“What’s wrong?” He suddenly looked nervous. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No.” She cupped his jaw in her hands and pulled his face to hers. “No, you didn’t. You’re the best man I’ve ever met. I hope you know how amazing you are.” She kissed him, and for a moment, they forgot they were in a crowd.
“Sable,” Cash moaned against her mouth as he dipped her gently. “Why do I feel this way about you? How am I falling so hard already?”
“Because you might be the one,” Sable whispered so he couldn’t hear her.
“Next time there’s a gala, I’m not working it.” Cash kissed her again, his lips so delicious against hers that everyone in the room needed a cool shower just from watching them. “Next time you wear this dress, I want to dance and drink champagne with you, and then take you to a luxury hotel where I make love to you all night because I hate working when you look more beautiful than those goddesses.”
“Don’t say that.” She playfully swatted his muscular biceps. “Don’t insult the gods.”
“They aren’t insulted.” He gave her a quick peck on the lips. “They aren’t blind. They see how gorgeous you are.In fact,the goddesses are probably congratulating themselves on what a superb job they did making you look like one of them.”
“Cash?”
“Yes, Sable?”
“Nothing….” She trailed off.
“It’s okay. You’re safe with me.” He spun her around and dipped her playfully. “What is it?”
“I shouldn’t.”
“Oh, come on.” He nuzzled her neck with a dozen kisses. “You can’t leave me like that.”
“I think.” She hugged him so she didn’t have to see his eyes. “I think I lo?—”
His breast pocket buzzed against her chest witha very specificvibration pattern, and Cash jerked away from her.
“Sorry, that’s Clover’s signal,” he said.
“No, of course. Answer him.” Sable stepped away as Cash read his son’s text.
“Um… I have to go.” He slipped his hand against her cheek and kissed her. “Will you be okay by yourself for a few minutes? Clover asked me to come upstairs. It sounds urgent.”
“I’ll be fine.” She gripped his forearm to assure him. “Go get your son.”
“We’ll talk when I get back, okay?”
“Sounds good.” She squeezed his hand, and then Cash rushed toward the stairs. Sable watched until he disappeared, and only once he was gone did she let the tears come. That was the last time she would see him. This was the perfect time to steal the egg. He was with his son. He was distracted, and security was about to be busy with the thief in the red dress. Now was her chance to win the game and save his life.
She glanced at Aphrodite’s statue and lifted her fingers to her lips, trying to memorize the feel of his mouth on hers. Cash expected to return and finish their date, but Sable knew the truth. That was their last kiss. At least it had been a beautiful one.
“Cash,” she whispered, staring longingly at where he’d vanished from view. “I think I love you.” And then she left the revelry.
Sable slipped nonchalantly through the decadent corridors until she came to an employee’s only storage room. Glancing around tomake sureno one had followed her, she stepped inside and found the shelf where her stash hid behind an old box. She’d hidden the bag during her last break-in attempt,and itwas partly why she’d worn this dress. It was relatively easy to slip on and off without help, and she made quick work of changing into a sleek black outfit before strapping the harness and belt of supplies to her body.
Sable took care not to smear her lips as she changed. Below her natural shade of lipstick, she’d applied a thin film to her bottom lip. She felt dirty wearing it, but she knew Cash would kiss her tonight, and it wouldn’t be a quick peck on the mouth either. They could barely keep their hands off each other, and she had correctly predicted that, when she showed up in that outrageously sexy gown, Cash wouldn’t resist her. His tongue and lips danced over hers, leaving his DNA on the film. It wasa specially designed tool that enhanced the genetic material coating it, meaning that when she approached the egg, the Fae magic would read Cash’s signature and allow her to pass without triggering the alarm. It wouldn’t stop the scanner from reading her as well, but Cash’s genetics on her lips were enough to trick the system. Almost every guard had seen her dancing with Cash, so she was banking on the fact that if someone looked at the scanner and saw her DNA passing through the barrier, they would merely assume the head of security was giving his girlfriend a tour.Her presence, along with his identification, shouldn’t raise any suspicions, and afterbypassing all the other security precautions, she couldsimplywalk through the magic, pluck the egg from its stand after disabling its sensor, and retreat the way she came.In a matter of minutes, she would be the game’s winner, and with a sense of dread and determination, Sable climbed into the vents.
Cash jogged up the stairs to the Egypt exhibit. Clover had wanted to say hi to Sable, but he’d opted to answer his son’s text alone. The urgency of Clover’s request told him the boy was upset about something, and it was probably best to address his concerns before submitting her to the more emotional side of parenting.
“Have you seen my son?” Cash asked the same female volunteer who’d taken their picture.
“Um…” she scanned the room of popcorn-eating children. “He was over there.” She pointed at a group of ten-year-old boys. “Hmmm… some of them aren’t in their seats. Barbara, where are the kidsthat weresitting there?” she asked the older woman passing by.
“Bathroom,” Barbara answered. “Greg took them.”
“Thanks,” Cash said as he left the room and strode down the hall to where a man stood watch over the restroom entrance.
