“So how are things with you? Are you still dating that guitarist?”
Genesis rolled her eyes as she sat across from her in a matching chair. “That never got off the ground.”
“No?” Ivy asked even though she was pretty sure she knew the reason why.
“We went on a couple dates but he was way too full of himself.”
“Are you sure it has nothing to do with a certain sexy partner of yours?” Bruno, her business partner, aka her bodyguard when necessary, aka a man also desperately in love with Genesis.
To her surprise Genesis’s cheeks flushed pink under her tawny skin. “No. Maybe. Yes.”
Ivy blinked in surprise. “I kind of can’t believe you’re admitting your attraction to him.” She took a sip of the bold wine, savored the taste as she settled against the comfy chair. Definitely the right choice of beverage.
“How could I not be attracted to him? The man is a freaking god.” Genesis looked annoyed by that.
Ivy lifted a shoulder. He was attractive, yes, but not her type. Besides, that man had only one type anyway—Genesis. “So what’s the problem?”
“We work together. It’s complicated.”
She took another sip. “It’s only complicated if you want it to be. You guys have already proved how well you work together—in a job that can be stressful. When he looks at you, it’s as if you hung the moon.”
“Maybe.” She looked into her wineglass for a long moment and then flicked her gaze back to Ivy’s, her dark eyes intense. “I have this fear that if I let him in, things will get all screwed up and then I’ll lose my best friend and business partner at the same time. It’s a double whammy. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am and I value my financial independence, this life I’ve built. It’s just…scary, I guess. Does that sound stupid?”
Ivy was surprised by the moment of vulnerability from Genesis. The woman was a badass who always seemed to have everything together, skirting the law and living her best life. “It doesn’t sound stupid. It sounds realistic. I hope you figure things out with him.”
At a soft pinging sound, Genesis glanced over and Ivy followed her gaze to two screens on the wall. Bruno was on the camera, entering one of the back doors.
“Speaking of…” Ivy grinned.
Genesis simply laughed but her cheeks flushed even more.
Before Ivy could respond, there was another ping and two men appeared on the other screen, clearly standing at the entrance Ivy had originally come through.
Genesis cursed as she glanced at her watch. “These new clients are really early.”
“Want me to go out the back?”
“Yeah, I’m really sorry. How long are you in town? I want to get together for non-work stuff.”
“I’m not sure. At least as long as this job… Maybe longer,” she tacked on.
Genesis looked surprised for a moment. “You might be moving back?”
“Maybe.” She didn’t want to commit to anything. Not yet anyway. She had way too many things to figure out first.
“That would be amazing. You could work for me.”
“Maybe so.” She knew she didn’t want a standard nine-to-five type of gig and that would fit the bill.
“You think I’m joking, but we could do a lot of contract work together. I need a new appraiser for pieces. Legitimately purchased pieces.”
Surprised by the seriousness of Genesis’s tone, she nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.” She watched on screen as Bruno allowed the men inside, and took another sip of her wine before standing. “I know the way out. Look, if you hear anything else—”
“You’ll be the first person I call. Just be careful with these guys. I know I don’t need to tell you how bad they are but the rumors I’ve been hearing around town aren’t good.” Genesis’s expression was uncharacteristically serious.
“I’m always careful.” Ivy gave her a quick hug, then hurried out.
Using the back stairs, she headed toward one of the rear doors and made her way out into the sunlight. She had a couple more stops to make but… She pulled her phone out as she headed toward the nearby sidewalk.
There was one person she wanted to call even though she knew she shouldn’t.
Nash Harris.
One of her brother’s best friends, the man who starred in all of her fantasies, and hell, was one of her best friends, if she was being honest. She might not be telling her family that she was in town, but she would tell him. It would feel wrong not to. And if she was being honest, she wanted to see him. Craved it, even.
Not that she didn’t have the sharp planes of his face memorized or dream about how kissable his lips looked—or fantasize about running her fingers through his dark brown hair. The man always kept it so short and it looked so damn soft. Aaaand she was getting off track.
Maybe she’d just have one dinner with him. Get a glimpse of his fine ass and get her fix until the next time they got to meet up. It wasn’t enough but it would have to do for now.
Chapter 2
“My man, I know that look,” Juan said as Nash pocketed his phone.
“What?” Nash frowned at Juan, who was leaning against the window that overlooked the parking lot of the downtown high-rise.
He was so close to being off the clock, he could taste it. They were at the tail end of this job where they’d provided security for a non-publicized summit, and in one hour they would officially be off the clock. It had been two weeks of guarding dignitaries and dealing with other security risks. Technically his group was done for the day but he, Juan and Quinn were hanging tight for a little bit longer until their boss officially let them go.
“Who was on the other end of that phone call? I know it was a woman,” Juan continued.
“How are you so sure?” It had been a woman. The only woman—Ivy Danger.
“Come on,” Quinn added, a grin pulling at his mouth. “It was definitely a woman. You got that stupid look on your face I know I get when I talk to my wife.”
“You two are like nosy children.”
In response they laughed exactly like freaking schoolchildren.
“So when do we get to meet her?” Juan pushed, no surprise.
“It’s not like that. We’re just friends.” Though he wanted a lot more. Had for a while now.
Quinn simply snorted.
“Someone’s a little defensive.” Juan clearly wasn’t going to drop this.
He’d had to be silent for most of this job, they all had, and now Juan was apparently letting loose.
“You drive me crazy,” Nash muttered, glancing at his watch.
Ivy had told him that she was in town for a surprise job and had asked him not to tell her family. So he was meeting her for dinner. He wished it was more than that but she’d never given him any go-ahead or signal that she wanted more from him. Not really, though sometimes he thought he saw flickers of interest from her.
If she ever made it clear that she was open to more, he would jump at the opportunity. But he was best friends with her brother and was practically family. If things got awkward between them… Yeah, he didn’t want to think about what would happen. But he still jumped at any excuse to see her. And he loved that she’d contacted him even when she hadn’t let her family know she was in town.