Free To the Limit by Cindy Gerard Page B

Tiffany so much?" he asked, deciding to risk Eve's wrath. "Seems to me, she's been nothing but a thorn in your side since the beginning."
     
    She tossed back that beautiful mane of silky blond hair. "It's something you wouldn't understand, since apparently it's all about the money to you."
     
    He could be pissed but chose not to be. She didn't know what motivated him. Let her think what she wanted. It was no skin off his nose.
     
    "Well, hell yeah," he said with a cheery smile. "It's always all about the money. Keeps it simple."
     
    Another sound of disgust. "There's nothing simple about it if Tiffany is in trouble."
     
    "Look. Tiffany Clayborne is a party girl on a party run and she doesn't give a damn who she puts out in the process."
     
    Eve shoved open the double glass and chrome doors and walked outside. The Florida sun was brilliant and hot. A stiff easterly wind shuttled in the scent of salt and brine from the Atlantic.
     
    "I hope you're right. And I hope you find her. In the meantime, you won't mind if I conduct my own search."
     
    The woman just wouldn't quit. "You're kidding, right?"
     
    "Do I look like I'm kidding?"
     
    What she looked like was a woman on a mission.
     
    "With or without help from Edwards or Clayborne or you, I'm going to find her. As a matter of fact, I'll probably find her before you do."
     
    He snorted. "Like that's going to happen."
     
    "Like yeah. It is. Wonder how much money Edwards will pony up for you then."
     
    One thing you could count on with women: the outside packaging varied, but inside they were pretty much all the same. This woman in particular hated being bested by men. His gender may have the physical equipment theirs lacked, but the woman standing beside him had her own equivalent set of balls. And he'd bet the farm that estrogen packed a helluva lot more punch in the mean department than testosterone any day. He ought to know. He still bore the scars from his divorce. And the deeper scars of losing Ali.
     
    "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to make this into a little competition."
     
    She tucked her chin, looked him up and down. When she met his eyes again she was smirking. "There's competition?"
     
    He laughed. OK, so he looked like something a very indiscriminate cat wouldn't bother to drag in. "I remember you as being so much sweeter."
     
    "You ought to see someone about that memory problem. See you around, McClain."
     
    "Hey, Eve."
     
    She stopped when he said her name. Turned slowly. Gave him a long-suffering look.
     
    The wind caught her long hair and lifted it back and away from a face that was an intriguing mix of classic girl next door and wear-your-wrist-out porn star with her wide blue eyes and full, generous lips. The stout ocean breeze folded back her jacket lapels and molded that filmy little white top against her magnificent breasts—and some of his body parts started changing size and shape.
     
    At this very moment, life was good. Life was sweet. He had a high-profile case, could almost see his ship coming in on the horizon and the prospect of a little competition from a hot woman to keep things interesting.
     
    Pretty much in love with the moment and the fact that Eve Garrett was as much fun to needle as she was to look at, he dug into his pocket, pulled out a bag of M&M's, and tossed them to her. "Here you go, cupcake. These are for you."
     
    She was too surprised to stop herself from snagging them out of the air.
     
    "A little affirmation that my memory's just fine," he said when she looked from him to the bag of candy.
     
    She smiled. Tight and brittle. Clearly remembering the last time—the only time—he'd bought her M&M's.
     
    "If you think you're going to beat me to Tiffany," he said, unable to resist, "you underestimate me."
     
    "No. I think I've pretty much got you pegged. You're a self-serving, self-absorbed rat-bastard."
     
    He chuckled, as impressed with her mouth as he was with her mind. OK, as