“Look at me.” He waited until she shifted to look him in the eye. “What we have is no longer just a financial work arrangement. I know you know that. When the jobs are done, we’ll still be together. I just said we’re going the distance.”
She stared at him and he realized she had doubts about his feelings. As if he would toss her aside when the job was done. He reached up and held her face.
“I need you to pay attention and really listen to me.”
“I am.”
“I love you. What started as a playful flirtation with some woman I met in a chat room has become everything to me. I have to finish this with Mia, but after that, we can do whatever you want. You want to continue hacking and working with me, we’ll do it. If you want to pick up and move somewhere to start a new life, my bags will be packed. I’m not going anywhere without you.”
Her expression softened and went from caution and wariness to something more.
“You love me.”
Although she said it, the question was implied, as if she needed to make sure she hadn’t been mistaken.
“Yes, I love you. I’m in love with you. I want to spend my life with you.”
“Whoa.” She inched back.
He’d known the words would freak her out, which was why he hadn’t said them yet, but she needed to hear them.
Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, he said it again. “I love you.”
She swallowed and licked her lips. “I think I love you, too.”
He hadn’t expected to hear it in return, but his heart swelled with her declaration.
“Now take me to bed,” she said playfully. “Tomorrow we go back to hacker and fixer. Tonight, we can just be two people in love.”
Chapter Thirty
Saturday night, Jared was dressed for the party but his nerves were wrecked. As much as he’d wanted to bring Audrey as his date, part of him worried about pulling off the switch in the middle of a social function. Nikki was good, but they’d run into so many problems with the first theft, he feared they might face the same issues this time.
The women, however, were convinced they had everything under control. In truth, their trial run had gone smoothly. But that was without a crowd of people and prying eyes.
Instead of having a car drive them, as Mia was doing, Jared drove to the apartment to pick up Audrey. He’d wanted her to get ready at his place, where she’d been spending most nights, but she insisted she needed Nikki’s help getting dressed.
What she probably meant was that she needed Nikki to talk her down. She’d been nothing short of a ball of nerves since they hatched this plan. He was pretty sure it was being his date, not the theft, causing her the most grief.
He smiled as he pulled into a parking spot near the apartment. She did her best to stay in the shadows, to go unnoticed, and the thought of being scrutinized because she was his date bothered her. But she could hold her own.
He let himself into the apartment. “Audrey?”
“Coming.”
He waited in the living room and when she emerged from the hall, he lost the ability to think coherently. She wore a simple black dress with a skirt that flared out from her hips. The neckline plunged deep and he wanted to trail his tongue from her collar down.
“What do you think?” she asked and he noticed her hands fidgeting.
“You’re gorgeous.” His gaze roamed her body and landed on her made-up face. She never wore much makeup, if any, so this look was different. It was a glamorous version of Audrey. Her eyes were smoky and her lips glossy red.
Pink rose in her cheeks. “Thank you. But the best part is this. Check it out.” She thrust her hands at her sides. “It has pockets!”
“I had no idea pockets were so exciting.” He chuckled.
“Spoken like a man. Women’s clothes do not have real pockets. But with these, I can carry a scrambler.”
He stepped close. “What was your plan if there were no pockets?”
“Strap it to my thigh.”
Thoughts of her warm, bare thigh assaulted him, and he couldn’t resist touching. He dipped low and ran his hand under her skirt, skimming his fingers up her leg. “Here?”
Her breath caught and she nodded.
Suddenly she knocked his hand away and stepped back.
“What?” he asked, giving her his best grin.
“You’re not going to make a mess of me or the dress. We have to get going.”
He hefted a phony sigh. “Fine.”
Taking her hand, he led her outside. “Did Nikki get there on time?”
“Yes. Everything’s going as planned. As long as Mia does her thing, and there’s no alarm on the statue, we’ll be all right.”
In the car on the way to the party, he talked to her about a couple of jobs he had going that he wanted her help with. One of his semi-regular clients needed to get an audience with a congressman or two. A new client wanted him to dig up some dirt on his competition for the next election. The eighth ward alderman race looked to be a hot one this time around as the incumbent was finally retiring.
“You were serious about hiring me full time?”
“Why would you think I wasn’t?”
“I figured you were just trying to get in my pants again.”
“I always want to get in your pants. Or up your skirt,” he said as he touched her thigh again. “But I do want you to work with me.”
She settled her hand on top of his to halt his northward progress. “I’m pretty sure that breaks all of Mia’s rules. When she hired me, she got all huffy about me working at the coffee shop.”
“Don’t worry about Mia.”
“Plus, I don’t know if I want to work for you. I kind of like being my own boss. I choose the clients I take on and the work I’m willing to do.”
He hadn’t considered she might decline his offer. He also hadn’t thought about the ramifications for her as his employee. “So you decide.”
“Huh?”
“If I ask you to work for a client you don’t like or do a job that doesn’t suit you, you can refuse.”
