Into the Fury (BOSS, Inc. #1)(81)
Ethan shook his head. “I don’t like you back in the media spotlight. It might draw the killer’s attention to you.”
“It’s part of my job, Ethan.”
“I know.” He released a slow breath. “So nothing till morning. Let’s go home. We’ll get on the computer and do a little more digging ourselves.”
Val just nodded. Ethan helped her into the Jeep, then went around and slid in behind the wheel.
“If we stop at the grocery store,” Val said, “I could fix us supper at home tonight.”
“You cook?” The look on his face was priceless.
Val grinned. “What, you think because I’m a lingerie model I can’t fry an egg? Cooking’s one of my hobbies. I started learning a couple of years ago. Samantha and I take classes together whenever we can. I’m not as good as she is, but I’m not half bad.”
Ethan smiled. It was a relaxed, really handsome smile, the kind she had rarely seen.
“You look like an angel,” he said, “and now I know you really are one. We’ll stock up, fill the fridge with everything you need.”
“Do you like veal parmigiana?”
Ethan rolled his eyes. “Oh, man.” Reaching down, he started the engine, eager to get back home.
Chapter Thirty-One
In celebration of David Klein’s tenth anniversary, Val was asked to wear a floor-length sapphire gown with a low-cut sequined bodice and a slash up one side. The necklace Klein provided was a gorgeous diamond pendant on a thin platinum chain and an elegant-but-simple diamond bracelet. A slender three-inch string of diamonds dripped from each ear.
“You look lovely this morning, Valentine. We’re glad you could find the time to be on our show.” The morning host, Don Murray, was a heavyset, balding man with a jovial personality and a knack for making people comfortable in front of the camera. Val had been on his show before when she won Miss La Belle, but never for David Klein.
“Thank you, Don. It’s nice to see you again.”
“You too, Val. I see you’re dressed for an anniversary party. Tell us about the David Klein pieces you’re wearing.”
She lifted the pendant, and the camera zoomed in. “It’s a single pear-shaped diamond set in platinum, designed by David Klein himself. It’s eight-point-four total carat weight, valued at just under two million dollars.” She went on to describe the rest of the jewelry she was wearing, the diamond bracelet and earrings.
“It’s all really lovely,” Don said. “But for most people this stuff is way out of their price range. I understand you’ve brought a few things that are a little more affordable.”
“That’s right. We have some very special items over here.” She walked to where the display was set up and Don followed. With her high spike heels, she was five inches taller than he was.
Val tipped back the lid of a polished walnut box, one of three positioned on the table in front of the cameras. On a bed of dark blue velvet, an array of much smaller diamond pendants flashed beneath the bright overhead lights.
“As you know, all the diamonds used by David Klein are very high quality. These are smaller, more affordable stones, but they’re no less precious.” She went on to a second box that held diamond tennis bracelets, quarter-to-half-carat stones, then a box filled with pavé diamond earrings, jewelry that ranged from two thousand dollars to twenty.
“As you can see, Don, almost anyone can afford to own good-quality diamonds.”
Don chuckled. “I just hope my wife isn’t watching the show.”
Val grinned. They talked a moment more, then the interview was over. As she crossed the stage to where the David Klein security people waited to take charge of the diamonds, Ethan stood in the wings.
He strode toward her, waited close by as the several-million-dollar necklace, bracelet, and earrings were removed and returned to the portable safe they had arrived in.
“I need to change out of my gown,” Val said. “Then I’ll be ready to go.”
Ethan followed her to the dressing room, waited outside while she stripped out of the sapphire gown. She changed back into her street clothes—black skinny jeans and a loose-fitting, belted, soft pink top—then they headed back to her apartment.
She hadn’t gotten five feet inside the living room before he tossed off his leather jacket, shrugged out of his shoulder holster, and set the weapon on the table.
“Come here,” he said softly.
Drawn by the dark, restless hunger in his eyes, Val walked toward him, her heart jumping into a faster gear. Ethan caught her shoulders and drew her against him, bent his head and very thoroughly kissed her. She loved the feel of his lips over hers, the way they sank in, urged her to open for him, took complete control. She loved the feel of his big hands sliding down over her hips, cupping her bottom, pulling her into the hard ridge between his legs.
Desire curled into her stomach, spread out through her limbs. Warm male lips pressed against the side of her neck just below her ear, and goose bumps feathered across her skin.
“Damn, you looked so gorgeous in that dress it was all I could do not to walk into that dressing room and have you right there.”
Val draped her arms around his neck. “In that case, now would be good.”
Ethan growled low in his throat and kissed her again, a long, deep, thorough exploration that had her melting against him, pressing her body even closer. He was backing her up to the wall, his erection making all kinds of promises she knew he could keep, when his cell phone started to signal.