Frustrated, Belle stared in her closet and sighed. She couldn’t decide what to wear this evening. It was already six forty-five. The entire day, thoughts of Trevor and James preoccupied her mind. Her instincts told her they were in Fort Smith for a reason other than work. Their auras screamed of this.
That inner voice that warned her that things weren’t always what they seemed hadn’t ever been wrong before, and she doubted it would be this time either. No, they were definitely up to something, and tonight she planned to get to the bottom of it, using all her charms as her aids in extracting the truth.
Once she decided on one of the most alluring dresses she had hanging in the closet, she huffed and drew courage from within. She slipped into it and tied the back bodice as tight as she could. It was low cut, and she feared if she took a very deep breath, she’d plum pop out of it. She dabbed on her favorite perfume and added some rouge to her lips and cheeks. She dampened her hair earlier, making her natural curls softer and more bouncy as they cascaded down her shoulders and back.
Normally, she wouldn’t dare to dress so provocatively, but desperate times called for desperate measures. And she direly yearned to know what Trevor and his partner were hiding. Locking her door behind her, she headed downstairs. Butterflies fluttered uncontrollably in her stomach as she descended the stairs and saw Trevor and James together. Gosh, they both were so handsome, each in his own distinct and charismatic way.
If given the choice of whom to date, she wouldn’t be able to decide. Both of them made her heartbeat speed up and her breathing shallower. If it had been James who had asked her on a date instead of Trevor, she would have accepted and been as delighted. But Trevor was the one who made the first move, and when his stare came to rest on her as she took another step on the stairs, her legs became weak.
The hungry look in his eyes as his gaze travelled from her face, down her body, and back up to her bosom had her swooning. Oh my, but this night would definitely be intense if the wayward look in his eyes were any indication.
Trevor barely heard anything James said in the past ten minutes. His mind hovered a million miles away. Thanks to last night’s bewitching dream, all he could think about was his date with Belle and how he’d charm her. The lady oozed charisma, innocence, beauty, and grace. Her shyness entranced him, and he ached to break through that coy, reserved barrier she built around herself and see the real her.
Checking his pocket watch once again, James remarked, “So the plan is clear?”
“Hmm, what, partner?”
James lifted his gaze in exasperation and sighed. “You haven’t been paying attention, have you?”
Trevor rubbed the back of his neck and squinted while giving him a sideways, guilty look. “Well, not really.”
“I knew it from that lovey-dovey look in your eyes that your mind was on something else.”
“Sorry, James, but I can’t help it.” Trevor shrugged.
James leaned on the wall. “I don’t blame you. I’d be acting the same way if I’d be spending time with Belle tonight.” He combed his fingers through his hair. “But don’t let her looks or seductive ways fool you, Trev. Remember who you are dealing with. Wild LaRue is unscrupulous and slyer than Jesse James. She’ll tear out your heart and serve it to the posse if you let her.”
Nodding, Trevor responded, “I still have my doubts about her being LaRue, but I admit she isn’t a simple saloon singer, either. There is much more to the lady than meets the eye.”
“Uh-huh.” James sighed.
“Okay, so what’s the plan again?” Trevor asked,
“While you’re distracting her, I’ll check out her room and see if I can come up with any leads. Once I’m finished there, I’ll head back to the train and check out the safe.” He poked Trevor’s chest lightly. “And you’ll try to get more information out of her about her past and when she came here. See if you can catch any holes in her story and then start digging deeper there.”
“Okay, partner.” Trevor sensed someone watched him. He turned around just in time to see Belle descend the staircase. He gulped as he took in every inch of her gorgeous body and stride as she got closer.
“Heaven, mercy!”
James’s gaze followed his and his mouth fell open. “I’ll second that.”
They both advanced to the foot of the winding staircase and took off their cowboy hats. James sported a huge grin, and Trevor wondered if he wore the same expression on his face.
When she got to the bottom, her smile widened. “Howdy, boys.”
James replied as he took her hand to kiss the back of it. “Good evening, Belle. You look so pretty.”
