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She relaxed. “Good. That’s what I was hoping to hear.”
“That I’d been—sent to try talking to her?” I scrunched up my face. “Er—to you?”
“Don’t worry about it. So—I’d say those boundaries have already been walked all over, haven’t they?”
“It’s a bit different…” I paused. “Or—I thought it was different. If I’d realized it was you—”
“Let’s keep it like this,” she said, dropping her voice as she leaned in close to me. “You stay on my case, and you don’t tell a soul about what happened in LIV. And in exchange, I stay quiet too—and I’ll go ahead with your agency. Win-win.”
She had the upper hand right now, and furthermore, she didn’t need the upper hand. If she dropped her voice like that, tilting her head down and looking up at me with that devilishly playful glint in her eyes, I’d have agreed to just about anything.
I couldn’t get it out of my mind how it had felt to kiss her. How she’d swept me up in her whirlwind, and how badly I’d missed the touch of her lips the second she was gone. And they were just as tempting now.
“It’s a deal,” I said, finally, feeling betrayed by my own voice. She smiled wider, relaxing in her seat, picking up one of the ceviche shooters and tipping it back into her mouth. I watched with a lump in the pit of my stomach as she wiped a spot of tomato juice off her lower lip, brushing one fingertip slowly over her lip and sucking it off the top of her finger.
“So,” she said, jerking me back to attention, and the satisfied tone in her voice, that smirk on her face, said she’d enjoyed how much I’d gotten pulled in by her… performance. I flushed. “This is where you tell me about the property, isn’t it?”
Was she actually looking to buy? The thought pressed cold into my head—it wasn’t unheard of for people to come to us with a huge budget just to feel important, catered to, the sensation of power from us trying to woo them into making the purchase, and no intention of actually buying. The thought that maybe this was similar—but maybe she was looking for a different kind of wooing—
A resolution tightened in my stomach. Cameron was going to buy. If she was just in this for the rush of power, I’d leverage that feeling of power and make her want to buy. It was Queen Pearl’s last shot.
And if I didn’t, well—I’d have to explain why it hadn’t worked out. And I wasn’t ready to get into that.
“According to María,” I said, sitting up straighter, “you said you like a modern style. Spacious, good views. This one is a little over your budget at sixty-six, but… I’m curious to see if you like it. We’re starting with a penthouse suite in Miami Beach, not… er… not far from Fontainebleau. The owner was quite flattered to have a name like yours touring it.”
She smiled wider. “Starting me over the budget to test out in practice just how flexible I am?”
I put a hand up. “Well, if you’re already familiar with the tactic, we might as well just cut to the chase and you can tell me how much we can fleece you for.”
She laughed. “I’m sure it’s going to be a lovely space. But I wouldn’t want to sign after the first showing, anyway. I don’t like to rush things.”
A wave of intense heat hit my face, like stepping out a door into a heavy summer day. I don’t want to rush. Telling me to take time thinking about her body—picturing her naked—it was still all too easy to do.
This was a married woman. But I couldn’t help myself.
I took a long breath, putting on a smile. “It’s more fun that way,” I said. “Taking your time. Thinking it over.”
“Mm.” A wicked smile spread over her features. “I couldn’t agree more. Maybe this arrangement is good luck, after all. You seem to get me.”
I didn’t get anything going on right now. But I’d be damned if I was letting this slip by. “I’m glad you’re not too unimpressed,” I said, putting on an air of ease. “I’m sure you’re used to yacht rides from people trying to win you over. It must be boring by now.”
Her smile widened, and my stomach dropped out when she bit the corner of her lip. “Normally, I’d agree. But it can be much more exciting depending on who’s trying to win me over.”
I felt my face heat up, but I wasn’t backing away for anything at this point. “Hm. I’m sure you say that to everyone.”
She laughed, and I recognized it just like in the club—the tightening in her neck, in her chest, the rush of it all. And it was just as satisfying doing it to Cameron as it was to Amelie. “I believe we’ve had this conversation… Cara.”
I sipped lightly at my champagne. “I’m not sure who that is.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’re not. So, what made you want to take on this job, then, London? A particular fan of mine?”
I pursed my lips, fighting back the playful smile that bubbled naturally to the surface. “Are you asking about what kind of lingerie I wear?”
She bit her lip, smiling wider. “Do I need to spell it out in any more detail?”
It was a delirious turn-on how… forward she was. Not forceful, but nothing coached, nothing held back. I felt my lips dry, and I took a sip of champagne. “María told me to take on your case,” I said. “I hadn’t even known you were a real person before that. I thought it was just a brand name.”
She tutted. “Are you supposed to admit to that?”
