“If you do this too often, I’ll get spoiled and expect you to eat lunch with me every day,” Cash continued, biting into the croissant with a moan that would fuel her fantasies for as long as she lived.
“If I’d known you were hungry, I would’ve stopped for sandwiches, not pastries.”
“Are you kidding me? This is great. As a single dad,I’m always bringingeveryone else food, so it’s nice to have someone treat me.” He shoved the rest of his croissant into his mouth and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a hugthat made her feel safe. “Next time, we’ll do a proper lunch, but right now, I’m going to enjoy this surprise.”
Next time.Sable wanted to cry at his hope for their future. She was so close to stealing the egg, and she would either succeed and disappear or fail and end up in jail. There might not be a next time, and thatsinglethought hurt more than any physical wound.
“While you have me, is there something you’d like to do?” Cash asked, yanking her out of her misery. “I can give you a private tour. Have you seen the egg yet?”
“Once on a group tour.”
“But you can’t get too close with those. How about I take you? My security clearance will get you right in front of it.”
Sable reached up and adjusted his glasses for him, realizing just how much she would missthe waythey framed his beautiful eyes when she left, but this was why she’d visited him at work.
“That would be so cool.” She plastered on a forced smile, which Cash thankfully didn’t notice.
“Come on. If we hurry, we can sneak in before the next tourcomes through. It’s stunning up close.” He downed the rest of his latte and pulled her through the elaborately gorgeous museum toward the Precieux Exhibit, but justbefore they passed through its entrance, a pair of menacing eyes caught Sable’s attention. They weren’t looking at her, though. They were focused on Cash, and her stomach fell from her body at the realization. Peter’s words came flooding back, and her muscles flushed with ice while her blood burned to lava. Her friend predicted it wouldn’t be long before thieves tried to kill the man she was falling in love with, and it seemed his foreshadowing was coming to pass. She didn’t know the name of Cash’s stalker, but she recognized his face. Any thief who valued their life memorized it so they knew who to avoid. His picture was shared among their ranks with whispered fear because he wasn’t onlya capable thief. He was also a violent man, void of morals and emotions, and he didn’t steal with skill like Sable. He stole with death and destruction, and if his eyes were on Cash then he was here to kill her handsome security guard.
Sable launched her bumble bee drone into the air and opened the accompanying book. Cash would not die on her watch. She would rather lose the egg than lose him, so after Cash’s private tour, complete with selfies that conveniently included shots of the sensor, Sable said goodbye to her date with a kiss and a silent promise. She wouldn't sacrifice him to win, and since the violent thief didn’t view her as a threat, he didn’t bat an eye when she left Cash’s side.
Tracking the thief was almost too easy after that.Shekepther bee dronetrainedon him the entire time he stalked Cash, and when he finally left the museum, Sable followed him to his accommodations.It didn’t surprise her to learn he was staying at the most expensive hotel in the city.Unlike her style of slipping through the shadows, this man didn’t care if anyone recognized him. They would be dead before they ever opened their mouths to turn him in, and Sable wouldnormallysteer clear of such a threat, but her self-preservation was nowhere to be found. All she could focus on was Cash’s safety.
“Hey girl, what’s up?” Peter answered on the second ring.
“Can you do me a favor and get me access to the La Ville Plaza’s security footage?”
“Sure. Thinking of changing your residence to something nicer than a glorified college dorm?”
“No… we have company. I’m texting you a picture.”
The line went silent as she sent him the photo she’d snapped of Cash’s stalker, and Peter’s concerned inhale drifted through their cell’s connection.
“Sable…” he trailed off for a moment. “Maybe we should rethink your involvement. If he thinks you’re in his way, he’ll kill you.”
“I know, hence, why I want to keep an eye on him.”
“Many have tried keeping an eye on him,” Peter said. “It never ended well for them.”
‘Yeah, well, none of them were trying to protect the man they were falling for and his innocent son,’Sable silently told herself.
“Will you please help me?” she said instead. “Can you track his movements?”
“Of course, I’ll help you. You don’t even need to ask,” Peter said.
“Thanks… oh, and one more thing. Can you link my phone to the number I’m texting you? I want to be able to track its location.”
“Sure, send it over.”
Sable texted her friend Cash’s cell number. She knew he would be upset if he learned she was tracking him, but she wasn’t doing this for the egg. She was doing this to save his life.
With Peter’s help, Sableset upextensive surveillance on Cash, Clover, their house, and their stalker. At first, the thief merely watched the museum,completely unaware thatshe was watching him. She didn’t want to draw any more attention to herself than she had when taking that private and very cozy tour with her sexy guard, so she lied and told Cash she was sick. It would buy her a few days of separation to stalk the stalker without ending up on his radar.
The man did nothing but observe, though, and for the next week, Sable spent her afternoons trailing him and her nights video chatting Cash. She wore makeup to give herself a red nose and bags under her eyes, and she mussed her hair before burrowing under the blankets to talk to him. She felt guilty for lying,especiallywhen he delivered chicken soup to her apartment, but their late calls became her obsession. Night after night, they talked as she pretended to sniffle and cough, and she learned everything she could about him. Their conversations grewdeeperas the hours grew later, and by the fourth day, Sable knew she was forever changed. She was falling in love with this man, and she was tempted to call her mother and ask for help because how was she supposed to walk away from him? How was she supposed to break his heart? She ached to call her mom because shewas afraidCash was her soulmate, and she wanted to escape this heist with their relationship intact. But if she didn’t steal the egg, someone else would, and they might kill him in the process. If she confessed her sins, he would neverforgive her for endangering his son with her presence. If she stole the egg, he would hate her, but at least the target would be off his back. Her mother didn’t know she was The Rabbit’s Foot, but maybe she should confess because she desperately needed guidance.
Sable scrolled through her phone until she found her mom’s contact, but before she could dial, an alarm dinged from her workspace. Terror ripped through her as she raced for her computer. She’d programmed that sound for one specific purpose. She didn’t need to see the security footage to know what danger it heralded. The dangerous thief was headed towards Cash’s home, and it didn’t take an expert to predict his plans. He was going to kill the Fae guard and steal his security badge.
“911, what is your emergency?” the dispatcher asked, answering the call two rings after Sable dialed.
