Through the Night (7 page)

She started out at a steady pace, regulated her breathing, and thought about how the evening had ended between her and Chase. She knew she never should have kissed him last night, but the man was not only überhot and deliciously irresistible, but he also gave good orgasm. Oh, yeah, that had been quite a shocking yet pleasant surprise, especially considering it always took a good amount of foreplay with a guy before she climaxed.

Undoubtedly, Chase’s flirtatious nature, his come-hither smile, and the way his provocative musings had a way of invading her thoughts when he was touching her gave him a distinct advantage over her better judgment when it came to him and the always-present sexual tension swirling between them. And that’s what concerned her the most.

She didn’t normally take risks or make impulsive decisions, yet she’d abandoned all those principles and done both with him. The last time she’d fallen for a man’s charming ways, the end result had been disastrous, and she wasn’t about to repeat past mistakes with someone who drew her like a magnet and had way too strong a hold over her. Even if it was just physically.

And that meant shoring up her defenses when it came to Chase and the way he affected her. No more deliberately arousing touches. No spontaneous kissing. And absolutely no more mind sex. The two of them had a business arrangement, and for her peace of mind she needed to keep things professional between them.

Whether or not he’d cooperate was another matter altogether. The man was used to getting his way and had even shamelessly admitted as much. And it didn’t help matters that he’d ended the evening last night with the teasing
let the fun begin
remark, and she knew he wasn’t referring to the adventure they were about to embark upon. No, the rogue had pure seduction in mind.

Valerie finished the third mile of her run and headed back toward home, feeling much more in control of herself and the situation. By the time she arrived at the apartment, she’d managed to shake that morning’s arousing dream and had a plan in place to handle Chase. She’d lay down a few ground rules, and as long as he agreed to her working requirements, they’d get along just fine.

Hot and sweaty from her jog, Valerie took a long, cool shower. She washed and dried her hair, and dressed in a lightweight peasant skirt and blouse that would be comfortable for traveling later. Stomach growling, she made her way to the kitchen, started a pot of coffee, and made herself a fruit, yogurt, and granola parfait.

Just as she sat down at the small dining table to eat her breakfast, her roommate shuffled into the kitchen wearing an oversized nightshirt that reached midthigh and read
LITTLE MISS FUCKING SUNSHINE
, and fuzzy pink slippers on her feet. Skye’s blond hair was sleep tousled, her eyes heavy lidded, and she walked toward the coffeemaker like a zombie who needed a jolt of caffeine to wake up.

The words on Skye’s shirt fit her roommate’s morning mood. When she and Skye had first moved in together to split the expense of a place, it didn’t take Valerie long to realize that her good friend wasn’t a morning person and required at least one strong cup of black coffee in her system before Valerie could hold a civil conversation with her.

So, she quietly ate her parfait and waited patiently for Skye to go through her morning ritual—sips of her coffee that gradually increased to gulps until she was on her second cup. Only then did Skye sit across from her at the table, able to enjoy round two at a more leisurely pace.

“Morning,” Skye said as she pushed her disheveled hair out of her face.

Valerie grinned as she scooped up a few strawberries with her yogurt. “Late night?” She’d gone to bed at midnight, and at that time Skye still hadn’t been home from working her shift at the Onyx.

“Yeah, another insane Saturday night,” she said grumpily. “The casino was packed, and I swear the full moon brought out all the jerks in the city full force. I was ass-grabbed at least three times and propositioned twice that much.”

“Oooh, a really
good
night,” Valerie teased, and took a sip of her own coffee, sweetened with cream and sugar. “I bet Kane had a fun time putting them in their place.” Kane Briggs, an ex–Navy SEAL, worked as casino security when he wasn’t on a case for the Reliance Group. The man was pure alpha male, and had no qualms asserting testosterone and authority when needed.

“Yeah, he kinda did.
Nobody
messes with Kane and lives to talk about it.” Skye smirked, because they’d both witnessed grown men cower at a single scathing glance from the SEAL. “Tips were decent, so I can’t complain too much.”

“That’s because you know how to work your moneymakers in that skimpy corset uniform you wear,” Valerie said, referring to her friend’s double D’s.

