Dance with the Devil by Cherry Adair Read Free Book Online Page A

Somewhere reasonably convenient because the lady of the house would want easy access to her jewels.
    â€œGot it,” Jack said, already standing to push aside the pantsuits hanging in front of the safe.
    Mia rose to her feet, keeping a foot of space between them. It was still far too close for comfort. Who knew a walk-in closet could feel so tiny?
    She checked out the safe. “It won’t take me a moment.” She inspected the safe and recognized it wasn’t half as secure as the safes in all the convenience stores on all the corners of the world. “Hell, you could’ve done this by yourself. You didn’t need me.”
    â€œThat’s a matter of opinion.”
    â€œWould you mind giving me a little room here?” She shoved him back a step with her elbow. “You’re breathing down my neck.”
    In deference to their hostess’s silks, the lighting in the closet was soft and muted. There was plenty of light coming through the double doors leading from the bedroom, however. The walk-in closet was a small room with racks of designer clothing, from ceiling to floor and two rods deep, with an automated dry-cleaner-type mechanical rack for finding things quickly. Mia had serious closet envy.
    One entire wall was made up of a rainbow of shoes organized by color. It was more than the sight of those hundreds of pairs of Manolo Blahnik’s that had Mia’s heart picking up speed. Ignoring the effect of Jack’s proximity as best she could, she slipped on the thin rubber gloves he handed her and got to work.
    Unlike the safe downstairs, this was a Conex. On the safecracking scale of one-to-ten, this was about a three. She concentrated on the far-too-loud sound of the tumblers rotating behind the steel door. That was the chink in the Conex—the tumblers made so much noise that the safe might as well have shouted out the combination.
    â€œHow’s your love life?”
    â€œHotter than a pistol thank you very much.”
    â€œIs that so?” He looked suspiciously happy about it.
    Mia frowned. “You’re pleased I’m having hot sex with someone else?”
    â€œHell, no,” Jack said with a grin. “I’m pleased as hell that you feel you have to lie about it.”
    â€œI’m not ly—”
    â€œStill hunting for a husband?” he taunted. He folded his arms and leaned against the door frame. How appropriate that the louvers in the door painted tiger stripes across his face and body.
    â€œYour source is my loose-lipped mother, who considers it a hunt. I, on the other hand, consider it to be more like holding auditions. I’m sure I’ll find what I’m looking for,” Mia said. The devil had refused to make a commitment. In a fit of anger, Mia had told him she’d be married this summer—either to him or someone else. She was thirty-two. She wanted to start the rest of her life now, while she still had all her working parts. Pinning Jack down to a commitment had been like trying to hold Jell-O in her fist.
    â€œDid you think Davis was going to be the one?”
    â€œHe had potential,” she admitted, glancing at him for a split second, just long enough to make sure he knew she was still pissed. “I hope you had fun playing me like that. It was childish, Jack. Beneath you.”
    He’d used his knowledge of her to create the perfect man. And she had fallen for it. Hook, line and sinker.
    â€œThe only thing that was a lie was the name.”
    She shot him a skeptical glance over her shoulder and shook her head, “Sure, you already said that. And I already told you I don’t believe it.” Damn it, why was this safe so stubborn?
    â€œI wasn’t ready for a commitment.”
    â€œI noticed.”
    â€œWe were terrific together, Mia. Admit it.”
    â€œSure we were. Unfortunately you took the low road while I took the high road. And never the twain shall