She huffed a little laugh. “I don’t think you fully understand what it means for someone to be your employee. By definition, I should do whatever you tell me to do.”
“If only,” he said with a wicked grin.
“You’re awful.”
“We can create our own definition of what we are and what we do. As long as you’re with me, the rest doesn’t matter.”
He pulled into the gated driveway and Audrey’s jaw dropped.
“Rich people are unbelievable.”
“Stick with me and you’ll be one of the rich people.”
“Not so sure that will ever be me, regardless of how much money I’ve socked away.”
He put the car in park and left the keys in the ignition. He met Audrey on the other side of the vehicle as a valet got behind the wheel.
Lowering his head, he whispered, “Generally, a woman waits for her date to open the door for her.”
“As if I’m incapable of opening a door?” She snorted. “Like I said, I’ll never belong.”
He took her arm, looped it through his, and led her into the house. They barely made it through the foyer when Carolyn swept up to them.
“Jared. I’m so glad you’re here.” She air-kissed his cheek and added, “Mia said you were bringing someone new.”
“Carolyn, this is my girlfriend, Audrey.”
Carolyn’s whole face brightened at the mention of girlfriend. Audrey, on the other hand, froze. Her hand tightened on his forearm.
Carolyn extended a hand. “It’s so nice to meet you. What do you do for a living?”
“I’m in IT.” She blinked rapidly. “In fact, I work for Jared. Head of his IT department.”
“Oh,” Carolyn said with
a sigh. “A workplace romance.”
“I guess,” Audrey said.
“If you’ll excuse us, Carolyn, I’d like to grab a drink and make the rounds.”
“Save a spot for me at your table. I want to get to know you better,” she said to Audrey.
After Carolyn left, Audrey gripped his arm. “I thought you were introducing me as your IT gal. Where the hell did that come from?”
“It’s the truth. We agreed no more lies.”
“That’s between us. I’m totally okay lying to all these assholes,” she muttered.
He turned and looked into her eyes. “What’s the problem?”
“I don’t belong with these people. They can smell it on me.”
“You belong wherever I am. Come on.” He took her hand and led her through the room, stopping to introduce her to everyone he knew by name and a few he didn’t. There was no way he was going to let this brilliant woman feel inadequate in his presence. With every introduction, he proudly announced their relationship status.
By the fifth handshake, she seemed to accept he wasn’t changing his tune.
* * *
Audrey was overwhelmed. She hadn’t expected Jared to tell everyone they were a couple. He acted as if these people had no choice but to accept their relationship, like if they rejected her, he would force them to reconsider. It sent relief through her entire body.
The only other person she could remember accepting her unconditionally like that was Gram.
She waited for the comments or the snickers behind her back, but they didn’t come. When Jared stepped away to get them drinks, she scoped out the room. She looked for cameras and motion sensors. So far, cameras all appeared to be external. They had some not-so-discreet security keeping guests from roaming the entire property.
With this many people in attendance, it didn’t appear as though the alarm was set, especially with security on site. If it weren’t for the security, Audrey would’ve assumed they’d simply bypassed part of the house and left the alarm armed for the rest.
“What are you looking at?” Nikki’s voice sounded in her ear.
Audrey raised her glass as if to drink and muttered, “Don’t talk to me. It’s distracting. I’m looking for cameras and motion sensors.”
“People have opened and closed every door in the place, so I don’t think sensors are an issue. One camera in the hall outside the office.”
Suddenly, a tray was thrust at her. With a smile, Nikki asked, “Hors d’oeuvre?”
“Thank you.” Audrey picked up a cracker with something on it she had no intention of eating.
“The only problem we might encounter is if there’s a trip on the statue.”
Audrey nodded.
“Have you seen Mia?” Nikki asked.
“No, but I haven’t been looking for her.”
“I’ll make my rounds and find her, make sure she’s ready to brawl.”
Audrey nearly choked on her laugh. Mia was far from a brawler. Audrey couldn’t imagine her breaking a nail much less throwing a punch. Although she found it easier to picture the punch than say, hair pulling. Something about Mia made Audrey think the woman would fight dirty. Nikki winked and moved through the room offering food to guests.
Jared returned to her side and Audrey handed him the cracker.
He popped it in his mouth and she cringed.
“What was that?” she asked.
He shrugged.
“You just eat things without knowing what it is?” She barely repressed a shudder.
“I’m hungry.” With a quick glance over his shoulder, he said, “Everything ready?”
“Nikki said she can get into the room. She won’t know until she gets there if the alarm is rigged to the statue. She’s going to look for Mia now.”
“Have I told you yet how sexy you are?”
Heat crept over her face. In her ear, Nikki said, “I don’t need to be a voyeur tonight. Remind him I can hear what he’s saying.”
“I can hear you too, Nikki. I just don’t care if I have privacy.”
Audrey rolled her eyes. “I care. So stop it.”
“Mia says she’s ready to go,” Nikki said from across the room.
