Page 9

S taring out the plane’s windshield, trying to ignore the rapid thumping of my heart, I can’t believe Knox Beckett just asked me out and I turned him down. Apparently, he can’t believe it either because the look on his face can only be described as flabbergasted.

I have a feeling I’m one of the rare few women to tell him no. Hell, maybe I’m the first. But I’m proud of myself for sticking to my guns and saying no.

It takes a minute for his ego to regroup. “Think about it.” He places a hand over his heart, giving me his best puppy dog eyes. “And before you say no again and hurt my very fragile feelings, why don’t you tell me how you became a pilot?”

Fragile feelings? I try not to roll my eyes.

“I didn’t have a big family. My mom died when I was young, so my dad raised me.

He was an engineer and taught me everything I know about mechanics.

” My voice catches and I take a breath before continuing.

“We used to take things apart and rebuild them together. He encouraged my interest in flying and I was a licensed pilot by the time I was seventeen.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

The sincerity in his voice catches my attention, and I glance over. He actually looks impressed, and I can’t help but smile. “He was the best.”

“Was?” he echoes.

My chest tightens and I swallow down the rising emotion. “He passed away a few years ago.”

“I’m sorry. It sounds like you were extremely close.”

“He was my best friend,” I say quietly. “I miss him every day. Flying always makes me feel closer to him.”

I press my lips together, not sure why I’m telling him all this, and suddenly feel very vulnerable. A warm hand touches my arm, and I don’t pull away.

“Sounds like he was a good man,” Knox murmurs, voice deep and comforting. “And he encouraged you to follow your dreams, which means he believed in you and wanted you to be happy.”

“He did,” I say softly. Clearing my throat, I lock my emotions down. Now isn’t the time to get weepy and bare my soul to this man who I barely know. Yet, strangely enough, we’re having a moment, so I decide to ask him about his family. “What about you?”

“Two amazing parents who’ve been married for thirty years and counting. And five older sisters who never hesitated to knock me upside the head.”

“Five?” I echo.

“Yep. I’m not complaining, though. They kept me respectable, and they certainly still keep me in line. When you live with that many women, you learn a lot.”

Tilting my head, I glance over at him. “And what did you learn?”

Before he can answer, his phone starts buzzing. “Excuse me,” he murmurs, reaching into his pocket to pluck it out. “Beckett.”

Giving myself a mental shake, I pretend to check an instrument reading, but really, I’m listening to his side of the conversation.

“ What? ”

Surprise fills his voice, and I study him closely. But he has a good poker face.

“Yeah, sure,” he responds, then looks at me. “I’ll ask her.”

He hangs up, turning his full attention back to me, and I’m curious what he’s going to say. Maybe he needs to be dropped off somewhere else. Or maybe—

“That was Addie,” he tells me, “and we have a bit of a problem.”

I arch a brow. Maybe she was arrested. “Oh?”

“The emerald Linc took from the safe isn’t real.”

“That’s too bad,” I say easily, although it kind of serves them right. Karma and all.

“Ryder, our gems expert, confirmed it’s a fake.” He frowns. “Why the hell would Torres have a fake in his safe?”

“Maybe as a deterrent to thieves?” I suggest a little too brightly.

His mouth tightens and I’d be willing to bet my last dollar he’s holding back a snarky response.

“Addie wants to know if you’d be willing to fly us to Spain to get the real one?”

Oh, hell no.

But instead of revealing how I really feel, I merely ask, “How do you know it’s in Spain?”

He shrugs a shoulder. “I’m meeting my crew as soon as we land and will get more details on whatever the hell is going on. I want you to come with me. Addie will have an offer for you.”

“I’m not interested. And I think I’ve done enough.”

“Just consider it,” he presses. “We could use a good pilot. And you’ll be paid generously for your time and skills.”

His offer is tempting. So very tempting.

If I can continue borrowing Slater’s jet… I chew on my lower lip, seriously considering. It’s a very attractive and potentially lucrative opportunity. I suppose if I don’t break any laws there’s no harm in taking the job. But I’d be working for thieves.

I’d also be spending more time in Knox Beckett’s company.

The scales begin to tip from a maybe to more of a yes. What the heck does that say about me?

The rest of the flight goes by smoothly.

Knox continues to engage me in conversation and even turns his charm up a notch.

But I know it’s only because he wants me to fly his ring of thieves to Spain.

I’m far too smart to fall into his honeytrap, believing his flirty smiles actually mean something.