Trevor elbowed him. “Pretty is too mild a word.” He took her hand and kissed it, letting his lips linger a little longer on her sweet-smelling skin. “Belle, you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You’re graceful, musically gifted, and smart. Perfect in every way possible.” And he meant every word.
She blushed deeply, gazing at the ground. “Oh, thanks for the compliment.”
Glancing at James and seeing the fixated, admiring look in his eyes, Trevor coughed. “James, shouldn’t you be getting ready for work?”
Taking a big breath, James turned to him. “Oh, I almost forgot.” Heading for the stairs, he added, “You two take your time and have fun tonight. Trev, don’t worry about me. With all I have to do this evening, I won’t be back until late in the night.”
Belle’s brow lifted, and a curious look came on. “Oh, that late. What is it you and Trevor do, anyway?”
James’s eyes shifted for just a second. “Oh, nothing much, just some maintenance here and there.”
“Maintenance on what?”
“Anything and everything our boss can think of.” James fidgeted.
Trevor saw his partner falling and jumped in for the rescue. “Ah, Belle, we best be going if we want to make it on time to eat. I’m sure the saloon’s kitchen doesn’t stay open long.”
Still frowning in confusion, she replied, “You’re right, Trevor.” She glanced at James. “Have fun at work, James. Hope the tasks won’t be too tiring.”
James had ascended to midway up the staircase by now. “Oh, no, the work will be pretty fun, actually. Have a nice evening, the two of you.”
Trevor placed his hand on her back and guided her to the door. “Shall we go?”
She grinned and looped her arm in his, gazing into his eyes. “Yes, of course.”
Stepping out the door to the inn, Trevor glanced at her while they walked. Her allure enamored him, and he doubted he’d be able to concentrate on spying tonight. His mind had much more pressing things to consider, like how she actually looked without that dress on.
He couldn’t help gaping while he listened to her sweet words. He never figured Belle knew so much about history, culture, and many other things. It certainly was an unexpected, refreshing delight.
They arrived at Sherry’s saloon twenty minutes earlier and the place had been packed. But lucky for them, Belle knew Sherry, and when Sherry’s daughter saw them come in, she arranged for them to have the first available table the second it became vacant. Within five minutes, they got seats at a corner table where they could talk and enjoy their meals and each other’s company in quiet privacy.
Sitting just across from her at the narrow table, he couldn’t help but admire her beauty up close. The bright lighting in the room allowed him to actually see the finer details of her features and skin. He hadn’t noticed that her mesmerizing blue eyes also had specks of brown surrounding each pupil and that her long, black eyelashes twitched slightly when she batted them. Oh, it beguiled him so.
He also didn’t before note that she had a tiny mole on her face, close to her right ear. Her smile enchanted him. She had perfectly straight, pearl-white teeth that sparkled when she smiled. And her lips, well, he already noticed them the night before, admiring their fullness, softness, and red color. But tonight, having her so close to him and seeing her lips move with every word she spoke, had him leaning in closer so he could register each movement and imagine how it would feel to kiss those enticing, sinful lips.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to remember why he brought her here. Images of James hounding him if he got back to the room with no further lead on their mysterious neighbor–saloon singer urged him on. James could be a real pain in the ass when he wanted. And when James obsessed on a case, Trevor knew James wouldn’t rest until all the loose threads had been resolved. James was so sure Belle was the notorious, ruthless outlaw.
He had his doubts, but his dubiety shouldn’t be the issue here tonight. The fact remained Belle could very well be Wild Isabelle LaRue, and they needed to extinguish or prove that theory soon before another train robbery occurred under their surveillance.
The captain sent them down here to check out the past robberies, and if LaRue was really behind them all. But he also expected him and James to prevent any further robberies from happening, thus the reason he got them the expressmen’s jobs on the train.
They’d be protecting the safe and all its valuables on the train. Them and only them. And if all the rumors about LaRue’s cunningness and ruthlessness were true, they had to be alert and observant constantly.
