The Sapphire Heist (A Jewel Novel Book 2) Read online

  “Is there any other kind?”

  He shook his head. “Not that I can think of. But my nephew, Mason, loves that cat. Mason is pretty much the only person the cat is actually sweet to.”

  “What’s Mason like?”

  “He’s a pistol. He’s just like Brandt. The athlete of the bunch. Wild and playful. We used to say when Mason woke up, it was like a bomb going off. Kate’s house went crazy with his energy. Brandt was like that, too, when he was younger, so it’s kind of funny to see that in Mason now,” he said.

  She took a pull of her beer, then set it down on the red-checked tablecloth. “And what about Kylie? Why is she a handful, as you say?”

  He scratched his jaw. “She’s sweet but super scattered. She’s always struggled a bit in school. She pulls through but needs extra help. Like in science and stuff. She’s got a test coming up tomorrow and is a mess about it. She’s got some anxiety issues, and it makes it harder for her to do well in school because of them.”

  Steph frowned. “That’s too bad.”

  He nodded. “I wish it were easier for her, but honestly, I’m not sure it ever will be. She’s had a rough time of school ever since our parents died, so my goal is just to get her through it.”

  “And it sounds like you’re doing that,” she said with a cheery note in her voice. “What about Brandt? Is he still the wild child?”

  Jake smiled and shook his head, thinking of his kid brother and how much Brandt had changed over the years. “Nope. School settled him for some reason. He’s intense and focused. He wants to be a lawyer and is applying to law school,” he said, then winced briefly at the thought of the upcoming tuition bills that would start piling up. “That’ll be a big chunk of change when he starts school.”

  “Law school isn’t cheap.”

  “Don’t I know it,” he muttered.

  She spread her fingers into a picture-frame shape. “The Jake picture is becoming clearer.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “How so?”

  “That’s the other reason why you’re so driven, isn’t it? Paying for their schools?”

  Jake didn’t delve into the details of his family with too many people. Family was private, and his job was the kind he preferred to keep on the down low. But he didn’t seem to mind sharing the finer details of his life with Steph, for some reason. Perhaps because she was so different from Rosalinda. Steph’s questions seemed to come from genuine interest, not from a need to know his weak spots. Rosalinda had had a hidden agenda. She’d peppered him with questions to unearth his vulnerabilities and learn when she could steal from him. Steph wasn’t working for the enemy. Her motives were purely on the case and with him. She seemed to ask because she cared, and that made him open up.

  “Yep. One hundred percent. They are all my reasons,” he said, as a boisterous family entered the restaurant, waiting at the hostess stand. The noise pulled his attention briefly away from Steph, and for a second a flash of a sharp nose, the cut of a jawline, hanging by the edge of the waiting crowd, snapped into his memory. The profile felt familiar, but he wasn’t sure why. Instinct told him to study the person, match the face to a name in his mental bank.

  Then Steph spoke, softly and with a wide smile. “I love that you feel that way.”

  Like smoke wafting away, everything vanished but her, and he returned his attention to the woman across from him. She rested her chin in her hand, her gaze intently fixed on his. Her blue eyes were soft. “You really are like their father,” she added.

  When she said that, his damn heart beat harder and faster as it pounded against his chest. Like it was connecting to her because she not only got him, she was on the same wavelength.

  The waitress arrived with their dinners, setting down the plates. After she left, Steph picked up her sandwich and returned to the conversation. “What kind of lawyer does Brandt want to be?”

  “Prosecutor. He wants to save the world.”

  “Is that because of your parents and what happened to them?” she asked and took a bite of her panini.

  “He doesn’t want to see that happen again. He wants to do everything he can to fight back,” he said, diving into his sandwich. Delicious.

  “It’s kind of amazing how you’re both so driven by the same intense focus. But then it’s not that surprising, either, I suppose. Is he like you in other ways?”

  “Meaning is he charming, witty, and good-looking?”

  She laughed. “Is he?”