“At least they’re getting action
somewhere.
” Skye shook her chest for emphasis, causing her ample breasts to jiggle beneath the soft cotton T-shirt she wore.

Valerie laughed, amused as always by her friend’s bawdy sense of humor. Despite Skye’s big blond hair, smart mouth, and voluptuous curves, which made most men equate her to a bimbo, her centerfold body came with a sharp, keen mind and a sage intelligence that made her wise beyond her years. Unfortunately, there was only one man who appreciated her mental agility—Caleb—and he’d taken on a strict brotherly role with Skye.

Skye took another drink of her coffee, a spark of friendly jealousy brightening her gaze. “Speaking of action, I heard that Caleb put you on a new case.”

It had been a while since Caleb had used Skye for a Reliance Group assignment, and Valerie knew the other woman was getting restless. As a former grifter, Skye always relished the opportunity to employ the more unconventional skills she’d honed as a thief in order to survive as a teenager living on the mean, tough streets of Las Vegas. Back before Caleb rescued Skye from a delinquent life, duping people had been all about self-preservation for her. Now, it was a skill she used to thwart bad guys, when needed.

“Remember that guy at the craps table yesterday?” Valerie asked.

Skye’s expression lit up in recollection. “Did you really expect me to forget him? God Lord, that man was pure sex on a stick.”

Her friend’s description made Valerie chuckle, and pretty much summed up Chase’s gorgeous good looks and hard, honed body. “His name is Chase Pierson. And Caleb paired me up with him, per Steven Wilkes’s request, for a personal, private assignment.”

Skye waggled her eyebrows, obviously giving her own spin to the words
personal
and
private.
“Sounds intriguing. Is he married? Or have a girlfriend?”

“No,” Valerie replied with a shake of her head. “Not that it matters.”

“Yeah, it kinda does matter.” Skye disagreed with a cheeky smile. “If I were you, and he was single and available, I’d be all over that.”

If only Skye knew that Valerie
had been
“all over that” last night, and had enjoyed every second of it. But she wasn’t going there with her friend, because she wasn’t going
there
with Chase again. It was a temporary lapse of sanity, and there would be no repeat performances. Therefore, there was nothing to tell.

“Trust me, it’s all business.” To prove her point to both Skye and herself, she went on to explain the specifics of the case and what they’d be searching for, Chase’s unique gift, and how it all tied together.

“That’s so cool. You always get the best assignments,” Skye said, an envious note to her voice. “Hot guy, swashbuckling adventure, recovering lost treasures. I’m so jealous.”

“No need to be. I’m sure it’s all going to be a fairly straightforward assignment,” Valerie said as she stood and took her bowl and coffee cup to the sink to rinse them. “A couple of days out of town, a few mental impressions to help Chase track down the rest of the cane, and that’s it. My job will be done.”

Valerie was certain the case would be that basic and easy. It was the attraction between her and Chase that might prove more complicated if she didn’t put those ground rules in place from the onset of their trip to San Francisco. As soon as they were alone, that would be the first order of business.

Skye followed her back into the kitchen, her fuzzy slippers scuffling on the tile floor. “You’ll be back next weekend for Zoe and Sean’s wedding on Sunday, right?”

“Are you kidding me?” Valerie grinned, so happy that their Reliance Group coworker, Sean, had managed to fall in love with such an incredible woman as Zoe, who accepted everything about Sean, including his past as a con man. “I wouldn’t miss that celebration for anything.”

A mischievous look glimmered in Skye’s brown eyes. “How about we go dress shopping together before next Sunday, to find something fun to wear to the wedding?”

Valerie was pretty sure that Skye’s version of fun included wearing a sexy, figure-hugging dress that would make Caleb a whole lot crazy with lust. Caleb might have appointed himself Skye’s guardian, but that didn’t stop her from taunting him with what he could have, if he’d just admit to the attraction simmering between the two of them.

“Dress shopping sounds great when I get back.” Valerie glanced at the clock on the wall, noting the time. “But right now, I need to go and pack for the trip and get down to the Onyx to meet up with Chase.”

