“I know they’re about to have a meeting, but I accidentally left something of value inside.” I gave him an apologetic smile. “I’ll make it super quick, promise.”
He narrowed his eyes, and just when I thought he’d tell me to get lost, he knocked on the door. At Dimitri’s “Enter,” he opened the door, and I slipped inside, holding my hands up.
“I’m so sorry, but my ring must’ve fallen off in here. Have either of you seen it?”
“We’re about to—” Omar started, but Dimitri put his hand up.
“What does it look like?” he asked.
“It’s a gold onyx, and it’s been in my family for generations.” I sounded on the verge of tears, and that prompted Dimitri to get up and start looking.
“Are you sure you had it when you came in? It might’ve been lost at the bar.” Dimitri paused. “Perhaps your German friend had slippery fingers.”
“I’m positive I had it. Maybe if I retrace my steps…” I walked over to the window as they searched the table—well, Dimitri did. Omar glanced at it briefly until Dimitri gave him a death glare anyone would wilt from, and both he and the guard jumped up to help.
Keeping them in my periphery, I reached for my belt end, peeled off the recorder, and then grabbed the curtains with both hands. I shook them out so I could check the floor beneath them, but all the while I was attaching the device to the back middle panel of the curtain. When I was sure it was fastened well, I let go and shook my head.
“I don’t see it anywhere.”
“Boss, we don’t have time for this,” Omar said.
“That’s up to me,” Dimitri snapped. “We’ll find it faster if you get on your knees and crawl.”
NowthatI would pay good money to see.
The guard was inching closer to the spot I’d dropped the ring, and hopefully he’d find it soon, because the train was pulling into the station—Linz Central Station in Austria, as a matter of fact.
I filed that information away and gave a little sniffle for their sake. I was devastated, after all.
The guard stopped suddenly and picked something up off the rug. He studied it before holding it out to me. “This it?”
I gasped and reached for the ring. “Yes!Oh dieu merci!” I gazed down at the piece of jewelry I really wouldn’t have been heartbroken to lose. It wasn’t a family heirloom, and it definitely wasn’t the half-a-mil monstrosity a sheikh who was obsessed with me had gifted me after a night together. Or, as he’d said, “Go into my jewelry collection and pick one.”
No, this was part of the costume. A nice enough vintage piece that fit a dancer’s lifestyle, not one from my own, very extensive, collection.
“You’re an absolute lifesaver,” I said, smiling at the guard and curling my hand shut around the ring.
“That is part of his job description,” Dimitri said. “Saving lives.”
“Well, I guess that means I have eight left, right? Better use them wisely.”
Dimitri reached for my hand and uncurled my fist, revealing the simple black-and-gold piece. “Which finger?”
“Considering it slipped off my ring finger before, let’s go with the middle this time.”
He held my hand and slid it up halfway, but it was too tight of a fit.
“You know what? I think I’ll just keep this one safely tucked into my bag instead.”
“A good idea,” he agreed, handing me the ring back before lowering his mouth onto mine. I knew the clock was ticking from the way the train had come to a stop, but he kissed me leisurely, sweeping his tongue inside my mouth. He was so damn good at it, likebrain-meltinglygood. So good I was making up terms, becausedeliciouswasn’t covering it. It was all I could do to hold on while he took control of the kiss.
He pulled back suddenly, leaving me breathless, and opened the door. Those dark eyes were flashing with desire, but he had enough self-restraint to not walk me to our room himself.
As I brushed by him, I started to remind him not to take all day, but he beat me to the punch.
“I’ll be quick,” he said, voice low. “Be ready for me.”
16
