Cassie grabbed the shades from him and fitted them on his face. “There you go. Now you don’t have to squint all day.”
“You didn’t have to, sweetheart.”
“I wanted to.”
He sighed, scooting close to her and hugging her tight. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Just make sure you don’t run over those.”
“No, babe. I’ll be extra careful.” He kissed her temple. She was the sweetest thing in the world.
“Okay, now I’m ready to eat, even though these are a little cold,” Cassie said, cutting up a piece of beer-battered fish and putting it in his mouth.
They fed each other and chatted about anything and everything while they lazed on the sand, the clear blue skies and calm waters adding to the perfection. A truly glorious day.
*
“Ready to go?” he asked Cassie after a couple of hours of relaxing on the sand.
“I guess,” she said, sitting up. “I wouldn’t mind having coffee and cake somewhere.”
“I’m not surprised you’re peckish. Our food got cold because you went shopping.”
“I saved your eyes,” she said with a cute scrunch of her face.
“You did,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss her. He only meant to give her a peck, but Cassie gave him a passionate one. He was more than happy to reciprocate.
“We could always go back to your place and have coffee there,” she suggested against his lips.
He pulled back. “I’d love to, babe, but I have something on tonight.”
“Oh, okay. Where are you going?”
“I have to meet someone about work.” Technically, that wasn’t a lie, but he still felt guilty for having to keep her in the dark.
“For a new job?”
“Not new, but an ongoing, important one.”
“Okay,” she said with a smile. “Good luck.”
“Thanks, babe.”
He definitely needed all the luck he could get. His future with Cassie depended on this case being solved—the sooner, the better.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Carter stopped the engine of his car and got out. “I’m on my way to the restaurant,” he said, the hidden mic inside his shirt delivering his voice to David. His partner was sitting in another vehicle parked on the street near the fancy establishment where Carter was supposed to meet Susan.
“Just don’t take it too far, okay?” David’s teasing voice said through the mini wireless earpiece Carter wore in his right ear. “You wouldn’t want to have to say no to her if she wants have sex with you. She’ll be expecting you to jump at the chance.”
“Don’t gross me out,” Carter said dryly.
“Hey, at least she’s a beautiful woman.”
Carter shook his head as he rounded the corner towards his destination. They weren’t sure if any of the stooges had slept with the women who’d recruited them before they were given the “offer”. The comforting thought was Gavin hadn’t had to before Emma had shared the plan with him. It was possible, though, that Emma was a novice and had made the offer a little too early.
“Seriously,” David said. “Stay in a public place. Don’t go with her to her home. We don’t know what they know about you. Remember they shot Gavin simply from suspicion that he wasn’t who he said he was because of the two phones he had with him.”
“We’ll see,” Carter replied. “Just be ready to follow us wherever we might end up.”
“I have your back, bro,” David answered.
Carter entered the restaurant and gave his name to the receptionist who greeted him. He was escorted to a table for two near the back. Susan hadn’t arrived.
“So does Cassie know that you’re on a date with another woman tonight?” David asked.
Carter placed his elbow on the table and casually covered his lower face with his hand. “No,” he answered.
“Imagine what will happen if she saw you and Susan together,” David mused.
“Fortunately, she’s having dinner with my sister tonight far away from here.”
“So what happens when you get hitched, Carter?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the boss always asks you to take on these roles because you’re single...”
Carter snickered. “The boss gets me to do these jobs because I’m better looking than you, not because you’re hitched,” he joked.
“Seriously, if another job that involves seducing a suspect crops up tomorrow, what will you do?”
“You know they take into account our relationship status when giving us jobs.”
“Ooh, getting serious with Cassie, huh?”
Carter couldn’t help his smile. “Sort of.”
“You better get Susan to give it up tonight, then, bro,” David said.
“I know,” he agreed with a sigh. “And she’s arrived,” he added under his breath.
He stood up and smiled at Susan as she approached their table, and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you,” she answered.
He immediately noticed that Susan was looking rather nervously around the room. She blinked in recognition when her eyes landed on a person behind Carter, before turning her attention back to him and smiling brightly.
“Hope you weren’t waiting long,” Susan said as she sat down.
“Nope,” he answered. “You’re pretty punctual. Some women are always late.”
“Well, I didn’t want to keep you,” Susan said, her eyes darting again to whoever was sitting at a table behind him. She took a drink of water, her hand shaking slightly.
“Thanks again for tonight, Susan,” he said, reaching for her hand on the table. “This place is really special.”
“Yes, it is,” she said with a smile.
As the night wore on, Carter got more impatient. Susan hadn’t brought up anything about helping him with his supposed financial difficulties. All she wanted to talk about was the food, no matter how much he’d tried to subtly bring the conversation to money.
Susan was clearly distracted.
“Excuse me, I need to go to the gents’.” He had to find out who was rattling Susan.
A man and a woman in their forties were sitting at the table that Susan kept glancing toward. From the way the man glared at Carter when he passed them, Carter suspected the man knew Susan. Interesting how the guy seemed displeased.
