The Taming of the Thief Read Free

down. Kingston's specialty in near-Eastern antiquities was a rare
one, rare enough that she made a short list of five names who could authenticate The Fortunate Buddha, particularly if someone wanted to move it through the States as Pietr's sources
suggested they were.
          “French?”
          “ Oui.”
          “We have carry laws in the United States and
breaking into people's homes can get you shot.”
          “Good to know.” Pietr tried for another
grin. Whatever wore on the academic, she drooped with exhaustion. “Can we start
again, perhaps over a bite to eat?  It's late and I'm sure you're tired
and I can think of nothing better than a great meal as a pick me up.”
          Sophie blinked slowly, long silky black
eyelashes seemingly kissing her cheeks in a move Pietr found that he wanted to
mimic.
          “You do eat, don't you?”
          “You're either insane or I'm having a really
bad night.” Neither phrased as a question. In one
short move, she pulled her front door open and pointed. “Out.”
          “Sophie…”
          “Ms. Kingston.” Ice glided over the words.
“Please leave, Mr. Sauvage. I've had a very long day. I don't know who you are
or why you're here, but if you don't walk back out that door in three seconds,
I will scream the building down around your head.”
          Pietr cocked his head to the side
consideringly. Her eyes blazed at him in challenge. A challenge he was eager to
meet, but not at the noticeable cost of a police visit and possible
arraignment.
          “Very well.” He
could concede with graciousness, particularly because this skirmish was a
first, not a last. He saw the surprise flash across her features and concealed
his own amusement. Slipping a business card from inside his jacket, he held it
out to her with two fingers.
          She took it, reluctantly, but she took it.
          “May I?” He gestured towards the door she
stood next to. A delightful blush stole up her cheeks as she backed up another
step, allowing him access to pass through into the hallway.
          He could practically feel the suspicion in
her gaze as he exited her quaint apartment. The six-story walk up just didn't
do the woman justice. She belonged in a more exotic setting, with sandstone and
marble to accent her dark beauty.
          He positioned his foot perfectly to block
the door as she closed it. Her startled gaze jerked up towards his, but they
reflected heat not fear. “Look me up if you have to, but call me. I would very
much like to take you out for that drink and I really do need your help.”
          Pietr's gaze locked on her pale pink lips
that parted and the tongue that moistened them. The nervous gesture washed over
his desire with an uncomfortable sense of shame.
          “If I promise, will you go?” Hesitation
trembled in the center of the question.
          “Yes.”
          “And if I don't promise?” Her hot chocolate
eyes burned with promise of retribution.
          “Yum.”
          That caught her off guard. She blinked
again, as though puzzled by his response.
          “Yum?”
          “Oh yeah. Dark spice and hot fire. The perfect
combination.” He grinned, winked and withdrew his foot. “I'll talk to
you soon.”
          Sophie gaped at him for breathless seconds
before slamming the door shut. Pietr's grin fell away as he gazed at the length
of oak separating him from his goal. The locks clicked into place in rapid
succession. He had to force his hands into his pockets for his cell phone and
turned for the stairs.
          On the third flight, the phone rang.
          Gotcha.
           
           
          S ophie
had no idea why she agreed to meet the Frenchman, particularly after he broke
into her apartment. But he'd taken nothing and he could have hurt her and he
didn't. Not the best logic for agreeing to meet a total stranger for a drink in
the middle of the