LITMIR.BIZ

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designs, the furnishings rattan, leather and teak. Striking floral arrangements with birds-of-paradise and heliconias seasoned the air with tropical scents, stirred by lazily rotating ceiling fans. This place was even better than she’d imagined.

      “Shall we?”

      Quinn stood at the door leading to the stairs. Dani hesitated for a second. She didn’t trust Mr. Quinn Everard one inch, but it wasn’t a threat of physical violence that made her pause. More his attitude, the impression that he got what he wanted so effortlessly. He smelled good, looked good, obviously lived well. She’d need her wits about her with a man prepared to resort to blackmail to get his own way.

      He opened the first door and intense light flooded what was obviously a dream workroom. In one corner, under the perfect lighting, sat an easel. A workbench ran fully down one side, two stools at the end and tool organisers that held an array of implements, everything from tweezers to gauges to loupes. There was a waxing station, engraving blocks, micro torch, rollers and grinders—everything she had in her shop, except the equipment was new and top-of-the-range and must have cost a fortune.

      It slowly dawned on her that he expected her to work on his diamond here. A laptop sat open on a desk, no doubt with the best CAD software available. The desk and bench were lit with magnified true-light lamps. He must have had all this brought in, she thought dimly, lights included.

      Dani ran her hand over the workbench. “You were that sure I’d agree?”

      “I’ve questioned your motivation in the past, Ms. Hammond, not your intelligence.”

      She glanced over to where he leaned casually against the doorjamb, arms folded. “Why?”

      “The diamond does not leave the premises.”

      “So I come around here when I feel like it? When I have a spare minute?” She shook her head. “That would take months.”

      Quinn turned to the door and stretched his arm out, indicating she precede him. His steady gaze challenged her to refuse.

      Cautiously Dani edged past him, down the hall away from the stairs. She paused at the next door. He leaned past her, pushing it open, and she took a couple of hesitant steps forward.

      Long white curtains stirred at the open window, and she heard the sea lapping the sand beyond the trees. A huge bed, covered with shiny satin in bold red-and-gold stripes, took up most of one wall. Purple-shaded lamps on the bedside tables matched plump purple cushions scattered on the window seat. Dani felt the smile start; it was a dream of a bedroom, and to think she could hear the sea. She was still smiling when she turned around to see Quinn in a long-legged lean against the doorjamb, arms folded, a pose that was fast becoming disturbingly familiar.

      Her smile faded as his intentions finally sank in. He expected her to stay here—alone—with him. “No,” she said firmly, even though he hadn’t asked the question yet.

      His dark head tilted. “Those are my conditions. You stay here and work on the diamond in the room provided until the job is done.”

      Frowning, she shook her head slowly.

      “It’s not negotiable.”

      Dani thought he sounded bored. “I’m not staying here alone with you.”

      His eyes were scathing. “Don’t be puerile, Ms. Hammond. Just what do you think is going to happen?”

      If his intention was to make her feel gauche and stupid, it worked. “Wh-what possible reason …?” she stammered, her cheeks burning.

      “Security and expediency. It is an extremely valuable diamond and I am a busy man. I don’t have time to sit around up here in Nowhere-ville for a minute longer than necessary.”

      Dani shook her head again. “No deal. Bring the stone to the shop. I’ll work on it between customers.”

      Quinn’s brows raised. “I don’t think so,” he said softly, and, turning, left the room. But the certainty of his voice, his potent male presence remained.

      Dani waited a couple of seconds, worried. There was sympathy in his face as he’d turned away. Her refusal had not even registered. A vision of being locked in, of pushing against him, pounding against his broad chest to get out, made her head swim.

      She was being ridiculous. Quinn Everard was an internationally regarded man in the gem and fine arts world. He was not going to kidnap her. She started off after him. “Look, if you’re worried about theft, don’t be. There hasn’t been a robbery in town for years.”

      “You don’t understand, Ms. Hammond.” He turned so sharply to face her that she almost bumped into his impressive chest. “This is a very special diamond.”

      “It will be perfectly safe in the shop, and, anyway, I’m insured.”

      His eyes bored into her, making her heart thump. She stepped back hurriedly, excruciatingly aware that he hadn’t given an inch.

      “Have you heard of the Distinction Diamond, Danielle?”

      “The Dist …?” Air punched out from her lungs and her heart thudded. Either that or her chin hit the floor. The Distinction Diamond was nearly forty carats of fancy intense yellow, originating from the Kimberley mines in South Africa. No one had heard of it for years. “You’ve got the Distinction Diamond?” Her swallow was audible. “Here?”

      Quinn Everard could do scathing very well. Was it the curve of his lips or the dangerous glint that lit up his eyes? “No, Ms. Hammond.” He turned his back and continued on to the door next to “her” room. “I have her big sister.”

       Two

      Quinn turned his back and walked into his bedroom, smiling when he felt her creeping presence at the door. Opening the panel in the wall that concealed the safe, he began keying the code into a digital keypad. The whole house was burglar and smoke alarmed, including this room and the workroom. The safe was dual combination and key, complete with trembler sensor. His company had the best security money could buy. After all, it was vital in his business.

      He glanced to where she fidgeted at the door, chewing on her bottom lip. Quinn miskeyed and the thing beeped at him. He swore softly, ordering himself to stop thinking about whiskey eyes and plump bottom lips. She was on the hook. It was time to reel her in.

      He went through the elaborate security measures with exaggerated care, then took out a heavy steel box from which he lifted a hand-stitched leather case after a barrage of additional code numbers. A hydraulic mechanism raised a small velvet-covered platform on which the diamond sat. Reaching out, he flicked the desk lamp on. Then he faced her and tilted his head, giving her permission to come near.

      She moved slowly into the room, her eyes on his face. The light from the lamp washed over her skin, and he thought again, as he had earlier on meeting her, that her face was all wrong, a contradiction. Wide-set, wild-honey eyes, a straight no-nonsense nose, and then rosebud lips, suggesting innocence and insecurity.

      And just like earlier when he’d first looked at her, the impact jolted him. She’d attempted to tame her wildfire hair with a scarf, but still, dark red curls sprang up in interesting dimensions. Her colour sense was outrageous, combining a red-and-pink-striped top with a captivatingly short floral skirt. She was exotic, unconventional, bubbling over with life and energy. He knew more beautiful women, but none so colourful, so vibrantly original.

      She looked down at the diamond on display for her, her eyes glowing. When she finally looked back at Quinn, the gratitude in her eyes stunned him. She would know well how few people had ever been given the opportunity to look upon this treasure.

      Enjoy it, he thought grimly. If it were down to him, he wouldn’t have Danielle Hammond within one hundred metres of this baby, no matter how interesting her face.

      She put out her hand. It hovered over the glow and she hesitated. “May I?”

      Half of him wondered what the diamond

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