Carter updated David with the current situation, then headed back to his table. He caught Susan looking at the forty-something man, her gaze... hurt? What did that mean? He sat back on his chair, trying to understand Susan’s demeanour. Things were definitely not going the way he wanted.
“Susan,” he said. “You seem preoccupied tonight. Either that or I’ve done something to offend you so you’re not in the mood to joke around with me?”
Susan’s eyes widened. “Oh, no. I’m fine. Just concentrating on the food. It’s really good, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, it is. Phew. Glad it’s not me.”
Susan chuckled, her gaze flicking to the couple’s table again.
Who the hell were they?
“Carter,” Susan said, her flirty smile back on her face. “How about we skip dessert and get out of here?”
“You don’t want dessert? I looked on the Internet before I came here. Their dessert selection looks great.”
“I know. But I’d rather we talk somewhere else,” Susan said with an engaging smile.
Her current attitude was in such stark contrast to how she’d acted all night that Carter’s heart started beating faster. “Where do you want to go, then?” he asked casually.
Susan shrugged. “Walk around, maybe go to a club or something? I wouldn’t mind going dancing.”
“Okay.”
“Great. I’m going to the ladies’,” she said, getting out of her chair. “Could you give this to the waiter so we’ll be ready to go when I get back?” She opened her clutch and placed her credit card on th
e table.
“Okay, thanks,” he said. He attracted a server’s attention and handed him Susan’s plastic.
“Bro,” David said in his ear. “I’m going to follow you guys on foot.”
“You need to walk in here first, Dave,” he answered under his breath. “We need to know the identity of the man Susan keeps on looking at. He’s sitting at the table behind my left side, with a woman wearing a red dress. Somehow you’d need to get his picture.”
“Okay. On my way. I don’t mind taking a selfie when I’m eating alone in a restaurant. Hope they don’t mind that I’m only ordering a coffee.”
Carter chuckled.
Fortunately, Susan was in the restroom long enough for Carter to see David get a table on the other side of the room. His partner should be able to take a picture of the guy from that distance.
Susan came back and settled the bill. Then they left, with Susan hanging on to Carter’s arm like a besotted woman.
“Lead the way,” he said when they exited the establishment.
“Umm... I’m not sure where to go. Where do you suggest?”
He raised an eyebrow. This was strange. “How about we head over to—”
“Excuse me, miss!”
Carter looked in surprise at the person who called out to Susan. It was the man she’d been eyeing all night.
“You dropped this near your table,” he said, holding what looked like a man’s handkerchief.
Susan smiled widely. “It’s not mine.”
“Oh, it isn’t?” the guy asked, looking intensely at Susan.
“No. But I’ll take it,” she said with a giggle.
The guy grinned. “It’s yours, then.”
Carter stared, not quite believing what he was seeing. The two were flirting with each other!
He frowned. The guy had glared angrily at him earlier. Was Susan having an affair with this man, who was wearing a wedding ring? The woman waiting inside was presumably the man’s wife.
Carter put an arm around Susan’s shoulder. “Shall we go?”
Oh, yes, Mr. Married was shooting him dagger looks. And Susan had stepped out of his embrace.
“Um, I’ve changed my mind, Carter,” Susan murmured.
“Oh, you don’t want to go dancing anymore? We can head home, then. Have a nightcap there,” he said with a wink.
“Susan,” Mr. Married said with warning in his tone.
“You know each other?” he asked with feigned surprise.
Susan took a deep breath. “I’ll talk to you later, John.”
“You’re not going home with him,” John said in a commanding voice.
“But you’re going home with your wife?” Susan asked.
“No. We’re still separated.”
“Why are you out with her tonight?”
“It was my PR manager’s idea, not ours. We’re both still keen on a divorce.”
“You’re still wearing your wedding ring,” Susan said, clearly hurt.
“You know we have to keep up appearances in public. That’s all.”
Carter frowned. Was this man famous or something? He didn’t recognise him.
John and Susan stared at each other and Carter rolled his eyes. “Come on, guys. What’s going on here?”
Susan turned to him. “I’m so sorry, Carter. You’re a fun guy. But... umm...”
“She’s just using you to make me jealous,” John finished for Susan.
Susan blushed. “I’m so sorry, Carter. I was sure you wouldn’t mind since you’re such a player.”
“So all this time you were just acting like you were attracted to me?” Carter asked in disbelief.
“Well, I was attracted to you. I’d thought about going out with you. But I realised I was just on the rebound and mad at John because I’d thought he wasn’t going through with divorcing his wife.”
“And you invited me here tonight to make him jealous?”
“Yes,” Susan said in a small voice.
“How did you know I’d be here?” John asked Susan.
“I called your office and pretended to want to meet with you after hours for a business proposition. I was told by your secretary that you had a dinner meeting with your wife that couldn’t be cancelled, and I managed to get the details. So I asked Carter out so you’d see me with him. I’m really sorry, Carter,” she added.
