Cash didn’t want to release the gorgeous brunette’s hand. It was inappropriate. He knew that, but the minute she’d turned around, his heart stopped. She was significantly shorter than him, but her lithe body was athletically sculpted, and for an embarrassing second, he wanted to see her in a pair of workout leggings. At first glance, her appearance said college student, but his senses told her she was older, which he was thankful for. He liked that she was age-appropriate for him. Golden flecks dusted her brown eyes, and they reminded him of the egg he was sworn to protect. Her tempting brunette beach waves begged to be wrapped around his fist while he kissed her as if his life depended on it.
“Nice to meet you, Cash.” She smiled, and the expression was so fucking sexy that he had to force himself not to step closer to her. “You have such a kind son. I got myself all turned around, but he helped.”
“It’s easy to do,” Cash said, vaguely aware that Clover was staring at their still clasped hands. “Took me a minute to learn the layout.”
“How long have you worked here?” Sable asked.
“A few weeks,” he answered.
“Oh… so if I need a tour guide, I guess you aren’t the man to ask,” she teased, and Cash forced himself not to immediately contradict her. He was absolutely the man for the job.
“I made it my priority to memorize this museum top to bottom within the first few days of my employment,” he said, needing to prove himself to this goddess of a woman. “I know every room, hallway, and exhibit down to the vents, number of doors, and the size of the windows.”
“Oh, then I guess you are the man to ask,” she said, and Cash swore she shifted closer to him. He also swore Clover noticed it as well. “But, alas, you’re a security guard, so you probably don’t have time to give a curious girl like me a tour, so I’ll leave you to your work. Maybe I’ll see you around, though?”
She finally pulled her hand free from his grasp, and only once her soft skin left his could he breathe again.
“Until next time,” he said, hoping he didn’t sound desperate.
“Bye, Clover.” Sable waved and sauntered down the hallway toward the exit, and Cash watched her leave, paralyzed until she vanished.
“She’s really pretty,” Clover said, and if Cash had been looking, he would have seen the conspiratorial grin on his son’s face.
“Yes,” he said. “Yes, she is.”
Sable cursed as she fled the museum. Cash was definitely the soldier Peter had warned her about. That sexy guard was going to be a problem, and not just because he was good at his job. Too good if Cupid had recommended him, and when she’d teased him about being her tour guide, he’d proved his dedication with his knowledge of the building. But Cash was also a complication because he was someone Sable could easily fall for. She’d never met a man who seized control of her like he had with a simple touch of his fingers. She felt his handshake in every part of her body, her nerves firing white-hot and electric as his palm slid against hers. She’d never experienced lightning like that before. No man had ever caused her to question her illegal lifestyle, but staring into the Fae male’s gorgeous eyes threatened to derail her.
Yes, Cash and his adorable son were going to be a problem.
Much to her relief, Sable found her missing thieves two days later. She realized others were planning their assaults on the museum, but it drove her to madness knowing the group she’d discovered was wandering the city in secret. She preferred it when she could keep an eye on the competition, so when she located the team again, her entire body breathed a sigh. The golden egg’s defenses were impenetrable, and combined with a security team built of Fae special forces soldiers, there was no stealing Precieux’s egg. It had taken her alloffive minutes to understand the impossibility of this heist. It explained why so many zeros were attached to the prize money.
Which was one reason she was thankful she’d located the missing thieves. She was one thief while they were a group of four. They had more resources, more collective brain power, and more combined skills. They might even steal the egg successfully—not that she had faith in that—but it would be significantly easier to commandeer the gold from the thieves than from the fortress that was the Merveille De L’art.
Sable glanced up from her book and pretended to appreciate her surroundings. This particular novel was a gift from Peter. When unlocked with her fingerprint, the pages turned transparent to form a viewing screenthat connectedto a drone fashioned after a chunky bumble bee. It buzzed around the sky, acting as her eyes and ears, and to the crowd, she was just a pretty brunette reading. In reality, her tiny bee was trailing the thieves. They’d ventured downtown, remaining close to the museum, but so far, Sable hadn’t uncovered what they were doing. Her insect didn’t have a far range, though. She had to remain within a few blocks of her mark, and as the foursome passed beyond her sight, she rose from the city bench and aimed for their last location. Holding the book out before her, she picked up her pace, but after searching for two blocks, her drone still hadn’t located her targets. She glanced up from her pages to cross the street, confused by how they vanished so fast, but the sight that greeted her pulled a soft yelp from her lips. The thieves stood across the crosswalk from her, readying to approach the second the traffic slowed.
Sable braced for a confrontation that never came. They hadn’t noticed her. She was merely a college student with her nose buried in a book, and recalling her bee, she ducked into the closest building to hide.
A fragrant wave of coffee and baked goods washed over her, and she inhaled deeply, the sugary and nutty goodness reducing her stress. She needed to stay out of sight for a few minutes, andshe’d already barged into the shop. It would be suspicious not to order a drink, so Sable closed her book and stepped up to the counter.
“Welcome to The Percolator. What can I get you?” the barista asked.
“A latte please,” she said. “Can you sprinkle some chocolate on the foam too?”
“Sure thing.” The barista rang her up before turning to the expresso machine to brew her order. She topped off the final foamy goodness with a generousdustingof dark chocolate, and Sable thanked her as she dropped the change into the tip jar. She sipped a small taste of the chocolaty caffeine before leaving the counter, but she took one step and collided with a wall of muscle.
“Are you okay?” the obstacle asked, and Sable froze at the sound. Face-planting into the muscular chest, she’d been terrified the thieves had found her. But this? This was worse because she was currently pressed against the man who made her want to do something stupid. Something very, very stupid.
“You saved your coffee, I see,” Cash said, and she jerked backward, bright red with embarrassment. “I guess I know where your priorities lie.”
“Lattes aren’t cheap.” Sable brushed her hair behind her ears as she stared at the towering man. He was even taller than she remembered, and her cheeks burned hot with the desire to climb him like a tree.
“Save the coffee, not your nose… got it.” Cash smirked. “Although, might I suggest you take more care of your face? It’s a beautiful face. I’d hate for you to hurt it.”
Sable was certain she was on fire. Flames had engulfed her, burning her alive. How did no one else see them?
“So hit you with my scalding coffee next time,” she said. “Will do.”
“As long as there is a next time.” Cash winked, and Sable glanced around the shop. Seriously, how did no one see the fire? It was all she felt, but while flames should hurt, these felt delicious. She wanted more… until she noticed Clover staring at herwith an odd expression.
