What was he saying? Something about a diamond cow necklace? “You didn’t actually…”
“You’ll have to wait and see, won’t you?” His massaging hands slid between her legs, arousing her again after all.
As her knees eased apart, she realized the fantasy was going to live a while longer.
* * *
Troy propped his feet on his desk using an upgraded video phone that could put the competitors under if he released it. He still hadn’t decided.
Sometimes it was better not to upset the order of things. Leave the market alone for now and save the technology for a time it might make a significant difference rather than just adding yet another upgrade for folks to buy while tossing out products still in perfectly good working order.
All the same, he enjoyed his toys and kept the best of the best here in his own personal, techie version of a man cave. More than just a wall of computers, he had shelves of parts and storage, old and new. For now, he focused on his video call. His brother—the military school kind— was on the other end of the conversation, still wearing his rumpled tux from the concert he’d given the night before.
“Mozart, I appreciate the help. You’re the man, as always.”
“It’s all good, my friend.” Malcolm Douglas popped an antacid in his mouth then set aside the plastic jar—already half-empty. Troy’s musical protégé buddy had come a long way from his days at the military reform school—but he still had a finicky stomach. “Consider the favor done within the hour.”
The casino cover story was starting to grow stale. Some might begin to suspect the truth, since Troy wasn’t renowned for staying in one place for any length of time. Salvatore assured him they had leads; they were on the guy’s trail, just a little longer.
But Troy wasn’t willing to sit back and bet on it. Backup plans were always in order. So he’d sent photos to online magazines and gossip blogs of him with Hillary having a candlelit dinner. Spliced in with some older photos of him with Malcolm taken last month, the press and the public—and anyone else watching—would think they were in New York City, that they’d had dinner followed by attending a concert.
“Congrats on the latest gig, by the way. Not too shabby playing Carnegie Hall.”
“Minor compared to what’s going on in your world right now.” Malcolm brushed off praise as he always had. “The new woman in your life is smokin’ hot. A California dime, no doubt.”
“Thanks, and careful. That’s my ‘ten.’”
“Hey, just sayin’.” His buddy continued to push Troy’s buttons for fun. It’s what they did.
“Note to self, no more candlelight photos for Mozart.”
Malcolm pointed. “I’m not talking about your romantic dinner pics, buddy. She’s rocking the fluffy robe.”
Troy spun his chair around fast, feet back on the ground. Sure enough, Hillary stood behind him in her robe, her eyes wide. “Are you talking to the Malcolm Douglas?”
Jealousy spiked, fast and furious and irrational. He forced himself not to go all caveman just because the woman he cared about happened to be a groupie for this generation’s cross between Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble.
Tearing his eyes off Hillary, Troy pivoted back to the screen. “Gotta run, pal. Thanks again for the help. I owe you.”
“And I will collect. Count on it.”
The screen went blank.
Strolling deeper in the room, she angled her head to the side, auburn hair still tousled from sex and sleep, then more sex and sleep. “Your brothers run in high circles. The friend who helped you at the casino and now him.” She gestured to the empty screen. “There sure are a lot of you.”
“I wouldn’t say ‘a lot’ of us exactly.” He rocked back in his office chair. “That would make us so…cookie cutter.”
“Trust me, no one would ever call you cookie cutter.” She held up her hand, a platinum necklace with a white-and-black diamond cow charm dangling from her fingers. “You are one hundred percent original.”
He grabbed her wrist and tugged her into his lap. “Now that is the hottest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“I must not be holding up my end of the seduction then.” She wriggled in his lap until she settled.
“You’re killing me here. I need an energy drink.”
“Which I’ll be happy to get for you if you’ll make me one promise.”
“What’s that?”
“I adore the necklace and gladly accept it. But from here on out, dial back on the extravagant gifts. Okay?”
“Fair enough.”
He slid the necklace from her hand. He swept aside her hair and hooked the chain around her neck. He might not be the most romantic guy in the world, but he prided himself on his originality, and he would do everything in his power to obliterate the memory of Barry Curtis.
He pressed a kiss to the latched chain.
She glanced back at him, their mouths and eyes so close they almost touched. “What are you thinking?”
“Something a smart man wouldn’t say.” A wry smile tugged at him.
“What do you mean?”
“Why would you want to know if I’ve already warned you it might upset you?” Standing, he set her on her feet, cow slippers poking out from the hem of her robe.
“Because…” She tugged his T-shirt holding him closer. “If you really didn’t want me to know, you would have said something like…‘nothing’ or ‘I’m thinking about breakfast or what goofy hat I’m going to buy next.’”
“You think my hats are goofy?”
“I’ll answer you if you answer me.”
Ah, what the hell? Might as well. “I was thinking about you and your jackass of an ex-boyfriend. I was wondering if you’re still in love with him.”
Whoa? Wait. That wasn’t exactly what he’d been thinking. He’d just wanted to be sure she was over him. The love word hadn’t entered his mind. But now that he’d gone there with the conversation, there was no going back.
She sank down into his empty chair, confusion on her face as she studied him. “Looking back, I can see I was never in love with him. I was definitely infatuated—very infatuated.” She grimaced, fingering the diamond necklace. “Dazzled a little. But I like to think I would have seen through the glitz to the real guy underneath at some point.”