Dangerous Proposition (12 page)

Reaching the farthest end of the apartment, she scanned Colin’s extravagant bathroom, examining both the towel rack and the shower. Her search didn’t take long. Opposite the glass doors hung a large white bathrobe. She threw it on and secured the belt around her waist. Satisfied, she walked back to the kitchen.

Colin smiled from his seat at the head of the table. He took a long sip of orange juice. “You’ve been exploring.”

“You might’ve mentioned you had a bathrobe last night,” Julia said. She pulled back her chair and sat down.

“I couldn’t have you getting overheated, Julia. These apartment buildings get warm in the summertime.”

“Please. You and I both know the reason you didn’t tell me you had a bathrobe is because—” She was cut off as the sound of high-heeled shoes scuffed across the floor behind her. A young woman with long black hair and violet eyes had entered the room.

The woman, whom Julia wasn’t entirely sure hadn’t been a contestant during the last Miss Universe pageant, was carrying a bag of groceries. She wore a tight black dress and knee-high leather boots. As she walked past them, her smooth white skin, raven mane, and deep-red lips came into view. She set the bag of groceries she held onto the counter.

Colin walked toward the girl. He took a bottle of maple syrup from the bag she’d put down. “Adrianna, you’re a doll. I swear I’d be completely lost without you.”

The young woman beamed, displaying an array of pearly white teeth. “It’s no trouble at all,” she said, her voice drone-sweet.

Colin reached into his pocket, taking a fifty dollar bill. Holding it out to her, he said, “For coming over here at the crack of dawn. And”—he looked Julia’s way—“just for being you.”

Julia snatched a piece of bacon. Rolling her eyes, she finished it in two bites.

“Colin, this is too much,” Adrianna said, holding up her hands in protest. “All I did was buy you groceries.”

Colin was thoughtful a moment. He nodded, stroking his chin. “Well, then. Perhaps you can come back and earn the rest tonight.”

“What?” Julia and Adrianna exclaimed at the same time.

He chuckled, removing the contents of the grocery bag—strawberries, bananas and a container of cream cheese. “I’m sure the place will be in need of a good cleaning at that point. My guest has a tendency to”—he glanced Julia’s way—“touch things that don’t belong to her.”

Julia clenched her teeth. For God’s sake, it wasn’t as though she wanted to be trapped there. And as far as her touching things that didn’t belong to her, all bets had gone off the minute he’d handed her the latest edition from the Victoria’s Secret catalog.

Done watching the disgusting display of flirtation before her, she got to her feet. She turned toward Colin’s so-called housekeeper, displaying her sweetest smile. “Adrianna. Gosh, that’s such a pretty name. Let me walk you out, since you were nice enough to bring us breakfast so early on a Saturday morning.”

Adrianna shot Colin a strange look, almost as though asking his permission to go. After a moment that seemed like it would never end, she followed Julia into the living room, leaving their host alone in the kitchen.

Julia walked to the front door and placed her hand around the knob. Turning to Adrianna, she kept her voice low. “I see Colin really likes you.”

“He was the first person I met when I moved to the City,” the young woman said, her eyes glassy and faraway. “I guess you could say he was my self-appointed tour guide.”

Julia fought a wave of nausea. She supposed it couldn’t be doing her any good that she’d only eaten a piece of bacon. It was almost ten o’clock. “That’s so sweet. I guess he just couldn’t bring himself to tell you.”

“To tell me what?”

She straightened her posture. “I’m afraid we won’t be needing a housekeeper anymore.”

“We?” Adrianna’s porcelain cheeks grew scarlet. “Are you Colin’s girlfriend?”

“God, no.”
As if anyone with a brain would believe she’d date such an arrogant piece of work. Fiancé? That sounded even worse. The woman carrying his child? Totally preposterous.

Adrianna’s violet eyes filled with tears. “I don’t understand. I’ve worked for Colin for years. Is he letting go of the apartment?”

Julia’s head was spinning. She could care less whether Colin had a thing for his housekeeper. Why was she letting it get to her?

