04 - Shock and Awesome (32 page)

 
   
"You could do that outside," I told him.

 
   
"Easier inside."

 
   
"Why aren't you frisking people back at the ball?"

 
   
"Fletcher is, with a couple of my other guys."

 
   
"Who? Lucas? I don't think Lucas likes people so much." Aside from his girlfriend, I didn't think Lucas had much interest in people at all. I never saw him outside the office. I suspected he slept there occasionally so he either had a very understanding girlfriend or a very cross one.

 
   
"Not Lucas. We expanded the staff."

 
   
"We did?" Color me surprised. I knew Solomon had expanded the agency and taken over the floor above, but not that we had any new hires.

 
   
"Yep. Fletcher said Lord Justin left ten minutes ago. He was clean."

 
   
"Really?" I blinked with surprise. That was annoying. Unless Justin was dumber than he appeared, he didn't steal the jewels and attempt to smuggle them outside on his person. That still didn't mean he didn't do it, I reminded myself, but I wasn't sure if that was because I wanted the thief to be him... or just not to be Ben.

 
   
Solomon nodded, but if he were disappointed, he didn't show it. "I'm not convinced. The man was on edge about something. All I know is, so far, we haven't found the jewels and I don't think we will. I stuck a tail on him."

 
   
I smiled at the thought of Justin wearing a tail. "That sucks. Did the ruse play out?"

 
   
This time, Solomon smiled. "Claudia came through with the paste jewels. She got a big round of applause. That was good thinking."

 
   
"She gonna sue?"

 
   
"Nope. The dating agency worked something out with her."

 
   
"Good."

 
   
Solomon nodded his head towards the bar area. "What's your take on Ben Rafferty now?"

 
   
I sighed. "I think he might be responsible for the theft. At least, I can't rule him out."

 
   
"Fletcher searched him and he was clean," Solomon countered.

 
   
"I know, but he could have ditched the necklace somewhere." I didn't dare say Fletcher missed them on Ben's person. "I just don't think we should rule him out just yet. Nor Justin. Speaking of Ben, I have to get back."

 
   
"Don't stay too long. Make your excuses and leave. Tomorrow morning. Ten a.m. My office."

 
   
"No problem, Boss." Solomon's eyes narrowed, but I ignored him. Well, I ignored him right after noticing him. Beside the point. "One other thing, why is Maddox here?"

 
   
"He wanted to eyeball Rafferty. This is the only opportunity he could get, apparently." Solomon's lack of expression gave nothing away; if he didn't believe Maddox, I couldn't tell.

 
   
I didn't ask why Maddox decided to take a closer look on tonight of all nights. I just gave a little sigh. I was pretty certain Maddox could eyeball him from afar. I was also pretty certain Solomon could too. Something told me Ben's devilish good looks had a whole lot to do with them both crashing my date much more than the idea that Ben was a suspect. After all, Solomon's man cleared him, even if my intuition gave me the annoying, niggling feeling otherwise. I wanted to rule Ben out, but I couldn't. It was frustrating.

 
   
"I hope he enjoys his eyeballing. I'm heading back for another cocktail." I made to move past Solomon, but he caught my arm, holding me still. For a moment, he said nothing, just smoldered in the sexiest way possible. He probably didn't even know he was doing it; I think it just came naturally to him. "Remember," he said, leaning down towards me as someone pushed past, "remember this guy is a suspect."

 
   
"I'm all over him... it," I assured him, but somehow, the way Solomon narrowed his eyes again, and the way the vein at his temple throbbed, I wasn't sure I picked the right words. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but then the moment passed and I moved away.

 
   
Ben had a fresh cocktail waiting at the table for me along with an array of witty observations about the people around us. We talked and laughed, and flirted for close to another hour before I fake-yawned. I told him I had to head home for my beauty sleep and to deposit the diamonds in the safe.

 
   
"Do you have plans tomorrow?" he asked me.

 
   
I gave a noncommittal shrug. "A few things to do. Maybe I could call you?" I added.

 
   
Ben nodded. "I'll wait by the phone."

 
   
"The phone that sits in your pocket?" I teased.

 
   
"Oh, you got me. The very same phone that I just called my driver on. C'mon, Cinderella, I'll take you home before you turn into a pumpkin."

