“No one else care to join me?” I said with a smile, looking around at the others. “What do you say, ladies? Are we all in this together?”
They all chuckled, shook their heads, and wished me good luck.
“Just don’t end up in jail or on the news,” Lydia said.
“Hey, it’s Halloween. I’ve got plenty of black to wear,” I said, standing to put my ebony leather jacket on. “You’re in, right?” I asked Tammy.
“I guess I’ve gotta be. You need a getaway driver, don’t you?”
“Yep.”
“Fine. Let’s go,” she said, and we raced out of the restaurant while the others cheered us on.
Chapter 3
Tammy drove us to our destination so we could dig up dirt on Charlie. When we pulled past his big beautiful house, I couldn’t stop staring. “Are you sure this is his place?” I asked.
“Yep. His daddy was loaded, bought this house especially for him right before he passed away. Heard the rumors today when I was getting my hair done. You know how that Tina in the real estate office can’t keep her mouth shut.” Tammy smirked and glanced over at me. “Or her legs. Pregnant again and I doubt it’s Todd’s.”
“Focus, Tammy, gossip only on Charlie tonight,” I said and forced my curious thoughts away from Tina and Todd’s drama. “I guess this was his dad’s way of luring the prodigal home, huh? I know he was really upset about Charlie taking off.”
“Hell, I’d come home for a house like this. It’s beyond gorgeous.”
“Murphy’s Law,” I said.
“How so?”
“He screwed us all over—some literally—then got rewarded with a mansion. How is that even fair?”
“Life isn’t fair…and by the way, don’t ever include me in the hash marks on Charlie’s bedpost. I never screwed him, and I won’t.”
“Neither did I.”
“I know, but I also know you wanted to.”
I nibbled my lip. “He’s hot. Everyone thinks so. Don’t even try to tell me you never fantasized about it.”
“Maybe once or twice, but I’d never act on it. Charlie was and always will be off limits.”
“Yeah, he’s forbidden fruit all right, but he sure is tempting.”
“You know what happened to Eve by that logic,” she said.
We both chuckled.
She parked down the street and cut the engine. “I didn’t see his car and all the lights are off. He must still be out.”
“Great. So, are you ready to do this?”
She bit her lip. “I don’t know. Maybe we should abort this mission. I guess I’m having second thoughts. This is just…insane. We should just go.”
“Chickening out? On mission-find-out-what-the-bastard-is-hiding?”
“Maybe.”
I confidentially opened my door and stepped out. “Just stay here. I’ll go inside myself. If he has secrets, then I’m going to find them.”
“No way! Just get back in the car. I’ve changed my mind.”
“Too late!”
“It’s a woman’s prerogative, and I don’t recall signing any contract in blood or anything. If you don’t get back in this car right now, I’ll leave your ass. It would serve you right for being so stubborn…and crazy.”
“You forget I know you better than you know yourself,” I said, grinning. “You won’t desert me. You’re too good of a friend for that. So c’mon, suck it up! This is a very important mission.”
She sighed. “Why do you always pull crazy stunts like this? You’ve done this shit since we were kids. I swear, you act just like Charlie sometimes. Maybe you two are meant for each other, because you’re two of a kind.”
“But I don’t sleep around like that.”
“I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about fooling around, doing crazy things. I guess it was cute when we were little, but we’re supposed to be grownups now. You’re twenty-six now, not six.”
I slammed the car door shut and marched to the trunk, knocking on the lid until she finally obliged and popped it open. I pulled my emergency black ski mask out from the place where it was stored with all my winter gear. “If you’re not gonna help me, why’d you come?” I asked when I walked back to her window.
“I don’t know. Maybe I wanted to see justice served. He borrowed $500 from me, you know, and I haven’t seen a cent of it.”
“Join the club. Like I said, he’s screwed all of us, in one way or another, and now it’s time for payback.”
“I know revenge is best served cold, but you’re not going to vandalize his house, are you?”
