Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
He pulled up a bag and placed it on the table.
Again, he’d clearly thought it through. Because he had bags from the spa. So when I left with them, nothing would look suspicious.
He reached in, pulling out…
“A flashlight?” I asked, finally sitting down.
“The camera in Frank’s office sounds hardwired. So you can’t use a jammer in there. But a really high-powered flashlight aimed right at it would make it impossible for anyone to see.
“I don’t know if it will work, if you can open the door without being seen, but if you can and shine the light right in, you will be good so long as the camera is whited out with it.”
“Okay. And, yeah, I think I can.”
There was a strange look on his face at that.
Almost as if he were disappointed. Like he possibly didn’t want that to be the case, that he didn’t want me to go back in.
But that had to be wishful thinking.
“Then that brings me to solution number two.”
He reached into the bag, pulling out some clunky red and silver metal thing in a kind of U-shape with a little metal bolt.
“What the heck is that?”
“It’s a door lock,” he explained. “Normally, you’d use one that goes in the jamb, but since your door doesn’t have a lock, you have to get more innovative.
“You slide this part under the door, then tighten down this bolt. Unless someone is throwing their whole body against it, it’s not coming down. And the best part, it acts like something is just jammed. So if Frank tries it, you can just claim your clothes or shoes or something got stuck under.”
That… that was genius.
“Thank you. That’s going to make me feel a lot better.”
“Good. I’m glad. I would be careful to make sure he doesn’t find it.”
“Definitely.”
“Speaking of not finding things,” he said, getting up.
He made his way over to a chair where a garment bag was draped.
It looked… full.
He pulled the zipper down, and there was my emerald green one.
My heart leapt.
I’d wanted that one for so long.
And now I was getting it.
But then he whipped that one to the side.
Then there was the blue one.
Then a reddish-black one.
A black one in a different style from the one I had.
A deep purple.
And, finally, a sparkling cream one.
I didn’t realize the burning in my eyes was tears until I felt wetness on my lashes.
Embarrassed, I reached up and pretended just to rub my eye.
“That’s too much.”
“You overstated how expensive they were,” he shot back, shrugging it off. “Now,” he added, bringing the cream dress over to me as my fingers toyed with the green one. “The alterations.”
He sat down beside me and the world constricted to nothing but him.
The brush of his thigh against mine, his body heat, his spicy cologne that was just strong enough to beg you to lean in, to inhale, to maybe bury your head in his neck and run your tongue…
No.
God.
What the hell?
“Roe?” he called.
My head snapped up, finding his dark-eyed gaze on me.
“Yeah?”
“You okay?”
“Sorry, I was… lost in a thought. Okay. So, the tailoring.”
“Right. The local tailor and I hemmed and hawed over this. Normally, you’d think the bodice would be the best place for a woman to stash something. But your dresses are too tight. We went with here.”
He turned the dress to the side. Nestled inside was a small pouch with a tiny little snap.
“This will look most hidden in the dark dresses, obviously. Shadows would be doing a lot of work. But anytime you can, keeping this arm lowered would be smart.”
It was my non-dominant side. I could do that.
“This is great.”
“Please, for my peace of mind, don’t forget the phone. Keep the sound off but power on. This pocket is blackout, so even if the light comes on, you can’t see it. We tested it.”
“Okay. Great. I promise I’ll keep it on me. I have it on me today,” I added, petting my purse.
“Good. If possible, don’t take it out until you’re away from the casino. Unless you’re in danger, of course. Just try not to take any chance that Frank could come across it.”
“I won’t. Trust me, I’m…” I paused, sighed.
“Hey,” Milo said, his hand landing on my thigh just above my knee. “If you want out, just say it,” he said, fingers squeezing.
I glanced down at his touch.
Instead of comforting, though, it felt… igniting. My skin warmed, spread, the fire caught. And suddenly, I felt too hot. My clothes, too tight.
My gaze cut up to his to find him already watching me.
“I don’t want out.”
My voice was breathless.
My gaze couldn’t stop slipping to his lips.
His hand slid up, pressing softly to my cheek.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
I didn’t know the man’s name.
But I believed him.
“I know.”
His hand shifted, fingers moving to tuck some of my hair behind my ear.