Page 9 of Unmasking Mr. Crown

He looked off, contemplating. Natalie noticed a scar on his jawline, up by his left ear. About two inches in length and faint. Definitely not a recent mark. Her mind whirled with possible scenarios. He’d had something medically removed? An old sports injury? He took a heavy right hook during a fight?

He turned back. “The Little Mermaid.”

She blinked. “What?”

“My favorite rom-com. It’s The Little Mermaid.”

“The Little Mermaid?” Her judgmental expression returned. “You’re not serious.”

“Okay, technically it’s not a rom-com, but you gotta admit Ariel’s got a certain something.”

“She’s a cartoon.”

He reached out, his fingertips lightly brushing the ends of her hair. "Never underestimate the power of a redhead, two-dimensional or otherwise.”

His easy-going nature and the let-your-guard-down looks he fired continued to hit with precision. A war of seductive attrition, but with top-notch banter as their weapon of choice.

This guy's good. Too good.

Natalie could not stop smiling.

She cranked her own accent up to full Blanche Deveraux, fanning herself with one hand. "My goodness, you are lethal with one-liners, aren't you?"

"I’m tryin’ my best, ma'am."

After a few minutes of discussing other movies in various genres, he finished his martini in one gulp, stood, and extended his hand to her. "Ready?"

"Ready for what?" Natalie’s internal warning system flickered. Drinks and flirting were one thing. Leaving the bar with him? A completely different story.

"There's a little club not far from here. Plays some of the best jazz music in all of London. I was thinking we⁠—"

"A club? I wasn’t planning to make it a night of hardcore drinking," she interrupted.

“I meant for dancing."

A searing heat rose in her chest. Pressing up against him on a dark dance floor sounded both thrilling and reckless. But she didn’t even know this guy. In a few hours, she could very well be Dateline fodder. On the other hand, he and Eddie seemed to have a good rapport. Surely Eddie would have given her a sign to run away if she were truly in danger, right?

“My car is right around the corner, but I’ll get an Uber if you’re more comfortable with that. I know you don’t know me from Adam, and I don’t want you to feel pressured or unsafe in any way.”

That’s all it took. Internally, she waved a white flag to this smooth-talking, intriguing Texas fox. There’d be someone else in the car with them. She had mace in her purse. There’d be loads of people in the club. Safety in numbers, right?

“What the hell …” Natalie stood, slinging her purse over her shoulder. “Lead the way.”

CHAPTER THREE

NATALIE

Multiple wooden barricades blocked the route, forcing the driver to stop his Kia a block shy of their destination. Natalie scanned the street, her sixth sense kicking down the door of her better judgment.

So, it’s a two-for-one deal? Dancing and a mugging? Fantastic!

She wasn’t familiar with this part of London, and for good reason. Abandoned storefronts, half-demolished buildings, a labyrinth of scaffolding up and down the street. The whole neighborhood looked sketchy AF.

This is it. I’m moments away from death. Keith Morrison will interview my loved ones, and they’ll all say the same thing: “Natalie would never have gone off with a stranger. Never. Natalie was cautious.”

Mr. Crown exited the car, jogged to her door, and opened it with a smile. He held out his hand. The moment she slipped hers into his, that same spark of electricity zipped up her arm. He led her safely to the sidewalk before dropping her hand to settle up and tip the driver.

“No case?” she asked.