“C’mon, girl! You know that’s not who I am. I won’t break anything.”
She looked at me long and hard.
“Listen, I promise I won’t steal anything from him. I’m an honest person, not a criminal. I’m just looking for incriminating evidence, something we can hold over his head to coerce him into paying us back.”
“Gee, maybe you do have a heart of gold after all.”
“Maybe,” I said with a grin, then walked away. “Keep the engine running!” I threw over my shoulder as I hurried down the sidewalk.
Chapter 4
I’d held so many odd jobs in the past that I’d practically done everything, including home security for the local rent a cop office. I knew exactly what wires to cut to disarm Charlie’s security system. Feeling confident, I opened one unlocked window once the system was disabled and slipped inside.
It was dark, so I flashed my light beam around. I searched quietly, rummaging carefully through piles of mail and paperwork and a few notebooks, but I couldn’t find anything substantial, other than some candy wrappers and far too many pizza coupons. My gaze drifted to his impressive sword collection hanging on the wall. It made me smile, bringing back memories of the recreational fencing club we were members of as youngsters. It was a great sport, and I always kicked Charlie’s ass when we sparred. I couldn’t help but let out an audible chuckle as I recalled him sitting on the ground with my sword pointed down at him, completely at my mercy. He always hated that I was the only one who could beat him. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t paid back the damn money he owes me, I thought. Maybe it’s his revenge for being beaten so badly by a girl all the time.
I quietly continued my search, but it was fruitless. I began to think it was a dumb idea, the result of a bit too much merlot and too many martinis. Damn those girls for not stopping me. I even pulled Tammy into my wicked web, made her my partner in crime. What the hell am I doing here?
Not wanting to leave any stone unturned, I figured it was in my best interest to leave, but I wanted to check upstairs before I scrambled out. I silently made my way up, and turned the corner to find an office. Hmmm. What secrets could it hold? I chuckled to myself. I flashed my beam around and saw a large desk, with files sitting on top of it. I flipped through a few of them, but there was nothing exciting there, so I rifled through some desk drawers. Suddenly, my fingers glided over a thick document, several pages long and held together with a clip. I picked it up and felt the notary embossing on the back page, so I couldn’t resist giving it a quick read.
I was flabbergasted as I ran my flashlight beam over the Last Will and Testament, and it became evidently clear why Charlie was back in town. He was there for one reason and one reason only, to secure his sizable inheritance, and the one requirement of that was to put a ring on some unfortunate woman’s finger.
“You sneaky son-of-a-bitch,” I whispered as I snapped a few photos of the document with my phone. “Thank you for the juicy material. I’m so taking you down, Mr. Clever Casanova.”
I slipped my phone back in my pocket and put the Will away exactly as I’d found it, then easily slid the drawer shut. Now, all I had to do was leave the house and hop in my getaway car. The only trouble was that Murphy’s Law was not done toying with me yet.
A shadow suddenly flickered on the wall behind the beam of my flashlight, the silhouette of a man either very excited to see me or holding a
long blade at his waist level. I swallowed hard as a figure approached me in the darkness, and I dropped my flashlight when I was thrown, quite roughly, up against the closest wall.
“Shit!” I cried, as the wind was almost knocked out of me and a shiver ran up my spine, pimpling my entire body with goosebumps of terror. The mask! He doesn’t recognize me because of the damn ski mask! Breaking into his house wasn’t one of my brightest ideas.
With a dangerous look in his eyes, he held the thin but sharp blade against my throat. “What the fuck!?” he shouted. “Do you think you can just come in my house and rob me blind?”
Busted, entirely screwed, I thought, but I didn’t dare to answer him, fearing my voice would give me away.
