He wiggled an eyebrow. "You were talking about me?"
Don"t blush! "I wasn"t, Ellie was."
"Ah." She was relieved he let it go. "Stealing from other thieves is simplifying it. But yes, every person I stole from had purchased the gems illegally. They bought stolen goods, and they knew it. You could say I reclaimed them."
"Nice euphemism. It"s still stealing."
"Yes, it is."
She thought about it for another moment. "But they can"t report it."
"That"s right. They can"t run to the police and say, this guy stole a hundred thousand dollars worth of diamonds from me, when coincidentally that was the value of the stones taken in a recent robbery. Even if they can"t pin the robbery on the guy, he can"t prove the stones are his, and he"s drawn unwanted attention to himself. So he has to write it off as a loss."
"Or try to get even."
He winked at her. "You know, I always liked that about you, Janet. You think like a criminal."
She gave him a sour look. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Absolutely. That"s how you stayed alive when Banner sent you off with Colombian drug dealers who were supposed to kill you-you knew what they intended to do, and you found a way out of it. Successful criminals have to be resourceful and think a step ahead or they get caught."
"You got caught."
He actually looked embarra.s.sed. "A technicality. I was set up by someone who held a grudge and I was stupid enough to fall for it. But smart enough not to get caught with the gems he was hoping I"d take."
He seemed to be waiting for more questions, but she didn"t want to ask them. If she knew his whole story she had a feeling he wouldn"t look like an ordinary thief at all. She might even admire him.
"Thanks for telling me," she mumbled. She folded the laptop closed, hoping he got the message-lesson over, time to go.
He got up, receiving a surprised blink from Jingles, but made no move to leave. "You really have no idea where or how Banner got the necklace?"
"No. But I"m pretty sure he didn"t steal it himself, if that"s what you mean. His style is to let other people do the actual dirty work while he pockets the money."
He nodded in a distracted way, as if it wasn"t pertinent. "Do you have any idea how long he had it?"
"No. I had the impression he"d just bought it, but I don"t remember if he actually said that." She didn"t like the concerned look on his face. "Why does it matter?"
"Because whoever owned the necklace most likely owned the rest of the collection. And whoever stole it most likely stole those other pieces, too."
"But I don"t have them."
"No one knows that, Janet. And someone will be looking for them."
She knew he was right and felt the first p.r.i.c.k of apprehension. "You know the jewelry trade. Will they be able to trace the necklace back to me?"
"All too easily. Portman"s had it, and believe me, they"ll be talking about it. You showing up at Portman"s with that necklace is like someone walking into an art gallery with a missing Pica.s.so. It"s news. Word will travel through the legitimate people in the industry, to the slightly less legitimate, right down to the shady fences you don"t want to meet. Everyone will know the Pellinni necklace has reappeared-and who had it."
She was afraid of that. "And you think someone will break in here, hoping to steal them from me."
His smile was forced. "Definitely. Whoever secretly owned that collection paid a lot for it. You"d better believe he wants it back before the FBI gets their hands on it and returns it to that museum in Germany, which is probably where the necklace will be going soon. Look at it this way: Most people think the necklace has been found. But someone out there thinks of it as lost. Missing from his private collection. And if he doesn"t move fast, the rest of the pieces will be lost, too."
She wasn"t ready to panic, but she knew the implications. "So I"m in danger."
"Let"s just say not all jewel thieves are as charming and suave as the one you know."
She couldn"t resist a sly comeback. "Or as filled with self-admiration?"
He flashed his killer smile again. "Well, they might be, but of course it"s sadly misplaced."
"Of course." Things were starting to feel too friendly, considering her determination to keep him at a distance. "Look, all kidding aside-"
"I"m not kidding." He cut her off, his light tone suddenly sharp. "This is not a game, and the people who will be looking for the jewels are deadly serious. Emphasis on deadly."
"I understand." He"d stepped closer, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "I"m not helpless. You know I have an excellent security system, because you installed it yourself."
"Windows can be broken, wires can be cut, doors can be smashed in."
Irritation flickered. She knew what he wanted; he wanted her to move out. The ironic part was, if this had happened a year from now when she was more secure in her independence, she might not have argued. Logic told her he was right. But he"d touched on a purely emotional issue. She"d just rid herself of the last trace of her controlling ex-husband, and hearing another man tell her what to do aroused in her an irrational stubbornness.
