LITMIR.BIZ

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studied her and silence grew between them. Her stomach tightened with fear. She knew she was pushing her luck with him, but had she gone too far?

      “If she gave Marc permission to take the necklace then I’ll need to talk to her.”

      “Talk to her all you want, but just don’t let her know the necklace is gone.”

      “I won’t say anything to her. For now.”

      She felt a tinge of uneasiness. He’d qualified his statement, but she had a feeling that he would balk if she pushed him again. She’d take it because she really didn’t have a choice.

      “Then we have a deal.” Renee held out her hand.

      He grasped it. Heat seemed to smolder where their hands met. His grip was strong without being too overpowering. Unlike Marc’s hands, which were fairly smooth, his hands were firm and callused. Unwilling desire sparked inside of her. It was a feeling she hadn’t experienced in years. She raised her gaze to his and the heat spread quickly throughout her body. This was crazy, she thought and pulled her hand away. She didn’t know what it was about Chris that made her feel this way, but she couldn’t afford to think of him as anything but the man who was helping her find Aunt Gert’s necklace. As handsome as he was, he was the very last man she should trust.

      “Deal,” he said.

      It took everything within her not to sag in the chair like a Raggedy Ann doll. She’d been so afraid that he’d refuse to help her and then she’d be forced to admit to Aunt Gert that she’d brought a thief into her life.

      “Great. I’ll get Terrell to draw up the contract so that we can get started.” For the first time in weeks, she felt as if she was finally going to get this situation straightened out.

      “You don’t have to do that. I give you my word that I’ll look for the necklace.”

      “No offense, but your brother has made me question everything people have told me. I’m taking no one’s word for anything. I insist on a contract between us.”

      His expression went from relaxed to angry. She’d always considered brown eyes as warm, but icy fury filled his golden-brown eyes. “I’m not Marc, Mrs. Foster.” His voice was sharp and cold. “Send me the contract.” He rose to his feet.

      There was no mistaking his anger. “Too bad you’re angry. You’ll have to get over it. This is very important to me and it’s urgent that the necklace is found quickly. I’m not taking any more chances and certainly not with you.”

      He looked at her coldly and picked up the photo of the necklace. “I’ll get this back to you.”

      “Keep it.” She bit the words off.

      He slid the photo into an envelope and walked to the door. He turned toward her. “I’ll be in touch.” He opened the door and started to walk out.

      “Not so fast.” She stood and walked around the table. He turned toward her and held open the door.

      “I expect you to call me tomorrow.” She raised her chin at his frown and plowed on. “I also expect you to call me whenever you find something new. You’re going to have to work in Birmingham some of the time. I have an excellent computer network in my home. I want you to work there.”

      He looked at her as if she’d turned into the Wicked Witch of the West. “I’ll call you. Soon.” His tone was cold, but his gaze even colder. He gave her a curt nod and walked out.

      When the door closed, she finally let down her guard and her shoulders slumped under the weight and worry that had gripped her since learning the necklace was gone. She walked slowly to her chair and sat down. She’d gotten what she’d wanted in this meeting. She’d won the battle, but she wasn’t sure she’d win the war if Chris Foster was involved. She leaned back in the chair. Now that he was gone, she realized how tense she’d been. If he made her feel this way in an office, how was she going to feel when he came to her home? Renee tightened her lips. She’d deal with it. Like she’d dealt with every unpleasant thing she’d had to deal with since Marc’s death.

      The door opened again and Terrell walked inside. “So do I need to draw up a contract?”

      “Yes,” she said and sat up straight.

      “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

      She looked at her friend and lawyer. “This is what I have to do. I don’t really have a choice if I want to find the necklace before Aunt Gert finds out it’s gone.”

      “You should tell her about Marc. She’ll understand. This isn’t your fault.”

      But it was. If she hadn’t married Marc, none of this would have happened. There was no way she was going to tell her what happened. Her great-aunt was the only family who cared for her and she wasn’t about to lose her. She couldn’t bear it if Aunt Gert treated her like her parents treated her. Renee wouldn’t take that chance.

      “I brought Marc into her life. I’ve got to make this right.”

      “You aren’t responsible for Marc’s actions. He’s responsible.”

      She shook her head. “Let’s agree to disagree.”

      Terrell raised one side of his mouth. “In other words, shut up and leave you alone.”

      Renee shrugged her shoulders and smiled. Terrell understood her. She considered him and his sister, Karen, to be her only friends. But even with them, she never really completely let down her guard to be herself. People never wanted to see the real Renee. They only wanted to see the preconceived image, and that image couldn’t be hurt.

      “Hey,” Terrell said. “Dad’s cooking out in two weeks and Mom said to tell you to come over around six and bring Miss Gert.”

      “Okay, but I’ll have to check with Aunt Gert. She’s usually busy on the weekends.”

      He shook his head. “I thought people slowed down when they got older.”

      “Try explaining that to Aunt Gert.”

      Renee called Alex when she arrived home. She’d been so busy contacting the jewelry stores in Birmingham trying to locate the necklace that she hadn’t thought to ask Alex or Danielle if they had it.

      Alex was the youngest of the three women Marc had married. Because of her wealth and past party-girl lifestyle, she hadn’t taken Alex seriously when they’d first met. That had changed. She’d learned over the last few weeks that Alex had a generous heart and a fine business mind.

      Alex and Chris’s friend, Hunter Smith, had worked together to recover the millions Marc had embezzled from Alex’s family business.

      “Renee, I’m so glad you called. I was going to call you and Danielle tonight,” Alex said.

      “Well, you can tell us now. Hang on. I’m going to add Danielle.” Danielle owned half of a large shipping company that her brother and his best friend, Tristan Adams, started before her brother’s death in Iraq. She’d been married to Marc the longest and was a former model.

      “Hello, everyone,” Danielle said.

      “I’m so excited. I’ve got good news,” Alex said.

      “Well, tell us,” Renee said, needing some good news today.

      “Hunter and I are getting married.”

      “That’s wonderful,” Danielle said.

      “Congratulations. I’m so glad everything worked out,” Renee said.

      She and Danielle could see that Hunter had deep feelings for Alex when they were all on the yacht. They’d encouraged Alex to take a chance and to not let what happened with Marc stop her from finding love with Hunter.

      “Oh, thank you. Little Sweetie and I are so happy and I want both of you to come to my wedding,”

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