Entice Me (Stark Trilogy #3.11)(5)

“Brilliant,” I said. “How long’s he planning on being with Noah?”

“Apparently Mr. Carter has plans later this evening. Mr. Stark told me to expect him to be ready to leave by six-thirty.”

I glance at the clock and realize I need to hurry. “Okay, thanks. I’ll be home in ten. I’ll text you when I’m all set.”

“I’ll be in position,” he says, and it’s my turn to laugh. The way we’re talking you’d think we were doing espionage.

No sooner have I hung up with Edward than my phone rings again. This time it’s Richard, and we’re able to smooth the way through the hotel plans. Basically, I want the party to be in the Presidential Suite. It’s an incredible suite with a marble staircase, a wall of windows that rises two stories with a view of the ocean, and a rooftop garden.

The hitch is that Damien always stays in that suite when we go to the Pearl. Which means we either have to lie and tell him it’s occupied—which is risky as he might find out otherwise during the trip—or I have to come up with some clever way to get him out of the room so that the party guests, food, alcohol, and decorations can all move in and get set up.

“How long will that take?” I ask Richard, wincing a little even before he answers.

“An hour minimum.”

“Could you pull it off in forty-five minutes?”

He makes a strangled, helpless sound. “For Mr. Stark, I think we can manage.”

“You’re amazing,” I say, and then we turn to the next task—trying to figure out what the excuse to leave the room could possibly be.

“I’ll keep working on it,” I say as I turn into the Stark Tower parking garage. Nothing I’ve come up with is even remotely convincing or certain. A birthday dinner is logical, but dicey. Because first, I want Damien to be hungry for the spread of food at the party. And second, what if he decides that ordering room service and having dinner in bed is a more entertaining way to spend his birthday? If I disagreed, he’d know right away that something was up.

I frown, considering. Maybe theater tickets? Richard would probably like the extra time.

I make a mental note to see what’s playing, and then park my car and hurry toward the elevator.

Less than fifteen minutes later, I’ve freshened my make-up and am wearing my favorite casual dress. I love it because it’s made of soft jersey material and is incredibly comfortable. I chose it because it’s easy to get on and off.

I text Edward, pack a tote with the few essential items I need to carry out my evening’s plan, and then head back down into the parking structure.

The limo is waiting for me by the elevator alcove, and Edward comes over to open the door for me. “Good evening, Mrs. Stark.”

“Thanks for doing this, Edward,” I say.

“Now, you know it’s no trouble. The more I’m driving, the further I get in my book.”

“What are you listening to now?” Edward is addicted to audiobooks, and we’ve been comparing notes on the classics.

“To Kill a Mockingbird. Can you believe I’ve never read that book before?”

“It’s one of my favorites. I’m surprised you got through school without reading it.”

He winks at me. “I managed to get through school without doing a lot of things. I regret some of them now. But not all,” he adds, with a devious smile.

“I re-stocked the bar,” he says as I slide in. “And everything else you asked for is stocked as well.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you like the privacy screen up on the way back to the hotel?”

“Please,” I say. Often I keep it down when it’s just Edward and me, but today I have a wardrobe change to take care of.

Traffic is light, but I work quickly, and by the time we’re close to the hotel, I’m putting the finishing touches on my surprise.

“Are you ready, Mrs. Stark?” Edward asks over the intercom. “I can circle once if you need more time.”

“I’m good,” I assure him. “Do you see Damien?”

“He’s just stepping out of the hotel. Have a lovely evening, Mrs. Stark.”

“That’s my plan,” I reply as the limo pulls to a stop outside the hotel. I’m sitting on a rear-facing bench just in front of the privacy screen. There’s also a black velvet curtain that bisects the limo just a few feet in front of me, and I’ve closed it. The result is that I’m in a small, secluded section with no view of the rest of the passenger area.

All I can do is wait, which I do impatiently until I hear the click of the handle and then the door being opened at the far end of the limo. I lean forward, then peek through the slit between the two halves of the curtain and watch as Damien enters and gets settled. He has his phone out, the bright screen illuminating his face as he taps something out. I bite my lower lip, hoping that I’m right about the message he’s sending.

“Are you heading home, Mr. Stark?” Edward asks, and though it may be my imagination, I think I hear a note of amusement in his voice.

Damien nods as Edward shuts the door. A moment later, I hear a sharp ping from the storage area on the sidewall of the limo, just a few feet from Damien. I press my lips together, my heart starting to beat faster. Yeah, I think. The game is on.