Kissed Blind (Hot Pursuit #2)(7)

Vance opened the door.

“Well now,” a smoky female voice said. “Who are you?”





Three





“Camille?” Oliver brushed by me and Vance to fully open the door. Camille Pierce stood in the hallway wearing a jet black wig covering her usual platinum locks, and big, Audrey Hepburn style sunglasses. “What’re you doing here?”

“Well, it’s good to see you too,” Camille said, pouting full red lips. “Is that anyway to greet your worried wife?”

“I’m just shocked. You were supposed to be in LA for the Lindy Hollon thing.”

It took me a second to place the name, but it quickly came to me. Lindy Hollon was an actress who’d died of a drug overdose many years prior. She would have become one of the great actresses of her time. Her death had rocked Hollywood, but her parents had devoted themselves to creating one of the most prominent anti-drug platforms in the United States in her name.

“It’s a ‘say-no-to-drugs’ event. It’s not a big deal.” Camille examined her manicure. “Oh shoot, I chipped a nail.”

“Camille.” Something flickered in Oliver’s eyes, like a flash of lightning in a midnight sky, but I’d missed it before I’d gotten to take a second glance.

“Relax, they’ll survive without me.”

“It’s a really important event.”

“I’ve been to it every year. Every single year.” She reached out and stroked his arm. “Besides, I wanted to surprise you.” She threw her hands up. “Surprise!”

He smiled. “You succeeded. I’m very surprised.” He ushered her in and shut the door. “Cici just ordered breakfast. It should be here any minute. If I know you, you haven’t eaten anything.”

“I hopped on a plane as soon as I could. I haven’t had an appetite.”

“I figured.”

“My God, if you’d been killed.” Her voice quivered. “I don’t even want to think about it. What happened?”

“I lost control of the car. You know how I am. I was looking at my phone and shouldn’t have been.”

She sighed. “How many times have I told you not to do that? It’s just as dangerous as driving drunk.”

“I know, I know.” He held up his hands in a slowdown motion. “But I’m fine.” He escorted her into the foyer, relieving her of a suitcase and a large Louis Vuitton duffle bag. “This is Diana and Vance, the bodyguards I hired.”

“Bodyguards?” Her eyes narrowed as if she should have been furrowing her brows, but her Botox injected forehead didn’t budge. “Why?”

“We can’t be too careful now that the entire city knows I’m here.”

Camille pursed her lips and slightly rolled her eyes. “I guess you’re right. Why didn’t you call Sean?”

“Sean’s wife just had the baby. He’s spending time with Kara for a few weeks. Vance and Diana work for the best agency in the city. I have no worries.”

Camille released a high-pitched groan under her breath and turned toward us. “I’m sorry our first introduction had to be like this.” She took off her sunglasses and fluffed her wig after shaking Vance’s hand. “It’s easier to travel when I wear a disguise. The lack of privacy we have is mind boggling sometimes.”

“I bet it’s a challenge to travel without being noticed when you have a face as recognizable as yours,” I said.

She released a light-hearted laugh. “You have no idea.”

“It’s really nice meeting you,” Vance added. “I loved you in Acts of Desperation. It was just amazing.” Vance grinned from ear to ear, and his eyes lit up like Charlie’s had when he unwrapped the last golden ticket. I stifled a laugh. And he said he wouldn’t be excited.

She leaned into a small mirror on the wall and smeared her lipstick with her fingertip. “Oh, thank you so much. That’s sweet of you to say.” She shrugged off a pale pink poncho and threw it on the back of a chair. “Where’s Cici? Cici!” She walked toward the living room.

“She’s upstairs handling some things for me,” Oliver answered.

“Puttering about like she always does? She’s overpaid, if you ask me.” She flopped down on the couch and took off her wig, shaking her hair loose. Somehow after having been squished under a wig for hours, her locks draped over her shoulders like pressed satin sheets.

Oliver glared at her. “She’ll be down in a second.”

“I’m having my bags brought up. I’ll need some help getting everything put away.”

“Who’s bringing them up? Did Brantley come with you?” Oliver asked.

“No.” She fidgeted with a diamond encrusted bangle bracelet. “That man at the desk, Brian or Brady.” She muttered, waving her hand.

“Barry, the security guard?” Oliver gaped. “That’s not his job.”

“Relax. I tipped him. Give a man enough money and he’ll do anything.”

“I’ll go and see if he needs any help,” Vance said.

“Thank you, Vance.” Oliver closed his eyes.

“Yes, Vince, thank you.”

“Camille!” Oliver barked. “His name is Vance.”