Page 128 of Maneater

Even better when Rory and I are given another mission in paradise. Aruba, this time.

“Maybe we should go on an excursion together while you’re here,” the man across from me says, watching my finger play along the rim of the wine glass in front of me. I’ve had three, though he doesn’t know that after the first one, I quietly switched to sparkling cider to keep my mind clear.

He, on the other hand, has not been served stronger and stronger drinks each time. His eyes are hazy, his smile sloppy, which is exactly how I need him.

For reference, this isnota situation where I feel bad for potentially ruining this man’s life.

“That would be so fun. You know, I’ve always wanted to swim with dolphins,” I say with a smile and flutter my lashes. Although he returns the grin, it’s barely a moment before his eyes go back to my ample cleavage on display.God, men are so easy.

“Let’s book it. Tomorrow,” he says before looking around as if the hotel restaurant will have some kind of guest services lingering around where they would help him book an excursion for tomorrow. “I’ll pay for it, of course.”

“Oh, that’s so generous,” I say, sugar in the words. Then I let my smile falter just a bit before turning into a pitying pout. “But aren’t you hurt? I doubt they’ll let you go with that.” I tip my chin toward the leg in an air cast.

“What?” he asks, confused as to my tone of questioning, just as we assumed.

He doesn’t even remember he’s wearing it. What a fucking idiot.

“Your cast,” I say. “You can’t swim with that on.” His gaze leaves my breasts for another brief moment, moving to his leg before he smiles and waves a hand at me.

“Oh, no need to worry. It’s not broken.”

My eyes widen, and my lips part, and I make sure my hand is on top of the table to ensure all three wearable devices I have on catch his words clearly.

“It isn’t?”

He shakes his head, then leans in closer.“Can you keep a secret?”

I grin, something genuine for the first time all night, the excitement of a win building in me.“I’m an amazing secret keeper.”

His eyes gobackto my tits before he nods.

“I bet you are.” He motions me to lean in again before saying in a stage whisper, “It’s not broken.” I gasp at this complex and totally new concept to me, not seeing it coming in theleast. Cue eyeroll. “I fell at work and had a doctor buddy of mine sign off on it being worse than it is so I could get workman’s comp.”

I let out a girlish giggle and a wide smile, and he returns a gleeful smile. He thinks it’s because he’sso smart, I’m sure, but it’s really because I just won.

And in record time, nonetheless.

“Oh, that’s diabolical.”

“The best men are the ones who know how to play the system.” He lifts his glass and motions for me to copy. “To working the system.”

“To working the system,” I concur. Then my eyes drift across the room to where Rory is sitting with our newest Maven, Isla. She gives me a thumbs-up, indicating our mission has been accomplished and in record time. We were booked at the Daydream Resort for a week just in case, but we’re only two days in and already hit our mark.

Which means we just earned ourselves a nice little vacation.

“Mr. Martin,” an employee says, coming up to my dinner date at the perfect time. “We have someone at the front desk who is trying to get in touch with you. They say it’s an emergency.” I know the emergency is fabricated and that he won’t be coming back to finish this meal, but I still pout all the same as my date lets out a deep sigh.

“All right. It should only be a minute. Then we’ll find the best time forour dolphin swim.”

“Can’t wait,” I say with a smile, knowing damn well I won’t be here when he gets back, an “emergency” of my own taking me away.

As I watch him lumber off with a smile over his shoulder at me, I sit back, the pleasure of a completed job washing over me as a new,realglass of wine slides before me.

And then Rowan slides in across from me, a smile spreading over his full lips.

“Job well done?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

I nod and grin back at him before taking a long sip of my new drink, the exact brand he knows I love.“Easier than expected.”