“I was thinking the same thing.” He shakes his head back and forth. “But I don’t like it.”
“I got a suggestion, why don’t these rich toffs make replicas and have her wear those to the party?”
“I asked Patten the same thing. Apparently, the jewels are sixteenth century and people pay big bucks to see them.” He reaches for his mouse and two pearl-drop earrings appear on the wall. Each has a large red ruby wrapped in thin gold strands.
With the picture of the woman gone, my cock finally stops straining against my fly. “Can’t you hand this off to some other bloke?”
“I would but none of them has your particular... charm.” He chokes on his coffee, smiles like a Cheshire cat, and composes himself by staring out the window.
“Do I need to beat it out of you? What aren’t you telling me?”Maybe she’s snooty, obnoxious, and bloody difficult to deal with.
His eyes water from holding in his laugh. “It’s a costume party and you’re expected to act as her date.”
“That’s bloody perfect.”
It’s bad enough to attend one of these affairs in dark sunglasses, an earbud, and aloof as the secret service. To actually make insipid conversation with the filthy rich? I’d rather have a wisdom tooth pulled, maybe two.
“Fine, but I want combat pay.” My growls stop abruptly when he shows me the check from Mrs. Penelope Bradford-Clarke.
“Blow me? For one night?”
“Thank you, but no.” He chuckles.
“Bugger off.”
“One more thing. Our client has a lot of influence in New England. You make her happy and it could mean a lot more work for more of our guys.”
That was a low blow. He knows I’d walk over coals to help out.
Covering my imaginary virgin breasts, I say in my highest falsetto, “I feel so dirty, so used. Will you still respect me in the morning, luv?”
He plants a fucking kiss on my cheek which I immediately wipe off and he laughs all the harder.
“Get the fuck out of my office, Lucky. I’ll email you with the details and tell that fucking appendage of yours to stand down until after the job.”
“Blow job?”
“Out.”
With a grin, I whistle tunelessly and peek in at Grayson who’s got his door open with a phone to his ear. I give him a thumbs up and he returns it.
Despite giving Slate a hard time, I’d give my life for these guys. Patten Securities gives military men and women a chance to make a few bucks while on leave. Even SEALS, just starting out have a hard time, especially if they pick up a wife and a baby along the way.
“Bye luv.” I kiss Gilly, Patten’s receptionist, on the way out.
Face red, she yells back, “When we getting together?”
“When I get back to New York. I’m off to Boston.” Then, I grab a cab to my hotel where I book a flight. In the airport, I text the woman with the beautiful eyes now permanently burned into the back of my retinas.
Me: Patten Securities gave me your number. Can I call u?
Calli: Yes. TY. Give me five.