  “He is. I can say that about my little brother, right? He’s a handsome bastard,” he said, then grabbed his phone and scrolled to his photos. As they dined, he showed Steph several shots from his photo albums of the whole crew. His favorite people in the universe. As they finished, a note flashed on his screen from his little sister.

  Almost ready for the test. I just have one problem that’s driving me crazy. It’s on frictional forces and I want to CRY.

  Jake showed it to Steph. “See? This is what I mean about Kylie. Nervous wreck. Poor kid.”

  Steph furrowed her brow. “Is that for her physics test?”

  He nodded.

  She finished chewing, then set down the sandwich, took a drink, and said, “I won’t pretend I’m a rocket scientist, but I know the answer to that. I could help her.”

  His eyes widened. “You could?”

  She nodded enthusiastically. “I could and I would. Physics isn’t the same as marine biology, but I was good in science so I can work my way through frictional forces. Want to call her and I can walk her through how to do that type of problem?”

  “You’re an angel,” he said, and she beamed from the compliment.

  His heart sped furiously with a giddy kind of excitement. With a surge of joy he hadn’t felt in ages. He blinked, as if he could chase away this foreign feeling. But it was a good feeling, and it had no plans for departure. Happiness was lodging itself in that damn organ in his chest, which was terrifying and wonderful at the same damn time.

  As she talked to Kylie, he tried to tell himself that he was simply relieved that his little sister was getting the help she badly needed. He made every effort to convince his brain that his heart wasn’t hammering against his rib cage over the caring way Steph spoke to his sister, or how she’d talked about his siblings over dinner, or the genuine joy she’d shown from spending time in the ocean an hour ago.

  Nope. His dumb heart couldn’t possibly be fluttering for the woman. He was a smart man, and he knew better than to fall for a woman he worked with. Just to prove to himself that the bizarre sensations in his rib cage weren’t anything more than admiration for his very temporary business partner, he thanked Steph in the way that mattered most to her—zeroing in on work. As she stepped away from the table for a quick ladies’ room trip, he looked something up on his phone.

  See? He did this because he cared about her as a one-time-only partner, not because he was feeling all sorts of crazy things for her.

  Though as he wrote a few quick lines, he knew, he absolutely knew that he was lying to himself.

  As she stared in the mirror of the ladies’ room, she willed her stomach to stop flipping. She tried to center herself with yoga mantras her mom espoused. To calm these escalating endorphins coursing through her veins that had her mind fast-forwarding to all sorts of dangerous possibilities with Jake.

  Future possibilities.

  Meeting his family. Getting to know the people he loved most. She shook her head. What on earth had gotten into her? Where had her reason and logic gone? Good Lord, how the heck could she be thinking of a down-the-road with the man who was after the only father she’d ever known?

  She washed her hands, recalling how easy their conversation had been.

  Somehow, the huge, massive misunderstanding that had nearly derailed them was now so far in the rearview mirror she couldn’t even see it. She was cruising onward at a rapid pace, and they seemed to be growing closer.

  How had that happened? This was supposed to be just business.
They were supposed to be enjoying an island fling. She wasn’t supposed to be feeling.

  Maybe it was simply the time factor. The steady ticking of the clock as it marched toward the end of this trip surely was tricking her into believing something real was brewing between them. As she shut the faucet and grabbed a paper towel, she reminded herself that the ticking clock meant there was no time or space to become fond of the man.

  Theirs was merely an arbitrary intimacy, borne of island breezes, too much sunshine, and being forced to share a room. None of the factors should lead to this rapidly beating heart; to the flushed cheeks; to the dopey, happy look in her eyes as she pictured more days and nights with him.

  She shook a finger at her reflection.

  Stay strong. Don’t give in to all those butterflies.

  She reminded herself Duke had promised to be good to her, and that had turned out to be a crock. Likewise, Jake had claimed he wouldn’t turn in Eli, and she desperately longed to believe him, to blot out the memory of Duke’s treachery and believe in a man’s words. But really, how could she know for sure?

