After shaking her hand, Sin gestured for her to sit.
“Could I have a word alone?”
“Ms. Worthington stays.” He owed this woman no explanation.
The prospective client launched into why she needed Sin to “fix” her situation. Her husband, a popular congressman, was filing for divorce after accusing her of having an affair.
“Do you have an attorney?” Sin asked.
“I have an entire team of them.”
She’s already wasted four minutes of my time. “Then, why hire me?”
“I need you to fix the situation so I come out a winner. If you and I are seen together in public, my husband will think I’ve got the upper hand.”
Sin stroked his three-day-old scruff. “I’m not available for publicity stunts.” He rose. “Here’s my free advice. Going forward, don’t cheat on your spouse.”
“But…but he’s going to take me to the cleaners.” She crossed her legs. Again, Sin refused to look. “I can definitely make it worth your while.”
Evangeline stopped typing. The room grew silent.
Sin walked toward the door. “I can’t help you.” I’ve wasted six minutes.
“Ah, c’mon. I’m a fun time.”
Sin glared at her. “You have five seconds to get the fuck out of my office before I make your life a living hell.”
The color drained from her face. She gathered her purse and rushed out.
“Make sure she leaves,” Sin said to Erica before shutting the door.
“I’ll never get that seven minutes back,” he growled before returning to sit next to Evangeline. “Find anything on Joey?”
“Does that happen often?” she asked.
“What?”
“The bogus appointments. Women throwing themselves at you.”
All the damn time. He stared into her eyes. “None of them hold my attention, but lemme tell you about this one FBI agent who—”
“Okay, cowboy, let’s get back to work.”
He loved how her eyes lit up when she smiled. “What’s the word on Pastor Joey?”
“He told me he worked at Hope Church in Asheville, but he offered pastoral counseling for several churches in the area. There is no Hope Church, but there are several with the word ‘hope’ in them. I’m going to call them all after the holiday.”
Tap-Tap. Erica popped her head in. “Sorry to interrupt. Dakota’s here.”
Dakota entered carrying a large bag. “Hey, brother, how you doing?” He smiled at Evangeline. “Keeping him in line?”
“Hardly.”
Sin clasped his brother’s hand before pulling him in for a hug. “What brings you by?”
He set the large bag on the conference table. “I brought you something.”
Sin peered inside and laughed. “Fuck you. I’m not wearing that.”
“Like hell you aren’t,” Dakota said, pulling out the protective vest.
“C’mon, man. This is insane.”
“You got tossed from your bike and would have died if Evangeline hadn’t been there to drag your sorry ass out of that freezing water.” He glanced around. “Can I get a coffee?”
“I could use a cup. I’ll get you something.” Evangeline stood. “Sin, you want a refill?”
He handed her his mug. “Thanks.”
“Cream or sugar?” she asked Dakota.
“Black is fine.”
She closed the door behind her.
“You told me, and I quote, ‘Someone’s trying to kill me’. What the hell did you think I was going to do?” Though they were alone, Dakota glanced over his shoulder. “You wear this when you join me on my…um…jobs.” Dakota held the vest out.
“I want to be pissed over this.”
“Be pissed.”
Sin slipped the vest on. “I can’t when you’re trying to keep me alive.”
“Exactly.”
“I appreciate this, I do, but—”
“Don’t be a fool. Wear it until we catch this motherfucker.”
Erica knocked and opened the door. Evangeline entered holding three mugs. Sin took his. “Thanks.”
She held his gaze, that sultry smile making his libido stir. After handing Dakota a mug, she sipped the hot brew.
Jacoby entered, then laughed. “You’re supposed to wear the vest under your shirt, but you’ve never been one to follow the pack.”
“Do you see me wearing this at all?” Sin asked him.
“Uh, no,” Jacoby replied.
Dakota threw his hands up. “Evangeline, help me out, here.”
With her gaze cemented on Sin, she said, “He’s right. You’ve gotta wear that vest.”
“I’m outa here.” Dakota gulped a mouthful of coffee, set down the mug, and strode out.
Jacoby shifted to Sin. “I’ve got a problem.”
“What’s going on?”
“Easy Does It Truck Rental isn’t making it easy for me. They’ve got twenty-three locations in the area, but they’re franchised, so their systems work independently of one other.”
“So, you have to hack into each of them separately?” Evangeline asked.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll help you,” she offered.
“That would make things go faster.”
“What’s our plan for tonight?” she asked Sin.
“Dinner at seven, then we’ll head to Delaware.”
“I can’t wait.” Her sarcastic tone made him chuckle, but the intensity in her eyes told him everything he needed to know.
I can’t, either.
14
Not a Date
At quarter to seven, Sin collected the gifts from the back seat of his four-door Alpha Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and strode to Evangeline’s front door. She buzzed him inside. As he walked toward her apartment, she stepped into the hall and his heart jumped a beat.
Holy hell, she looks amazing.
She’d worn a simple burgundy dress, but on Evangeline, simple became elegant. The knit material clung to her curves while the low neckline offered him a peek at her phenomenal cleavage, but it was those gorgeous, long legs that snagged his full attention. I’m a goner.
“You are stunning.”
A smile danced on her lips, which were covered in clear gloss. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. From her sweeping updo that highlighted her beautiful neckline, to the way her light eyes popped from the smoky makeup, he drank in her beauty. “I’m going to forget all about work.”
“You look pretty hot yourself, Mr. Develin.”
He’d dressed in all black, down to his boxers.
They entered her apartment and he shut the door.
“These are for you.” He handed her a boutique bag and a hand-carved walnut box before dropping his overcoat on the sofa.
“Thank you.” After setting the bag on the sofa, she opened the box, and stared at the vodka bottle. “This looks insanely expensive.”
“It’s Stoli Elit, Himalayan edition, from my private collection.”
“This is a work of art.”