Hotbed Honey (16 page)
Authors: Toni Blake
"Ouch," she groaned. Then she dropped the necklace in her hands to the pile that now streamed from the jewelry box onto the brocade comforter. She was the only person she knew who could actually pinch her finger in a necklace clasp. She decided to take a break, get ready for bed, then look at the baubles a little more before returning them to the safe.
Standing up, Kimberly moved to the light switch on the wall to dim the lamps. Even her eyes were tired, and besides, a full moon shone through the balcony doors to gently illuminate the room.
She reached behind her to unzip her dress, then let it drop to her ankles. Stepping free of it, and of her shoes, she put them away in the closet. She was well ready to retire for the night—God knew she needed some serious sleep to recover from this day and get her wits about her for tomorrow—but first she needed to figure out what to wear to bed. As she'd decided earlier, no way would she be caught dead in any of her little nighties. Considering all that had happened, Max would surely think she was trying to seduce him and she definitely didn't want that.
For one thing, she didn't want to give him that kind of satisfaction. Her physical responses to him so far were bad enough. Considering how their relationship had ended so abruptly, she didn't want him to think she missed him or needed him as much as she still did.
And for another, she wasn't sure she could take having sex with him. Oh sure, she could take it. She'd love to take it. But afterward, she didn't know how she'd cope. Even as she longed for it with every ounce of her being, she also knew it would be disastrous for her. She couldn't go through that again, have that ultimate connection with him, only to say goodbye tomorrow when this was all over.
A knock came on the door. Oh drat, she wasn't ready yet. In fact, a quick look through her stuff confirmed what she already knew—she had nothing suitable to wear. Then it hit her! Maybe she'd snoop through the stuff in the closet that wasn't hers and find some nice full-length pajamas. She'd wash and return them after and no one would be the wiser.
Well, no time for searching out pajamas now. She was standing there in a pink lace bra and panties, and Max was at the door. He knocked again, impatiently this time.
"Just a minute," she yelled. She took a quick scan of the closet until she located a short, shiny, gold kimono hanging on a hook behind the door. She snatched it up and slid it on, quickly cinching the tie in front After all, if she was going to borrow things from the lady who lived here, why not start now?
She padded quickly to the door and opened it.
And Carlo stepped in.
Kimberly's heart went wild. She tried to smile, but feared it had come out looking more like the complete shock that currently assaulted her. Why hadn't she asked who it was first?
But it was too late to lament a mistake. She had to stay sharp, no matter how tired or unprepared she was for this.
"Hi there." He wore a big, goofy smile. "Hi."
"Hope I didn't catch you at a bad time, but—"
"Actually, you did."
"I was hoping I could entice you into a nightcap."
Where's Max? she wanted to ask, but she didn't want Carlo to think she was afraid. Still, this was not the plan. Not the plan at all.
"You know, Carlo, I'm really tired. If you don't mind, I'd rather just turn in. But I'll see you tomorrow—"
"Wow," he said then, ignoring her.
Kimberly followed his eyes to the jewelry that still lay strewn across the bed. Apparently, this was the one thing Carlo liked gaping at more than her, but even that didn't last for long. He quickly shifted his hungry gaze from the jewels to Kimberly's face, and then down to the silk kimono she wore. He gave her a flirtatious grin. "This is like kismet. Did you know I was coming?" He casually pushed the door so that it was almost shut.
Kimberly swallowed. This was bad. Really bad. Not only did he think she had the jewelry out because she wanted to show it to him, but he also thought she was wearing a tiny little robe because she wanted to show
herself
to him. She supposed it was no wonder after her performance over the last twenty-four hours, but still, this wasn't how things were supposed to go!
herself
to him. She supposed it was no wonder after her performance over the last twenty-four hours, but still, this wasn't how things were supposed to go!
"Have you seen Max?" she asked.
He shook his head with a lecherous smile. "Don't worry about Max. It's just you and me."
