Flirting With Intent Read Free Page B

French.’
    Bracing himself, Damon followed her inside.
    It wasn’t Ruby’s headband that got them exemplary service, decided Damon a few minutes later. It was her attitude. The way she knew not to browse the racks herself but describe what she wanted and then let the assistants fetch the stuff. The way she efficiently sorted the offerings into discardsand items she wanted to consider. There was seating, and Damon availed himself of it. Refreshments, which he declined.
    Three saleswomen and one curvaceous general. Two presents to purchase. Five minutes, tops.
    He was so wrong.
    What kind of maniac put a beige trench coat over what looked like a corseted black baby-doll nightie? Or covered a perfectly serviceable strapless black mini dress with a sheer purple overgown that rippled to the floor?
    The purple gauzy thing and the mini beneath it were discarded on account of Lena not being one for colour or dresses. In the end, Ruby settled on a pewter-coloured miniskirt for Lena. It had ruffles and looked softly feminine and would not emphasise his sister’s frailty. Damon approved. The ivory-coloured waist-length jacket Ruby chose to go with it had some sort of sculpted band around the hem but it went with the skirt better than expected. The beige trench coat and the baby-doll nightwear combo that she’d set aside was apparently for Poppy.
    ‘Do I get a say?’ he murmured and four perfectly styled women turned to regardhim with varying degrees of pity. ‘You said
handbags,’
he said to Ruby mildly. ‘To put the tickets in?’
    ‘Dammit, you’re right,’ she said, and turned to the attendants. ‘We’ll need to look at handbags too. Satchels, I think.’
    ‘In the black?’ asked an attendant.
    ‘Of course.’
    Half an hour later they left the shop, goodies in hand, and with Ruby sporting the kind of glow that only came from hitting a credit card hard. ‘Now you,’ she said. ‘Would you like a new suit?’
    ‘Why? What’s wrong with my suit?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘Then I don’t want another one.’
    ‘How about a watch?’
    ‘I got this one from Poppy and Lena last Christmas. I’ve worn it once.’
    ‘Well, that’s hardly the watch’s fault,’ she said with a glance at his wrist. ‘It’s a very nice watch. What about gadgetry? New phone? Camera? Computer? What is it that you do?’
    ‘I troubleshoot computer systems.’ ‘For who?’ She looked intrigued. ‘For those who ask.’ ‘Where are you based?’
    ‘I don’t have a base. The job’s portable.’
    ‘But surely life
isn’t?
Or are you one of those people who just can’t seem to settle anywhere?’
    ‘Something wrong with variety?’
    ‘I guess not.’ She didn’t sound impressed. ‘All right. What about a new set of travel bags for Christmas? We’re in the neighbourhood.’
    ‘There’s some new computer tech I’m interested in. Why don’t you leave it with me?’
    ‘That’s not what I’m paid to do, and, frankly, I hate leaving jobs undone. It’s a little quirk of mine.’
    ‘Another one.’
    ‘Exactly.’ There was that disarming smile again. Feminine weaponry at its finest. ‘If I don’t have a gift for you by the end of the day I won’t sleep. If I don’t sleep I get cranky. It’s not a good look.’
    ‘How so? Do you abandon the fuchsia headband for a schoolmarm’s bun and a riding crop?’ It was possible. Judging by the shop they’d just raided, anything was possible. Ruby’s golden eyes narrowed. Damon offered up his own disarming smile. ‘I can see that working for you.’
    ‘I’m glad we went shopping together,’ shemurmured. ‘You’ve saved me from fantasising about you later.’
    ‘Because I’m hard to buy for? Or because I’m homeless.’
    ‘Neither. There’s something else about you that makes you a dismal relationship choice, and once again I can credit my recently departed father for giving me a heads up.’
    ‘Sounds ominous.’
    ‘It is. It’s about deception and disguise and people