Free Taken by the Pirate Billionaire by Shelli Stevens Page B

story that you know nothing about the brooch?”
    “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.” 
    She gave a distressed little moan and bit her lip.
    He lifted his gaze, catching her agitated expression. “Why do you want it? Is it a money issue?”
    “I...” She hesitated and then sighed. “Yes, it’s a money issue, but not for me.”
    “Your doggy daycare?”
    “You know what I do?” She shook her head and grimaced. “Wait, of course you do. How silly of me.”
    “I think what you do is charming.” And he meant it.  
    “I don’t know if it’s charming.” Her nose wrinkled. “I just love dogs, and I got tired of sacrificing my life to the corporate world. So a year ago I decided to go into the pet sitting business with my boyfriend.”
    He went still. “Boyfriend?”
    “Ex, sorry.” She waved her hand and went on. “Anyway, we were doing great and starting to turn a profit, and then Joey and I started having problems. When I ended things, he didn’t much appreciate it.”
    The tension in his body dissipated some. “What happened next?”
    “Joey quit, stole my list of clients and then opened his own business. He charges twenty bucks less a day.”
    “And all your customers abandoned you for him, so now you’re stuck with no income?”
    “No, I’m holding my own. People went to him for the discount, but preferred me in the end.”
    “Only an idiot wouldn’t.” He pulled out his most charming smile, but it went right over her head.
    “So, no, it’s not me with the money issues, but my grandparents. They raised me, and they’re in danger of losing their house. I’m trying to help get the money to pay it off.”
    “By stealing something from me.”
    Shame flashed across her face. “I’m sorry Devon. I didn’t want to break into your home and steal the brooch. It just seemed like a good plan at the time, because I knew it had once been in my family. It would serve me right if you did turn me over to the police. Any other person probably would have by now.”
    “I’d rather keep you for myself.” Devon reached out to graze his knuckle over one of her nipples. “Will you bring the diary over for me to look at? There may be some clues you’ve missed.”
    “I’m not gonna lie. I’ve missed a lot. It’s kind of illegible.” She stared at him skeptically. “You’d really want to help me with it? After everything I’ve done to you?”
    “You haven’t done a whole lot to me, except blowing my mind in bed.” He gave a faint smile. “This diary situation involves both of our families.” He moved his hand down to stroke the curve of her hip. “I’m intrigued. Also it may explain why you seem so familiar to me.”
    Her brows drew together. “I seem familiar to you? How so?”
    “Mmm hmm,” He traced his fingers off her hip and onto the soft curve of her stomach. “I can’t place it, but it’s almost like... I knew you when I saw you.”
    “Well now that’s weird.” Renee put her hand over his wandering one. “What if you somehow tapped into Darren’s memories—?”
    “Tapped into the memory of a man who’s been dead for centuries?” Devon raised an eyebrow and then laughed. “Sorry, sweetheart. I may have gone through a gothic phase, but I’m a little too logic-based for that kind of bullshit.”
    “Hmm, but it sure makes you wonder, doesn’t it? We’d never met before,” she reminded him. “And, yet, I was somehow familiar to you? All I’m saying is that maybe you should be a little more open-minded.”
    Devon grunted in response.
    She rolled her eyes. “I should head home. When do you want me to come back with the diary?”
    The thought of her leaving disturbed him. He enjoyed being with her, didn’t want their time together to come to an end. “Let me follow you home.”
    “You want to come to my apartment?” 
    “Yes.” 
    “Now?”
    “If that’s all right.”
    Renee looked as if she was going to argue and then nodded. “Okay. Get dressed, and