He heard she could outsmart any man and that she and her posse loved to walk around among the town people, posing as regular folks. This way they could get all the information they needed on the local lawmen and the train workers before they committed their heists.
Yes, that sounded logical. And now as he stared at the gorgeous saloon singer before him, he thought that just maybe James had been right and she could very well be Wild Isabelle LaRue. She could be working him right at this very moment without him even realizing it.
Coughing to clear the lump of air that lodged in his throat as he pondered over his dilemma, he thought it high time for the investigating to begin.
“So, Belle, you haven’t yet told me how you got the job at Eden’s Paradise. You came to town a few months back, didn’t you?”
She looked behind him, and her brows furrowed slightly as her face took on a serious tone.
She remained silent a few seconds and then replied, “Yes, I came to town about two months back.” She took a breath and continued. “I guess getting the job at Eden’s Paradise was pure luck. I was passing by and heard they were looking for a singer and, well, I went in and asked for the owner or manager.
“That’s when Mr. Petry asked me to sing in front of the crowd. Not many people were in the saloon at the time, so I didn’t mind trying out then. He liked my singing and Sally did, too. I think it was her coaxing that convinced him to hire me on the spot.”
Returning her gaze back at him, she finished with, “That’s about it.” She took a sip of her water, peering intently over the rim at him. He saw assertiveness in her stare. Mmm, he liked it.
Placing her glass down, she smiled and nodded while leaning forward. Her cleavage teased him as the front of her bodice dipped with her body. When she took a deep breath and her mounds lifted, then sank, his eyes opened wider of their own accord, and he hoped she hadn’t noticed. All his resolve and probing focus went out the window when his manly urges surfaced, taking over his body and brain. His breathing became shallow with the tightening of his throat, and he fidgeted, trying to regain his breath and hide his erection, which he knew could be visible if she peeked at the crotch of his pants.
When he saw her gaze come to rest there, he knew he had been caught.
It was now or never. All her planning and plotting she had been obsessing about all day long and she had yet to get anything out of him. She certainly hadn’t expected to be so dazzled by him, or that they would see eye to eye on several issues. And according to him, she and James also had the same philosophy on life. How interesting.
These handsome, mysterious men just kept surprising her. Maybe that was the reason why she completely forgot about her ploy. Maybe. Or maybe it had to do with his bewitching stare. She couldn’t help gazing into his dreamy brown eyes and getting lost.
She caught Greta ogling him several times when they first got here. Sherry’s daughter had been overly hospitable this evening, going out of her way to get them a table quickly. She had never done that before, especially not in five minutes flat, a world record for her, no doubt.
And after they were seated, she kept glancing over at him while she served other tables. Could she be any more obvious? Frankly, she found it outright rude of Greta to behave in such an unladylike manner. She had half a mind to get up the next time Greta ogled him from afar and tell her to stop it. That was no way for a young lady to behave.
But the fact Trevor hadn’t even noticed her made her think twice before doing it. She’d look pretty foolish getting up out of the blue and going over to reprimand the young lady. Why, it’d look like she was jealous. Jealous? Her? Never.
Taking a sip of water, she stared at him and decided it was time she forgot about Greta and got down to the business at hand. And that was finding out who Trevor and James really were and the real reason they came here.
She leaned forward and gave him a warm smile. She noted his eyes fixed on her bosom then, and when she saw the bulge of his manhood rise in his pants, well, she knew she had him.
Ordinarily, she felt uncomfortable when men leered at her at the saloon. In fact, it repulsed her, but she endured it because she had no choice. That was all part of the game. It came with being a saloon girl singer. She had to accept it and live with their stares. Quitting was out of the question. She needed to be there to be the eyes and ears of the operation. So she just ignored it and went on performing night after night.
But this evening was a totally different story. Trevor’s heated stare made her skin tingle and her heart skip a beat. Why, it even made butterflies flutter in her stomach and her legs weak. And staring at his excited erection made her pussy quiver and undergarments wet with arousal as she imagined his naked body under his attire, his surely muscular chest and arms, and his other enticing attributes.