He threw me up against the wall once more, and as he did, the beam of light caught his face. This time I got a good look. Charlie was just as handsome as ever, and if the thudding of my body against the paneling hadn’t already stolen my breath away, those blue eyes would have done the trick. His hair was longer now, still as black as a stallion’s mane, wavy and cascading all the way down to his shoulders. Not only that, but somewhere along the lines, Charlie had grown up; he was far more muscular than he was the last time I saw him.
“Asshole!” he shouted.
“Please put the sword down,” I snapped, trying to reach a hand up for the mask, but he knocked it away.
“Maybe I oughtta put it through you instead! Gimme one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you where you stand,” he said, obviously not recognizing my voice.
I’d always been a bit of a sore loser, and this was no exception. I didn’t want to be caught, and I certainly didn’t want him to know who his intruder was. Most of all, I just wanted to bolt so he’d never discover my identity.
“Why, I oughtta…” he ominously threatened, not backing down at all.
I stared up at him and grew angry at myself for being attracted to him in that moment, when he was showing so much backbone. I liked that. Hell, I missed it.
Damn! He’s all grown up now, not the thin, wiry guy I remember. His physique was manly, with a broad, powerful chest. I wanted to reach out and touch his sculpted body, but I didn’t dare. Instead, I muttered, “I-I wasn’t trying to rob you.”
He pushed me up against the wall again. “Really? So you just dress up like a cat burglar for Halloween and break into people’s houses for fun? Maybe I should fuck you up instead of calling the cops. That will teach you a damn lesson, you little punk.”
“May I suggest a fencing match?” I teased. “Then again, I always kicked your ass at those.”
A puzzled look washed over his gorgeous face.
“Charlie, please,” I said sternly. “Just because you have a dick doesn’t mean you can be one. Please let me go.”
He cocked his head, but I wasn’t sure if it was because he recognized my voice or if he was suddenly shocked that I knew his name. He slowly slid the mask off my face and studied me intently. “You’re…a woman?” he slowly asked, putting down the sword he’d been brandishing.
“Hello, Wicked.”
“I haven’t heard that nickname in years.”
“It suits you perfectly, you know.”
“No, not at all! I’d never hurt a woman.”
“That’s a matter of opinion,” I blurted.
“I-I thought you were just some asshole punk breaking into my house.” He shook his head as recognition suddenly struck, and he pushed a few wayward strands of my blonde hair out of my eyes. “Oh my goodness! Shit! Jaime?” he asked in stunned shock.
“Please don’t call the police. If you try, I’ll be forced to kick your ass, like I used to when we were teenagers.”
He let out a long breath. “What the hell? I thought you were a robber. I could’ve seriously hurt you.”
“It’s been a long time,” I said.
He stared at me hard. “Yeah, it has. So how’s my favorite little brat doing?”
“And how’s my favorite little thief doing?” I retorted.
“I think that title belongs to you, darling,” he said with a sharp laugh. “You’re the one breaking into houses in a ski mask.” He stared deeply into my eyes and I shifted, suddenly unsure beneath the intensity of his gaze. “Damn, you’re beautiful, Jaime, all grown up.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I said.
“What are you doing here? I mean, I know you still live in town, but why are you in my house, dressed like Catwoman? No complaints, because you look fucking hot in it, but there’s gotta be one helluva explanation. And I’m dying to hear it.”
I shot him my most seductive look, hoping to disarm his suspicions. “I heard you were back and just had to see you.”
He laughed. “I’m not gonna bite, Princess. I don’t buy that for one second. If you truly wanted to catch up, you would’ve called or stopped by during the day.”
I gritted my teeth thinking he could’ve just as easily called me to let me know he was back in town. “I’ve got a wild and crazy reputation to maintain, Charlie. Besides, I wanted to stick out in your head from all the other women around here. You know I’ve always loved a challenge, right?”
“Right, I guess,” he said, still eyeing me curiously. “So what’s up with you? Still single? You got any kids?”
“Yes and no.”
“Really? I was sure you would’ve settled down by now,” he said and I swore I heard hope in his voice.