"I"ve been held captive by drug lords and faced down a killer. You didn"t know me well back then, but you were there, so you know I"m capable of handling myself."
"I know you"re brave." His face softened. "But you"re not bulletproof, Janet."
d.a.m.n, he could be pretty persuasive when he stood that close and looked that concerned. Also, when he was right. "I"ll consider leaving," she said.
"Soon."
"Don"t push." She said it quietly, needing him to understand.
He studied her, then gave a brief nod. "Okay. But one question. If it were someone else asking, would you move out now?"
She did a mental stumble. Would she? Or was she simply resisting him on princ.i.p.al, trying to push him away?
She did want to push him away. Having him near awoke a desire she thought Banner had killed, a desire she couldn"t trust. It turned out that attempted murder was a good cure for following one"s heart. She couldn"t risk being with Rocky, not when he made her feel so confused and flushed and-what was the question?
She stuck her hands in her pockets, feeling suddenly awkward. "It has nothing to do with you. I keep telling you, not everything does."
His lips curved up slowly, as if the thought behind his smile kept getting better and better. "But some things do, don"t they?" he said over his shoulder as he headed for the door.
b.u.t.terflies fluttered in her stomach. She watched him leave, staring at the closed door and wondering just how many of her thoughts he had read.
Seconds later she jumped at his sharp knock. "Lock it," Rocky called from the other side. "I"m waiting."
With new resolve, she marched over and gave the deadbolt a sharp twist. She"d work with him tonight because she"d promised Ellie, but that was it. Life was easier when she avoided Rocky.
Rocky sat in his car, studying Janet"s condo, thinking of all the ways he could break in.
It was too easy. If he could think of them, so could a pro, and that"s who would be coming. Someone who wouldn"t be stopped by the best security systems because they would know, as Rocky did, that the easiest way around them was through the front door. If she was too cautious to let someone in, they only had to wait for her to go out. It would be easy enough to overpower her. No alarm, no forced entry. And no one else in the house to contend with.
He couldn"t watch her all the time. He had work to do, even more than usual with Ellie gone for two weeks. He shouldn"t even be sitting here now; he had afternoon appointments waiting.
He started the car and pulled out, rea.s.suring himself that she probably had a few days grace before anyone would track her down. But they would. He"d hinted only that it was possible, because he hadn"t wanted to scare her. In truth, it was a certainty. If he had to, he"d insist she leave or he"d park in her driveway day and night. She was probably stubborn enough to make him do it, too.
He knew she needed to learn to trust herself again. But d.a.m.n, he hoped they got past this stage soon. It was driving him crazy.
He"d felt the spark between them the day they"d met. He could tell she had, too, but she was confused and tried to deny it. He couldn"t blame her. Her son of a b.i.t.c.h husband was still out to get her back then, and death threats could be a bit distracting. Even after Banner was in jail, Rocky had respected her need to let the emotional wounds heal. Something that happened sooner than he"d expected. By New Year"s Eve, when he"d seen her efficiently handle several guys. .h.i.tting on her at Jack and Ellie"s party, he"d thought she was still hiding behind that wall she"d erected. But then she"d given him that look.
He smiled at the memory. She"d just deflected some poor guy"s advances, then bent to get a can of pop out of the refrigerator. When she"d straightened to find him watching her from the kitchen doorway and realized he"d witnessed the blunt rejection, her cheeks turned pink. He hadn"t determined yet if she just blushed easily, or if it was only when he was around.
The party noise was subdued in the kitchen, and he spoke without closing the distance between them, afraid to spook her. "Not ready to jump into the dating pool yet?"
She shrugged.
"What was wrong with him?" he asked, nodding toward the dining room where the guy had disappeared.
She popped the lid on her drink and took a sip. "He"s not the right guy."
"Is there a right guy?" Hope made him ask.
That was when she"d lifted her gaze, letting it travel over him before settling with veiled intent on his face. "I"m not sure yet."
His heart jumped in his chest. He hadn"t expected the opening, but he wasn"t about to let it go by. The trick was to take it slowly.
She watched his approach as she took another sip, acting more nonchalant than he knew she felt, judging by the pulsing vein in her neck. He wondered if shooting down a few advances in one night had given her an unexpected spurt of confidence. He wished he felt it, too, because the last thing he wanted to do was come on too strong.
Sudden laughter rolled through the crowd in the living room, but it faded into background noise as he stood in front of her. The fizz from her can sounded unnaturally loud as he shut out everything but the two of them.
