Barbara Dunlop - Flying High

“You are not a gigolo,” Erin insisted, even as the word conjured up a totally unwelcome image of the big, rangy Striker.

She shook it off. He was nowhere near her type. And he was only here to introduce them to Allan. There were no other duties involved.

Striker carried in the second set of suitcases. “You’re paying the rent and buying me clothes.”

“There’s a perfectly good reason for that.”

“Yeah. I’m a kept man.”

“Get over it.”

“Easy for you to say.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Okay,” he said. “What would you call me?”

“You’re a consultant,” she said.

Striker gave her a mocking grin. “That sounds so much more dignified.”

“Doesn’t it though?”

“Okay. Well, just to make sure your consultant understands the plan of attack…which one of you is trying to land Allan?”

“I am,” she said.

“Why does that not surprise me?”

“Well, I’m the project lead. Julie’s here for technical advice.”

At least that was the excuse Patrick had come up with for sending Julie on the trip. Truth was, there weren’t any diamonds for Julie to look at. And even if there were, it wasn’t necessary. High Ice Diamonds reputation for quality was well established.

Striker’s eyebrows went up. “Technical advice.”

“That’s right.” Erin glanced around the high-ceilinged living room of the West Coast log house. “Not that I’m going to need it.”

It was a beautiful building and a beautiful setting, right on the beach in the classy little town of Pelican Cove. There were skylights in the two-story living room ceiling and a massive stone fireplace against one wall. If a woman was going to kiss her principles good bye, this was as good a place to do it as any.

Striker leaned against one of the log walls, crossing his arms on his chest and resting one ankle over the other as he contemplated her. “I have to say, you’re pretty open about your plans.”

Erin blinked at him. “You did ask. And you are on the payroll now. We’re not going to tell Allan everything right away, of course. That’s why we hired you.”

“Of course,” said Striker. “Him knowing what’s going on, that might put a cramp in your style.”

“It wouldn’t make things any easier. That’s for sure.” She picked up one of the suitcases. Might as well get settled. The sooner they got started on Striker, the sooner they could arrange a meeting with Allan.

Striker took two long strides toward her. “Wouldn’t want you to get calluses.” He reached for the suitcase, lifting it easily with a broad, strong hand.

“What?” she asked.

“Detracts from the diamonds,” he said, picking up a second suitcase and heading for the wide staircase.

Erin stared at his back for a minute. She was going to buy the diamonds, not wear the diamonds.

“Or maybe you’d prefer a few emeralds,” he called over his shoulder.

Erin started up the stairs. “Quite frankly, I’d like to get my hands on both.”

“A truly mercenary woman.”

“I’m a professional.”

“I don’t doubt that in the least.” There was an edge of sarcasm to his voice.

Maybe it was a mistake to bring a man like Striker in on this, no matter how valuable he’d be in meeting Allan. “Does it bother you that I’m after his diamonds?”

“It’s not like you’re the first to try.”

“Really?” Erin reached the top of the stair and drew alongside him in the twilight hallway.

That surprised her. Had other gem buyers come to Blue Earth Island to approach Allan? Had Striker flown them over? Maybe there was more to this than an old high school acquaintance.

If he had flown the other buyers in, maybe he had some valuable information about them. Maybe she could get him to spill it. Not that she was going to schmooze with him again. But there had to be a professional way to ask.

“Of course you’re not the first,” said Striker.

The three upstairs bedrooms had en suite plumbing and queen-sized beds. The middle one was slightly smaller, and the two on either end had balconies.

“I’ll take the middle,” he said. “Since I’m the help.”

He headed to the far end of the hall with Erin’s suitcases.

She stood in the doorway while he dropped the cases on the bed, trying to come up with a way to broach the subject of the people on his previous flights.

“Striker?”

He turned to look at her. “Yeah?”

The stark assessment in his ocean blue eyes made her stumble. Focus, she told herself. Ask him. What were the other buyers’ approaches? How did Allan react? What mistakes had they made?

No. Those were too blunt.

“Spit it out,” he drawled, cocking his head to one side.

“I was just…” She tried to formulate subtler questions.

He took a step closer, his deep voice thrumming in the silent house. “Whatever it is, you’re going to ask eventually. Why wait?” He shrugged one of his shoulders forward and his tone turned teasing. “Unless you want to touch me again first. You know, schmooze me.”

“No.” She shrank back. “I don’t want to touch you.”

His eyes sparkled at her sharp reaction and a dimple appeared in one of his cheeks. She suddenly realized that beneath the dust and dirt, he was a incredibly attractive man. Not that she cared. Not that his looks were relevant.

“You want to flirt with me again, Erin?”

Her name on his lips gave her a little shiver, but she shook it away.

“I never flirted with you the first time.”

“That’s your story, and you’re stickin’ to it?”

She took a deep breath. “You mentioned there were…other people who tried to get Allan to sign a contract. Do you know how they—”

“A contract?” The dimple disappeared.

“Yes.”

“Is that what you call it?”

“What would you call it?”

He shook his head and let out hollow chuckle. “Whatever.”

“What?” What had she done now?

“Maybe it’s none of my business. After all, I did agree to help. But don’t you think calling it a contract is a little mercenary?”

Mercenary? “It is a contract. A diamond contract.”

Striker snorted and shook his head. “And here I thought I’d heard it all.”

“Hey, it’s done like this all the time. There’s nothing illegal or immoral about schmoozing.”

“Ahh,” said Striker. “Schmoozing again. We both know how much you like schmoozing.”

His tone irked, but she refused to let herself rise to the bait.

“Schmoozing is only the window dressing,” she said. “And it’s not like we’ll keep him in the dark until the last minute.” She was vaguely aware that her defensiveness made her sound guilty, so she put some more strength into her tone. “He’ll have a chance to consider the whole deal on its merits.”

Striker’s blue eyes narrowed. “You don’t find this all just a little too…calculating?”

“I consider it a prudent, professional approach.” Or at least Patrick did, and since Patrick was her boss, and since she desperately wanted that promotion, this was the approach she was taking.

Striker rolled his eyes.

“What? How would you suggest I go about it?” If Striker had a better idea, she was all ears.

He moved a little closer, increasing the impact of his stare. “What about ditching all the clandestine plotting? Meeting someone legitimately? Letting them get to know you? Maybe falling in love?”

Erin felt as if the floor had shifted beneath her. She gave her head a little shake. “In love?”

“Yeah. You know. The old-fashioned way.”

His words made no sense. “You’re suggesting I try to get clients to fall in love with me before signing a contract?”