I’d come here play nice and back off like I’d been ordered to.
You came to pretend.
Okay, fine. I’d come to pretend. I’d also come to tag him with a listening device. I had zero intention of walking away from the London Lords, despite my father’s direct orders. I would get my proof, and then my father would have no choice but to listen to what I had to show him about East Hale. Well, him or one of his friends. He was just the first one who took notice. I hadn’t been lying when I said the dress was bait. He had me. He knew he had me. The question was how I was going to play this. I could continue to deny it, or I could own it. Then we would be two warriors facing off.
With a deep breath I met his gaze. “How’s your shoulder? Did I hurt you?”
His eyes went wide, and his broad smile lit his face. “You’re certainly ballsy. I really thought you would continue to deny it.”
I sighed and polished off my champagne. “What’s the point? You saw me.”
“That I did.” His gaze narrowed on me as he watched me warily. “You are a naughty little thing.” His heat was like a caress. “So what are you doing here?”
I sidled up to him, patting his jacket with my right hand. “Well, I was instructed to apologize. So I came here to do that.”
His grin was quick and devilish. “Bullshit.”
Absolutely bullshit. I’d touched him very specifically to distract him as I reached into his opposite lapel and planted the bug. I might not have my father’s support, but if I came with hard proof, he couldn’t deny me. And East Hale was going to give it to me.
My smile dimmed somewhat as he studied my face carefully. I’d covered the bruise with makeup, but there were still some remnants of the deep purple from when I’d fallen with him the night before.
He raised his hand for a moment, and I thought he was going to caress my cheek, but he only moved a strand of my hair out of my face.
I frowned at him. "You should probably wait until I give permission before you enter my personal space."
His answering smile was lopsided. "Noted. Does this include when you beg me?"
I lifted a brow. "Oh, I don't beg."
An intense smolder entered his eyes even as the smile remained. "Something tells me I would enjoy making you beg."
I shook my head. "Oh God, save me from arrogant men. If I went my whole life and never once met another arrogant man, I swear to God, I would be a very happy woman."
This was fun. Why was this fun? He was quick-witted. Charming. So beautiful it hurt to look at him. Those green eyes of his were bright and intelligent. Without a doubt, they saw everything. And those lips. God, those lips.
"So what are you really doing here? I don’t believe your attempt at an apology. I’d like the truth. You were willing to fight for what you actually wanted. So tell me, Miss Kincade, why are you really here?"
Don't fall for it. You'll get stung.
"Well, Mr. Hale, this has been lovely, but I have to get going.” I put forth my shiniest smile. “I have a date waiting for me."
He lifted a brow as I passed him, and his fingertips brushed my elbow, the delicious shivery sensation pausing my forward motion without him exerting much force. It was more a sensation of being able to feel the waves of dominance he emitted. "Who's your date?"
I grinned at him. "Wouldn’t you love to know?"
"I would, actually.” His gaze held me in place. “I have the feeling you’d enjoy yourself more with me. Leave with me. We have so much to talk about. We can even have dinner.”
"And if I told you I don't do dinner?"
"You have to eat some time." He lifted a brow and cocked his head, an easy flirtatious smile playing on his lips. "How about breakfast?”
"I don't eat breakfast with men I barely know."
The smile widened into a cocksure grin. "Then get to know me. I have the distinct impression that I could change your opinion about the London Lords if you got to know me."
I shook my head. "Sorry, but I have to go."
He finally let me pass, and I breathed a soft sigh of relief. Being close to him felt dangerous somehow. Like I was playing roulette with my life. My heart hammered against my ribs. My breathing was far too shallow. The hairs along my arms stood on end as if alerting me to some impending doom. But it was just East Hale watching me.
I wasn't afraid of him. That wasn't the right emotion. But I was just too aware of him being too aware of me.
Your father is going to kill you.
Admittedly, this was a risk. I knew what I’d been told. But I also knew what my gut was telling me. I knew something was up. All I needed was proof. And I was going to get it. If the bug yielded nothing, then I’d stop.
Do you think you can?
I tried to make my way through the crowd, around the women in their elegant evening gowns and the men in their shiny oxfords and tuxedos. I'd almost made it to the door when my phone rang. "Jesus Christ, Amelia, now is not the time."
"Oh, this isn't Amelia." The voice on the line was deep. Husky. Lazy, like a drawl, but accented. French? Maybe Portuguese, but I wasn't super familiar with that accent.
"Who is this?"
"It's someone who wants to see you succeed."
"Look, I have my hands full with creepers and arseholes. You have the wrong number, and you should know that you’re calling an Interpol agent. So if you were trying to harass me or anything of that sort, you will be sorely disappointed."
"I know exactly who I'm speaking to. Agent Nyla Rebecca Kincade. All you have ever wanted in your life is to please your father. I am about to give you that opportunity."
Icicles formed in the lazy rivers of my blood as it traveled through my veins and arteries. “Who the hell am I speaking to?” I quickly glanced at my phone before replacing it at my ear. Had I been hacked? Was this some idiot hacker's way of attempting to get money from me? I had none to give. I was paid civil servant wages.
"Oh, perhaps you'll forgive me. It's been so long since I've spoken to a beautiful woman."
"Right you eegit, this conversation is about to be—"
"How would you like the biggest arrest of your career, Agent Kincade? Francois Theroux."
I choked out a laugh. "You’re not serious."
“I am, in fact, very serious.” There was something so melodic and soothing about the voice.
“Everyone on the planet has looked for Theroux, and you want me to believe that you can find him. Also, you could just have him pay you off. Why turn him in? Why would you do that?”
“I have my reasons.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I understand your trepidation.”
I wove through the crowd. “What’s in it for you?”
There was a momentary pause. “There is plenty of time of time for that. I’ll be in touch. Think your answer through very carefully.”
“So you’re going to dangle a carrot and not tell me what the stick is or what human I’m going to have to sacrifice? Who the hell are you?”
His chuckle was low and melodic. “It seems I can rectify the first part of your hesitance. My name is Francois Theroux. Welcome to my game. Chat soon, Agent Kincade.