held a pretty but unassuming necklace, and fastened the chain around her neck.
Arching one brow, Riley’s lips were quirked as he attempted to work out what he was seeing.
“Microphones so that the girls can hear everything I hear, and the wire just in case there’s an emergency and they need to get ahold of me. Necklace is a camera, same thing, they can see what I see.”
“But the earrings are black?”
“Sort of like two-way mirrors,” Adeline explained as she slid out her desk drawer, pulled out a box of ammo and tossed it into her purse.
Riley shook his head and decidedly didn’t ask any more questions.
“Be safe,” Melanie hollered as the two of them got onto the elevator, Riley’s arm wrapped protectively around Adeline’s waist, and they headed down.
They a
rrived at Cooper’s Hawk, a nice steakhouse in the tourist area that many locals avoid, especially during the day when all the parks were open. Adeline made a mental note of Greg’s location planning.
When they walked in, they were notified that the mayor was already there and were escorted to a table where he sat with a woman who was clearly not Hillary Chatham.
“Riley, Adeline, I’d like you to meet Trinity Reynolds. Trinity, this is my brother and his friend.”
“Brother-in-law and my girlfriend,” Riley corrected.
“Nice to meet you both, Greg has told me much about you.”
Adeline stared at Trinity, clearly confused and hoping that Sunday was working her magic. The woman had to be younger than Adeline by at least ten years. Riley pulled out Adeline’s chair and waited for her to sit before scooting it closer to the table.
“So Trinity, what is it that you do?” Adeline got right to the questions so that Sunday and the girls could start their research. But Trinity didn’t look at Adeline when she asked. She was too busy looking at Greg with lovesick puppy eyes.
“Do you see what I see?” someone whispered into Adeline’s ear. It was whispered so she couldn’t quite tell who had spoken the words, but she thought it was Olivia. “At Greg’s six o’clock, is that a bodyguard?”
Adeline pressed back into her chair and tried to look around Greg to see, yep, it was the same guy she’d spied the other night.
“Mhmm,” Adeline answered nonchalantly. “Trinity?”
The woman didn’t look. Adeline shook her head, if Greg was going to get someone to pretend to be Trinity Reynolds, the least he could do was have her practice answering to the damn name. Adeline cleared her throat and gave Riley a wry smile. “Trinity,” she said a bit louder. There was a bump under the table, and Adeline fought to hold back the laugh. At least someone recognized the name, and he’d alerted his actress to answer.
Roadster (Iron Ladies Book 1) Page 11