Carter shook his head, rubbing his face. This was fucking unbelievable! All this time trying to work on Susan and she was just wanting to make another man jealous? Surely not!
“All those things I said to you about my personal issues, Susan...” he said.
“Don’t worry, Carter,” she said with a smile. “You’re secret’s safe with me. Can I give you a bit of advice, though?”
“What’s that?” he asked dryly.
“Get your life sorted out. You’re a skilled electrician. You’re very good-looking. There’s so much going for you. It’s a shame to waste your life on... less-than-desirable activities.”
He snickered. He couldn’t fucking believe this.
“I mean it, Carter,” Susan said. “I believe that you’re a good man with redeeming features. Anyway, thank you for your friendship.”
“So, this is it?” he asked, still confused about this whole thing.
“Yes, this is it,” Susan said softly.
“Why me, Susan? Why pick me to make John jealous?” Damn it. There had to be something more here. He’d spent weeks trying to break the case and Susan was only using him for something not at all connected to it? Come on!
“Well, to be honest I was iffy about making John jealous,” Susan answered. “But it was suggested to me that it was a good idea if what I wanted was for John to finally commit to me. And since you’re... you know... the playboy-user type yourself, I was assured you really wouldn’t mind when you found out the truth.”
Carter’s ears picked up something of value. “Who suggested that to you?”
Susan shook her head, smiling. “Sorry.”
“Hey, I just want to know. I think you owe me this much, Susan.”
“He’s right, darling,” John said. “Tell him.”
“Please don’t tell her I told you,” Susan pleaded.
“Who?”
“Bronwyn Tellman. She kinda coached me on how to approach you and what to say and how to string you along. I felt funny about it at times, but she assured me she knows what you’re like, that you’d eventually see the funny side of it because you’re used to... er... playing tricks on other people too.”
Carter’s heart jumped. This had to be it—the Bronwyn connection to the case he’d been looking for. “So tonight was Bronwyn’s idea?”
“No, it was my idea,” Susan said. “She was actually against this. She was quite insistent that tonight wasn’t the right time for John to see the both of us together. So I didn’t tell her about this.”
“Susan, we need to make Bronwyn believe everything is going according to her plans.”
“Sure,” she said with a shrug.
“Great!” John said. “If this conversation is finished, Susan and I are going back inside to talk to my soon-to-be ex-wife, who wants to meet her.”
“No, wait,” Carter said. From what he’d witnessed inside the restaurant, Susan wasn’t that great an actress. She could be in grave danger if Bronwyn discovered she had been a tattletale.
“Dave, I need you out here,” he said through his out-of-sight-microphone.
“Who?” Susan and John asked.
“I’ll explain soon,” he said, the pieces falling into place in his head.
Bronwyn had to know who he was and what exactly he was after. How else had she been able to get Susan to act out a perfect part that had fooled him for weeks? Somehow, Bronwyn must have found out their suspect profile and used Susan to throw him off her scent.
Yes. The woman sure was smart and cunning. The question now was, where did Bronwyn get her information?
This case had become more complicated and
dangerous than he’d anticipated.
His mind flashed a memory of Cassie gushing about Bronwyn earlier today at the beach. Cassie had said she’d become good friends with her boss, who’d been incredibly helpful and supportive of her...
Fear hit him like a freight train. Fuck.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Cassie was startled awake by her iPad hitting her chest. She’d dozed off while reading the new mystery novel by one of her favourite authors. Reluctantly, she put the iPad away. She would have loved to read some more, but she was just way too sleepy.
She turned to her side and closed her eyes, seeing Carter again in her mind. They’d had such a great time at the beach today. And he’d been so sweet and so funny and so naughty...
She sighed, feeling sleep pull her in. Maybe she’d dream of Carter again. That should tide her over until their next date...
Cassie felt Carter’s arm go around her. Mmm, yes. Her Carter dream was starting again.
But... wasn’t she half-awake still? Why did this feel so real?
Her eyes fluttered open. Carter wasn’t with her tonight. Why was there an arm trying to trap her?
She screamed.
“Babe, it’s me!”
“Carter?” She blinked. Yes, it was indeed him, his face hovering on top of her.
She slapped his arm. “You scared the hell out of me! I thought you were an intruder.”
“Sorry. I was trying to wake you gently—”
“Cassie? Are you okay?” Natasha called out in panic as she tried to twist the doorknob. Carter must have locked it.
“Yes,” they both answered.
“Who’s that with you?” Natasha asked in a voice high-pitched with fear.
Cassie glared at Carter as he got out of bed to open the door. Oh, she was thrilled that he was here. But her heart was still beating fast from that scare.
“It’s me, Tash,” Carter said as he let his sister in.
“What the hell?” Natasha said, staring at her brother in astonishment.
“He snuck in like a thief in the night and scared the living daylights out of me,” Cassie said dryly.
The Undercover Playboy (Captured by Love Book 3) Page 11