Page 13 of Slumming It

"Oh, because I'm also a thief?Anda spy?"See? I could be sarcastic, too.

"Ora spy," he corrected. "I never said both."

I almost rolled my eyes. "Oh, like that'ssomuch better."

His gaze shifted to the phone. It was still ringing, and I swear I saw his jaw tick, like he was thinking of ripping the cord right out of the wall.

On this, I could sort of relate.Funny, it hadn't seemed quite so loud when I'd been hiding under the bed.

I reached up to rub the back of my neck. If he didn't answer soon, Vivian would surely return. If she decided I was in danger, she would definitely barge in – with or without backup.

But for some odd reason, it wouldn’t feel like a rescue. It would feel like…well, I didn't know what exactly, but Mister Billionaire Bigshot could stop all of this from happening by doing one simple thing.

I made a sound of frustration. "Will you just get it already?" When his only reply was a stony look, I added, "OrIwill." Now it was my turn to smirk. "Your choice."

I felt so smart saying it – and less smart a split second later when the ringing stopped on its own.

This wasn't good.With growing desperation, I reached into my pants pocket, intending to pull out my cellphone and let Vivian know that I was okay.

Or mostly okay.

There was just one tiny problem. My cell wasn't there, which meant…oh, crap. I turned to look at the bed. Somewhere beneath it, among the remaining dust bunnies, was my personal cellphone.

I must've forgotten to grab it when I'd bolted for the door.

It was official.

I was totally screwed.

Chapter 6

Reese

In the now-silent hotel room, her face drained of all color as she stared at the bed. She checked her other pants pocket – the left one this time, digging good and deep like a kid probing an empty cookie jar. When her hand came up empty, I almost smiled.

Busted.

She was missing something.Maybe her wallet. Maybe her phone. Whatever it was, I was going to find it. And I would be finding it in this room.

No doubt aboutthat.

As she eyed the bed, I studied her profile. She had a cute nose and full lips, not the pouty kind – the other kind that looked too eager to smile.

But she wasn't smiling now.

On her face, I saw surprise with a good dose of panic. It was the same look I'd seen on Cassandra’s face when she had realized that her antics weren't going to get her what she had wanted.

At the time, I'd felt nothing, not even amusement.

And now?

I eyed the girl in question. I feltsomething. I didn't know what, but the sensation was new and unsettling.I didn't like it.My jaw tightened as I asked, "Missing something?"

She whirled to face me. "Yes, but it's not what you think."

I considered the odds and went with the most likely. "So you're not missing your phone?"

She blinked up at me. "What makes you say that?"