Chuckling, he pushed away his drink. “I do enjoy a good meal.”
She gripped the back of the chair in front of her, giving him a doleful look. “Where are we going?”
After rising to a standing position, he held out his hand. “Come with me, but in doing so, you also agree to allow my control. Where we’re going, I will keep you safe.” He could see the same expression as before, self-doubt as well as consternation about the man standing in front of her.
“I’ve been down this road before, Pierre. Remember? That didn’t end well, and I am no fool. I’m not certain I can do this after all.”
He took careful steps closer, allowing her space. There was no mistaking the vibe they both shared, the intense tethering. “As I promised, that will never happen again without your permission. I assure you that the pleasure you experienced can be heightened in methods you’ve only dreamed of.” He allowed the carrot to dangle.
“Can I trust you?” Her grasp was tentative, her voice like that of a purring kitten.
She was used to being in full control in her professional life but now? She was putty in his hands and he couldn’t wait to experience the club with her. The realization was… enlightening. He pulled her hand toward his mouth, rubbing his thumb back and forth before pressing his lips against her knuckles. The sensations rocketing through him made him feel so alive.
The girl had more control over him than he dared to believe.
“Hmmm… Excellent question, Ashley. My answer? With your life.”
CHAPTER 4
With her life.
The words were difficult to relate to in several ways. Or maybe Sophia had no interest in believing them. She wasn’t even certain her partner could be trusted with her safety, but as she sat across from Pierre, she was beginning to question several aspects of her profession and her passion.
Dinner on the French Riviera, the sun setting over the ocean. She was forced to admit, she was enthralled by the ride in his sleek Ferrari as well as the conversation.
David had called, assuring her that the convention in Belgium hadn’t changed schedules in any manner and that Stephen Wallace was slated to make an appearance in two days. His flight had also arrived as anticipated, the man renting a car immediately after. At this point, there didn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary.
Except for the CEO’s disappearance.
It was vital that she pretend she wanted to go to the club, no matter how many reservations she had. She could find herself ina terrible predicament, even life-threatening. There was no way of determining when the assassin was going to make a hit or where, and she had to be prepared for anything.
At least the picture David had sent of Officer Renier had confirmed Pierre’s identity. Then why wasn’t she feeling entirely comfortable?
She made certain her purse was never far from reach given she had no other choice but to bring her gun. There were too many red flags with no solid information and she certainly wasn’t going to be unprepared if Mr. Wallace made an appearance. She’d thought of several excuses if Pierre found her weapon, although none of them would necessarily keep her from either forfeiting it or answering questions she wasn’t prepared to answer. Very few civilians carried a Sig, her weapon of choice.
“Who are you really, Pierre?” she asked as she sipped on the last of her wine, twilight settling in.
“Just a man with an interest in a beautiful lady.” He smiled after his response. When she didn’t respond, he shrugged. “This is a temporary gig, I guess.”
“You mean securing a casino?”
“Monte Carlo. Everything in my life right now. I was trained in the military, which brought me here. Quite frankly, I never had any desire to uphold the law. I mean at least in the terms of catching the bad guy.”
“I thought you were the bad guy.”
“You really believe that?” Pierre leaned over, folding his arms on the table. He was so damn boyish-looking in the candlelight, even though everything about him screamed of his rugged andcarefree nature. She was caught off guard how much she’d missed the closeness of just having dinner with someone she cared about.
Holy hell, no. She couldn’t actually care about this man after what he’d done to her. She bit the inside of her cheek, hiding behind her glass as she brought it to her lips. He’d managed to see right through her in ways other men hadn’t. She’d layered herself with protection after one horrible breakup, pretending she didn’t need a man in any regard.
“You aren’t the man you say you are. That much I do know. I’ve been around the block more than once, Pierre. I’m very observant.”
“Given your job as a thief?” he teased.
“This was a foray into fulfilling a certain level of danger I crave. I have no intentions of continuing. Gambling isn’t my thing.”
“Then what is your thing?”
He seemed genuinely interested. “I love animals, walks on the beach, and a fabulous glass of cabernet as I read a good novel in front of a fire. I’m a simple girl at heart.”
