Decked out in my slate gray suit with a dark blue tie, I combed my hair off my face and added a bit of pomade. Checking my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I nodded. It should work.
“Theo, is this too fancy?” Pen called.
I stepped out of my room and my jaw dropped.
Pen stood in the living room, a knockout in a curve-hugging dark red dress. She was busy messing with her hair and didn’t quite look at me as she continued.
“I don’t know why I grabbed this dress when I was packing. Of all the dresses I could have chosen, this is the least likely to get worn. What was I think—”
Looking up, she stopped mid-sentence, and her jaw dropped. “Wow, Theo,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a suit.”
Glancing down at myself, I tugged at the lapels of my jacket. “Not bad, right?”
“You look amazing.”
A flash of heat swept through me as I looked her up and down. I probably shouldn’t have been gazing at her like that, but I’d never seen her in something so sexy.
“So do you.”
Pressing her lips together, she ran her hands down her hips. That did not help the hard-on situation.
“Is this okay?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah.” I cleared my throat. “You look perfect.”
The blush that crept across her cheeks heightened the pressure in my groin. I needed to stop looking at her like she was on the menu. That was not happening.
“I just need to do something with my hair,” she said. “Or do I? Marigold?”
“Nope, you don’t need to do a thing. Mari will take care of it.”
“All right. I guess I’m ready.”
I had to resist the urge to guide her to my truck with a hand on the small of her back. And the temptation to watch her ass while she walked.
Eyes up, Theo. She’s your friend.
The fall air was chilly, but the sun was bright, and I slipped on a pair of sunglasses when we got in my truck.
“So why are we dressed like I’m your date for a wedding?” Pen asked.
I backed up and pulled out into the street. “Okay, check this out. We need access to the paintings in the gallery, but we don’t want anyone to know what we’re doing.”
“Because anyone could be a suspect.”
“Exactly.” I held out my fist and she bumped it. I loved it when we were on the same page. “Even people at the gallery. So we’re going in disguise.”
“This is a solid plan. Who are we?”
“I’m billionaire Shepherd Calloway, and you’re my wife, Everly. I think we look pretty good, except Everly is blond.Which is where Marigold comes in. I called her and she has a wig you can use.”
“How did you land on a billionaire and his wife?”
I shrugged. “Wealthy people collect art. I figured no one would raise an eyebrow if a billionaire and his wife come to the gallery.”
“True. They’re real people?”
“Yeah. I googled handsome billionaires and found Calloway. They live in Seattle, so it’s perfect.”
