What Happened in Vegas…

She should toss him out of her office. She should plant her foot and call security to get him out. In six years, she should have found the strength to say no to him. Instead, she was tempted to grant his request.

Why?

For old time’s sake? A thanks-for-the-two-hot-nights parting gift?

As much as she’d like to assign a complicated reason or a justification for breaking the rules, she knew the real motivation was much more simple.

He intrigued her.

The way no one else ever had, from the first moment she’d laid eyes on him. He drew her toward him like the proverbial moth to a flame, tempting her toward the heat, even though the danger of burning up loomed if she made the mistake of getting too close.

Why was he here—really? Though he’d seemed surprised to see her, had he expected to find her when he walked into the office? If so, how had he found her? Hell, how did he remember her, a girl who had to have been one in a million?

And what was his connection to the valuable emerald? What did he want it for? Did he have a client on the hook, or did he merely want to gaze upon its magnificence?

She rose, making sure she did so with grace and confidence. He had to notice the differences between Jacinda and Jacy. She hoped he kept the contrast clear in his mind. She’d made a new life, and she wouldn’t let him show up and jeopardize a moment of it.

What did it matter if she let him have his way and see the stone? He’d be out the door and out of her life quicker if she gave in to his request.

She rounded the desk, then headed toward the door. Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled. “You’re coming, aren’t you?” she asked, since he hadn’t moved.

His gaze slid from her face, down her body, then rose slowly, leisurely, again. “You always had a distracting strut.”

She bit back a gasp of annoyance. Leave it to Gideon, the wild, live-for-the-moment adventurer, to steal her control and land her smack-dab in the middle of her past so effortlessly. “I don’t strut.” Not anymore.

He reached around her and opened the door. “You most certainly do.”

The enticing scent of him washed over her, and the memories quickly followed, as if six minutes had passed instead of six years. She recalled the heat of his body, the way his lean muscles rippled beneath her touch, the intense pleasure he’d brought her—like none other she’d had before or since. She remembered gawking at the luxury hotel suite, the expensive dinner and champagne. All free, he’d said. A gift from a gambler friend who’d decided to head to Monte Carlo instead of Vegas that weekend.

The charming, exotic mystery of Gideon had seduced her with nothing more than a smile and the promise of a good time.

A risk that had paid off in a big way.

At least for two days.

Beyond that, she knew his offer to come away with him was empty. She danced in skimpy costumes for horny vacationers. She knew her place in the world. No matter what his grand ambitions had been, she’d had ambitions of her own. And they hadn’t included skipping around the world on a friend’s generosity or chasing after the next treasure.

She didn’t even consider the idea that they’d be together for longer than it took boredom to set in.

And, yet, here he was.

His appearance was unexpected and curious. Something she couldn’t set aside so easily. Because she’d begun to wonder if ambition really was a lonely and empty path? Because she’d had years to realize how special their brief moments together were? Or because the connection was just that strong?

“I only have a few minutes,” she said finally.

“That’s what you said when we got in the cab six years ago.” He leaned close. “Is tonight going to turn out the same way?”

With an ease she knew she hadn’t possessed the last time she’d seen him, she turned away. “Don’t hold your breath.”

As they walked through the outer office, Andrew was typing on his computer. “I’m going to the warehouse. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Yes, Ms. Barrett.”

God bless the man for knowing how to turn on the disinterested professionalism when necessary. More often than not, when something interesting was going on in the office, he plopped his backside on her desk and demanded that she “dish” about the news.

No doubt the dishing would come later.

After passing through several security checkpoints, both mechanical and human, Jacinda and Gideon reached the warehouse. With the upcoming auction, there were dozens of people around, checking inventory, organizing the receiving area and opening crates.

Rumor around the office said that Malle Callibro herself—after whom the auction house was named—used to walk through the warehouse every night before she left to be sure the treasures entrusted to her were safe and sound.

“Ms. Callibro built quite an empire,” Gideon commented as he looked around.

“How do you know—”

“Her name’s on the marquee out front.”

“Of course.”

And of course Gideon Nash didn’t know anything personal about somebody as high society as Malle, who’d broken rules, doing the unexpected and making her own way in the world. Jacinda figured rising from a cheap go-go club in Vegas to a prestigious auction house in Manhattan could be considered rule-breaking, too.

“She supposedly had over fifty lovers during her lifetime,” Gideon said.

“Supposedly is right. With those kinds of numbers, she’d never have had time to build her business.” She paused at the vault door guarding the auction house’s jewelry. “Which she most certainly did.”

“Personally, I prefer quality over quantity.”

“No kidding.” She smiled wanly over her shoulder at him. “I never would have guessed.”

He moved in close behind her. “You don’t consider our time together quality?”

She fought against the intimate tone of his voice, the warm, masculine scent teasing her nose. “It was…fine.”

She didn’t see, but could feel his smile. “Fine, huh?”

There was no way the words fabulous, amazing or exhilarating were coming out of her mouth. “It was just a weekend.”

“Like so many before and since?”

How had he boxed her so neatly into a corner? If she said yes, she’d look like a slut. If she said no, he’d probably display some self-satisfied smirk, as if he was the greatest lover on the planet.

As far as you know, he is.

That was beside the point.

She turned her head to meet his gaze. “We’ve both moved on,” she said neutrally. “Do you want to see the emerald?”

He drew his finger gently, slowly along her jawline. “Very much.”