Fall from India Place (On Dublin Street 4)

“Wait,” Lin said, catching up to his long-legged stride, her red gown streaming out behind her. “We can’t just leave him there, can we?”

“He’ll be up in a minute. If he’s not, the janitors will pick him up with the rest of the trash after the performance,” Kam muttered, his disdainful tone clearly signifying that any further discussion of Jason Klinf wasn’t worthy of his time.

Lin considered what he’d said as they walked, and decided not to protest. Jason didn’t deserve compassion. He’d been forcing himself on her and holding her despite her protests. Besides, her Kung Fu move on his open, unguarded stance would have definitely disabled him briefly as well.

Neither of them said anything else as Kam whisked her through the mostly empty mezzanine lobby, and then the completely abandoned grand foyer. The intermission was over. Not that Lin was vaguely interested in returning to their seats. Kam clearly agreed. She was breathless from their single-minded flight by the time Kam hailed a cab and they settled in the backseat.

“My place or yours?” he asked without preamble.

“Yours. Angus,” she replied breathlessly without pause, reminding him of his newly arrived dog.

It had been one of the most complicated, confusing days she could remember. Her mind was a maelstrom. Answering Kam’s loaded question was the simplest, surest decision she’d made in her life. She saw his grim expression soften slightly as he pinned her with his stare. He leaned forward to give the cabdriver the address. Lin could tell he’d liked her quick answer. She could tell he’d liked it a lot.

Chapter Thirteen

Angus treated them to an enthusiastic greeting, although she followed Kam’s sharp order not to jump on Lin’s evening gown.

“I should take her out,” Kam said. “It won’t take but a few minutes.”

“Of course,” Lin agreed.

Despite his proposed mission, he didn’t move. “If you’re worried about Ian’s reaction to what happened with Klinf tonight, don’t be. I’ll explain. When he hears about how that moron was manhandling you, he’ll understand.”

“That’s all right,” Lin said quietly. “I’ll tell him.”

“One of us will tell him. Ian has a right to know what the man’s really like if he does regular business with him.”

“I agree.”

She felt him studying her and examined her purse. “Will you tell him that Jason asked you to work for him?” Kam prodded.

Lin nodded, not looking up. “I didn’t tell him when Jason asked me before, but I will this time.”

“Why didn’t you mention it to Ian before?”

Lin shrugged. She didn’t want to tell Kam that Jason had asked her to work for him soon after Ian asked Francesca to marry him. Despite Richard St. Claire’s accusation that she hadn’t even considered Jason’s offer, Lin had thought about it. A change in scenery would have helped her cope after seeing Ian so completely in love with another woman. She was glad now she’d never considered the offer too seriously. What a nightmare it would have been if she’d agreed to work with Jason.

“A lot of Ian’s business associates try to . . .” She waved her hand in vague embarrassment.

“Poach you from him?” Kam prodded. “They know an asset when they see it.” She glanced up in time to see his silvery-gray-eyed stare lowering over her. She repressed a shiver.

“I didn’t want Ian to worry about it when he didn’t need to,” she said.

“Ian doesn’t need to worry about you leaving Noble Enterprises because you never would?” Kam prompted.

She moved restlessly in her high heels, uncomfortable at the topic. How could she answer him when she wasn’t sure of the answer herself? Jason’s attempts at convincing her tonight had bothered her in part because there was some truth to what he’d said. Ian’s life and priorities had changed since he’d met Francesca, and so would his business as a result. She’d changed. She wasn’t sure where she belonged anymore.

“I didn’t say that. Who knows what the future may bring?” she replied uneasily.

“Indeed.”

“Why are you so curious?” Lin wondered suddenly.

“Curiosity is one of the palest of my emotions when it comes to you.”

She felt her cheeks heating. Had he really just said that? He started to get Angus’s leash but paused. “Speaking of bolder emotions,” he said dryly, “I bought something for you today at this . . . unusual little boutique I found while I was walking Angus.”

“You did? Unusual, you say?” Lin asked, the tension brought on by their former topic of conversation breaking. She smiled.

“Maybe it’s not unusual. I haven’t lived in a city for years, so what do I know? It was a nice surprise, though. At least it was for me. Maybe you won’t think so.”

“You have to show it to me now,” she prodded softly. “I’m dying of curiosity.”

His nostrils flared slightly as he regarded her, coming to a decision. “Okay.”

He disappeared down the hallway. When he returned a moment later he carried a good-sized shopping bag. Her eyes widened when she saw the single black letter on the bag. It was a new boutique that had opened downtown. She’d read about it in Chicago magazine, but hadn’t yet been there. The boutique specialized in luxurious lingerie, tasteful sex toys, and specially designed jewelry, some of it for everyday glamour, some of it with light bondage or other sexual practices in mind. The boutique might have a racy edge to it, but it carried the highest-quality merchandise and catered to an affluent clientele. Every time the owner was interviewed, he teasingly gave a different word from where the E was derived. So far, Lin had read envy, exquisite, and erotic. It had been a genius marketing ploy, because of course the mind automatically searched for other possible meanings.