Free Goodbye Arizona by Claude Dancourt

In fact, I’m here to discuss something with you. Can we sit down?”
    ****
    On the first floor, a glimpse at the ballroom confirmed the last-minute change of plans had been the right move. The place was swarming with cops who were ferreting everywhere. The shadow snorted in derision. They would find nothing. But tonight, liars and cheaters would pay in kind…

Chapter Nine
     
    Marcus fumbled with his tie, his attention riveted to the dream in gilded satin at the dresser. Deb clipped her hair aside. The curls spiraled over one shoulder, leaving the other free. She admired the effect in the mirror with a little moue . “What do you think? Hair up? Or down?”
    He finally completed the knot and joined her at the dresser. “I like it this way.”
    Marcus dropped a kiss on the naked skin between the curve of her shoulder and the sequined strap of her dress. His nose caught a whiff of the perfume she must have dabbed on her throat, something sultry and mysterious that shot straight below his belt. He took a prudent step back. “You look absolutely beautiful.”
    Deb held up her hand so he helped her to her feet. The fabric flowed along her body, catching the light in gold streaks. The way her curves moved freely under it finished drying his mouth.
    “Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself.”
    She arranged his tie, brushing those curves against his chest with a wicked smile. Of course she’d noticed his retreat and decided to tease him. Marcus pulled one hand from behind his back.
    “Here.”
    Cautious surprise flashed in her smoky eyes instead of mischievous amusement, as she eyed the palm-sized box, then him. “A bribe?”
    “A promise. Open it.”
    She did, with a quick catch of breath. The rose gold curved band gleamed between velvet rims. Deb wet her lips. “It looks a little lost in such a big box.”
    Her voice wavered a little, telling him he’d chosen correctly.
    “Better to rescue it, then. May I?”
    The ring slipped easily onto her fourth finger. Marcus brought her hand to his lips to kiss it. Deb laughed and launched herself into his arms. “Thank you!”
    “Oh… Does this mean you don’t want the matching piece?”
    She detached herself from him, suddenly remembering the too-large box he still held in his left hand. “What matching piece?”
    Marcus plunged his free hand into his breast pocket, and extracted a tri-set-linked bangle bracelet, in the same shade of delicate gold and pink. “It doesn’t exactly match the color of your dress, but … happy anniversary.”
    Deb cocked up one perfect eyebrow to tamper the guilty pleasure shining on her face. “Definitely a bribe. We got married in February so it’s not our anniversary.”
    Marcus chuckled and then kissed her hard on the mouth. “You’re too literal about those things. Just accept the gift your devoted husband spent an hour chasing after, while you tried on every single pair of shoes this afternoon.”
    The eyebrow moved higher. “Devoted?”
    “Devoted, besotted, and everything in between. Come on, now, let’s go downstairs before they eat all the hors-d’oeuvres. I’m famished.”
    Deb moved away from him to pick up a hand purse matching her dress, then hooked her hand around his elbow. “I don’t know how you can be hungry. My stomach is tied into knots. This plan is crazy. You’re playing the bait—”
    “To be literal again, I am not. That’s the beauty of Pooley’s little stunt. Ready?”
    “If I say no, will you change your mind?”
    Marcus kissed her powdered cheek. “We’ll be fine.”
    Deep down, he wasn’t so sure about that. But it was too late to back out now.
    ****
    Standing in front of the mirrored wall of the elevator, Eden gave her image a critical look. The black and champagne chiffon dress was a bit shorter than she would have liked. She shrugged, arranging a strand of hair behind her ear. She doubted any of those paysans knew the difference between cocktail attire and an evening gown. She liked