Chapter 5

• Her jaw slackens slightly before her composure returns, and she smiles. “Fine. But as soon as we get to your room, you are explaining everything.”
• I release her and grab my wallet, so I can show the smiling receptionist my ID.
• Her eyes dart from my face to Isabel’s. “Welcome to Haven Beach, Mr. Cole. We have the penthouse suite all ready for you.”
• Isabel chokes on her coffee but recovers as I hand my driver’s license over. “Thanks. And this is my girlfriend, Isabel. She’ll need a passkey too,” I say.
• The receptionist merely nods and swipes a card through the machine. “Of course, Mr. Cole. And please let me know if there is anything I can do while you’re in town.”
• I give her a distracted smile and wait as she goes through the motions of signing me in.
• When her eyes drift to the bag I’m carrying, I pre-empt her. “I can carry my own bag.”
• She exchanges a glance with Isabel but doesn’t say a word about my lack of luggage as she hands me two passkeys.
• I snake my hand around Isabel’s waist again and direct her toward the elevators. “Stop looking so surprised when I touch you. You’re going to give us away,” I say.
• Her eyes narrow, but she grits her teeth. “Maybe if I had any idea of who you are now, it wouldn’t be so unbearable when you touch me.”
• I guide her into the private elevator and wait until the doors close before I give her my reply. “Who I am is irrelevant. It’s how people perceive me while I’m here that matters.”
• The second we are alone, she steps away from me and dumps the rest of her pastry in the trash. “So, tell me. Why are you here?”
• I scan the ceiling and note the red lights blinking above us. “To find someone.”
• She snorts. “That’s it? That’s what all this fuss is about?”
• I narrow my eyes. “If by fuss you mean me staying here and recruiting you, then yeah, I guess you could label it fuss.”
• She shrugs her shoulders and drinks more of her coffee, prompting me to do the same.
• Her eyes stay on me as we ride the elevator until it comes to a halt at the penthouse suite.
• She doesn’t wait for me, just steps out, and immediately sucks in a breath. “Wow. This place has changed.”
• I already know it has, so the interior of the plush suite doesn’t interest me. I wait for the elevator doors to close behind me before I take a seat on the leather sofa closest and drop my bag.
• Isabel does the same, crossing her long legs as her eyes dart around the lavish suite.
• “Last time I was here, I was delivering some room service.”
• As she looks almost wide-eyed around, I pull out my cell and send a text to Jack letting him know I’ve found a suitable woman to pose as my girlfriend.
• Suitable is an understatement. As I look her over, I’m already picturing how she’ll look in something low-cut and tight.
• “You never answered my question. Do you have a cocktail dress? It needs to be elegant but sexy.”
• She pulls a face and her is voice loaded with disdain. “Oh, sure. I have dozens of cocktail dresses in my closet. They’re just the thing for cleaning the bathroom and running errands in.”
• I frown at her, trying to remember if she was this combative before. “I’ll take that as a no then?”
• She finishes her coffee and sends me a pointed look. “No genius, I don’t.”
• My lips twitch, and I have to stop myself from smiling at her as I unzip my bag. “The party is at seven.”
• I toss an envelope in her direction, and she flinches as it lands in her lap. Her eyebrows rise as she places her coffee on the floor.
• When she opens the envelope, all the color drains from her face. “What the hell is this for?”
• I drain the last drop of my coffee and toss it in the trash can. “For anything, you need while I’m here. Dresses included.”
• At the way her cheeks are pinking, it’s obvious she’s getting pissed off. “So basically you just need me to look pretty and smile and nod. While you do what?”
• I frown at her and get to my feet so I can stretch out my back. “While I work the case. You’re the perfect distraction.”
• When she doesn’t say anything, I pull my laptop from my bag. “You can stay here with me or arrive each morning, but I’d prefer it if you stayed.”
• She’s on her feet in a flash. “I’ll bet you would. I’d bet that would fit nicely into this little scheme. Well, I don’t care what Mike promised you. I am not staying here.”
• I shrug. “Fine. But you need to be here by seven am.”
• Her eyebrow arches. “Why so early?”
• I grab the room service menu and hand it to her. “I eat breakfast at seven-fifteen. It’ll work best if you’re here with me when room service delivers it.”
• She glances at the menu, and I’m sure I see her eyes widen. “They make Crème Brulee French toast?”
• I nod. “For five grand a night, they’ll make anything you want.”
• She straightens her shoulders a little, but her expression has softened. “And if I did stay here? Where would I sleep?”
• I hide my smile as I gesture to the guest room. “There’s a separate bedroom next door to mine.”
• She taps the gold-edged menu against her chin as she looks around the suite. “And we’d be working from here?”
• I nod and stroll over to the desk. “Mostly. When we’re not in public.”
• I know she’s going to cooperate when she releases a long sigh. “Okay. Fine. I’ll do it. On one condition.”
• I grab a notepad from the desk and jot something down before I look at her. “And what’s that?”
• A faint smile appears as she meets my eye. “You tell me why you left without saying goodbye.”