Teasing The Boss (15 page)

“That’s quite a profound effect you have on people. I’m sure you have some very elite clientele to afford a space like this.” Grace leaned in closer to Simon.

“My paintings are hung in mansions between here and California,” he said proudly.

Simon narrowed his eyes. “I actually saw one hanging in a mansion the other day.”

Sandy puffed out his chest. “Really? Where was that?”

“We attended a party at Mark DuFord’s Hamptons home,” she answered. “A rather interesting piece of yours was hanging on the wall.”

If she hadn’t been looking for it, Grace might’ve missed the subtle stiffening of Sandy’s shoulders. “Ah, yes. Mr. DuFord has been a patron of mine for many years.”

“Really?” asked Simon. “How many works of yours does he have?”

“Umm,” muttered Sandy. “He’s been very generous with his appreciation of my talents.”

Simon took a step closer and Grace could tell he was going in for the kill. “What kind of talents? I only saw one of your paintings in his home.”

Sandy inched backwards. “He’s been a great benefactor of mine for years.”

“Out of the kindness of his heart? If he was such a fan, why would your one work in his home be tucked away where no one could see it?”

The artist pointed a finger at Simon. “Sir, I’d appreciate it if you left. I don’t like your tone.”

“Funny,” said Grace. “I dated Mark for over a month and he never once talked about his interest in art.”

Sandy looked between the two of them. A slight tremor racked his body. “If the two of you don’t leave, I’m calling the police.”

Simon crossed his arms. “You really want to drag the law into this? If you want to discuss legal issues, let’s talk about the true art that DuFord has been paying you such good money for.”

Sandy’s complexion went shock white. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You have a horrible poker face,” said Simon. “How long have you been working for DuFord?”

“I told you—”

“Stop lying,” said Grace. “We already know what you’re trying to hide.”

Sandy clenched his jaw and backed away another step. “What do you want?”

“Names. Dates. Times. We want everything,” said Simon. “When DuFord goes down for this, do you really want to be his scapegoat? Who do you think he’s going to point the finger at when the cuffs go on?”

“It’s not like we hurt anyone!” insisted Sandy. “Skimming money off millionaires! What’s the big deal? We’re like Robin Hood!”

Grace’s brow crinkled at his asinine logic. “Robin Hood robbed from the rich to give to the poor, you idiot. Not to himself.”

“We never hurt anyone! Those old farts could afford it.”

“Does the name Darren Wilson mean anything to you?” asked Simon.

Sandy frowned. “That was a mark from forever ago. Some rich kid from the city.”

“He wasn’t rich. He invested every dime he had with DuFord. When the police got wind of where the money was invested, they filed criminal charges and dragged Darren away from his home in handcuffs. Thanks to you, there was no sign that he was lied to about where the money was going.”

Sandy shook his head. “You’re full of shit.”

“This is what happens when you do bad things for a living. People get hurt. Darren’s parents covered the bail money to get him out and that night, he downed a bottle of sleeping pills and whiskey.”

Sandy shoved a trembling finger toward Simon. “That’s not my fault!”

Grace narrowed her eyes. “That’s debatable. Now I’d suggest telling us what you know before a judge decides you
are
to blame.”

He took a deep swallow. “That won’t happen.”

“You don’t seem too sure.” Simon pulled out his card. “I’ll let you think over if your relationship with DuFord is worth spending the rest of your life in prison.”

Sandy squinted to read the card. “You’re not a cop.”

Simon’s smile was so wicked even Grace was tempted to step back. “No. That means that if you don’t give me what I want, I don’t have to play nice.”

Sandy’s eyes bulged as his features went even paler.

“Now think it over, but don’t take your time. I’ll be back.” With that ominous threat, Simon wrapped an arm around Grace and led her out of the gallery. As soon as they were back in the cool night air, Simon held up a hand to hail a cab.

“That’s it?” she asked. “He looked like he was about to tell us everything we could’ve wanted to know.”

“There’s nothing he could tell us,” he said as a car pulled up.

“What’s the point of even coming out here if he couldn’t tell us anything?” She pulled open the door, not waiting for him to do it for her.

