When she didn’t offer more, Alex demanded to know, “So why are you the one taking me back to the hotel instead of him? More importantly, why the hell did you make me think my sister had been hurt in some sort of horrific accident?”
“I’m sorry about that, but the phone call was Agent Morgan’s idea. He said it was the only guaranteed way you’d leave the restaurant.”
Her chest grew tight. “I thought the whole point of tonight was to keep up appearances in front of Gordan.”
“It was, and you did. As for the other, you’ll have to ask Agent Morgan that yourself when he gets back to the hotel.”
“You think that was me being normal?” Alex challenged back. “I literally freaked out and left Gordan sitting at that table alone for an emergency that never even happened.”
“As far as Crawford knows, therewasan emergency. And don’t worry, if his people check the hospital’s records, that’s exactly what they’ll see.”
“Hospital records?” Alex felt as if her entire world was spinning out of control. “I still don’t get it. None of this makes sense. I mean, why was it so important that I leave?”
“Like I said, Agent Morgan will explain everything to you once he returns to the hotel. It shouldn’t be long.” Agent Swensen shrugged. “And hour or so. Maybe two.”
You crossed a line this time, Colt. And you’d better have a damn good explanation as to why.
She looked at the woman behind the wheel, but her dark gaze was already fixed on the road ahead. With thoughts of a very painful—and possibly bloody—plan for revenge she’d never actually carry out, Alex fell back against the cushioned seat with a sigh.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Coulter approached Crawford’s table as the man started to walk away. “Hey, Gordan. Mind if I join you?”
The other man stopped moving approximately four feet from the table he’d recently shared with Alex. “Mr. Morris.” Crawford barely managed to hold back his surprise. “I was just about to leave.”
“I know.” Coulter smiled. “I’m assuming you were about to rush to Alex’s hotel to make sure she’s okay.”
A flash of confusion left the man’s dark brows dropping. “How did you?—”
“Let me save you the trouble. Alex is fine. The phone call was simply a ruse.”
“A ruse?” The man growled. “To what end?”
“To get you alone since, when I called you earlier today, you refused to cancel your date to meet with me instead.”
The man’s tense stare held his for a moment longer. A muscle twitched in the guy’s square jaw. “Cole, I’mnot sure why you’re here, but if this is about me and Alexandria?—”
“It’s not. Like I told you last night, Alex and I just met. I admit to orchestrating her premature exit, but that was only because time is of the essence and you and I needed to talk.”
“Youare the reason Alexandria left?” Crawford’s angered tone accompanied the man’s deep scowl.
“Guilty as charged,” Coulter confessed. “She mentioned having a sister back home, so I called in a favor. Made her think her beloved sister had been in an accident. She’ll be pissed, but she was planning to leave town tomorrow anyway, and it’s not as if the two of us have any real ties.” He acted as if he couldn’t care less about Alex’s feelings. “Listen, you can touch base with her later, but right now, I promise you, you’re going to want to hear what I have to say.”
The man’s glare seemed to narrow. “I should have you thrown out of here for your arrogance, alone.”
“You could.” Coulter shrugged. “But then you’d miss out on the business opportunity of a lifetime. Of course, there are plenty of other men willing to pay top dollar for what I’ve found. Guess I can always take it to one of them, instead.”
“So that’s what this is about? I told you when you called me earlier that we could meet later this week.”
“And like I explained during that call, there’s an urgent business pulling me back to Manhattan earlier than expected. It’s okay, though. If you don’t want to do this now, I’ll just call the next name on my list.” He turned, pretending to make a show of his intention toleave but stopped after only one step and looked back. “I should probably warn you, though. If word gets out that you willingly passed up a chance like this one, your reputation for this level of sale will almost certainly take a hit.”
Coulter dipped his chin, silently bidding the man a good night while praying the asshole took the bait. He made it all of a single, broad stride before he heard Crawford’s hushed voice again.
“You have five minutes, Mr. Morris.”
He smiled to himself before turning back around to face his target. Thinking of the previous night’s conversation with Alex, he told the other man, “I’ll only need two.”
The other man’s chest expanded beneath his suit and tie as he filled his lungs with a cleansing breath. Releasing it slowly, Crawford returned to the table and motioned for the chair across from his. “Your time starts now, Cole.” He lowered himself into his chair. “I suggest you use it wisely.”
