Page 73 of My Beautiful Sin

“I think I should at least get a hint,” I tease. “Something that lets me know how much you care?”

“Hmm.” A slow grin touches his lips. “What can I do to make sure you’re available at my beck and call?” His gaze roams over me, as predatory as a wolf. “Something to ensure you know how much I want you.” His fingertips trace lightly over my neck and shoulders.

“Something to entice you,” he continues, then brushes his thumb over my lower lip. “Maybe something like your very own drawer.”

His expression is as playful as his voice has become, and I fight an unexpected bubble of giggles as I press my palms over my heart. “Why, Mr. Saint, an entire drawer? I guess you really do love me.”

He still hasn’t said it out loud, and now I wait to hear those words, or even a simple yes. But all he says is, “Well, what do you think?”

It shouldn’t bother me, but faith isn’t my strong suit. He hurt me once, after all, and some hidden, broken part of me whispers that with Devlin Saint, maybe it’s best if I’m always protecting my heart.

Anna’s quick double-tap on the door has me sliding off the desk, and I’m standing beside Devlin when the doors sweep open and she walks through the gap. “Ellie, I’m sorry. When I first buzzed I didn’t realize you were in here, and then when I realized…” She trails off, looking more than a little embarrassed.

“It’s no big deal. I’ve stolen enough of Devlin’s time.”

“No, no. I don’t mean to rush you out. I just wanted to let you know who tracked me down today,” she continues, her attention shifting to Devlin.

He frowns. “Who?”

“Joseph Blackstone.”

I see the slightest twitch in his muscles. I can tell the name has surprised him and he’s working to keep himself under control. “Are you okay?”

Anna nods, but her face is tight, as if she’s holding back intense emotions. She seems even more tense than she’d been on the beach, and I wonder what happened after Brandy and I left. Or maybe I hadn’t gotten a very good look.

“You’re sure?” The concern in Devlin’s voice is palpable.

“Yes. Really. I’m fine. Just surprised. It’s been a very long time.”

I know this doesn’t concern me, but I’m too curious not to ask. “Who’s Joseph Blackstone?”

Devlin’s eyes narrow as he says, “You know the security breaches I mentioned?”

I nod.

“Well, as far as we’ve been able to tell, Blackstone’s been on the receiving end of some of the leaked information.”

I frown, processing that. “So he’s been stealing information from you?”

“That’s unclear,” Devlin says.

“But someone has,” Anna puts in. “And even if Joseph isn’t driving that cart, we think he’s buying the goods.”

I look between the two of them, now even more confused. “So why come to see you?”

She looks to Devlin when she answers. “No idea. He doesn’t seem to have a clue that we know he’s benefiting from the breaches. He said he learned that I was working for the DSF and that it would be amusing—his word—to come track me down while he was in Southern California.”

“Does he know who I am?”

She shakes her head. “At least, I don’t think so. Nothing he said made me think he knew.”

“Why would he know?” I ask. “You’re talking about Devlin being Alejandro, right? The Wolf’s son? Why would he possibly know that?”

“Joe’s about ten years older than me,” Devlin answers, “and he was moving up fast in my father’s enterprise about the time I came here to work with Peter.”

“So he knew both of you.” I say it as a statement, but Anna nods in affirmation.

“Yeah,” she says harshly. “We knew each other.”