She inhaled deeply, trying to catch her breath since her lungs had stopped functioning for a second. She folded her hands under her chin. “What exactly do you and James do again? James was vague when I asked him earlier.”
Her words seemed to break his focus, and he slid his gaze from her chest to her face in surprise. “What we do?”
“Yes. Is it a hard job?” She nodded.
He shook his head while looking around. “No, just light manual labor.”
She lifted her brow as curiosity urged her to probe further. “What exactly?”
He huffed. “Boy, I’m starving. When will they be coming to serve us?” He lifted his finger when a saloon girl passed by the table. “Excuse me, miss, but can we order?”
She nodded looking at the table. “Greta didn’t serve you yet. I’ll just go get her.”
“That’d be mighty nice of you, miss.” He smiled.
Oh, he wasn’t going to get away with avoiding the question. She squinted and glared at him. “Well?”
He observed her and grinned while taking her hand. He brought it up to his lips and kissed it, never breaking eye contact. Her breath caught in her throat at the unexpected move on his part.
“I didn’t intend on talking about work this evening, pretty lady. We’re here to enjoy ourselves. And talking about work sure isn’t entertainment to me,” he replied
Before she could respond, Greta came to the table. “I’m so sorry. It’s been so busy.”
Trevor let go of Belle’s hand that instant and looked at Greta. “What do you have to eat?” Greta didn’t respond, but just stood there wearing an obnoxious grin while she gawked at Trevor.
Belle glared up at her. “Well, aren’t you going to answer him?”
The young lady glanced at her and then returned her attention back to Trevor. “I’m sorry. What was the question?”
Belle wanted to curse, but decided to stay quiet when Trevor looked at her to give her a sideways smirk.
“What do you have for dinner?” he asked Greta again.
“Oh, we have fried chicken with potatoes and grits.”
“Now that sounds good. We’ll both have that,” he replied.
Greta grinned and before leaving the table said with a look of embarrassment plastered on her face, “You shouldn’t have to wait long. My ma runs an organized kitchen.”
The minute she left, he laughed lightly. “The young lady seems to have gotten under your skin, Belle.”
“Why would you say that?” She opened her eyes wide and heat rose to her cheeks.
“Well, the frown on your face when she waited at the table gave me a clue.”
Think, Belle, think.
What could she respond to that? Certainly not the truth. When she gazed at him again, she saw a wide smirk spread over his features. Hmm, so he toyed with her. An excellent deflection to her previous question.
Taking a gulp of water, she waited for the perfect reply to come to mind and thank God it did. “Well, she had interrupted our conversation. You were going to tell me what exactly was yours and James’s job.”
He shook his head. “Pretty lady, you sure are persistent.”
“Sometimes.” She nodded.
He lifted his brow and bent forward, whispering, “I like that.” Leaning back in his chair, he replied, “If I answer your question, do you promise you won’t ask me any more questions about work?”
“I swear.” She lifted her hand.
Taking a huff, he replied, “We work on the train. Light maintenance work.”
“Oh” was all that came out of her mouth. She certainly wasn’t expecting the complete truth, but somehow she expected a more elaborate lie.
Dumbfounded, she focused on her folded hands resting on the table. She prodded her mind, hoping her next move would come to her, but it didn’t. For the first time in her life, she was stumped as to what to do or say next.
He intended to make his move as they walked back to the inn. But circumstances made his plan impossible to accomplish. For a small town, Fort Smith had its share of people. Everywhere he looked, he saw people traveling in wagons, on horseback, or walking. He needed to go someplace isolated where they could finally be alone.
Once their meals had come at the saloon, they ate and talked for an hour more about anything under the sun. He marveled at how easily conversation came to them. They had many interests in common. And on further reflection, he realized the same could be said about James. If he had been on this date instead of him, Trevor was sure Belle would have had the same ease conversing with James as she did with him.
And as promised, Belle didn’t ask him any more questions about work. He found it odd she obsessed on it for some time. His suspicions rose with her persistence. Did this mean she really was Wild Isabelle LaRue? Not really, but it did tell him she sure as hell wasn’t just a singer. She was too smart to be just that.
