"Yeah, something to let her know you�re thinking of her. But not just any gift. It has to be meaningful�something you know she�ll appreciate."

Dorian nodded, considering his options. "She did quite like the Ferrari. Maybe I should�"

"Ferrari?" Veronica laughed. "Bless your heart. You one-percenters are just adorable!"

"Too grand?"

"I was thinking flowers, not Ferraris. But hey, you do you. In the meantime, I�m ordering some Thai. And maybe a raise, since managing your love life is definitely not in my job description."

Dorian watched her leave, his mind already percolating.

"She�s right, you know," Aiden said.

"Yes�have HR put in the paperwork. Twenty percent ought to do it." Then, with a new idea taking root, he grabbed his phone, grinned at Aiden, and said, "Wish me luck."

Aiden laughed. "How about I wish you celibate? It�ll be much better for our bottom line."

Charley wasn�t sure if there was a patron saint of thieves and liars, but someone was definitely looking out for her.

It felt like a miracle. Ever since their meeting, Rudy and Travis had backed off, allowing her to work from home all week with no more than a few texts and check-in calls.

She suspected they were busy gathering more intel from Travis� surveillance people, but she wasn�t going to ask. For now, she enjoyed the respite, spending quality time with Sasha�breakfast at Perk during Sasha�s morning shifts, to make sure Rudy stayed away. Fancy lunches in the city, courtesy of the credit card Rudy provided. And last night, she�d finally caved in to Sasha�s incessant begging for a vampire movie marathon, seeing the bloodsucking fiends in a whole new light.

It made her miss Dorian even more, and she felt horrible about dodging his calls and texts. She did want to see him again�as soon as possible�but she needed more time. Time to get a better handle on Rudy�s plans. Time to strategize. Time to decide what�and how�to confess.

Every time her phone lit up with his name, her insides went as fizzy as a glass of champagne, her body heating up as if he were there beside her, taking charge of her pleasure with every delicious kiss.

But for the time being, she had to keep playing her role, convincing Rudy she was still an asset.

Friday morning, she sat on her bed with her earbuds in, poring over the Ravenswood schematics. In her notebook, she�d made a list of some of the artwork she�d found, and now she marked off their locations on the floor plan with a red marker, deliberately leaving off the pieces from the stolen cache.

She�d just finished making the last few notations when Sasha burst into her room, a ball of sunshine and smiles.

Charley shoved her work under the bed and plucked out her earbuds, forcing a big grin. "It�s nine in the morning on your day off. Why aren�t you sleeping? Something must be up."

"How did you not hear all that racket?" Sasha asked. "They�ve been setting up for twenty minutes!"

"I had my music on. Who�s been setting up?"

"Delivery guys." Sasha grabbed her hands and hauled her off the bed. "Come on. You�ve got to see this."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"Pretty sure Mr. Already Forgotten is not so keen on being forgotten."

A spark of intrigue warmed Charley�s insides, and the minute she stepped out of her bedroom, the scent of roses enveloped her in a sweet, heady cloud.

"Holy roses," she gasped, the sight nearly taking her breath away. JrNovels.com