It’s not that he doesn’t come off as genuine, because he actually does—and that just makes the situation even more complicated.

How can I tell if he’s truly interested or only using me?

You can’t believe him , I tell myself. He has an agenda and wants your help. End of story.

Believing anything else…well, that would be bad for my heart. And, after Shane, it’s not a chance I’m willing to take. Absolutely no way. As tempting as Knox might be, he may as well be wearing a blinking neon sign that screams “Heartbreaker.”

At the same time, he’s damn hard to ignore.

My gaze slides down his firm chest, hugged by a fitted navy-blue Henley.

The color shows off his sapphire eyes to perfection—and I guarantee he knows it.

He’s currently focused on his phone, scrolling away, so I take full advantage and continue my perusal downward.

At least he zipped up his jeans. God, when he stepped out of the rear cabin earlier, his jeans undone, hanging low on his slim hips, I couldn’t help but ogle the goods.

Knox Beckett is a smorgasbord of carnal delights, from his firm pecs to his tight abs to the obvious bulge of his well-endowed manhood.

My mouth goes dry thinking about his cock.

It’s been so long since I’ve had sex—since Shane crushed my heart—and my barren desert wasteland below is beginning to thrum with new life, thanks to Knox

He steals for a living , I remind myself. I can’t get behind that. I’ve spent my entire life trying to do the right thing. Always fighting on the side of good.

I sigh and look out at the infinite blue yonder. Maybe it wouldn’t kill me to loosen the righteous reins a little. I have a feeling if I gave him the go-ahead, this hot, morally gray piece of ass would be up for some fun.

“Penny for your thoughts?” He sends me a devilish smirk as though he heard exactly what I’m thinking.

My headset crackles and I pull it up around my head as directions from Denver Airport come in loud and clear. “We’ve just been cleared for landing,” I say, ignoring his question. Because the last thing I want to do is let him know I’m sitting here lusting over him.

Oh, God help me. Why am I always attracted to arrogant jerks?

∞∞∞

I’m still not quite sure how I got wrangled into my current situation, but Mr. Charm Extraordinaire convinced me to drive him to his meeting, since Linc took the car when he returned.

He also convinced me to go to said meeting.

Okay, it didn’t take much cajoling. I’ve always wanted to meet Ryland’s sister.

Truth be told, I am curious about her offer.

And there is also the fact that I keep picturing Knox naked and it’s making my hormones go crazy. It feels like my ovaries are at a square dance, and they’re ready to swing their partner and do-si-do.

“Where are we?” I ask, turning the car off and eyeing the small office building.

“A-Squared Enterprises,” Knox answers. “The company Addie and Angel, her mom, started. Despite what you think you know about her, Addie is a respected antiquities expert.”

I don’t comment, and I don’t doubt Addison Mills in the least. Quite the opposite, in fact. I think she’s a brilliant, extremely crafty businesswoman. I’m just not sure if I can trust her or her crew.

It’s a little after six o’clock and the parking lot is nearly empty, so I assume most people have gone home for the day. Knox guides me into the building, down the hallway and opens a door with the sign “A-Squared Enterprises.”

A group of people sit at a table, and a woman with dark, golden-blonde hair stands up. “Welcome back, Knox,” she says. She gives him a quick hug then sends me a big smile. “You must be Hunter. Ryland told me all about you. I’m Addison, but please call me Addie.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” I say, immediately liking the other woman’s vibes. She’s welcoming, friendly and her cobalt-blue eyes are full of intelligence. I can easily see myself being friends with someone like her. Plus, if she’s anything like her brother, I know I’m going to love her.

“This is the crew,” Addie states with a sweep of her manicured hand. “Brighton Leroux, Ryder McKay, Lincoln Decker, and, of course, you’ve had quite a bit of time to get to know Knox.”

She’s looking from me to Knox, her blue eyes glowing mischievously, and I shift uneasily.

“I take it you had a good trip back?” she asks him.

“Things got a bit sticky, but Hunter came to my rescue.” Knox sends me a panty-melting smile.

Addie nods as we move to sit down. “Thank you, Hunter. You’re a lifesaver.”

I don’t miss the way Knox places his hand on my lower back and guides me around the table to two empty seats next to each other. He pulls my chair out and I sit, glancing around at the others.

“I hope Knox didn’t get you into too much trouble,” Brighton says. “He seems to attract it.”

“Oh, and you don’t?” Knox fires back with a grin.

Their interaction is friendly, a little flirty, but I get the impression they’re merely friends.

