Some things never changed. I felt a headache starting behind my eyes. “Sure thing, Mac. Thanks.”
The crusty old man hung up.
Rubbing my temple, I looked back at the safe. I sat down again, sipped my tea, and got back to work.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed before I heard the shop door open.
“Monroe!”
Sabrina. I rose, stretched, went to the office door. “Morning.”
My friend’s smile died. “You look even more tired today.”
“Late night.”
Sabrina perked up, and shoved a Starbucks coffee cup at me. “A date?”
“A party.” I sipped the mocha and moaned. Sweet, sweet caffeine.
Sabrina pouted. “You went to a party without me?”
“It was last minute. No one you know. And you’re an old, engaged woman now.”
My friend wagged her finger, then settled in behind the counter. “Bite your tongue. Besides, we’ll be partying tonight.”
I blinked.
Sabrina’s gaze narrowed. “You’d better not have forgotten my bachelorette party, Monroe.”
Shit. “I haven’t.”
Sabrina made an annoyed sound. “I’ve known you long enough to know when you’re lying, even though your damn good at it.”
I had forgotten. I’d been too worried about Maguire. Shit, time was running out, but I couldn’t let Sabrina down. I still had more work to do on the safe, and I wasn’t quite ready to break into Zane’s place, yet.
I shoved my guilt down, but it clung like mud.
“I’ll be the life of the party tonight,” I promised. “I remember we’re heading to some new club. No strippers. I haven’t forgotten.” I went over and hugged my best friend. “You’re marrying a good guy and I’m happy for you, babe.”
Sabrina hugged her back. “I wish you could find a good one.”
A handsome face flashed into my head. “Maybe one day.”
“Well, let’s at least start with a date for my wedding.” Sabrina waved a hand. “Anyway, Mayfair is the hottest new club in the city.”
“Cool.” I tried to dredge up some excitement.
“It’s owned by Liam Kensington.”
Shit. I was tripping over billionaires everywhere. “The billionaire?”
“One of New York’s billionaire bachelors.” Sabrina shivered and let out a dramatic sigh. “We might run into him and his friends.”
I was mid-sip of my coffee and scalded my tongue. “What?”
“Although, probably not,” Sabrina said. “They had some fancy party at Zane Roth’s amazing penthouse on Billionaire’s Row last night.”
The coffee went down the wrong way and I coughed. “Oh?”
“Look at them.” Sabrina slapped a newspaper on the counter. The front picture showed Zane, flanked by Liam and Maverick. Liam was smiling, Zane had a half grin on his face, and Maverick was scowling.
“They are so gorgeous. I’d take Zane.” A dreamy look crossed Sabrina’s face. “Or maybe Liam.”
“Poor Andrew.”
“My snookums knows I love him…unless a hot billionaire comes knocking.” Sabrina grinned. “It does look like Zane might be taken.”
My heart rammed against my ribs like a heavyweight boxer. “Really?”
Sabrina tapped a finger against the paper. There was a smaller picture of Zane at his party, out on the terrace. He was in profile…with a blonde in a green dress pressed against the railing.
Oh. God.
No one could tell it was me, but a part of me waited for Sabrina to recognize me.
“Lucky lady,” Sabrina sighed.
I made a noncommittal noise, but I couldn’t look away. The two of us looked so…sexy. He was cupping my face, all that intensity focused on me. Heat pooled in my belly.
“I have some work to do in the office,” I mumbled.
“Go, I’ve got this.” Sabrina put her hands on her hips. “I’m going to rearrange the window lock display.”
In the privacy of my office, I got back to work on the safe. I tested a few things. I studied its innards from all angles. Tapping a finger against my lips, I worked it all through in my head. I almost had a plan worked out. I’d need to practice, multiple times, to be sure.
Now I just needed a way into Zane’s home.
Horrible guilt closed my throat. I opened the desk drawer and looked down. It held the slip of paper that I’d written his number on, before I’d washed my arm.
I fingered it.
Then I pulled out a burner phone that I’d purchased with cash. Without letting myself think too hard, I dialed.
“Roth.” His voice was deep, authoritative.
My pulse spiked. I hadn’t actually expected him to answer. “Zane.”
Silence. “You gave me a fake number, Monroe.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t expect to hear from you.” His voice was hard. “You’d been in my office.”
Oh, God, how did he know? “Zane—”
“I know a con when I see one.” The harsh angry tone of his voice made my insides shrivel. “You’re planning to steal from me.”
I felt sick. “You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly. You’re just another user. The world’s full of them.”
My hand curled around the phone. He sounded furious and I hated it. “Za—”
He hung up.
Slowly, I set the phone down, my heart hurting.
I couldn’t blame him. It was exactly what I deserved.
Zane
The last place Zane wanted to be on a Saturday night was at Liam’s newest club.
Music was pumping, and the place was packed. Or at least it was in the VIP area. He was up on the VIP mezzanine, and he looked down over the railing. No, it was packed below, as well. The dance floor was heaving.
Liam had decorated his new club like an English manor. There was a curved ceiling, elegant chandeliers, framed portraits and landscapes and a shiny, mahogany bar.
“A drink, sir?”
A polite, well-dressed server stood nearby.
“Scotch. Macallan.”
The woman nodded.
Maverick arrived, leaning against the railing. “I did not want to come out tonight.”
“You have to be social sometimes, Mav. Talk to flesh-and-blood people, not just computers or your inventions.”
“Why?”
“So you don’t become antisocial, with the personality of a rock.”
Mav grunted.
Zane glanced over and saw Liam schmoozing with some others at the tables. A woman in a gold dress was clinging to him, leaning in and smiling like he knew the answer to the meaning of life.
“God, he enjoys the whole king-of-his-domain thing,” Mav said.
“Must be his English blood.”
The server brought Zane his drink. He sipped and enjoyed the burn.
“Any luck with your mystery blonde?” Mav asked.
“I have Vander tracking her down.”
“Norcross? You called in the big guns.”
“She’d been in my office. I’m pretty sure she’s after something.”
“Shit. Corporate espionage?”