 
   
Funny thing was, he didn't know just how close to the truth his fairy tale analogy really was. So, I might not turn into a pumpkin, but the prince was definitely depositing me at a castle that wasn't mine, and my jewels and clothes would be returned, leaving me in... well, a really nice pair of jeans, actually. I certainly wasn't reduced to rags just yet. I wondered if and when I returned the jewelry to Solomon... would that make him my fairy godmother? The thought made me chuckle to myself.

 
   
"Thank you, Prince Ben," I said, linking my arm in his as we made our way towards his waiting car. "Whatever would I do without you?"

 
   
"Kiss frogs?" Ben quipped and we laughed.

 
   
We were silent on the way "home," and I caught a glimpse of Delgado once, in his car, just as we exited our car, and Ben walked me to "my" door. He left the car idling at the curb as he stooped to kiss me goodnight and it was the kind of kiss girls dream of. Full lips, gentle nibbles, just the right amount of tongue, and the warmest hands slipping inside my coat to caress my back through my thin gown. Then he was gone, leaving me light-headed and breathless on the porch.

 
   
How I stumbled inside, I didn't know.

 
   
Fifteen minutes later, and I was changed into Cinderella's true clothes; the borrowed ones neatly folded and left on the couch, along with the jewelry. I figured Solomon would see them on the cameras and collect them later. Meanwhile, I planned to go home to my own bed, my head still spinning with the evening, the theft, and the kisses.

 
   
Unfortunately, when I opened the door, my purse and keys in hand, I walked straight into Maddox. He caught me, his hands pausing on my upper arms for the briefest of moments.

 
   
"Hey," I started, then stopped, uncertain of myself.

 
   
"I came to check on you."

 
   
Oh, really? Suddenly, I was number one priority? "I'm fine. Heading home."

 
   
"Back to reality, huh?"

 
   
"Looks that way to me."

 
   
"You want me to give you a ride?"

 
   
"No, I'm good. Thanks, anyway."

 
   
"This Ben guy..."

 
   
"Gone home," I told Maddox and he nodded.

 
   
"Where's your boss?" he asked.

 
   
I nodded towards the soft light coming from Solomon's house as we walked down the steps and onto the sidewalk. "Home?" I guessed, but I couldn't be sure. Maybe it was his lady friend waiting for him? I looked around for Solomon's car, and spotted it parking on the street. It wasn’t there when I arrived. Maybe he was home after all. Delgado was definitely gone, probably following Ben. "So... it's been a long night, Maddox. I need to head home to sleep. I'm meeting Solomon tomorrow at the agency."

 
   
"I heard. I'll be there."

 
   
I beeped open my car and reached down for the door handle. The light pinged on inside. "Good night, Adam," I called, as I climbed inside.

 
   
He raised a hand, his palm flat, and the street lamp illuminated him like he was a ghost. "’Night,
Lexi
."

 
   
I noticed Maddox's vehicle behind me all the way home. He waited until I entered my building, even idling at the curb before he pulled a U-turn and left. A part of me thought it was nice that he made sure I got home safely; another part of me wondered why he didn't just leave me to get on with it, like Solomon. Another part of me wondered what I liked best: having my independence trampled on, or just expected. And another part of me, a much more pressing part, wondered why I was devoting anymore brain time to the utter confusion that was Maddox, Solomon... and my suspect, Ben Rafferty.
Hottie
, damn good kisser, and back on the list as potential jewel thief.

 
   
Wow, that made him sound really interesting; far more so than the word "millionaire" implied. No wonder good girls went for bad boys.

 
   
Chapter Fifteen

 
   
"You wanna go on a stakeout?" I asked Lily when she answered her door. I didn't really expect her to say yes. Lily met with suppliers all of yesterday, according to her late night text, then had dinner with
Jord
so hers was a later night than mine. But I knew she loved a stakeout, and I knew she'd want to know why she missed it, which was the only reason I waited on her welcome mat with two travel cups in my hands.

 
   
She yawned wide, clamped a hand over her mouth and ran one hand through her untidy pile of hair. Clearly, I'd just gotten her out of bed. Oops. I checked my watch. Six-fifteen. Double oops. Lily was never a morning person. On the other hand, waking her up early was good preparation for motherhood. I deserved a medal.

 
   
"Right now?" she yawned.

 
   
"Yeah. Mrs. Schubert called and said the weird noises started at five a.m. and she swears this time, she heard a woman screaming."

 
   
"Yikes."

 
   
"Pull on your Action Woman panties and let's go."