Relentless Seduction Read Free Page B

5-27-04.”
    Rafe raised his brows and turned toward the bustiered woman. “Free drinks the rest of the night if you let me see the back of your necklace.”
    The woman’s eyes widened. “Sure!” She wrenched the chain up and over her head and dropped it in his waiting palm.
    Rafe turned it over and Claire leaned in to look.
    As she’d known it would be, there on the back was the engraving that proved it was Julia’s.
    * * *
    “I TOLD YOU !” Dr. Claire Brooks tried to snatch the necklace from him, but Rafe was quicker, dodging her grasp.
    Undeterred, the stubborn woman gave her attention to the blonde. “Where did you get this?”
    The blonde sniffed. “Why should I tell you?”
    “I could pay you.”
    Whoa. Rafe almost warned the good doctor against offering money, but hey, he’d done enough already.
    Blondie hesitated. “Yeah? How much?”
    The doctor’s brow crinkled and she lifted her huge purse to her chest, dug around inside it and finally produced a couple of bills. “Would you take twenty dollars?”
    “Make it fifty.”
    Heh. Blondie was no fool.
    “I’ll give you seventy-five,” the doctor shot back, pushing her glasses up on her nose. “For the information and the necklace.”
    The blonde’s eyes glittered with greed. “I got it at the Blue Bayou Flea Market.” She held her palm out expectantly.
    The naive doctor set her chin. “Which stall?”
    The blonde pursed her lips and scowled. “I don’t know! Hey, are you gonna pay me or what?”
    Dr. Brooks turned her back, hunched over and pulled something out from the neckline of her shirt. Turning back around, she slapped the money into Blondie’s waiting hand, who made a beeline for the bar.
    Shaking his head, Rafe handed the necklace to the doctor. “You paid way too much for that, cher. ”
    She shrugged. “I didn’t want to cause another disturbance in your bar.”
    Rafe blinked. Had she truly been worried about his business? Right. She probably just didn’t want to get thrown out again.
    “Well, thank you for your help.” She extended her hand. “Offering that woman free drinks all night was extremely generous of you.”
    Rafe stared at her right hand. He should shake it and get her out of his life forever. “Tell the police. Let them check it out.”
    She dropped her hand. “Of course, I’ll tell them.”
    Good.
    “But I also intend to search the flea market myself.”
    Of course she did. He shook his head.
    “If it’s anything like the flea markets back home in Missouri, this place will have hundreds of stalls. I doubt the N.O.P.D. will have the manpower to question each one of the proprietors.”
    Rafe shrugged. He didn’t need to get any more involved.
    She placed her hand on his forearm and he tensed reflexively. “Really, thank you.” Her lips curved in a small smile before she turned toward the front door.
    “Hey,” he called after her. When she looked back he folded his arms across his chest, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in his gut. “Don’t stay out after dark.”
    She frowned. “I can take care of myself.” Her expression became smug. “I have my trusty can of pepper spray.”
    Pepper spray? She thought that would deter a gang during a turf war or stop a junkie jonesing for a hit? Damn it, what did he care what this woman did? He stared after her as she walked out of his bar and his life. Good riddance. He didn’t need her causing him any more trouble.
    He went back to his bartending and didn’t give her another thought the rest of the night. Except for the times he glanced down at the tub of strawberries. Or when he had to pour Blondie another free drink. Or when the front door would open and he’d look over expecting to see her walking back in.
    He cursed under his breath long and low the third time he caught himself feeling vaguely disappointed when it wasn’t her. What was wrong with him?
    About four o’clock he locked the door behind the last straggling customers and headed for his office