Simon walked around to the other side and climbed in. He quickly gave the cab driver Grace’s address, which he somehow knew off the top of his head, and turned to face her. “What could he give us? Names? Dates? Technique? I already know who he’s scammed, when he scammed them and how he did it. I need to turn him against DuFord. Make him realize they’re in a dangerous business and that it might be best to get out.”

She sighed. “Well, you definitely scared the crap out of him. You know he’s going to call DuFord.”

He shrugged. “It’s not like he didn’t know we were after him. The element of surprise was blown.”

“He’s going to come after you,” she warned. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

He smiled at her. “Let him come after me. He doesn’t scare me.”

Grace looked out the window at the buildings flying by. “He’s dangerous. I know you’re normally right about everything, but your arrogance is going to get you in trouble.”

She jerked at the feel of Simon’s large, warm palm as it settled on her knee. “Don’t worry about me, okay? I have everything under control.”

“I know you do right now.” She turned to look at him. “I’m worried about when Mark blindsides you.”

“What makes you think he will?”

Grace narrowed her eyes. He had to be testing her. He could read people even better than her, and this was obvious. “Because you’re going after his money. Hitting him where it hurts. He won’t take it lightly.”

“Don’t worry.” His thumb caressed the inside of her thigh. “I can handle Mark.”

She looked away again. Sure, he could be wrong, but she desperately wanted him to be right.

Simon opened the door and held a hand out to Grace. She intertwined her fingers with his and he pulled her up. She was so close. Would it really be so bad if he leaned forward and kissed her? She’d probably tell him to get lost and he’d probably regret it later, but for the life of him, it was all he could think about.

“Princess needs to be let out,” she said softly.

He took an abrupt step back. That was obviously his cue to give her some space. “Sure. I’ll do some more research into our artist, and we can regroup later.”

She took a swallow and looked between her apartment entrance and him. “If you want, you can wait down here. Princess and I will be out in a minute.”

He nodded, trying not to let his excitement show. “I’ll wait.”

She gave him a quick grin as she hurried to the door and disappeared into the building. Simon paid the driver and told him not to wait.

He leaned against the building and took a deep breath of cold air. In one sense, they’d made progress tonight, but he couldn’t help but feel as if they were right back where they started. Sandy was terrified of DuFord, and it would take extreme measures to convince him to turn on his benefactor.

The door to the building creaked open and there was Grace. She wore the same white dress, but traded her nude high heels for tennis shoes. Princess seemed happy to be outside, but went full-on ecstatic when she noticed Simon in the shadows. Her tail wagged impossibly faster as she pulled her hardest on the leash until he could lean down and give her a quick scratch on the ears.

“You have a fan for life.” Grace smiled.

“No kidding.” He stood and gave Princess one more pat on the head. “So how far do you normally go when you walk her?”

She shrugged as she moved down the street. “It depends on my mood. Sometimes I make calls while I’m out here and then I might go farther. Sometimes I just have a lot on my mind. And other days I’m exhausted and as soon as she does her business, I get back upstairs and in bed.”

“I vote for option three.” He wanted it to come out as a joke, but couldn’t help the earnestness that slipped out.

Instead of laughing, Grace remained silent. They continued on like that for a few moments. The only sound was the cars on the street and the clacking of Princess’s nails on the concrete.

“Why did you ask me to stay?” asked Simon.

She kept her gaze firmly on the sidewalk. “Because I didn’t want you to go yet.”

“Grace.” He set a hand on her arm to stop her.

She slowly looked into his eyes. “There. I said it. Now you can tell me that I’m an idiot or that all of our make-believe is causing me to imagine things, but I thought you should know, damn it.”

“I don’t think—”

“I know it’s not a good idea, but seeing you again, working with you tonight, we might have something here, you know?”

Simon tried to remind himself of all the reasons they shouldn’t, but it was difficult to keep his thoughts clear when her blue eyes stared up at him with so much hope. “The rumors about me are true,” he warned her. “I’m an ass. I say what I mean and mean it when I say it.”

She raised a brow. “I hate to break it to you, West, but I’m no saint. And I’ve seen you in action. I know what I’m getting into.”

