“Okaaay… Does this woman work on Wall Street? Is she old money?”
“She’s a sex worker.” His cringe is so not like him, I laugh.
“Really? Holy shit. She must be good. MaybeIshould change careers?”
His brows lift and the corner of his mouth tilts up. “I could, too. Give a whole new meaning to Suds and Sam.”
I punch his arm. “You’re too willing.”
Smiling now, he hugs me to him. “How did a man like me find a gal like you?”
As we come full circle, I remember the promise he made when he got me fired.“Huh. As I recall, the FBI wanted your statement, and I was the unlucky agent tasked with getting it. What the fuck, Sebastian? Rambling at me?”
“Ah, sugar, don’t be mad. I had to tell you somethin’ and didn’t quite know how.”
“Surely, you didn’t have time to sleep with her.” My heart freezes and as I picture him with another woman, my mouth drops open.
Cupping my cheeks, he sends laser beams with his brown-eyed stare. “Of course not, babe. I’d never cheat on you. But she did grab my thigh. Hell, I slapped her hand away and told her I wasn’t interested. We don’t keep secrets. I needed you to know.”
I heave out the breath I was holding and the image in my head changes to her hand caught in a bear trap. “That’s it. I’m buying you a chastity belt.”
“I think those are for women.”
“Nuh-uh. I’ll check on Etsy. Someone must be able to build me a cod piece with a lock.”
His gaze fixates on his southern hemisphere and as I picture his cock with an iron covering, I giggle. “Fine. Maybe it’s not a great idea but you tell her if she touches you again, I’ll shoot her.” Discussion over, I reach for the inner door handle.
He steps behind me and as he kisses the sensitive part of my neck, I inhale his unique manly scent. “But not until we cash the check.”
“Exactly. Is she still here?”
“Yeah, Wheels is getting her statement.”
“Brave man.” Before I open the door, I twist around. “Don’t you find it strange? A drive by shooting? Right outside? It made it hard for you to turn down the job.”
“Agreed.” He frowns. “We don’t need to take this case, babe. We could pass. It’s up to you.”
“We can’t. Do you know how much pre-school in the city is going to cost?” I thought I’d prepared myself but when I open the door, I’m sucker punched by the femme-fatale.
Legs crossed, she stops speaking and eyes me as one might a cockroach crawling near your dinner plate.
“Hey Sam.” Wheels stands and folds me into his six-foot-two frame until my husband punches him on the shoulder.
“Long enough. Let go, bro.”
Rubbing his arm while laughing, the bodyguard introduces me to the modelesque creature sitting at our former kitchen table. “Samantha, meet Ms. Selena Bright.”
“Nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand.
Taking it, she looks me up and down with a perfected disdain, the kind men never pick up on. “Sebastian didn’t mention his partner was female. Sam. What an interesting name.”
Time to set this bitch straight. “I’ll oversee finding your daughter. If you could, repeat everything you toldmy husband.” As I emphasize the last two words, I open my jacket so she can see I’m armed.
After I gather all the details, I excuse myself, and stand. “I’m going to start on this at our other office.” By that, I mean my home computer.
Thinking of Joey’s white board, I hurry out the door and Suds follows me to the foyer where he kisses me until I can’t think straight. “See you soon.”
“Don’t be too late.” I slip my hand down the front of his pants to caress the tip.
