Free Allure by Michelle Betham Page B

my sight, you washed-up slut.’
    We both smile, and this part of my life shifts back on to its comfortable, if not slightly dysfunctional axis. As for the other part, I have no idea where that’s going. All I know is I have a job to do. Even if I’m not really in the mood anymore.
     
     
    Neal
     
    I’ve spent the entire morning driving around this beautiful part of the country, meeting the most warm, friendly, and incredibly interesting people, as well as checking out some pretty spectacular pieces. I’ve already managed to acquire a few things for Lee, and this afternoon we’re meeting at her gallery so she can see what I’ve come up with so far. She specifically asked me for some local pieces, and I’m still trying to understand why she wanted an American dealer to hunt this stuff out for her when there are some very well-respected dealers here in her own hometown. I’ve met with quite a few of them already since I got here. But, hey, who am I to question a client’s requirements? Besides, I have a number of clients all over the world who’d rather use me than a local dealer. I’m that good.
    I smile as I head across the hotel lobby, stopping at reception to see if there are any messages.
    ‘Afternoon, Mr Cannon. Are you having a good day so far?’
    I throw Tracy, the receptionist, one of my smiles and watch as she suddenly goes all coy on me. I’m being a bit cruel, really, because I know she’s got a little crush on me. Derek, the concierge, told me as much the other day, but she’s way too young for me. No harm in being friendly, though.
    ‘I’m having a great day, thank you, Tracy . Are there any messages for me?’
    ‘No, Mr Cannon. No messages. Are you going up to your suite now?’
    ‘No. I think I’m gonna head into the bar for a quick drink before my afternoon appointments. You take care now, honey, OK?’
    I throw her a wink and another smile before I make my way into the bar. It’s quite busy in there this afternoon, but I guess we’re at the beginning of a new working week. I’m not the only businessman in town.
    ‘Just a black coffee, please, Tony.’
    I’m on first name terms with a lot of the hotel staff now. I’m beginning to realise what an incredibly friendly part of the world this is, and even though I’ve only been here a couple of days I’m extremely comfortable in my temporary home.
    ‘Working this afternoon, Mr Cannon?’ Tony asks, placing my coffee down on the counter as I slide up on to a stool.
    I nod, taking a sip of the strong black liquid. ‘Got a meeting at The Gifford Gallery.’
    ‘Any plans for this evening?’
    Oh, yeah, I got plans for this evening. But none I’m gonna divulge to anyone else. ‘Not sure yet. Gonna see how the day goes.’ I smile, and he heads off to serve another customer.
    I take another sip of coffee and look around the room. I like to people watch sometimes. I find it kinda relaxing. But as I continue to scan the room I see someone I really wasn’t expecting to see. I see her – Kira. She’s here, in the hotel, and seeing her, it throws me slightly. She looks beautiful in a figure-hugging dark dress and killer heels, her dark-blonde hair piled high on top of her head, all business-like and freaking hot-as-hell. But I know the kind of business she’s really here to do. She’s just good at making it look like another generic working lunch.
    I want to look away, but I can’t. She told me, despite our own personal arrangement, that she was going to carry on working, and even though I was OK with putting that to the back of my mind and pretending it wasn’t happening, seeing it going on right there in front of me – man, it’s a killer. But I can’t look away.
    She stands up, and the man beside her places a hand in the small of her back as he leans in to say something to her that makes her laugh, and I feel like someone’s just grabbed my heart and squeezed it hard. I don’t want to be feeling this shit, but I am, and it