Jared took Audrey’s hand and kissed her cheek. Whispering in her ear, he said, “I guess it’s time for you to go powder your nose to be close to Nikki. In and out. Something’s not right, bail.”
“Yes, Dad,” Nikki responded.
But they all knew Nikki had no intention of bailing on anything. If something went wrong, it would make it more exciting for her and she’d forge ahead.
Jared gave Audrey’s hand a quick squeeze and she was amazed at how much comfort the small gesture gave her. She moved slowly through the room. From the corner of her eye, Audrey saw Mia talking to some dude, then throw her head back in a ridiculous, over-the-top flirtatious laugh.
Hmm... I never would have thought Mia would be so good at this. Audrey hadn’t given the woman enough credit.
Audrey stopped in the hall near the washroom, two doors down from Davis’s office. An older woman left the bathroom and nodded to her to acknowledge it was free. Instead, Audrey continued to study the paintings and photographs on the walls. What held her attention most was the camera up in the corner.
“I’m at the camera in the hall,” she said into her comm.
“And?” Nikki asked.
Audrey rolled her eyes even though no one could see her. “I’ll need a few minutes to hack in and put it on a loop.”
She felt the tension shift in the room behind her before she heard anything. It was as if anger sucked the oxygen from the area.
She had to move fast to get the camera under control. Moving to the corner below the camera, which would be a convenient blind spot, she pulled out her phone. She had her jammer, but if she scrambled the signal and the cameras were actually being monitored, they wouldn’t have any time to make the swap. A loop was their best bet.
A moment later, she heard a barely restrained voice. “I’m sorry you can’t get a man of your own, Mia, but to stoop to flirting with mine is sad.”
It was said loud enough obviously for others to hear and Audrey had no doubt it was intentional. She couldn’t hear Mia’s response, but from the corner of her eye, she saw the crowd shift, probably to get a better view. Audrey typed furiously, desperate to get the loop in place so Nikki could take full advantage of the distraction in the other room. Without the loop, their risk increased at least twofold.
Chapter Thirty-One—Mia
Mia gritted her teeth. Flirting with a dullard like Tyler had nauseated her, but having Miranda accuse her of not being able to get a man was infuriating. Partially because it hit close to home, but mostly because it had come from Miranda.
She leaned closer to Miranda. The woman’s cloying perfume filled her nose. Lowering her voice, she said, “If I wanted to take Tyler from you, we both know I could. It wouldn’t even be all that difficult.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Miranda asked.
“Look at what you have to offer.” She wagged her fingers at Miranda’s designer dress as if it had come from a thrift store. “And what I bring to the table.”
Miranda’s face flushed and a small crowd not only gathered but began to close in on them. Damn vultures. Every last one.
Mia’s stomach flipped. The scene was reminiscent of everything that had happened after their fathers fled. The flying accusations, the hushed tones, the dirty looks. The difference this time was that Mia could defend herself. She was stronger than they gave her credit for.
After a deep inhale and pulling herself up to her full height, which was easily five or six inches taller than Mia, Miranda spoke clearly. “We both have family money and education. We grew up in the same circles. The difference between us is that I still have a good name and the re
spect of my peers. Respect you’ll never have.”
Mia clenched her fists to prevent herself from slapping Miranda. The words were bad enough but the fact that she spoke loudly to enable everyone to hear just to embarrass her was unforgivable.
“This is a party. A simple social function. I have no idea why you insist on slinging these slurs,” Mia added, instead of hurling more insults of her own. The crowd around them was growing and she hated this negative attention. Despite what Miranda said, Mia had worked hard to regain the trust and respect of her peers.
“If you’re so interested in socializing, find a single man. I’m sure there are some around here.” The woman looked around as if searching, but Mia knew she was really playing up for the audience.
“Insecurity does not look good on you. Tyler asked about my work—you know, my career as museum curator—” Mia knew that little dig would bother Miranda because she longed to be seen as more than a socialite, even though that was exactly who she was “—and after I answered his question, he made a joke. It would have been rude not to laugh.”
“I am more than aware of how funny and entertaining my boyfriend can be. However, when I see the ice queen laughing like a giddy schoolgirl, I know she’s up to something.”
“I’m just trying to enjoy my evening. Why don’t you do the same?” Mia hoped Nikki and Audrey were almost finished. She had no idea how much longer she could extend this charade. Never in her life had she fought over a man, much less a boy like Tyler.
A passing waiter held a tray of champagne and Mia grabbed a fresh drink. Her skin was warm from being the center of attention and her throat was dry. After taking a quick sip, she accepted the altercation with Miranda was finished and she turned to walk away. Save what dignity she had left.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Miranda gasped. “Running from the consequences of your actions like your father?”
Without thinking, Mia spun and tossed the bubbly, gold liquid from her flute, splashing it into Miranda’s face. Her muscles locked with anger. “I don’t run, Miranda. Nor am I anything like my father. I simply do not feel the need to waste my time and breath on anything so inconsequential.”
It Takes a Thief--A Heist Romance Page 26