He took a deep breath. This wasn’t some one-night stand or friends with benefits she was offering. “You don’t realize what you’re asking.”

She rolled her eyes and gave Princess a light tug as she turned to walk back to the apartment. “I think you’re the one who doesn’t realize what I’m asking. I’m asking you to come upstairs. After that, maybe we get dinner later this week. Maybe you stay over for a night or two. I’m not looking at next year or next month.”

“No labels?” he asked.

“Oh, you’d totally be my boyfriend.” She smirked at him. “Exclusive and everything. Now is this something you can do?”

He didn’t say anything. Couldn’t. It was his specialty to analyze and predict every possible outcome, and he couldn’t see any way being in a full-blown relationship with Grace would end well. And he didn’t want to end things with her hating him like his few serious lovers in the past. He never wanted Grace to hate him.

Before he knew it, they were back at her apartment. She stared at him expectantly. “Should I call you a cab?”

His mouth went dry. “No.”

A subtle smile curled her lips as she turned to unlock the door and held it for him. He let her and Princess go up the stairs to the second-story apartment. With each step he took, he imagined all the ways she’d hate him when everything was said and done. But he didn’t stop or head back.

She opened her apartment door and unsnapped Princess’s leash. “So…” she said softly, biting at her bottom lip.

He tried to think of what to say, but his mind couldn’t focus on anything besides her lip and how much he wanted to be the one biting it. So he stopped trying and gave in. He pulled her against him and covered her mouth with his own. She kissed him fiercely and pushed his jacket off his shoulders so her hands could roam over his back.

Something about her eager touch set him off, and he tightened his grip on her waist to lift her against him. She took his cue and wrapped her legs around his waist; her hot core brushed right up against his erection. He groaned at the contact and pushed her up against the nearest wall. With the better leverage to grind himself against her, he moaned in pleasure and cursed the clothes that still separated them at the same time.

She kissed along the side of his neck and nipped slightly at the sensitive skin, as though to prove how un-saintly she could be. He tilted his head, giving her better access, as he lifted her away from the wall just enough to tug the zipper on the back of her dress all the way down.

As she continued to torture his neck, he glanced to the back of the apartment. It was small enough that he could pinpoint where her bedroom was. Once his target was in sight, he firmly gripped her ass as he carried her to her room.

Her arms tightened around his neck as he moved, and he relished the feel of her tight body up against his. As he crossed into her room, he kicked the door shut and set her down.

Her hands immediately went to his shirt, making quick work of the buttons before she pulled it off in quick tugs. He matched her frantic pace as he pulled her dress down until it pooled at her ankles. Grace stepped out of the dress and kicked off her tennis shoes before she reached for his belt.

He stared down at his blonde vixen as she undid the belt and then the button of his pants. So put together and neat in business, yet so wild when he got her alone. Dear God, how would he ever get enough of this woman?

But then she was pushing his pants down, going to her knees in front of him and all his thoughts ceased as she wrapped her mouth around his cock. His fingers clenched in her hair, but he let her set the pace.

She slowly moved up and down. The friction of her hot lips teased every nerve in his cock. His breaths grew shorter and faster as his whole world narrowed to what she was doing to him.

Right before he exploded, he pulled her away. She looked up at him with wide eyes and glossy lips. “Let me finish you,” she breathed.

Unable to think straight, he picked her up and tossed her on the bed in one quick motion. She bounced as she landed on the soft mattress, and he was momentarily transfixed on the breasts, still within her bra, shaking with the movement. But then he was on her, tearing her panties down her legs and thrusting in one smooth motion.

Grace’s head fell back as she moaned. He pulled out almost all the way and pushed into her tight heat again; he shuddered at the sensation. He leaned forward and caught her mouth with his as he moved to a fast rhythm. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, legs around his waist, as her tongue teased his lips.

Her hips bucked with every thrust, showing him she wanted it just as much as he did. He moved faster and faster. Pleasure coursed through him. As she screamed her release, it became too much. He rested his head in her shoulder and gripped her tightly against him as his own climax shuddered through him.