  The only way to be certain was to keep her head on her shoulders and be guided by her brain.

  She marched back to the table, a suit of metal donned, ready to protect herself. When she returned to his side, he shot her the sweetest smile. His soft lips curved up, his eyes crinkled at the corners, and they seemed to light up.

  “What are you smiling about?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. A waitress walked around them, balancing a tray of sandwiches, beer, and iced tea. Jake held her gaze captive and gestured to the chair. “Sit down. I have something to show you.”

  She parked herself in the chair as he showed her the screen on his phone.

  It was open to a TripAdvisor page about Ariel’s Island Eco-Adventure Tours. A new review had landed on her listing. As she started reading, a smile spread across her face. So wide she was unsure she could contain it—not as she read words like great customer service, incredible dive leader, brilliant knowledge of marine life, super nice woman running the business.

  They were simple words, but thrilling ones.

  They meant the world to her. Not because she was jonesing for one more review. But because he’d done it, knowing it mattered to her, it reversed the hurt. So much for her suit of armor. He couldn’t be more different than her ex. She set down the phone, leaned across the table, cupped his cheeks in her hands, and kissed him. Soft at first, but in seconds it climbed the ladder and turned feverish. Her skin sizzled, and she murmured as the kiss consumed her. He groaned as their tongues tangled in the kind of heated kiss that could turn into a furious duet of longing. She was vaguely aware of the diners and her own sense of propriety, so she sealed her lips tightly to his, kissed him hard one final time, then let go.

  “Thank you,” she said as she sat back down. “Even though you’ve never done one of my tours, that was very sweet.”

  “I beg to differ. I have done one of your tours,” he said with a playful rise in his eyebrow. “Tonight.”

  “Was that an official or unofficial tour?”

  “Unofficial, unpaid, who cares? I had the time of my life and I want everyone to know Ariel’s Island Eco-Adventure Tours is the best in the business.”

  “You know what you deserve for that amazing review?”

  “An epic blowjob? A chance to put you on all fours and sink into you?” he asked.

  OK fine. Ripping off clothes was quite fun, and she didn’t want that factor to disappear. She laughed. “You are such a dirty bastard.”

  “I am, and you love it.”

  “I do, and you’ll get all of that, but I was thinking ice cream right now.”

  “That works, too.”

  He tossed the napkin on the table in a rush, held out his hand, and eagerly walked with her to the nearest ice-cream stand.

  Holding hands. The entire way. Squeezing her fingers. Running the pad of his thumb absently over the top of her hand.

  Kissing was good, sex was fantastic, but holding hands?

  That was magical. And it brought a return of those damn butterflies, and all the future possibilities.

  Dangerous things, butterflies. Scarier than jewel thieves.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The mint chip was delicious. The company was even better. The taste of sweetness on her lips as he kissed her one more time, as they walked along the street, music playing from bars, the island breeze floating by, was the best.

  As the sign for the Pink Pelican flickered neon in the night, Jake tipped his forehead to the bar where they’d first met several nights ago. “Quick game of darts before we call it a night?”

  “You’re a glutton for punishment,” she said, then fixed on her best game face. “Get ready to be destroyed, Harlowe.”

  “You’re on.”

  But this time he won. He raised his arms in victory as he defeated her.

  She frowned as Marie scurried from one end of the bar to another, tending to customers. “No fair. Another round?”

  “Not ’til you admit I beat the dart master fair and square,” he said.

  She scowled. “Never. I will never admit defeat.”

  He grabbed her waist and slammed her close. Her breath caught. He nipped her earlobe. “Admit it,” he growled. “Admit I am masterful at darts. Then, and only then, will I accept your rematch offer.”

  She shook her head and made a move to reach for the dart in his hand. Like she was trying to subtly snatch it away. He clamped his palm around it and raised an eyebrow. “You trying to pickpocket me?”

  “If pickpocketing from your hand counts, then yes. I was.”

