The Russian's Tenacious Lover Read Free Page B

fingers. He knew she wasn’t kidding. Lord Crocket and Prime Minister Geoffrey Cunningham were Oxford chums.
    “What do you want?” he said hoarsely.
    She displayed a cheeky grin. The grin of a girl who’s used to getting what she wants. “Like I said. I want to be a burglar, and I want you to be my teacher. If you’re the Prime Thief of Britain, consider me your deputy.” She offered her hand. “Deal?”
    He eyed her for the longest time, wondering whether he should throttle her or give in to her outrageous demands. Then, considering he was as good as dead if he refused, he let his shoulders slump and took her offered hand.
    “Deal,” he muttered, knowing full well he was making a deal with the devil.
    “Super, Tom!” she squealed, then suddenly jumped up and pressed a peck on his cheek.
    Oh, boy. What kind of mess had he landed himself in this time?
    Then he noticed Jenn’s expectant gaze. “Well, what are you waiting for?” she exclaimed.
    “My plane?” he tried valiantly.
    She laughed, but this time he didn’t hear bells ringing but the rattling of chains. “Good one, Tom. I’m afraid your Moscow flight has been canceled. Let’s go.” She held out a hand, and when he took it, it wasn’t the softness he admired, but the firmness of her grip as she pulled him to his feet.
    “Where are we going?” he asked wearily as she steered him from the Goose & Gander.
    “Back to The Rialto, of course.” She winked. “Best to start from scratch, and I have it on good authority there’s no easier safe to crack than a hotel safe.”
    Great, he thought. Not only was this brat going to make his life a living hell, she was going to have an attitude about it as well.

CHAPTER 4

    Thomas leaned against the doorjamb as he studied the small form of the young woman he’d taken under his wing. She had talent, he decided as he watched her work her magic on the hotel safe.
    A modest contraption, it stood concealed in the bedroom closet, and she’d had to kneel down to reach it. Her tongue sticking out, the stethoscope firmly attached to her ears, she twisted the dial left, then right, then left again, anxiously awaiting the liberating click that would indicate the safe had finally yielded to her deft touch.
    From her frustrated groan Thomas surmised the safe had decided to remain aloof under her fingers and defy her probing. A hotel safe might be an easy target according to Jenn, but for now still proved reluctant to play ball.
    She muttered an oath and looked up at him with those appealing gray eyes she probably used on all men, young or old. On him, they had little effect. Between the attack last night and Jenn’s blackmail, his mood had taken a turn for the worse.
    “It doesn’t work, Tom. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong!”
    He stepped to the closet and knelt down beside her. He’d briefly explained to her the mechanics of opening a safe, but theory was only that: a set of abstract formulas. The proof was in the practice, and practice is what she lacked.
    He wondered how long she would make him pay for what he’d done to her folks. He really needed to get to Moscow. Last night’s score wasn’t the only one his customer had requested. Iosif Kurchin, the wealthy oligarch who was anxiously awaiting both the Crocket diamond and the Duchess of Oxford’s bracelet, was not a patient man. He would be disappointed the Crocket diamond could not end up in his private collection, but there was still the bracelet.
    Too bad the oligarch had this superstitious streak and insisted on having the transfer occur on Russian soil. If only he’d return to London, they could have this business wrapped up in no time. And it would save him the flight to Moscow.
    He placed his hand atop Jenn’s and replaced her fingers on the dial.
    “Simply start over.” he stated briefly.
    “But I’ve started over a dozen times already,” she whined. “It just won’t open, Tom!” She sagged. “Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.