Oh God, that was the truth. It was just the two of them, no Max, no protection.
But she could handle it. She
would
handle it. She was a trained professional and she could ease her way through this and come out all right. More teasing, she decided. She would simply consider this more teasing for the big oaf. She'd show him the jewelry, then insist on putting it away. She would promise to give him a closer, longer look at it tomorrow and imply that it would also include a closer, longer look at her, too. Kimberly hated to play it this way, but she didn't see that she had any other choice at the moment. To totally refuse his advances might make him hesitate tomorrow when they wanted him to steal the jewelry.
would
handle it. She was a trained professional and she could ease her way through this and come out all right. More teasing, she decided. She would simply consider this more teasing for the big oaf. She'd show him the jewelry, then insist on putting it away. She would promise to give him a closer, longer look at it tomorrow and imply that it would also include a closer, longer look at her, too. Kimberly hated to play it this way, but she didn't see that she had any other choice at the moment. To totally refuse his advances might make him hesitate tomorrow when they wanted him to steal the jewelry.
"Put it on for me," he said.
She lifted her gaze to him. Hid her nervous swallow. Smiled. "Put … what on for you?"
"Your jewelry. I want to see it on you."
"Carlo, this is really quite silly." She'd decided on a small attempt to dissuade him, but added a giggle just to keep him happy.
He stepped forward, closer to her. "Silly? For me to want to see these beautiful jewels gracing your neck, your wrist? Come on, Kimberly. Humor me."
She took a step back, toward the bed, toward the jewels. She still didn't like doing this—not at all—but if she appeased him a bit, it would be easier to get him to leave, easier to promise there would be more tomorrow. Tomorrow, when Max would be in the closet and everything would be how it was supposed to be.
She slid a flamboyant three-tiered diamond choker from the velvet box, then immediately realized she couldn't work the clasp and put it on herself without the aid of a mirror. Still, she attempted it anyway, opening the clasp, then putting the choker around her neck and trying to fasten it without seeing. She failed. Carlo immediately said, "Let me help you."
He stepped up and fastened the choker behind her neck while she held up her hair. When he stepped away, she breathed a huge sigh of relief that he hadn't taken the opportunity to start touching her.
"But wait," he said as she turned to face him. "The bracelet, too."
Oh brother, he'd noticed the matching bracelet lying on the bed. Kimberly sighed and reached for it, thankfully able to put this one on herself. Then she turned toward him again, and stood there letting him look at her, feeling horribly on display and horribly worried about this whole situation. Where in the world was Max?
"Beautiful," Carlo said of the jewels. "Exquisite."
She tried to smile, but it was getting harder all the time. Dear God, she wore only this little robe over her underwear, which could fall open at any time. Then what? Well, she decided, desperate times called for desperate measures.
"I'm glad you like it, Carlo," she said, "and I'll tell you a secret. If you come back tomorrow, I'll put it
all
on for you. And I won't be wearing this silly robe with it, either. How would you like that?"
all
on for you. And I won't be wearing this silly robe with it, either. How would you like that?"
His eyes brightened. "I'd like that a lot."
"Good." Her smile was sincere this time, because it appeared he was going to leave peacefully.
Then across the room, the door opened … and Max came in.
Kimberly saw his eyes blaze instantly. "What the hell's going on here?"
Carlo turned to face him, his eyes wide, his complexion suddenly ashen. "This isn't like it seems, Max buddy. Honest."
Max took a menacing step forward. "How is it, then?"
"I was just, uh, taking a look at Kimberly's jewelry. Those pieces in particular fascinated me and I couldn't truly see how they looked without her putting them on."
"And as for why my wife is standing there in her robe?"
Kimberly took this one, at the same time trying to save her own skin. "Carlo knocked on the door while I was changing clothes, honey. Nothing to be alarmed about."
"Nothing to be alarmed about," Max repeated evenly, shifting his gaze from Kimberly to Carlo. "Is that true, Carlo?"
