The Rome Affair. Addison Fox
and he used that small moment of shock to press his advantage.
The hard wall of the glass counter pressed into his hip and Jack turned them both so they were flush against each other. His hands drifted to her waist and he pulled her flat against him, satisfied when her arms lifted to wrap around his neck.
The tilt of her head and the soft acquiescence of her lips opening under his gave him the second opportunity to press his advantage. His tongue met hers and a wave of heat and need crashed through his system so hard he had to wonder how he was still standing upright.
He might not have expected her oversize ship captain’s desk. And he might not have figured the roses would set her teeth on edge.
But he had imagined the power of her kiss.
Rich. Lush. Enticing.
Reality was so much better.
A light cough pulled them both from the moment and he lifted his head and smiled at her before shooting a broad wink to the jeweler. “I’m sure we’re not the first ones to do that, are we?”
“Not in the least, sir.”
The proprietor’s ready sense of humor went a long way toward diffusing the raw need that had gripped him with iron talons. “So what’s next?”
“It’s time to select a setting.”
“Darling.” Kensington’s voice was a low purr. “Perhaps we can set an appointment and do that tomorrow. This has been the highlight of my day, but this trip was an unexpected surprise. You need to get back to work.”
He made a show of checking his watch before nodding. “You’re right, as always.”
“I’ll just wait over there while you finish up.”
Her tone was low and quiet, but he took great delight at the small quaver that tinged the edges.
* * *
“Slam dunk.”
The cold wind wrapped around them once more as she and Jack fought the Midtown rush of humanity. She could practically feel the excitement vibrating off of him. “What could possibly make you think it was a smart idea to spend so much money?”
He shrugged, the casual move at odds with the gravity of what he’d just done. “I can always resell it.”
“That diamond was crazy expensive.”
“So?” A genuinely puzzled expression filled his features. “It’s certainly not going to lose its value.”
“Yes, but—” She broke off, well aware she was veering dangerously close to harpy territory. What did she care how he spent his money? And he had a fair point—the diamond could always be resold, so his overall risk was minimal.
A small kernel of disappointment unfurled in her stomach like the first shoots of spring, and she resolutely tamped it down. Today was a charade, nothing more.
Reading anything more into it wasn’t only stupid, but it also was a recipe for professional disaster.
Whatever Jack Andrews wanted from her, these strange sparks of emotion that kept swamping her certainly weren’t it.
“I just want to know why you ended the fun so soon.” He wrapped his arm around her once more as they got to a corner crosswalk.
Shaking him off would be petty, she reasoned, so she stayed put as they waited for the light to turn. “By leaving, now you have a chance to go back. We certainly couldn’t ask him his opinion about diamond smuggling on our first visit.”
Admiration filled his face in the subtle crease of his smile. “Excellent point.”
“Bet you didn’t think I had it in me.”
“Oh, I had no doubt about that part. I just wanted to see the amazing and awesome Kensington Steele in action.”
The light changed and the people around them began to move, but Kensington planted her feet against the onslaught. “Are you teasing me?”
“Hardly.”
“Then what did you really think about our visit to the diamond district?”
“I think that you really are amazing and awesome.”
“Would you be serious?”
“I am serious, but—” He reached for her hand and pulled her along through the crosswalk. “I think we also learned several very valuable things this morning.”
“Such as?”
He dug a folded-up piece of paper from his pocket. “Take a look at the provenance on this diamond.”
The thin sheet flapped in the breeze as Kensington took off her glove before reaching for the paper. She scanned the contents quickly, not sure of what had him so pleased. “It’s got all the basic details of the diamond. The four Cs, its ownership.”
He leaned in and pointed toward a small detail at the bottom of the page. Her eyes widened as she finally realized what he was getting at. “It was mined in Tierra Kimber.”
“Exactly. That’s what we use when we go back. You, my socially conscious fiancée, are going to suddenly get some remorse about that diamond I just purchased.”
“And when I show my concern that these diamonds might be a front for war and bloodshed?”
“It will be up to our smart and savvy jeweler to quickly assure you why you’ve no need to worry your pretty little head about it so he can keep his sale.”
“Do you think he knows anything about our problem?”
“Not really. He’s a jeweler, not a high-level operative. And although I rarely put anything past anyone, the man’s been in a family business his entire life. He’s a cog in the wheel, nothing more.” He pointed toward a deli a few storefronts ahead of them. “Let’s go eat.”
“I need to get back.”
“It’s nearly one o’clock. You need to eat.”
The hand that rested low on her back steered her toward the front door of the deli. “You’re pushy.”
“I’m not pushy in the least. I maneuver people. There’s a difference.” He opened the door for her, and Kensington couldn’t argue with the warmth that reached out and beckoned them in. “Besides, I’m hungry.”
“I’m not easily maneuvered, Jack.”
“No. You like to do the maneuvering. It’s a trait I can not only relate to, but also admire.”
“I do no such thing.” The words that left her lips branded her as a liar, but she couldn’t hold them back. Maneuver sounded so manipulative. And cold.
And she was neither.
She just knew how she wanted things done. How to handle a situation to minimize risk and get the best possible outcome.
“Sure you do. It’s one of the reasons we’re going to have so much fun in Italy.”
“I haven’t said yes.”
“But you will.”
She stopped inside the door, and the urgent need to make her point ensured her feet stayed firmly planted. “This isn’t a joke and I’m really not sure I’m going to do this deal with you. We’re opponents.”
He pressed closer to her as a group of suits bustled past them and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Then let the games begin.”
Chapter 3
Kensington speared a forkful of salad and surreptitiously watched Jack across the table. She was still wondering how her morning had turned into a field trip and a meal, all with a man who got her dander up and her antennae quivering on high