Although, I’m not sure how Knox can resist the woman.

Brighton Leroux must be one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.

She has a presence that demands attention, and with her stunning green eyes and ebony hair, she’s a knockout.

Her poise and classic beauty remind me of the Hollywood starlets from a bygone era, a cross between Vivian Leigh and Hedy Lamarr.

“I did notice that,” I remark dryly, and everyone laughs.

“That’s not all he attracts,” the big man beside Brighton comments drolly. Cropped brown hair, dark eyes and, if I had to guess, a wickedly dry sense of humor. “You can call me Linc or Deck or whatever the hell you want. I respond to pretty much anything.”

“I like to call him asshole,” the man on my opposite side says, and Linc flips him off. He extends his hand. “Nice to meet you, Hunter. I’m Ryder, our gems and tech expert.”

He has a twinkle in his chocolate-brown eyes and keeps looking back and forth between me and Knox. I shift in my seat, growing uncomfortable under everyone’s scrutiny.

“Alright, now that the introductions are done, what the hell’s going on?” Knox asks, turning the conversation to business. “You’re sure the emerald is a fake?”

“Fake as a dollar store diamond,” Ryder states.

At the head of the table, Addie lifts her hand and my eyes go wide at the fist-sized emerald resting on her palm. She tosses it and it slides across the table, landing in front of me. Knox reaches for the green gem, lifts it up and examines it.

“It’s a damn good fake,” he comments and hands it to me.

“You’re absolutely sure?” I ask, turning it this way and that, admiring the way it sparkles beneath the light. Ryder scoffs and I look up.

“Here we go,” Linc murmurs under his breath. “How to Spot an Emerald 101.”

Knox chuckles and Ryder launches into what I’m gathering is a well-practiced spiel.

“What you’re holding is known as YAG. It stands for Yttrium Aluminum Garnet.

It’s a synthetic stone, man-made in a lab, which means it’s clean and free of inclusions.

Aside from its green color, a natural emerald will always have a myriad of inclusions, often referred to as jardin.

These natural imperfections are part of what makes emeralds so distinct.

They also tell you where in the world it was mined. ”

I raise a brow. “Really?”

“And she’s encouraging him,” Linc mutters, but I ignore him, and nod at Ryder to continue.

“Yes. For example, an emerald from Siberia will have needle-like inclusions. In Pakistan, you get two-phase inclusions, which is a really cool phenomenon.”

Knox pretends to snore, and I elbow him.

“Ignore them,” Ryder says, leaning forward a bit and keying in on my genuine interest. “Basically, imagine a cavity inside a gemstone. It’s full of liquid—that’s one phase of matter.

It’s also got a gas bubble trapped inside.

That’s two phases of matter. A Colombian emerald, on the other hand, can have three phase inclusions—liquid state of matter, gas state of matter and a solid state of matter like a crystal inside of the emerald. ”

“That’s fascinating, Ryder,” Linc states, voice dry as he stifles a—pretend?—yawn. “You still awake, Hunter?”

I smile at Ryder. “It’s interesting.”

“Maybe if you knew some of this stuff, you would’ve realized it was a fake right away,” Ryder shoots back.

Linc shakes his head. “I’m The Safecracker and The Muscle. You handle the geek stuff.”

“We think Torres has the real emerald locked away at his Spanish villa,” Addie says, getting the conversation back on track. “Right after Knox and Linc stole the fake, Torres fled Colombia fast. My intel says he rushed straight to Spain.”

She turns her full attention to me. “We need to go to Spain and get the real emerald, and I’d like to hire you to fly us over there.”

I decide not to mince words. “No offense, but I’m not a thief.”

“Well, that’s good. Because we don’t need a thief, we need a pilot. A damn good one.”

“Right, but I’m not going to be an accomplice and go to jail for stealing from Torres.”

“Technically, Alejandro Torres is the one who stole that emerald, and our job is to steal it back,” she clarifies. “To return the gem to its rightful owner.”

Wait. Did I hear her right? “Return it?” I echo, confused.

I look over at Knox, wondering why he didn’t lead with that part of the story. He arches a dark brow, but doesn’t comment, his dark blue eyes studying me closely.

“Are you in or out?” Addie asks. “Because we leave bright and early.”

My mind is spinning at this new information, and I let out a low breath. This kinda changes everything.

“I’m—” My eyes lock with Knox’s intent, blue gaze, and I hope I don’t regret this. “—in.”