“It isn’t that,” she stammered. “I’m Colin’s…cousin. And it looks as though I’m going to be staying with him for quite some time. Naturally, Colin likes his guests to be comfortable, but I’m a girl who insists on pulling my own weight.”

“So, this is only temporary? After you’re gone, I get my job back?”

Julia bit her tongue. She hadn’t thought that through very well, had she? It only made sense that the woman would expect to get her job back after she was no longer living in the apartment. She couldn’t think of a single reason why she shouldn’t have it.

“Of course,” she said, doing her best to maintain an even expression.

“All right then,” Adrianna said after a moment. “Colin has my number. I’ll be in touch.”

She turned back as she stepped into the doorway. “You should know, cousin Julia, that Colin doesn’t generally go for redheads. Or country bumpkins.”

Julia nearly told the woman exactly what she could do with all that eyeliner. But the sound of footsteps stopped her from doing any such thing. “It was so nice meeting you,” she choked out. “Take care, Adrianna.”

Her breath was caught in her lungs. She double-bolted the door and turned to find Colin behind her.

He raised his thick black eyebrows. “That was rather long for a thank you.”

“Just trying to be polite,” she said, avoiding his eyes. She stepped around him, walking back to the kitchen.

She went to the table and pulled back her chair. Eager to dig into the stack of pancakes before her, she put two on her plate and began cutting frantically.

“I suppose you were only looking for a way to compensate me for your living expenses,” Colin said, leaning over the head of the table. “Pulling your own weight by, say, firing my housekeeper.”

Her mouth became dry. “I swear. I didn’t—”

“Lies don’t become you, Julia.” He snatched her by the chin. “There’s no sense pretending you did this out of some sort of moral obligation. You and I both know the reason you were so bothered by Adrianna.”

“She rubbed me the wrong way,” she said, pulling free.

“Because you were jealous when I flirted with her.”

Julia stared at the bottle of syrup in her hand. “I have an especially low tolerance for airheaded women who bat their eyelashes to earn a tip.”

“If you say so,” Colin said, the smile on his lips not really indicating whether he believed what she’d said or otherwise. “Now that that’s settled, you ought to finish your breakfast. You have a big day ahead of you. You’re going to be needing your strength.”

She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, thank you very much. And what did he mean by
she
had a big day ahead of her?

“I thought the whole point of this search and rescue was that we work together—your know-how and my feisty persona, or something of that nature?”

He cracked a cynical smile. “Not until we get you some better clothing, my dear. Not only do your wardrobe selections leave a great deal to be desired, but they caught the eyes of my brother and sister-in-law the night you crashed their party. If amateurs can spot you, the enemy will know you’re not a New Yorker for sure.”

She’d been a New Yorker for seven years. It didn’t mean she needed to carry a Prada bag. “Assuming I agree to spend my morning taking a stroll down Fifth Avenue, where will you be exactly?”

Colin took his credit card from his wallet. Placing it into her hand, he said, “You haven’t told me what you think of the pancakes.”

“They’re fine.”

“Fine?” His fork hit the plate. “I make damn good pancakes. Admit it.”

“Well.” Julia tapped a finger to her cheek. “They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

“I can’t say I’ve had many complaints in the breakfast department.”

Ignoring the not-so-subtle insinuation, she cleared her throat. “You cooked pancakes. Not a five-star gourmet dinner.”

“Maybe so. But I think you’re enjoying them more than you’re willing to admit.”

Julia stood, adjusting the enormous belt on her robe. It slipped from her fingers. Colin’s gaze nearly burned a hole in the fabric as the robe came open, revealing the lingerie. She pulled it tightly closed.

“My brother bought that for Lena,” he said.

“So you told me.”

He called after her a moment later. “Straight there, straight back. Talk to no one. If anyone gives you a bad feeling, you call me immediately.”

Julia smiled to herself. She could hardly believe that Colin had given her his credit card. He clearly trusted her more than he cared to admit, as she could easily walk away with a good chunk of his money and never come back. Better, she could run a background check on him. Which she would do, if she had the slightest idea of how to run a background check.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you actually care about what happens to me out there, Westwood. And you still haven’t told me where you’ll be.”

