Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Tasha glared down the stairs. What had changed in the last two hours? Was this too much togetherness for Stephen? Dinner, sex and breakfast, and now the prospect of more? Well, too damn bad.
She squared her shoulders, imagining steel in her spine, and finished her descent. “No you can’t, Senator. Asking me to help is the only smart move you’ve made since this thing started. Other than hiring Brady.”
“Thank you,” Brady replied.
“Anytime.” She knew an ally when she saw one. “Face it, Stephen. He’s right. I’m right. I’ve been a fetish club member for a decade and I have a pile of deliciously dirty laundry for Burke to rifle through. I’m exactly what a handsome young Irish senator would want to keep hidden from the press. As soon as he sees me in action, he’ll think he’s won. And during his premature victory lap he could let down his guard.”
The men were staring at her, Brady with admiration and Stephen with frustration—and then lust when he noticed what she was wearing.
She’d picked this out very carefully. The deep fuchsia dress made her skin glow, highlighted her impressive cleavage and tiny waist, and flirted at the skirt with a slight part that could easily be swept aside if the mood struck her lover. It wasn’t cheap, but it was colorful and it sent the exact message it was supposed to.
Tasha did a twirl in her gold sandals. “Do you like it? It’s what’s trending in kept-women chic.” She lifted her hand to her diamond pendant. “I’m even wearing this to show him you like to give me pretty things, despite your government salary.”
His eyes narrowed and she smiled. “Of course, this actually came from a lovely older man with more money than friends who begged me to come over to his house and order him to clean it.” She paused for effect. “He looked adorable in that maid costume.”
Brady buried his face in his hand and Stephen’s eyes darkened dangerously. “Take off the necklace.”
Tasha laughed. “Burke won’t believe I’d be satisfied to hide in your closet without any perks. Consider it a necessary prop.”
He slid his hand into his suit pocket—because who didn’t wear a suit to a house party—and pulled out a black velvet pouch. The kind that looked like it came directly from one of those jewelers no one she knew could ever afford. “Take off the necklace, Natasha.”
Her hands went automatically behind her neck, unclasping the pendant. “Fine, Senator. You know I live to please.”
He held out his hand and she dropped the necklace into it obediently, her eyes on the pouch. What did he have in there?
When she saw what he pulled out of it, Tasha forgot to breathe. It was necklace. An emerald heart framed by small diamonds on a short, choker-style chain. It looked stunning. Expensive.
Her mouth suddenly dry, she asked, “Do you actually keep spare pieces of women’s jewelry on you in case of emergency? I think that is something your mistress would know.”
Stephen handed the pouch and the other necklace to Brady, then moved to put the exquisite piece on her himself. “Hold up your hair.”
As she did, she caught Brady grinning at her.
“It’s a good thing I’m not Owen’s pretend lover for the week,” she joked awkwardly as the warm stone came to rest at the base of her throat. “I would be wearing a giant shamrock around my neck.”
Stephen’s hands landed on her bare shoulders and turned her to face him. His eyes dropped to the heart and he reached out to hold it between his fingers. “It matches your eyes.”
Her hand fluttered up, then dropped at her side. “It’s too nice,” she whispered. “I’ll be worried the whole time that I’ll break it or lose it before I can give it back to you.”
His expression was difficult to read again. “It’s yours. I realized on the way home yesterday that you’d need something for the party.”
For the party. This didn’t mean anything. He was being smart, not romantic.
The hand on her shoulder flexed. “Keep it as a thank-you for agreeing to join me and being understanding that I’ve changed my mind. This is too much to ask you to do. I knew it yesterday. You should go home. I don’t want you to deal with any of the fallout if this doesn’t go the way we want it to.”
Was that what he was worried about? “I’m a big girl, Senator. And when I give my word, I keep it. Unless you’ve changed your mind about wanting me…to play your girlfriend, I mean.”
“No. I want you. That hasn’t changed.”
“Then let me do this. I can do this, Stephen. I can help you get him.” She licked her lips, watching him follow the movement. “We’ll have four days together to get him.”
Four days…together. He’d heard the slight emphasis. The subtle sagging of his shoulders told her she’d won. He glanced at his cousin. “We shouldn’t be in any physical danger, but if I say the word, you get her out of there. If it’s anything more than what it’s supposed to be, I want her safety to be your first priority.”