than a little intrigued.
She hadn’t been in the field in quite some time, deferring the majority of their business to her siblings while running things back at home. Over the past few months that lack of activity had begun to chafe.
Her brother Campbell was the hacking wiz, but she had a special skill when it came to digging up information, following threads. Campbell knew how to get into a system, but she knew how to forensically audit that system forward and backward.
Money. Leads. Connections.
Her innate tenacity, stubborn will and a strange tendency toward little sleep had ensured she was more than adept at tugging on threads until she unraveled the right mix of details.
And although she could do plenty of digging from right here, safe and sound at home, she’d begun to fear the lack of action would make her soft. “How do the Italians plan to get around Ambassador Pryce’s own security detail? I’m sure his protection is considerable.”
“The Italians work in tandem with the Tierra Kimber government to ensure the safety of Pryce, his family and the staff he employs. When he’s in Italy, he’s under the protection of the Italian government.”
“And they’re proposing to just sneak you in?”
“Sneak us in, although it’s really not that sneaky. Pryce already knows several people are assigned to his protection and he’s expecting a mix of men and women. Much of his work takes place in more relaxed settings, and it helps to have pairs working together. We’ll mix and mingle as guests at his events, and we’re expected to function as knowledgeable members of his staff.”
“And you don’t think he’ll make both of us.”
“That’s why we’re not sneaking. We both run well-respected security operations that Pryce has likely heard of. He’ll know who we are from the get-go.”
“And you think that’ll be enough?”
“I know so.” That dark gaze evaluated her once more and Kensington couldn’t stop the light line of gooseflesh that tickled her skin.
This man did something to her.
But did she dare spend time in his company? Intimate time that would require them to become allies, working toward a common goal?
Could she really stay away?
* * *
Jack glanced around the inner sanctum that was Kensington Steele’s office. He’d imagined her repeatedly, here in her element, but now that he had a true picture of her work space he could see where his musings fell short.
In his mind’s eye she conducted business behind a small, delicate writing desk. Instead, the large cherrywood monstrosity she currently sat behind looked more as if it belonged in a ship captain’s office than that of a modern-day righter of wrongs.
Although he hadn’t imagined the desk correctly, he had pictured her space as neat, tidy and efficient and she didn’t disappoint.
“What’s that look for?” She glanced up from where she tapped on a few keys at the computer just before the gentle whir of her printer started up.
“I took you for the neat and orderly type.” He pointed toward the desk. “But I didn’t expect you’d sit behind a desk the size of a frigate.”
“How else do you think I can file everything and keep it neat and orderly? If I sat at a small desk, I’d have piles everywhere.”
“Fair point. It doesn’t change the fact that this isn’t quite how I imagined you.”
“You imagined me?” Delicate eyebrows arched over those expressive eyes.
“Several times.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it and shook her head.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Come on. We’re going to work together. You need to feel you can talk to me.”
“If, Jack. If we work together. I haven’t made a decision on that yet.”
He suspected she’d made up her mind and was simply analyzing how she was going to close the deal. “I thought it was when.”
Those eyebrows rose another fraction of an inch. “That’s exactly my point. I’ve not decided yet and your ridiculous insistence on flirting isn’t helping.”
“And here I thought it was a bit of fun.”
At the word fun the suspicion in her gaze turned decidedly unreceptive. “If you’re after a bit of sport then you’ve got the wrong girl.”
“I’m quite sure I’ve got the right girl.”
Her eyes widened as his words registered and Jack sensed he was in imminent danger of overplaying his hand. “Look. Whatever you need to decide isn’t going to be found in this office. Let’s get out and you can see my style. See how I work. If you’re not convinced we’d make a good team, then you can cut and run.”
“I never cut and run.”
“Prove it.”
Chapter 2
Prove it.
Jack’s words still rumbled around in her mind like the silver ball in a pinball machine, racing to and fro and ringing a hell of a lot of bells.
In for a penny, Steele.
“Why are we going to Midtown?” She snuggled into her coat, the blast of heat inside the car welcome after the frigid wind had chilled her as they hailed a cab at the top of her block.
“Come on. Don’t tell me a well-heeled city gal like yourself has never been to the diamond district?”
“I’ve been there. I remember going with my father years ago when he bought a present for my mother.”
“Then you can show me the ropes.” He shot a meaningful look at their cabbie, and she held any remaining questions. Whatever the man had up his sleeve didn’t lend itself to discussion in front of others.
The trip across town passed quickly and in moments they were back in the cold, moving at a fast clip through the steady throng of people that always filled the heart of the city’s business district.
“What are you hoping to find?” Her breath puffed out in a fluffy white cloud as they began to pass buildings with bright display windows and heavily padded doors.
“I want to ask a few questions.”
“Right. Because we’re just going to walk in and ask some of the savviest dealers in the world if the diamonds they’re selling are being smuggled.”
“That wasn’t quite what I had in mind.”
“So