“I’m going to check in with a few of my contacts,” Colin said, focusing on his plate. “Meet me back here at one o’clock. I’ll let you know if I find out anything significant, and we can plan our next move.”

Seeing that he was still sitting at the table, Julia looked at him. “Aren’t you leaving?”

“I thought I’d have a cup of coffee first. Then a shower.” Colin smiled. “I don’t suppose you want to join me?”

Julia swallowed. A helpless image of Colin, broad shouldered and muscled with soap and water all over him displayed in her mind. She set her eyes against the floor.

“That’s a shame,” he said, opening up the newspaper. He buried his eyes in an article.

Julia walked to the bedroom. Safely on the other side of the door, she plopped down on the bed. With her eyes closed, she released the breath she had been holding in.

An hour later, Colin went to the apartment garage where he kept his spare car. Stepping beneath the cool shade of the awning, he sighed in relief. Walking in the hot sun had hardly been worth his while. The stolen coupe was astronomically more comfortable than the piece of junk he was about to drive in.

The thought was cemented in stone as he removed the cover and climbed into his miniscule vehicle. He shifted his legs several times before finding a comfortable position.

Turning up the volume on his CD player didn’t make him feel much better. He hated being put out like some blasted pauper. But he couldn’t risk reporting the car stolen, as the person who’d taken it was more than likely involved in Tucker’s abduction. He reminded himself of the significance of this as he cruised around the streets of Manhattan.

As if things could get worse, the next twenty minutes were spent sitting in traffic. Then, after turning onto Madison Avenue, Colin finally pulled into a parking space, one he had to steal from the silver Acura in front of him. It was one he was exceedingly grateful didn’t cost him a fistfight.

Glancing at his watch, he noted that there were more than a few daylight hours left to do some investigating. He only prayed the man he was searching for had made it through the night.

Blocking the sun with his hand, Colin stepped out of his car. He looked up at the building on the street corner. Staring at its gray walls and glass windows, he hoped that the place would give him some answers. Since the New Hampshire office, the one Tucker had been taken from, hadn’t shed any light, he was sincerely hoping this one would.

The outside of the structure before him was covered in thick, heavy paneling. It had a rich look to it that set it apart from the other buildings in its vicinity. The window in Tucker’s office could be seen from a mile away.

Releasing a slow breath, it occurred to Colin that, anxious as he was feeling, one thought did comfort him as he stood in the middle of the crowded street. Julia Dyson didn’t know a damn thing about this place.

Years back, when it had become clear to him that Tucker was more than just another paper pusher, he had insisted he take an office in the City. He’d purchased one for Desmond as well, but not nearly as extravagant as this. The office on the seventh floor was classy, and he’d had it furnished with all of the most up-to-date technology.

Considering Tucker’s performance, it had been a worthwhile investment. Now, it might be his only chance at determining his employee’s whereabouts.

As he entered the building, Colin offered the security guard a glimpse of his badge. He stepped into the elevator and took it up to the seventh floor. Walking to the end of the hall, he took the key from his pocket and slipped it into the lock belonging to the last door on the left.

He groaned as he stepped through the doorway. There were papers all over the floor, just as there had been in North Conway. The desk, shelves, and filing cabinets all remained in place, but many of the drawers had been left open. It was as if someone had dumped out the contents then gone through them with a leaf blower.

Picking up a clump of papers, Colin sat at the desk. He read through the stack, attempting to make the most logical connection between its contents. It contained encrypted records stating the weight, carat size, date, and time that each diamond had been smuggled during the last month. Information which Tucker ought to have destroyed weeks ago.

The cops would have a field day with that place, not to mention Julia Dyson. She’d probably go over the room with a microscope then bring whatever information she’d found straight to the nearest tabloid reporter. If he wasn’t so preoccupied with saving his own ass, he would spend the rest of the day shredding every last spreadsheet and bar graph.

Colin shook his head as Desmond stepped through the door. He tossed down the papers he held and got to his feet. “You’re late.”

“What are you doing?” Desmond asked as he glanced at the mess of documents. “I’ve already combed through this office three times over.”