“Certainly, sir. Don’t be too long. I want to take you out to celebrate.” He gave me a squeeze that bordered on inappropriate but still managed to stay respectful.
“As work friends,” I said, softly but firmly.
He stared down at me and his smile slipped toward something self-deprecating. “If that’s all you want.”
I widened my eyes at him as my face heated. I needed to be careful or I would ruin a good thing. “I have to go talk to this customer.”
He smiled and nodded.
My cheeks boiled under the intent stare he leveled on me. Flustered, I went to the front of the shop. I channeled what was left of my energy and forced a wide smile as I stepped out into the sales area. It was habit to check the silver tables and make sure the jewelry was arranged nicely. The displays were lit by spotlights that dangled from the ceiling. Everything else in the room was a clean cream color to allow the pieces on sale to take center stage. Simple elegance was the name of the game.
A young man with big brown eyes and a slightly crooked nose grinned at me. I immediately recognized the Courtesan Hotel’s uniform for their staff—the deep red vest and black pants with a spotless white shirt underneath—and he had an uninspired black tie. Despite the foul weather, he wasn’t wearing a coat.
“You poor thing! Aren’t you freezing?”
He shook his head. “No, I ran up here from the car, Mr. Janvier. Madam Winters sent me over. She said you had something for her.” The smile he flashed me was as crooked as his nose, but it was charming, nonetheless.
“Darling, that woman must be psychic because I just finished the jewelry for her winter gala. How does she do it?” I slapped a hand to my cheek.
His smile stayed put, but he shrugged and shuffled his feet, glancing longingly toward the elevator door—and his escape.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I rested a hand on his arm, and he flinched, so I stepped back. “I do know how she can be when she’s in a hurry. I won’t keep you waiting. Do you have something to transfer the jewelry—” He held up a leather case with the golden Courtesan Hotel logo on the front, and I bared my teeth when I noticed the handle was cuffed to his wrist. “—in. Yes, that’ll do. It’s not as secure as what I use, but she knows what she wants, I suppose. Who would have the nerve to steal from her anyway? Come along and I’ll load the jewelry. I’m thinking of calling it the Winters Mistletoe Collection. Has a nice ring, don’t you think? Since she’s Madam Winters, and I’m Winter Janvier. Clever, right?”
The courier nodded and gave me a pained smile, and I decided to stop torturing the poor soul. “Follow me.”
He shuffled along behind me until we were in my workroom, and I was slightly startled because Van was nowhere in sight, but the cameras still weren’t working when I checked the CCTV, so he was probably off inspecting them. “Come over here, sweetie. What’s your name?”
“Uh....” He cringed. “Pinky.”
I frowned at him for a moment and fought not to snicker. “That’s unusual. Is it a nickname? I need the key.” I glanced at the locked case. I didn’t like that it wasn’t much nicer than the typical document briefcase someone carrying some memos to an office would use, with a cheap lock on the top. Normally the cases I used were more solid, built to withstand some tinkering, and the heavy-duty locks were on the side. I glanced under my worktable at the ones I kept there, but he was already cuffed to this one....
Pinky nodded and handed me a small key ring as he set the case on the worktable. I opened the lock, gave the mistletoe necklace a final once-over, and then shut it in the padded box and set it inside. The matching earrings were next. Finally, I checked over the diamond-and-emerald bracelet that went with the collection and lovingly nestled it into the case, too. With a sigh of relief, I closed and locked everything once more. Pinky seemed grateful to get the key ring back.
“You tell Madam Winters that there’s a ring I could give her to go with all this if she wants it. Okay? It’s finished and just sitting around. For her, and her only, the price is twenty grand.”
He nodded and let out a long breath. Sweat beaded on his forehead. “I’ll let her know.” His lips shivered and he pulled them into his mouth, sucking on them.
“Are you worried about transferring something worth this much?” My heart ached for the poor thing. He seemed about ready to pass out. “Listen, sweetie, I do it all the time. Just don’t stop to talk to strangers, and remember, no one knows what you have in here.” I patted the case.
“The cuffs give it away,” he muttered, eyebrows trekking higher on his forehead.
I shrugged. “Still, just go right back out to the car and don’t stop for anyone, okay?”
He nodded and gave me a big smile that made me want to tweak his off-center nose, but instead I sent him to the elevator. When I glanced at the CCTV again, it was working. I only caught Pinky’s back as he was leaving, and by the time the TV hit the view at the front entrance, he, and whatever vehicle he’d arrived in, was gone.
“Good job getting it fixed, Van. I should pay you more,” I said.
“No need. It was only a loose cable. Just let me take you out tonight. I always love having a handsome blond on my arm.”
I slapped my hand to my chest and whirled around. The jerk emerged from the rear exit tucked behind a curtain in the corner.
He laughed as he came up to take my hand and lay a gentle kiss on the back. “What do you think? One night to celebrate wouldn’t be terrible, would it?”
I had to look up into Van’s eyes and my face felt as if I was standing too close to a fire. I fought off a yawn, but in the end, I chuckled and nodded.
“Yes, why not? Besides, you saved me from having to call the company that set up the security system, since I know nothing about all that stuff. I owe you.”
His eyes glowed with a happiness that sent a small thrill racing down my spine. It had been a long time since a man looked at me with so much pleasure. “Excellent. I know a quiet place you might like. It’s called the Zin. It’s not fancy, but the wine selection is massive. There’s guaranteed to be something you enjoy.”
