Lib Novel Page 9
“What?” she asked. He looked down at her face, but her eyes were still closed.
“Lassiter wanted to know if we wanted to work another job together.”
She said nothing. He needed to do something, so he traced his finger over her bare shoulder. Her flesh was so silky, as if she bathed in lotion.
“What are your thoughts?” she asked in a neutral voice. When he glanced down at her face, he saw a flash of vulnerability there. It touched his heart.
“I said I would have to talk it over with you first. I had a feeling it is why we were paired up. Lassiter knows what kind of partner I like.”
“Oh, does he?”
He chuckled. “Not in bed. Definitely a straight shooter there. No, I like someone who is quick on his or her feet and doesn’t mind improvising. I think even with that little mishap last night, we both handled it well.”
She smiled. “I did like it.”
“So, how about it. Ever been to Monte Carlo?”
She blinked. “No. I’ve never left England.”
“Well, then, Ms. Alexander, I think we have the beginnings of a great partnership.”
She didn’t respond with a smile as he had hoped. She sighed. “What about this?”
He studied her for a long moment. “Not a requirement, but I definitely like it as a benefit.”
She nodded and cuddled closer.
“Good, but now we have to talk about other things.”
“What kind of things?” she asked before licking his nipple. Damn, the woman was going to be the death of him.
He slipped out of bed and tugged her to the edge, then up into his arms. He carried her to the bathroom.
“Why don’t we talk about those things in the shower?”
She laughed. “Sounds good, partner.”
A very good start in his opinion, but he had a few ideas on just how to validate her faith in him—and they had a whole day for him to do it.
PART TWO
Six
Sean studied the overhead screen and fought the need to curse. This was going to be a shit job. Sure, it was going to bring in some much-needed capital, but he didn’t know if it was going to be worth it. Now that he knew the risks, he was starting to have second thoughts—especially with a new partner.
He glanced at Randy Young. When Lassiter had first told him whom he was working with, Sean wasn’t all that thrilled. The newest member of Lassiter’s motley band of contractors wasn’t Sean’s first pick, but he would do for this kind of job. As a former SEAL, Young had the experience. Young must have felt his study and gave Sean an understanding nod. He thought the job sucked too.
It was hard to get a handle on the newest member of Lassiter’s team. He was a fucking god built of muscles and California good looks, hot enough to make Sean drool. But there was a brain in there too. Knowing he swung both ways like Sean made him almost irresistible. Young had been working his way through just about all of the operatives, with the exception of Sean.
The man was long and lean, just about as tall as Sean, with laughing blue eyes. From the smooth, tanned flesh, he had been spending a lot of time on the California beaches, but for some reason, Sean was sure he was tan from the tips of his toes to the top of his head.
Fuck, he didn’t need to become preoccupied with another operative. He needed to focus on the job at hand, no matter how much of a FUBAR it was.
“I don’t like the idea,” Sean said. “We have to go in blind?”
Lassiter nodded. “Yeah, and I know it sucks.”
“It’s beyond sucking,” Randy said, his voice deadly calm and his usually jovial mood absent. “It could end up with both of us dead.”