Page 50 of Calculated in Death

He rose, walked into her closet. “Subtle power, I think. Authority, but not threatening.”

“I like being threatening.”

“As well I know, but you’ll want to draw out rather than beat out information. And what you wear will send a message—I can swim in the same pool as you, and mine’s even bigger.”

She scowled over a last slice of bacon. “It’s your damn pool.”

“Shut up before you annoy me and I pick out something that makes you look weak and foolish.”

Amused, as he’d intended, she polished off her breakfast. “Do I have something like that?”

“It’s all in the combination, the presentation, the geography, and the time of day.”

“All that,” she muttered, and figured this time he was being absolutely serious.

“By the way, your dress for the premiere’s here. Have you bothered to look at it?”

“I saw it.” And automatically rolled her shoulders when they tensed. “You know something might come up.”

“Stop.” He came out with a pair of dark gray trousers with silver rivets, a simple mock turtleneck in pale apricot, and a jacket caught somewhere between red and orange.

“The color makes a statement. You’re not afraid to be noticed, and the cut says profession. Combined it’s ‘Don’t fuck with me, as I’m in charge.’ It’s rich fabric, but doesn’t flaunt it.”

“Why don’t clothes ever talk to me?”

“They do. You don’t always listen. And, to circle back, you’ll enjoy the premiere. I’m arranging for Peabody and McNab and Mavis and Leonardo to go with us in the limo. That makes a statement, too. You’re partners. You’re friends.”

“They’ll be all over that. I hate the gawking. Half the damn people I interviewed yesterday are going to the thing, and...” She paused, considered. “Hmmm.”

“And there you are. Now you can consider it part of the job.”

“I might be able to make it work for me. Something to think about.”

He tapped a finger to her head. “Always busy. Black belt and boots.”

“Even I could figure that out.”

Now he brushed his lips over her head, then walked to her jewelry case, scanned, selected. “Studs, subtle again, and classic, with the pop of the carnelian that picks up the color of the jacket.”

“I thought carnelian changed colors.”

“Very funny.” He handed them to her. “Wearing this, you’ll be like a chameleon in the ivory towers of business.”

Once she’d dressed, he angled his head. “Very nice. You know, a scarf would polish it up.”

“Oh sure, I’ll hang something around my neck some bad guy can grab onto and strangle me with.”

“Forget I mentioned it. I’ll give some time to your business today. If I find anything, I’ll let you know.”

“With that schedule I don’t see how you have time to take a leak much less do side work.”

“Yet somehow I manage.” He slipped his arms around her, laid his lips on hers. “You look out for my cop now.”

“I’m so well-dressed nobody’ll make me for a cop.”

“Care to wager on it?”

She shook her head and laughed. “You can look out for my gazillionaire.”