Something else I couldn’t pinpoint and the way he stared at me suddenly had me worried I’d stepped into a mess I wasn’t going to get out of. “Can’t find a man who has more balls than me. But I’m sure he’ll show up. So I guess I’m waiting for Mr. Right. You?”
“Me? Nope, I’m not waiting for Mr. Right.”
“Miss Right?”
“You know full well I meant a woman.”
“I don’t know. It’s been a lot of years. Things could’ve changed.”
“Not a chance. Now back to the matter at hand. You sneaked into my house to seduce me? Are you into role-playing now? I mean, if you are, it’s no biggie. I have to say a girl in black really turns me on.”
My fingers slowly trailed down his face. “Just admit it, Charlie. I’m the most interesting piece of ass you’ve talked to all week.”
His eyes twinkled in the moonlight. “No arguments here.”
“Being with you is all I’ve ever wanted, and I can’t help noticing how muscular you are now. The way you came at me just now? Talk about badass. Your ninja skills really impress me, Charlie-san,” I said and sidled closer, too, resting a hand on his chest. Red flags shot up, but I pushed them aside, too caught up in the heat of the moment and the adrenaline racing through my veins.
He ran a hand down my cheek, and I shivered. “If you weren’t such a nice girl, I’d bang you in a heartbeat,” he said, then ran that same hand down my body and over my curves. “And for the record, I let you kick my ass at fencing all those times.”
“Yeah, right. You could never pin me down. Up for a rematch to prove it?”
He pinned my wrists up against the wall with a wicked grin as I stared into his eyes and the sexual tension brewed between us. I guess it’d always been there, but he’d been too busy banging anything that moved and I was too busy being the one girl he never noticed in that way. Not anymore clearly.
He leaned closer and whispered in my ear, “You know what, sweetie? I’ve gotten quite good over the years. You’ll never pin me beneath you again.”
“Aw, shucks. Does that mean I never get to ride on top?” I asked in a sultry voice.
His hands ran back up my sides. “You’ll never beat me again, not in fencing or in mind games. I know you’re not here to seduce me though. Tell me, luv, why the hell you’re sneaking around my place in the dark.”
“I’ll never beat you again? My, my, aren’t we a little competitive? I didn’t mean to emotionally scar you when you couldn’t take me down all those years ago.”
“Just answer the damn question, J
aime. What do you want?”
I ran a finger down his cheek. “Maybe I never got over you.”
“Oh, please.”
“Maybe we’re two unperfect people refusing to give up on each other,” I whispered in his ear.
“Stop it. You never had a crush on me. We established that long ago, and it’s bullshit. We used to talk for hours, and I know your deepest darkest secrets. I know how you operate, so maybe you’d better move on to Plan B if you hope to accomplish whatever you’re really up to.”
“Maybe I didn’t let myself have a crush because you noticed every other girl but me.”
His lips hovered dangerously close. “I notice you now.”
“It’s a little damn late for that now.”
“So you’re not here to declare your undying love?”
I laughed sharply. “Not a chance. But you do have nice, rock-hard abs.”
“So why are you here in my house dressed like a thief?” he asked. “I know you too well, darling. You have an ulterior motive. What is it you’re up to exactly?”
I shrugged, then shook my head. “I came here to get my damn money back.”
“Ah. So the truth comes out at last.”
“How could I ever lie to you, baby? Please don’t be mad. And please don’t call the cops.”
He pulled me close and I could feel the thick, impressive bulge between his legs.
“I’ll think about it long and hard,” he said.
I batted my lashes at him. “What I did was wrong. And I’m sorry. But please don’t be hard on me.”
Being pinned up against his big and powerful body was more than I could take. He was rock-hard and ready, and I could feel the heat radiating from him. I felt his intense need to fuck me senseless.
My heart beat wildly.
“You broke in here, but I don’t get it,” he said. “Stealing is not your style at all. Maybe we need to dig deeper.”
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