Devious.
The one thing that had kept Sophia moving up the ladder in her profession was learning how to be devious when necessary. “Excuse me.” She donned a Southern accent, batting her eyelashes at the young man behind the reservation desk.
“Oui, Madame?” he asked then grinned as his eyes shifted to her ample cleavage.
“That’s Mistress. I mean…” She slapped her hand over her mouth, laughing at her own fake faux pas. “I’m so sorry! I just don’t know French very well. I know. A smart southern girl like myself should have learned.”
The dashing blond moved even closer and she could easily tell what he was thinking. “Your French is beautiful.”
Who the hell was he kidding? “You’re so sweet. At least you speak English.”
“How can I help you?” he asked in a manner that suggested he would be off duty in about ten minutes.
She kept the plastered smile on her face as she used her hand as a fan, hoping she was also displaying a fake blush. “You are such a cutie pie. Well, it seems that my date last night was a no-showand a good little southern girl like me isn’t used to that. I was wondering if something might have happened to him.”
“Is he a guest in the hotel?”
“You know, I don’t think so, but the dear man told me that he gambles only in this location every time he’s in Monte Carlo.”
He shrugged and looked both ways, as if what he was about to tell her was one huge secret. “If he’s a high roller, then we keep track.”
“You keep track? Really?” Sophia beamed, getting sick to her stomach. Playing undercover in this manner wasn’t her style.
“What’s his name?”
“Stephen Wallace. He’s mighty fine-looking and I was so eager for the evening we were going to share. If you know what I mean, sugar.”
He lifted an eyebrow, his grin raw and gritty. “I know Mr. Wallace very well and he is definitely one of our high rollers. He has a suite here often. Let me see what I can find for you, miss.”
When he moved toward his computer, she took another chance. What the hell. “By the way, sugar, do you actually have an Officer Pierre Renier on your staff working as security?” Sophia already knew the answer. Leaning against the reservation desk, she scanned the perimeter of the opulent lobby, admiring all the beautiful people coming and going. Her working attire for the day? All tourist. The splashy tropical dress screamed of an American in France, vying to have a fabulous time before her next birthday. A little vino, a night of gambling and…
No, she was going to try very hard not to think about the night before, even if her pussy muscles still constricted every time she thought about him.
His rugged good looks.
His dazzling emerald eyes.
His suave attitude.
His rough and tumble actions.
His passionate kisses.
She dug her nails into the palm of her hand to break the psychotic vision.
“Officer Renier? Yes, he’s been with us for about two years. Are you by any chance in trouble with the law?” He winked after looking up from the computer.
Damn it. “Just a little disagreement. That’s all. Tall guy, shaggy dark hair, and the most mesmerizing eyes this side of the Mississippi?” She could see the clear confusion on his face.
He frowned, obviously processing her words. “Ah, I understand. He is that way.” Happy with his answer, he returned to his computer.
Well, damn it all to hell. The man was a realpolicia. Then what the hell was the game about?
“Miss. Mr. Wallace was indeed supposed to stay last night, but he did not check in. There is a notation that he was delayed.”
“Delayed?” This was an interesting development.
The blond shook his head. “That is all I know. He will be back tomorrow. Would you like to leave him a note?”
