Chapter 87
Her gaze was filled with suspicion, but the light of anger in her eyes was all too reminiscent of the passion he’d seen in her just days before. He was probably going to regret this. Hell, he already regretted it. But if she was right and he let her walk out of here, it’d be an even bigger mistake.
“You’ll listen to me?” she asked.
“I will.”
“No sarcastic comments or snide suspicions?”
“If you expect some kind of declaration of trust—” he began.
“I was in Andrew's room today and found a set of floor plans for Messina Diamonds’ office.” She said the words in a rush and then seemed to hold her breath, waiting for his response.
He studied her face, looking for signs she was lying. Trying not to notice the plump temptation of her lips. The way her chest rose and fell as nerves made her heart rate pick up. “A copy of the blueprints?” he asked.
“Yes.” She tugged her arm free, then rubbed the spot where he’d held her.
“Why else would he have the blueprints unless he was planning to break in?”
Part of him was convinced she was lying to him. That this was just a twisted game. But what if she was right? Was he really willing to take that risk? Nolan scratched his jaw thoughtfully, then gestured to the chair for her to sit down. If they continued to stand there, mere inches apart, his baser instincts might get the better of him. “You’d better start from the beginning.”
“I don’t know much. I didn’t want to confront him about it. I knew he would just deny everything. But I think that when he found out I was going to ask you for the money, he must have told the Blackstone Cartel about my connection to you.”
She sat perched on the edge of her chair, all restless energy and raw nerves. “A few weeks ago, when I first found out he owed money to the Blackstone Cartel, I offered to come to you for money. At first he didn’t want me to ask you. But eventually he agreed to it and I noticed that he really liked the idea of me approaching you tonight. During the fundraiser. I think I’m supposed to distract you tonight.”
She chuckled uneasily. As if worried he might scoff at the idea that she could distract him. Did she really not know how she looked in that dress? How tempting she was? Because Andrew really knew his stuff. Nolan could hardly think when she was in the room. He was saved from having to comment when she continued her story.
“I love my brother,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “But I’m the first person to admit he can be an idiot. He’s the stupidest smart person I know. It would be just like him to spout off to the wrong person that he had an ‘in’ with Messina Diamonds. I don't know who he has been in contact with these few years. Before he’d know it, these criminals he’s been dealing with would have him backed into a corner and he’d have no idea how to get out of it.” She nibbled on her lips, sending him a cautious look. “Do you think I’m crazy?”
“I think you’ve always had an excellent imagination.”
“But I know my brother. And I know something is up.”
“You think he’s planning on stealing…” He let his words trail off, giving her the opportunity to fill in the blank.
“Diamonds, I assume.”
“And why would you assume that?”
She shrugged. “Because Messina Diamonds is a diamond mining company. It just seemed logical.”
“It isn’t. The diamonds are mined in Kilbrough. They’re cut at the Messina facility and then shipped directly to where they’re sold on the market. This office is primarily used for research and exploration as well as being the business headquarters. In fact, diamonds rarely make it here.”
“Rarely?” she asked. “Rarely, but not never?”
“No. Not never. There’s a safe in Derek’s office. He does occasionally keep stones there.”
“Are there any there now?”
He scrubbed a hand along the back of his neck. “No.”
But apparently he’d hesitated just long enough to convince her there must be because she quirked an eyebrow. “Do you think I can’t tell when you’re lying to me?”
Nolan ignored her comment. “You seem pretty sure you know what he’s planning.”
“Well, I’m not. But I can’t think of any other explanation. Can you?”
Now it was her turn to pin him with a stare. He had to stifle the urge to squirm. There were plenty of things he didn’t want her reading in his expression. Things that had nothing to do with her brother or diamonds. “No. I can’t. But it would be virtually impossible for Andrew to break into Messina Diamonds. They have the best system on the market.”
As if she couldn’t sit still any longer, she popped out of her chair and paced, etching out a circuitous path around leather wingback chairs. “Trust me,” she said. “I don’t want to be right about this. But neither of us can afford to be wrong, either.”
“Neither of us?”
“Obviously. My brother’s future is at risk, but for you the stakes are even higher, right? This is your business.” She pointed her index finger at him, punctuating her words with a jab. “The last thing you want is for there to be some kind of a…” she fished around for the word before landing on the perfect one “… some kind of a heist at Messina Diamonds. They’re your client. If you can’t protect them, that won’t look very good, now will it?”
Unfortunately, she was right. As much as he’d love to boot her out to the curb and never see her again, he simply couldn’t risk it. For the sake of his personal honor and his professional reputation, he had to guarantee that Andrew McKenna didn’t get his sticky fingers on a single piece of Messina Diamonds’ property. And until Nolan did make sure, he was stuck with Candace . And her damn dress. Which, he consoled himself, was slightly better than being stuck with Candace in no dress at all.
He leaned forward in his chair. “Sit down before you make yourself dizzy. And tell me everything you know.”
Candace's triumph was short-lived. At least Nolan was listening to her. But she could celebrate that when this was all over with and her brother was safe, sans stolen goods.