"Of course, Max. Of course. Nothing happened, nothing at all. I would never betray your hospitality that way. You've been so good to me, taken me into your home, given me your friendship, and I would never try to—to…"
Carlo finally gave up on finishing his pleas and Max stood looking back and forth between them, as if he was mulling it all over. Finally he took a deep breath. "All right then."
"Really?" Carlo asked. "It's all right?"
"Well, I don't think it's a good idea that you're in our bedroom, but—"
"You're right, of course it's not. I was just inviting Kimberly to join us for a drink, but don't worry, it won't happen again."
"Good enough," Max said.
"So, me and you, we're cool?" Carlo asked, eyebrows lifting.
Slowly, Max nodded. "But I think it's time for Kimberly and me to retire, so good night."
Carlo hurried to the door. "Good night. And I'm sorry to have caused any …
confusion
."
confusion
."
They both waited until the door closed and then Max turned to face her. She was so lovely. The diamonds shimmered at her throat. The silk robe she wore was open slightly, just enough to reveal a shadowy bit of cleavage.
But at the moment, how good she looked was completely secondary to his anger.
"What were you doing? Are you crazy?" He kept his voice to a heated whisper. "We had a plan, a specific plan, and we had it for a reason, Brandt. Can't I depend on you to do anything right?" Yes, it was a direct jab regarding the Carpenter case, but he didn't care—he was too mad to care right now—even when he saw the rage flare in her eyes.
"For your information, I didn't go against your precious plan," she said, keeping her voice low, as well. "He just came in. I was changing clothes, there was a knock on the door, and I threw on this robe. I answered, expecting it to be you."
"So when it turned out to be him you just thought, 'Let's have a practice run,' and yanked open the safe for him?"
"No! Before he arrived, I was practicing with the jewelry like you told me. He saw it and asked me to put it on. What was I supposed to do?"
"Tell him some other time. Like when I can be in the closet, damn it."
"It wasn't that easy, Tate."
"What if he'd taken the jewelry? What if he'd gotten away with it without us getting it on video?" Max went silent at the strange sensation that grew in his chest with his next thought. It felt as though his heart was bending, breaking. "What if … he'd forced you … without me here to stop him?"
He lifted his gaze, surprised to see how truly upset she looked. She muttered her answer. "What do you care, anyway?"
Max took a deep breath. He didn't think anyone had ever said anything so insulting to him in his life. "You might think I'm a Class A jerk, Brandt, but I'm not
that
bad a guy. You may have ruined my entire career once upon a time, but I don't hate you. You and I, we … well, you should know me well enough to know I wouldn't want anything to happen to you." He'd said more than he'd wanted, but still hadn't told her the way he really felt. At this moment, he thought he'd die if anything bad ever happened to her. Even though it wasn't his fault, he still wished he had been there, wished he'd been more aware of where she and Carlo had been, of where he himself should have been.
that
bad a guy. You may have ruined my entire career once upon a time, but I don't hate you. You and I, we … well, you should know me well enough to know I wouldn't want anything to happen to you." He'd said more than he'd wanted, but still hadn't told her the way he really felt. At this moment, he thought he'd die if anything bad ever happened to her. Even though it wasn't his fault, he still wished he had been there, wished he'd been more aware of where she and Carlo had been, of where he himself should have been.
Then he saw one shiny tear rolling down her cheek in the moonlit room. The diamonds and the teardrop shimmered in startling contrast against her silken skin. He hated that he'd made her cry. Hated it.
"That's always what it comes back to, isn't it?" she said in a voice so soft he barely recognized it. "Our history. Our past. What I did to you. You can't find a way to look beyond it. You can't even
try
to forgive me."
try
to forgive me."
"Kimberly," he whispered, taking a step closer to her, closing the gap between them. "You have to understand how I felt then. I had worked my whole life to get where I was. That job was everything to me. To have the rug pulled out from under me like that, to lose it all in under two minutes flat… I was devastated."
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