Gazing at her now while they walked at a slow gait, he extended his arm and meshed his fingers with hers. Her warm, soft hand squeezing his back gently made his heart open up a notch more to her, and for a split second, he experienced bewilderment with the sentiment. But the sensation dissipated when she turned her face to him and smiled. He stared at her full, soft, red lips and yearned to kiss her and see how they felt.
“Sherry’s was great. Thanks for being with me this evening, Belle. I had an amazing time and enjoyed getting to know more about you,” he said.
“You’re welcome. I had fun, too. But now I’m stuffed.”
Raising his brow, he said, “Well, since this is a beautiful night for walking , the moonlight super bright, why don’t you give me a tour?”
“All right. If we turn on that road up ahead, it’ll lead us to the market and shops.” She scanned the area.
He shook his head. “No, Belle, I was thinking of someplace we could walk alone and talk. Enjoy each other’s company some more without having a crowd around us.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “Well, the small woodland behind the inn would be perfect for that. There aren’t many trees to hide the moonlight, so we’ll be able to see where we’re walking, and since the land belongs to the inn, we can walk in there without being disturbed.”
He let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist as he guided her behind the inn. “Now that is the perfect suggestion.”
She giggled and he found it adorable. Sometimes, she seemed like two different women—the innocent, shy Belle, and the enchanting vixen that she let surface only briefly when she looked at him.
Once they were alone with no one to spy on them, he guided them toward a tree.
“This is much better. Although I had a great time at the saloon, the food was delicious, I couldn’t wait to be alone with you.” He stared deep into her eyes. By moonlight, they sparkled like bewitching stars. “You’re smart, funny, and so beautiful, Belle.”
Instead of bowing her head in timidity, this time she leaned on the trunk behind her and reciprocated his stare while saying in a whisper, “Thank you, Trevor. I can same the same for you.”
“Oh, you find me beautiful, too?” He laughed.
“No! I meant smart and funny.” She gazed down with a look of embarrassment.
“Then I’m ugly?” he jested as he lifted her chin, forcing her to stare into his eyes again.
Her obvious bashfulness dissipated with his remark and she smiled at him. She focused first on his left eye, then his right, bringing her gaze down to his nose and then his lips.
With her stare centered on his lips, she replied in a sultry voice, “No, not at all. You are very handsome.”
“You find me handsome. Good.” Her enticing tone and hungry eyes induced his next move. He brought his arms on either side of her so she was trapped. Not that he thought she would run. She definitely wanted this, him. The way she fixed her gaze on his lips, licking her own, he knew she wanted him to kiss her, which was what he had been thinking from the second he saw her coming down the inn stairs earlier.
He bent down, bringing his eager lips close to hers. With his mouth a mere inch away from hers, he lifted his hand, caressing her soft curls. They felt like strands of silk sliding through his fingers. This close to her, the sweet fragrance of her perfume reminded him of fresh cut grass and he became utterly captivated by her. He dipped in closer, touching his lips to hers, and waves of electric arousal surged through their contact into his body, making shivers travel through his back, down to his legs.
His cock rose and thickened with desire. His constrictive underwear and pants rubbed against its head, and he tried to control a passionate moan from escaping his lips while he took the kiss further.
He pushed her lips open, and when his tongue met hers, he took a deep breath, wrapping his arms around her, crushing her body to his. His hardened cock pushed against her pelvis, and he swore he almost lost his willpower then. And although her dress had a frilly hoop skirt, he knew she could feel his arousal because she wrapped her arms around his neck and let out a soft, pleasing groan and breath while her tongue played along with his, enticing him to continue.
Her warm exhale tickled his chin. He could feel the rise of her bosom then and yearned to gaze upon it.
Freeing her mouth and pushing her hair behind her shoulders, he glided his lips down her neck and shoulders. She licked her lips and sighed. He sensed goose pimples form on her skin because of his heated breath and inched his way down to the top of her mounds that rested in temptation for him.
