“We’ll see about that. You forget the various tequila drinks we’ve shared and the sexy discussions we’ve held on the perfect man. If I remember correctly, Maverick’s name came up more than once.” Sandra lifted her drink as if I needed a reminder of the bad girl good times we’d shared over the years.
“That doesn’t mean we’re destined to be in a relationship.” To make a point, I threw my hair over my shoulder, which caught the investigator’s eye. What was he writing down now? That I could enjoy myself?
She seemed more thoughtful, daring to glance over her shoulder again. “No, but you certainly deserve to have a little fun in your life. How did you leave things with him?”
“I left him a note telling him he was right about Samuel Wells and to have a nice life.”
“A note?”
I pointed my index finger at her. “Don’t read into anything.”
The way she threw up one hand as well as how her nose crinkled allowed me to read her mind. I had no idea who I thought I was fooling.
“I get that you’re not interested in commitments, but you did seek him out for help and advice. Right?”
“Yeah, I know, but I changed my mind. I’m allowed to do that.”
“Why? That you had a meaningful conversation with the man and slept with your hot fantasy doesn’t change anything.”
With a hard enough jerk I almost knocked the wineglass over, I yanked my cocktail napkin into my fingers, tossing it in her direction.
“Hey. I speak the truth.” She could pout like nobody’s business. “Plus, he obviously cares about you enough to send someone to watch out for you.”
“He ignored what I asked and I plan on giving him a piece of my mind.”
“Okay,” she said, elongating the syllables. “What do you want me to do?”
I tapped my finger across my lips, doing my best to keep from drawing any additional attention to us. “I’m going to grill him for information. In a couple minutes, I need to you to come by and steal his phone but make a commotion so I can get away.”
“Oh, I like where this is going, but what if he roughs me up to get to you?” Her eyes were momentarily pulled away, mesmerized by the thought. “Come to think of it. That sounds like a lot of fun. Much better than writing a critique that would certainly garner me death threats.”
I grabbed my purse. “Knock yourself out. Our next lunch is on me.”
“I won’t forget.”
“I’m certain you won’t.” I headed toward the table, doing my best to act as if I hadn’t realized I was being followed. That meant when I slipped into the seat, he was genuinely surprised, his entire face highlighting a taste of shock that drifted into personal frustration.
Meanwhile, I smiled as brightly as possible, folding my arms and waiting as patiently as possible.
“Can I help you?”
“Actually,” I purred as I grabbed his phone.
“Hey. What are you doing, lady?”
“I think I can help you.” He obviously didn’t want to make much of a scene. While he attempted to get his phone back, when I scooted my chair away, he stopped bothering. I flipped through his photographs, noticing he’d taken plenty of me.
At the house.
At my office.
With my boss.
In my car.
“You’ve been a busy boy. Let me save you some trouble. See this purse? Inside is a SIG Sauer P365, a perfect weapon to conceal for a lady. I’m highly skilled at using it. In fact, I always score much higher than every officer of the law at the gun range. Would you like me to demonstrate?” I pulled the weapon into view, sweetening my smile.
Perhaps there was a hint of being impressed added to the mix.
