Debbi Rawlins - Hands On

Cassie coughed. “In public?”

“That’s entirely up to you.” Bask produced a reassuring smile. “Of course most couples prefer the privacy of their rooms.”

“Now, you’re talking.” Dalton made a show of studying the card. “You just might be hearing from us, Mr. Blankenship.”

Cassie opened her mouth to say something but her expression warned Dalton to cut the conversation short. He threw an arm around her shoulders and kissed her open mouth.

She sputtered.

Dalton gave Bask a leave-the-little-woman-to-me wink. Bask nodded and headed toward the dark blue Mercedes.

“Dammit!” Cassie shoved at Dalton’s shoulder when he wouldn’t release her.

“Now just calm down. Wait until he leaves before you start kicking up a fuss.”

“What I’m going to kick is your behind.”

“Fine. After he leaves.” Dalton furtively watched him climb into the car. The windows were so heavily tinted he couldn’t see the guy. But Dalton figured he was watching them, assessing what sort of candidates they’d make for whatever scheme he’d concocted.

“The hell with that. I’m leaving.”

Dalton grabbed her when she tried to go.

“Ouch!”

“I didn’t hurt you.”

Cassie’s lips did that little pouty thing, and she rubbed the area around the wrist that he held. “Yes, you did. You’re still hurting me.”

He didn’t believe it, but he promptly released her. Her smile had “sucker” written all over it. “Trying to make me kiss you again?”

The grin was instantly replaced with a glare. “Dream on.”

“It seems that’s the only way I get any cooperation out of you,” Dalton said, distracted by Bask pulling out of the parking stall and onto the street. “There he goes. Smug bastard.”

“We finally agree on something.” Cassie stared after the car as it made a turn and disappeared.

“At least I know where I can find him.” Dalton studied the card. “Marriage counseling. Pretty friggin’ smart.”

“Okay.” She shrugged. “I guess now you make a call and then go arrest him, huh?”

He looked up in disbelief and stared at her. Obviously she didn’t get it. “Not exactly.”

She stuck her hands in the pocket of her black jeans. They were so tight he didn’t know how she had room for her hands, much less the rock she had on her left ring finger. “What did he do, anyway? I mean, I can pretty much guess but— Why are you looking at me like that?”

“That ring you have on your finger, are you married?”

She shoved her hands deeper into her pockets. “I borrowed it from our client.”

“Think she’ll lend it to you for another week?”

“Why?”

He looked at the card again. “Do you know how friggin’ perfect this is?”

“Why?” she repeated, concern raising her voice.

“Why what?”

“Knock it off, Styles. I want a straight answer.”

“Oh, honey.” He slid an arm around her and smiled. “If we’re going to be married, you’re gonna have to call me Dalton.”

CASSIE SLAPPED at the nightstand, trying to find the alarm. The buzzer screamed relentlessly, until she finally opened one eye and shut the darn thing off.

She checked the time, blinking twice to clear the foggy blur…two-thirty.

Sunlight streamed through her apartment blinds. Okay, so it was afternoon. She knew that.

Yawning and stretching, she tried to focus on the ceiling. Afternoon naps were a rarity for her, but after two sleepless nights she hadn’t had much choice. Especially with her big adventure coming up in…

She glanced at the clock again—two-thirty-two. She groaned and rolled over to the edge of the bed. Dalton was picking her up in an hour and a half, and she hadn’t even packed yet. Not that she had to take much—T-shirts, shorts, jeans, maybe one casual dress.

Darn it, but she wished she’d talked to Bask herself and not had to rely on Dalton for information about the week they’d spend at Back to Basics. She’d actually tried calling Bask herself after talking to Dalton, but all she got was a recording.

Dalton Styles. The proverbial tall, dark and handsome, with his sable-brown hair and chocolate-brown eyes. And sexy as all get-out with that strong chin that needed a shave. And holy cow! What a kisser!

She exhaled and shoved off the bed, thinking about how hot and insistent his mouth had been two days ago. More than one dream about him picking her up and carrying her away had messed with her sleep.

Good thing he annoyed the hell out of her or the next week would be impossible.

She got out the duffel bag she’d used during her college days. After four years of college plus another one in graduate school before she’d called it quits, the bag had taken a beating. Certainly not appropriate luggage for Mrs. Dalton Styles III. Maybe she ought to make him spring for a pricey Louis Vuitton garment bag.

The thought made her smile. Let him try to bury that in his expense account.

She didn’t smile for long. The luggage really was a problem. And since she’d been so busy working and hadn’t taken many trips, she hadn’t needed anything more. But of course, now that she was a full-fledged investigator, she’d probably have more out-of-town assignments.

The idea warmed her. The traveling part, she could honestly do without. She was Texas born and bred, and she liked it here just fine. But that she was actually flying solo now, and not just working as Chet’s assistant, forced to play the dumb blonde when it suited his case, made her giddy with excitement.

The phone interrupted her musings and she stared at it with the oddest combination of dread and disappointment. Was it Dalton? Had plans changed?

After it rang two more times, she snatched it up before the answering machine came on. “Hello?”

“Cassie, it’s Jennifer.”

Cassie cringed. She’d left a message for her boss this morning, hoping she wouldn’t get it until after Cassie was gone. “Hey, Jen.”

“This message you left me about Marianne’s case… I don’t think I understand it.”

Cassie sighed. “You probably do. I’m going undercover.”

Jennifer laughed. “What do you mean ‘undercover’?”

That hurt. Of course Jen didn’t mean anything. She’d probably laughed because the strange turn of events was so unexpected. Jennifer had confidence in her. She wasn’t like Chet or any of the others who overlooked Cassie as another pretty but not-so-bright blonde.

“Yesterday Bask showed up at the bar.”

“Great. Did he pass the test, or what?”

“More like, or what. The Feds are after him.”

“As in FBI?”

“I ran into a federal investigator who’s been following Bask. He was afraid I’d blow his investigation so he…” Cassie touched the corner of her mouth. Dalton’s kiss still burned on her lips. Stupid. Absolutely crazy to give it a second thought. The man was impossible.

“Cassie, are you there?”

“Yeah.” She cleared her throat. “He ended up sabotaging my sting.”

“Okay, let’s back up. Why is he after Bask?”

“For fraud, basically, except they haven’t been able to prove anything yet.”

“It doesn’t matter as far as we’re concerned. I know Marianne. That he’s under suspicion will be enough for her to cut him loose. Her attorney can take it from here. Congratulations! I believe you’ve just successfully closed your first case.”

“Wait, I—” Words failed her. Her thoughts were in a sudden jumble stewed with panic and disappointment. “It’s not that simple. I can’t tell Marianne what I know and blow Dalton’s case.”

“Dalton? He’s the investigator.”

“Frankly, he’s a pain in the ass, but I wouldn’t feel right messing up his assignment.”