The Sapphire Heist (A Jewel Novel Book 2) by Lauren Blakely Read Free Book Online Page B

you’ll stay with me.”
    “I’m leaving for a tour in three days.”
    “Then that gives us seventy-two hours to figure this out.”
    Her lips quirked up. “What if Mr. Smith is onto us ? Is it bad if we’re seen together?”
    “My gut tells me Mr. Smith is angling for Eli, and that’s why diamonds that Eli gave his fiancée and his stepdaughter were stolen. Someone is after the diamonds, and that someone knows you had one and Isla had one. We just need to keep being stealthy, but we’ve always had to be stealthy. Now, we need to work together to stay ahead of Mr. Smith.”
    She stepped closer. “It really wasn’t you who did it?”
    He moved in closer, his chest to hers, breathing in her sexy scent. Minutes ago, he’d been ready for her to run her hands all over him. He’d wanted it. He still did. That was the rub. “It wasn’t me. Because if it were me, I wouldn’t be back. If I were stealing your diamond, I wouldn’t be here with you now. I wouldn’t invite you to my room. I wouldn’t need you to solve this case. I’d leave. I’d walk away from you and I’d get the hell out of town with a bird in the hand. But I like you, even though I’m mad at you, and that’s why I want you to stay with me. This isn’t just about us finding diamonds. It’s about us making sure those fingers don’t get pointed at us. So let’s solve this bitch of a case together.”
    He held out a hand to seal the deal.
    She took it and shook. “This is the craziest trip ever to the Cayman Islands.”
    “I agree.” He dipped a hand into his shorts pocket. “Oh, I did steal something.” He took the small honey jar from his pocket. “I saw it on a room service tray on my way out this morning and I grabbed it to give to you. As a silly little gift, since you love the hotel’s weirdly amazing honey. I’m pretty sure you felt it when you were patting me down.”
    “I did.”
    “What did you think it was?”
    “Well, I didn’t think it was that !”
    He laughed. “Now we’re getting somewhere. But you did think it was the jewels for a minute, right?” he asked, eyeing her with a c’mon-admit-it stare.
    She shrugged her admission.
    “Let’s put it this way,” she said, wrapping her hands around his fingers on the jar. “I’m glad to know the jar doesn’t have honey-coated diamonds in it.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    He dropped her suitcase on the tiled floor. A fan circled lazily overhead, stirring the gauzy white curtains that hung by the sliding glass doors. He grabbed her hand, pulled her to the open deck. The sun was still high in the sky and his room had a stunning view of the endless blue water. He also had a clear view of how to resolve this turmoil still roiling in his chest.
    On the one hand, he was grateful she came with him to his hotel, and he was thrilled to see her out of harm’s way. On the other hand, he wanted her to know the truth of who he was. No more lies. No more doubts. They’d had it out, for all intents and purposes, in her room, as the rush of anger coupled with the urgent need to get her safe ruled the moment. Now, it was time to let go of the defensiveness and try to understand each other. If they were working together—and hell, that sure seemed to be the plan—they had to be on the same side.
    Otherwise, he’d walk away. But the thought of leaving her made his gut clench.
    He had to try to talk to her about some of the harder topics. If not, this would be Rosalinda and the Medici job all over again.
    “Just look,” he said, gesturing to the vast sea.
    She gazed toward the water. “It’s gorgeous.”
    “It is. And I’m showing you to make a point.”
    “Over the view?” She parked her hands on the railing.
    He turned to her and met her eyes. “Yes. I’m showing you this because it’s beautiful. Because you love the water. Because you are an outdoor girl through and through. Because I know these things about you,” he said, taking her hands and clasping them in his. He