The same perfume he smelled on her neck assaulted him then. She obviously dabbed some between her breasts. And the fact she added some to that strategic place told him she expected him to take things beyond just kissing this evening. And by God, he’d wholeheartedly meet her expectations and more.
Imagining her naked in her room earlier, dabbing the perfume behind her ears and between her luscious, plump breasts made him crazy. He pulled her bodice toward him while he slipped his tongue to taste the skin between her plump breasts. In the moonlight, he could see the curve of each beautiful breast and the edge of her nipples. Her skin smelled of roses and her audible heartbeat made his tongue vibrate as he explored the warm skin. Mmm, it tasted sinfully, deliciously salty.
She threw her head back, moaning in delight. “Oh, Trevor.”
Before he could undo her bodice to fully get to those heavenly breasts, he heard voices.
People approached.
Of all the damn luck in the world, someone decided to come here now, right when he and Belle were getting so intimate.
Moving away from her, he took a deep, controlling inhale of air to calm his surging desire. As a couple came closer, he realized they planned to do what he and Belle started doing.
Great.
Turning his attention back to her, he bent to her ear and whispered, “So much for us being alone now. Since James won’t be back for quite some time, why don’t we continue this in my room?”
A breathless Belle stared at the couple and nodded. “All right.”
As they passed the couple, the man leered at Belle, admiring her cleavage, and with a lifted brow, nodded at Trevor, smiling. He gave him his silent approval.
Both Belle and the stranger’s partner hadn’t noticed, but it irked Trevor just the same that the swine would look in such a way at Belle when she was with Trevor and he had his own hand wrapped around his lady’s waist.
The vulgar gesture was uncalled for. He wanted to punch him and show him the right way to treat a woman. But then he decided it wouldn’t be a good idea because he didn’t want Belle to find out that the pig looked at her with such disrespect.
She deserved far better than that. And once he got her alone in his room, he’d show her exactly how a beautiful, exciting, witty, and smart woman like herself should be treated.
Just holding his hand as he guided her up the stairs had her panting. Her lips still throbbed from his assault on them moments earlier, and her neck and bosom tingled from his kisses, as well. Anticipating what lay ahead when they got to his room made her lungs restrict her breathing. Was it anxiousness and arousal or the dread of what she needed to do that spurred her emotions? Probably all three. His dashing good looks and charismatic behavior made her giddy. No doubt she had fallen under his spell, but she needed to keep her wits.
As she stepped foot on the landing of the second floor, her resolution empowered her and her goal became clear once again. She needed to find out the real reason why these enigmatic men were in Fort Smith. They certainly weren’t here for work. There lay something far more intricate behind their arrival. And if her inkling was right, it had to do with why she came here to Fort Smith.
Trevor turned to look at her with his dreamy eyes then. “Now that no one is around, we can get back to this.” He looped his arms around her waist, pulling her in for a deep, hungry kiss. Her analytical thoughts instantly dissolved then, and her mind wandered to more physical things, like how good his scorching, full lips felt on hers and how his chest crushed her breasts, making her nipples perk with the pressure.
He lifted her off her feet with his tight grip around her midsection and carried her to his room while never releasing her lips. She gasped and giggled in surprise. She liked his assertiveness.
She felt his strong arms under his shirt as he advanced to his door, and she hungered to tear his shirt off him and actually touch his skin, see his muscular body—arms, chest, abdomen, and everything else that made him the virile, gorgeous man he was.
When he halted at the room next to hers, he leaned her on the door and whispered through his slightly open lips, “We’re here.”
Her eyes widened, and she pushed her face away from his to turn to see exactly where “here” was.
Sure enough, her inkling had been accurate. “We’re neighbors?”
He rested her gently back on to her feet and smiled while he stuck his hand in his pants pocket. “Uh-huh. Nice coincidence, isn’t it?”
He took his key out and was about to place it into the hole when the door opened by its own accord. Or so Belle thought until she saw the most mesmerizing green eyes staring at her.