"Feel like giving it another try?"
She smiled, a heavy-lidded look that started a slow burn inside him. "I was thinking I might. Sort of a New Year"s resolution."
"It"s not midnight yet."
She lifted a shoulder. "I"m not a stickler for rules."
It was a clear invitation. Still, he moved carefully, watching her reaction as he raised a hand to cup her cheek. She pushed against his palm the tiniest bit, molding her face against his hand, her eyes never leaving his.
Like touching a live wire, electricity shot up his arm, awakening every nerve in his body. He wondered if his touch had the same effect on her, because her mouth opened, emitting a tiny mew of surprise.
It was irresistible. While her lips were still parted, he leaned in and kissed her-one long, gentle kiss that melted away the tension and started a low hum through him. Her free hand slid up his shoulder, fingertips pressing into him as she made a satisfied sound in her throat, her tongue finding his for one brief, teasing moment, dancing an invitation to go deeper.
She pulled back suddenly, alarm flashing through her eyes. He knew somehow he"d crossed a line, that the flare of desire he"d welcomed had been more than she"d expected, more than she was ready to handle.
"Too much too soon," he murmured.
She wouldn"t admit it but didn"t deny it, either.
Reluctantly, he lowered his hand. "I won"t push, Janet. But-" he brushed a kiss on her cheek, feeling her shiver in response. "We"d be good together," he whispered before taking a step back. She watched him, her eyes large and blinking anxiously. "Let me know when you"re ready, because I"ll be waiting. The next move is up to you."
He"d left her there. Later, when the year counted down to zero and several couples kissed amid the cheers and laughter, her gaze had wandered around the room and found his. He saw heat touch her cheeks again before she turned away.
She"d been avoiding him for the six months since. But she hadn"t dated anyone else. He understood her problem was not with dating; it was with her attraction to him. He intended to change that, but he"d have to be patient.
He hoped she"d make a move soon. What they were missing was too good to ignore.
Chapter.
Three.
Janet opened the door and stared at Rocky incredulously. "You"re wearing that?"
He looked at his black jeans and black T-shirt, then back at her. "What"s wrong with it?"
Not a thing. He looked s.e.xy as h.e.l.l, in a cat burglar sort of way. But that was a different problem. "You said to dress how Bloomfield Hills ladies would expect. I a.s.sumed that meant like this." She indicated her linen pant suit, pumps, and smart little matching handbag.
"Nice," he said, giving her an appreciative look. "But that"s not what I said. I said I"d wear what they expect me to. I"m an ex-burglar talking about personal and home security. This is what they"ll expect."
She pursed her lips and considered his clothes while trying not to consider the extremely fit body filling them out. "You"re right, that"s what they"ll expect." They"d probably have fantasies about being burglarized by him, too.
"And as gorgeous as you look, I think you"d better change into jeans and tennis shoes. Those heels will be slippery, and I wouldn"t want to get that nice suit dirty."
"How would you do that?" She narrowed her eyes. "Exactly what is it I"m helping you demonstrate?"
"Self-defense. I thought Ellie told you."
Ellie would pay for this. "She said you were demonstrating security systems. I thought I"d be doing a Vanna White, holding up dead bolt locks while you explained why they weren"t secure enough."
He grinned. "We"ll do that, too. But mostly I need you so I don"t have to pick some little old lady out of the audience, grab her around the neck, and teach her how to defend herself from an attacker."
She had a feeling none of the ladies, even the little old ones, would mind having Rocky wrap his arms around their neck and hold them close. She was the only one who would feel uncomfortable doing that.
She might have to kill Ellie.
"Have a seat. I won"t be long," she muttered, and left to change her clothes. Thanks to her divorce, she had a closet full of jeans. Banner hated them so naturally, she"d bought at least a dozen pairs as part of her celebration when she was free of the rotten p.r.i.c.k. With a white T-shirt and blue jeans she didn"t look like a cat burglar, but at least she was properly dressed for a scuffle with an a.s.sailant. A scuffle with Rocky. The thought of being pinned against his chest made her body flush with heat, then go cold with nerves.
"Idiot," she told herself, pushing it out of her mind. This was business. If she didn"t think and just did it, she"d be okay.
She returned to find Rocky having a one-sided conversation with Jingles. A smile started to curve across her mouth, but she squashed it flat, refusing to be suckered in just because he was gorgeous and liked her cat.
He stopped talking when he heard her.