“Have a good time in San Francisco with your hottie, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Skye called after Valerie as she headed toward her bedroom, “Which pretty much leaves the field wide open for you. Oh, and pack your sexy lingerie. You never know if it might come in handy!”

As far as Valerie was concerned, silky, lacy underthings to entice a man, especially Chase, was the very last thing she’d need on this trip.

*   *   *

When Chase arrived at the security offices a few minutes past one in the afternoon, Valerie was already there waiting for him, talking and laughing with a blond-haired guy sitting in front of a bank of computer screens that monitored the entire casino. But as soon as he entered the room, her gaze lifted and found him, as if his mere presence came with some kind of magnetic pull that demanded her attention.

She certainly attracted his.

She said something to the guy, then headed his way, the pretty coral hue of her blouse complementing her creamy skin tone and the rich color of her silky brown hair. Her casual, flowing skirt swirled around her bare legs and drew his gaze to her firm, shapely calves before he slowly, leisurely, glanced back up and met her gaze.

If she was at all affected by his unabashed perusal, she didn’t show it. Her expression remained neutral, and when she finally reached him, she greeted him warmly enough, but it was apparent to Chase that she was operating on business mode. As if their sizzling hot kiss last night hadn’t registered on her personal Richter scale. Which he knew damn well it had—a 9.0 magnitude shaker at least, the aftershocks of which he was still feeling. All he had to do was touch Valerie to remind her how soft and pliant she’d been against him, how she’d kissed him with such desire and hunger, and shuddered with pleasure.

Unfortunately, she stood just out of reach. A deliberate move on her part, he thought with amusement. He was absolutely certain of that.

She offered him a composed smile. “I’m ready to head to the airport when you are.”

“Soon,” he said, glancing at his wristwatch. “Steven’s curator should be here any minute. He’s stopping by so I can give him the top piece of the cane to keep an eye on while we’re gone.” The collectible was much too valuable for Chase to take along, and until they had another component to the cane, the ivory top was far safer in the curator’s hands.

Steven’s assistant arrived within a few minutes—a short Italian man with an olive complexion and dark, wavy, neatly combed hair whom Chase guessed to be in his mid-forties. Despite the other man’s paunch, he looked well put together in a tan suit and polished shoes. As soon as Chase handed over the small leather satchel he used to carry the cane top around, he introduced Tony Angeletti to Valerie.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” she said, and extended her hand for him to shake.

Tony didn’t return the gesture. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t shake people’s hands. I suffer from mysophobia.”

The look of confusion on Valerie’s face was comical. Since Chase had already been through this with Tony, he gave Valerie the easiest explanation for her to comprehend. “He’s a germaphobe.”

Her eyes widened in understanding as her hand gradually fell back to her side. “Oh.”

“I know my disorder makes things awkward, and I apologize,” Tony was quick to say. “I’m in therapy to get past my OCD tendencies, but I’m not quite there yet.”

Tony was such a funny, curious little man, Chase thought. From his strange issue of not touching people to his overly enthusiastic interest in his boss acquiring the rest of the Capone cane for his collection, he struck Chase as quirky and peculiar. The curator had been with Steven for only a few months now, and seemed to know a good amount of history about the ivory carving that Capone had commissioned for his cane, which made Chase wonder what else the man might know about the cane’s origin and purpose.

He gave his head a slight shake, knowing he was being overly suspicious when it wasn’t really warranted. Tony’s experience as a curator came with a background knowledge of mobster history, which was why Steven had hired him to catalog his personal collection before it went on display at the Onyx.

“A town car is waiting at Valet to take the two of you to the airport,” Tony said as he reached into the breast pocket of his coat, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to Chase. “Here are the hotel arrangements for San Francisco, just as you’d requested, along with a corporate credit card for any expenses you might incur. Also, Steven asked that you keep me updated on your discoveries on a daily basis by e-mail, so we have a record of your findings.”

Chase didn’t normally operate that way, and was all about producing end results, which was all his clients cared about. In his opinion, a daily report was a bit extreme, and a pain in the ass to boot, but Steven was paying him a small fortune, and if that’s what the man wanted, then Chase would make sure he had a nightly summary of the day’s events and what, if anything, they found along the way.