Double Dare

"Yes indeed."

The sound of his voice washed over her, warming her right through. She gave a breathless laugh, pacing her office as they spoke.

"Name a meeting point and I'll be there," he added.

"Do you know The Bankers Draft? It's a pub on Carver Street, near the building you delivered documents to."

"I know it." There was humor in his voice.

Of course he knows it. He's a courier, they know where everything is.

"I'll be there in about half an hour."

There was a distinct note of interest in his voice when he replied and Abby smiled as she put down the phone, her pulse beating out a demanding rhythm.

She darted to the slim wooden locker that was neatly housed out of view behind the door. She always kept a couple of outfits and a make-over kit in there, in case an unexpected social occasion arose that she was obliged to attend with a new client or another member of the team. She had a choice, a suit in midnight blue that was a particularly flattering cut, black palazzo pants and a green shantung silk top, or a black satin dress. She picked up the satin dress, letting it run through her fingers. The material was fluid and sensuous. She pulled it out and retrieved her make up purse from the top shelf.

When she was done, she stopped at the reception post, but Suzanne wasn't there. Her laughter sounded down the corridor. Glancing at her watch, she realized she probably didn't have time to wait and say goodnight.

Outside, the sky was the color of melting honey, shimmering, marking the turn of a hot day in the city. She loved London more than ever when it was like this, when its fast moving currents began to change on the ebb of the day. The city became sexier, vibrant in a different way, as if a dark spirit lover had invaded its character. Like her own dark lover, mysterious and seductive.

She'd had a good day, and it wasn't over yet. She was high on the excitement of living and looked over the accounts with an eye for the daring, the risk that would pay off. It wasn't so much the financial gain that thrilled her, it was the ability to judge, the power to move in a certain way at the right moment. She smiled to herself. It was just like sex, and that was pacing up a notch for her, too. Several notches, in fact. She'd had trouble keeping her steamy encounter with Zac out of mind. Anticipation for more of the same had her blood racing.

Her body jolted to a halt. "Damn."

The heel of her shoe had caught in the pavement and she dropped back to rescue it. As she did, a sudden sense of unease washed over her. She felt the scrutiny of an onlooker. The thinning crowd of pedestrians moved on around her. She glanced back over her shoulder just as a car shot by with open windows pumping out a loud, bass-driven tune. The passenger whistled in her direction as the vehicle sped past.

Freeing her shoe, she shook off the notion and headed on.

* * * *

On the opposite side of the street, Nathan stepped further back into the alcove he'd chosen to wait out her departure from the building. For a split second, he thought she was going to look over and spot him watching from the shadows. It made him realize he didn't feel entirely comfortable with this task.

Life was never dull when he was working for Zac, that was for sure, but this took the biscuit. Zac had never asked him to do anything quite as dodgy as digging the dirt on his current piece of fluff. He didn't mind hunting for information by asking questions, or looking stuff up, but for a second there he wondered what the fuck he was doing. He often felt that, working for Zac. He was an edgy guy, always curious about the way stuff worked, always alert. Now he wanted to know what his latest conquest was up to behind the scenes, and he wanted Nathan to find out.

She wouldn't reco

gnize him though. He'd made sure of that. He was wearing a black beanie hat and sunglasses, his oldest Motorhead t-shirt and jeans. Even if she had seen him, he looked entirely different to when he'd driven her home the night before.

He watched as she headed down the street. She surely was a looker. Not his type, but he could see why Zac was so keen to give her one. She looked like a great shag, but you could maybe take her home to meet the family afterwards. A lot classier than the women Zac used to hang out with, during his playboy years.

As Abby turned the corner and disappeared, he flipped open his mobile phone.

Zac answered as soon as it rang out.

"She's on her way."

"Cheers. You've got that paperwork I gave you for cover?"

"Yes, no worries." The document dispatch package rested easily in his hand. Not that he needed an excuse. He'd been prepared to wing it without one.

"Find out what you can."

"Anything I should be aware of?"

Zac took his time to reply. "The receptionist is a cute blonde."

Nathan laughed. "Heh. Nice one. I'm there already." He folded the phone into his pocket and made his way into the building.