“Please sit.” I motion the dark-haired stranger to our glass conference table and hang his coat on the antique tree by the door. “Coffee? Tea?”
“No thank you. I’m fine.” Unbuttoning his suit jacket, he sits and leans forward with his elbows on the table. “I apologize for not giving you a heads up.”
Even I can tell he’s not sorry, not one bit. However, before I can call bullshit, my husband shoots me a warning glance to which I reply by wrinkling my nose.
Go for it. You deal with Mr. Sexy-suit.
As if I spoke my thoughts out loud, my man grins and invokes his smooth southern persona. “I promise we won’t hold it against you, especially if you’re bringin’ some business our way.”
The tight lines in our client’s face disappear and he almost smiles. “Good to know because I want to hire you, both of you.”
His perfectly sculpted brows raise at me and I’m about to agree until my partner shoots me his hold-your-horses glare.
We sit for almost thirty seconds in uncomfortable silence before our guest clears his throat and loosens his tie. “I’m guessing you’re waiting for me to explain why a fraud representative would hire a PI firm to do my job?”
Sending me a wink, Suds turns to the man and stretches back in his chair. “I have to be honest. The thought had crossed my mind.”
Dash flashes a GQ smile and I swear on a stack of bibles, when the sun shines through our plate glass window, his eyes sparkle like a prince in a Disney movie. I can’t make this shit up.
My husband must notice my stare because he squeezes my thigh under the table.
Relax tough guy, my lady parts only swell for you.I flick out my tongue, lick my lower lip, and when I shoot him my let’s-fuck look, the lines around his mouth disappear.
Smiling now, he turns his gaze back to the man. “To be honest, we’re real busy right now…”
We sure could use the money, but I understand his concerns. Working for CloudTekToys could be a conflict of interest, especially if you consider we blew up a truckful of their Smart Sissy dolls right before Christmas.
A thick, shiny, platinum credit card escapes our potential client’s wallet, and he places it on the table. “I’m willing to double your usual fees.”
Holy fuck.As I picture hiring a nanny and another investigator, I try not to drool. “Exactly what would you want us to do for you, Mr. Montclair?”
“CloudTekToys lost a shipment worth half a million dollars. Before my company pays them, we need to make sure it wasn’t an inside job.”
“And if it was?” Sipping my coffee, I work to keep my face neutral and hands steady.
“We have a clause that says we’re not liable.” The insurance man grins.
“How convenient.” My partner’s tone holds an edge but even so, he responds a lot more nicely than I would’ve.
If Montclair notices, he doesn’t let on. “Not my concern. I’m simply doing my job.”
“Actually, you’re asking us to do it for you. Why?” My tone may hold a bit of accusation but hell, if we’re going to work for this guy, he needs to be forthcoming.
“A little birdie told me you have intel but if you’re not interested-” As he reaches for his credit card, I heave a sigh of relief until Suds butts in.
“I’m sure we can rearrange some of our caseload. Sugar, can you get a contract?”
I glare bullets at him. Is he out of his fucking mind? “Shouldn’t we discuss it first,dear?”
He eyes Dash watching our interaction.Fuck. Every time I open my mouth, it makes us look more suspicious.
Smiling brightly, I grab the forms out of the cupboards and place them on the table. “Here’s our contract.”
Chapter Three
Suds
Dash. What kind of fucking name is that? Hell, I don’t want him anywhere near my woman but what choice do I have? You know what they say. Keep your friends close and track your enemies on GPS.