“James, you’re already back,” Trevor responded before anything registered in her mind.
James kept his eyes fixed on her as he replied, “Yes, the jobs were a lot easier than I expected.”
She tried to tear her stare away but couldn’t. James held her gaze locked, and she found herself suspended in speech and thought, just marveling at his perfect facial features and eyes of a deep green. So beautiful.
“Belle, would you like us to go someplace else, then?” Trevor took her hand.
The trance she fell under broke then, and she focused on her just-as-handsome date beside her.
Before she could reply, James interrupted. “Don’t change your plans. Please come in.”
Trevor frowned, looking perplexed and angered, but when James shot him a stern look, his expression changed to one of comprehension.
“Belle, how about we all enjoy a drink together?”
“Um…o–okay.” She fumbled with her words.
James smiled brightly, stepping aside to welcome her in. “Come right in, Belle.”
She took a hesitant step forward, but an inner voice screamed for her to stop. Her mind spun in many directions, and then finally settled on one train of thought.
As the idea solidified, she replied, “Why don’t you boys get my drink ready and I’ll be back in real quick? I’d like to freshen up beforehand.”
They both beamed while Trevor responded, “Great.” He grabbed her hand and dipped in to kiss her on the lips. It was gentle but hardly sweet. It spoke volumes of his sexual hunger. “See you soon.”
Her lips briefly followed his as he moved away, leaving her stunned and utterly flustered. Then she took a deep breath and pushed her hair out of her face.
While mumbling, “Mmhmm,” she walked away from the bewitching, handsome duo to her room.
When she finally stepped inside her sanctum, she sighed to settle her wanton, raging urges. She fanned her face and chest with her purse to cool off her heated skin.
Focus, Belle, focus.
She needed to get her bearings centered once more. God, when she first concocted this hoax, she never expected it would be so complicated. With all the other schemes she brewed up, she never had any problems. Everything went according to plan.
But not this time. No, hardly according to plan this time around. Then again, there hadn’t been a Trevor Kent or James Sanford in the past to turn her world upside down.
She glanced at the adjoining wall as she thought of them. While she stared, something sprung in her mind and her heart jumped into her throat with worry.
“I wonder. Did you boys hear anything last night?” she pondered as her hands began to perspire.
She walked over to the wall, taking her empty water glass from her night table. “If I can hear what you two are saying, then I know you heard John and Mat talking to me last night.” Placing the glass to her ear, she perked her sense of hearing and remained silent…
“So what did you find out, James?” It was Trevor’s voice coming through, barely audible, but she heard it clearly just the same.
“Nothing. I couldn’t find anything. It was clean as a whistle,” James responded.
“Hmm, so what do we do now?” Trevor mused.
“Well—”
Suddenly, the glass slipped from her hands and fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. Damn! She should have dried her sweaty palms before picking up the glass. Placing her ear to the wall, she tried to continue to eavesdrop. But unfortunately, the thickness of the wall acted as a barrier and the voices came through muffled, incoherent.
Double damn!
She paced the narrow room while her mind reeled with possibilities.
“Did you hear anything last night, boys?” she repeated to herself as she brought her hand to her mouth. “And what do you mean ‘It was clean as a whistle’? What was clean as a whistle?” Somehow, she doubted it had to do with work. Or did it?
Tapping her forefinger on her lips, she twirled on her heel to pace the other way.
It was clean as a whistle.
The words kept ringing in her ears. Yet, no answer came to her. An aura of danger, and excitement hovered over these men. And for the life of her, she couldn’t get them out of her mind for many reasons.
After walking back and forth for what seemed like forever, she stopped, realizing the answer wouldn’t come to her. She needed to go to it. The source. The men who intrigued her and made her insides feel like mush. Maybe they’d let something important slip out given the right circumstances.
Okay, it all became clear to her now. Taking a deep breath of resolve, she blew her hair out of her face and stood her ground.
Boys, it’s high time I turn the tables on you. The sweet and shy Belle is no more. Say hello to Isabelle the seductress. You’re not going to see what’s coming until it’s too late.