  “You need a lesson in proper pickpocketing then, woman. You’re too obvious. Like you were in the alley earlier today.”

  “You’re telling me you know how to pick pockets, too?” She narrowed her eyes, skepticism in her tone as she grabbed her iced tea from the nearby counter and took a drink.

  He laughed. “I do. I don’t do it often, but it’s a useful skill.”

  She put down the glass, then parked her hands on her hips, hiking up her purse on her shoulder. “Teach me.”

  “Can’t really teach you everything in one night, but it’s all about the art of deception,” he said as he led her back to the dartboard. Grabbing a dart from the green felt, he raised it and took aim at the bull’s-eye. Her gaze followed the dart. “That means you need to get the person to look elsewhere, like at the dartboard.”

  She nodded and stared at the dartboard. For one second. Two seconds. Three.

  Then it dawned on her. When she snapped her focus back to him, he brandished her wallet. “You got that from my purse,” she said, stomping a foot.

  “I sure did. But that was the point. To show you how it’s done.”

  “OK,” she said, wiggling her fingers. “Let me try.”

  He taught her a few basic distraction tricks, and she practiced on him, dipping her hands in his pockets and trying to pilfer his watch. She was no pro, and he was aware of her moves every time. But her technique improved with the brief lesson. However, the constant gliding of her hands into his pockets zapped his focus away from teaching and onto the next phase of tonight.

  “That’s all for today’s lesson,” he said, since he had no more interest in being out with her. “Need to get you alone now.”

  Her eyes told him she wanted that, too.

  “Let’s say good night to Marie.” She’d been busy all evening pulling the tap and pouring drinks, so he drummed his fingertips against the bar, tipped an imaginary hat to her, and waved good-bye.

  But she beckoned them over.

  “Hey. You found your sexy fisherman,” Marie said to Steph, flicking her long braid off her shoulder so it hung down her back. She turned to Jake. “And you found my favorite mermaid.”

  “We did find each other,” Steph said in a sweet voice that nailed him right in the heart.

  We found each other.

  Those words. They p
ulsed with double meaning.

  But before he could linger any more on the way his heart freaking skipped from hearing them, an awareness dawned on him. Like a lightbulb of obviousness turning on. Marie might know something about the burglary. She might have seen something. Her bar was located a few shops away from the gallery. He seized the moment and gestured for her to come closer. “Did you hear about the robbery down the street last night?” he asked, whispering so the other patrons wouldn’t hear. “Heard a diamond walked off.”

  “I did,” she said. “They had a big old party at the gallery. But by the end of the party, Isla’s diamond had disappeared. They’re trying to keep it quiet, but it’s obvious she’s wearing a fake now.”

  “You think someone at the party stole Isla’s diamond?”

  Marie shrugged. “Who knows? Has to be, right?”

  “Who was there?”

  “Everyone. The assistant manager. The manager. The realtor. The guy with the snake tattoo,” she said, then a new customer sidled up to the bar and raised a few fingers, eager to order.

  “Need to run,” Marie said and blew them a kiss. “Come back soon.” Then she stopped in her tracks and leaned across the counter. “You two make an adorable couple. You know that, right?”

  Steph blushed, and Jake stammered a thanks.

  As they left, Steph squeezed his arm. “Snake tattoo,” she whispered when they reached the sidewalk. “The assistant manager at the nightclub.”

  Jake’s memory was jogged. He’d seen the guy in Eli’s office at the nightclub the other night. Had he been in the office legitimately? Or was he poking around? “Think he’s our Mr. Smith?”

  “He knows Eli. He’d probably know Eli had some diamonds. He certainly knew Isla had one. What if he took it last night at the party? Maybe he has a bone to pick with Eli.” Her eyes widened, and she grabbed his arm, clutching him tightly. “I saw him at Happy Turtle a few days ago. He was sunbathing and looked like he was asleep. But what if he was . . .”

  “Following you?”

  She nodded, her face whiter than it had been a moment before.