Maria provided a convenient excuse to see you again.”
I ignored that as best I could. “Does Frank think she knew about the embezzlement?”
“He believes she would protect her husband.”
She might. But I remembered Maria’s tone when she mentioned finally being in the family business, her suppressed outrage over the affair. “I’m not too sure about that.”
“Why? What did she discuss with you?”
“I can’t tell you. Client confidentiality and all that.” I focused on the paperweight, paying exaggerated attention to the swirling ribbons of colored glass inside. Then I sent Stone a smile, big on sarcasm and low on sincerity.
He wiped his fingers on a napkin. He leaned back in his chair and gave me a considering look. “If you don’t think Maria would cover up for Cavanaugh, I’ll hazard a guess she came to you about Gray’s bit on the side.”
I shrugged, answering without answering.
He went on. “I’ve a notion this woman is not only his mistress, but his accomplice. Together, we’ll find her that much faster.”
Although I was dying to know how Cavanaugh had grown the balls to rip off Big Frank’s casino, that wasn’t what I’d been hired for. I didn’t know nearly enough about Cameron Stone, but I seriously doubted he needed my professional help. And it was just too unlikely to think this could be personal.
“I can find the mistress on my own without wasting time and money solving your case, too.”
His cool gaze mocked me. “I shouldn’t think money is an issue, considering your assistant can afford lobster for lunch.”
Good. I’d been wondering if he’d picked up on that. The agency may not look like much, but he didn’t need to know we were struggling.
“What do you get out of our partnership?”
He responded with a cool smile. “I’ll have the pleasure of your company and ten percent of the recovery. As my ‘local resource,’ twenty percent of that could be yours.”
Twenty percent of ten percent of four hundred grand. A nice round eight K figure.
He smirked at me. “Ah, now you’re wondering if you’d be better off with or without me, Nevada being a community property state.”
“Without, Stone. No doubt about it.”
He dropped his gaze and his voice took on a husky quality. “I didn’t really ask before. How’ve you been, Stella?”
“How have I been?” The sudden show of interest had me parroting his question.
“Are you seeing anyone?”
I set the paperweight on the desk before I threw it at him after all. “You’re kidding, right? I mean, you’re not exactly in a position to ask.”
“Am I not?” When he finally looked up, the color had shifted in his eyes again. “You’re certain of that, are you?”
I leaned back in my chair, clenching my jaw and trying to clamp down on my feelings. Did he actually think he had any kind of claim to my life? After the callous way he’d treated me? My hurt, resentment and confusion warred with my anger. As usual, I let anger win.
I remembered that night—the champagne, the flowers and the Bellagio’s dancing fountains lit up below our window. I’d believed in magic that night. The way he’d looked at me, the unspoken message in his touch, had made me think we were on the verge of…something.
Then I’d reached out for a man and stroked a vacant sheet instead. The pillow under my head had still smelled of citrus shampoo and male sweat. But I’d known even before I saw his note that he hadn’t run out for coffee and a paper. I felt my blood pressure rise and changed the subject.
“Let’s get back on track.”
A professional mask replaced his expression. “Right, then. DiMarco hired an independent auditor to go over the finances. As the casino manager, Cavanaugh has authority to sign markers or IOUs. There were a few questionable transactions.”
“Yeah, like what?”
“He signed off several markers as paid. However, they don’t have corresponding bank deposits.”
I rested my chin on my fist. “So, when his girlfriend didn’t pay her debts, he ‘forgot’ to take the money from her account, huh?”
He shook his head slowly. “She didn’t have an account to take from. Apparently the application for casino credit was approved without ever being verified.”
“Gray okayed the marker on both ends while his girlfriend cashed out the chips. All under his wife and father-in-law’s noses. Dumb ass. If Big Frank is sure that Cavanaugh’s been embezzling, why hasn’t he confronted him?”
“As I said, this must be kept quiet. Casinos never want to let on about losses, especially from employee theft. However, DiMarco is adamant that this be managed as swiftly as possible. Find the tart and we should find the money.”
“There is no ‘we.’” Not when I wasn’t sure of what was really going on and he’d given me no reason to trust him. “If you figured that since I’d be following Cavanaugh, you could tag along, think again.”
His lips curved into a confident grin. “Come now, love. We’ll be bumping into each other, constantly getting on top of things. Better to share what we’re doing and get comfortably into position, I’d say.”
Could he put any more innuendo into that line of reasoning? I swear, everything was sexual with him. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m not going to sleep with you.”
“Happy to hear it. When I take you back to bed, I fully intend to keep you awake.”
I let that pass, though it wasn’t easy. Stone was one hell of a lover. But I didn’t want the complication right now. At least, that’s what I told myself. Then his gaze raked my chest and he winked. I looked down to see my nipples standing at attention. Dammit. Damn him.
He stood up and reached for his wallet, then handed me a business card. It was bright white with only his name on the front. On the reverse were three telephone numbers. “My mobile phone, my pager and my answering service.”
Tossing the card onto the desk, I dismissed him with a look. “I’ve got work to do. You can find the door.”
The glacial blue look he shot me was heavy with unspoken words. I’m a gambling woman, so I was willing to bet I didn’t want to hear them.
“Ring me once you have Cavanaugh’s schedule. We’ll coordinate from there.” Stone walked out.
It wasn’t until a couple minutes later that I realized I hadn’t actually agreed to work with him. We both should have known better. Impulsiveness had gotten us into trouble in the first place. But I love a good mystery and the agency could use an injection of cash….
So, here I was, headed for trouble once more.
