too pleased, and he’ll come after her and run into the lethal arms of my private security instead.”
Now it was Carter’s and Nathan’s turn to share a look.
“All right, but there’s a problem,” Carter said. “Belle stays off social media because of him. She for sure doesn’t shout her plans and location. If she suddenly starts posting that stuff, he’ll see right through it.”
“Belle isn’t going to do it.” Crossing the room, I leaned against the dresser and folded my arms. “You, her oblivious fiancé, are going to write a post that shares a little too much and tag her in it. It’ll be deleted quick, but if he’s watching her as closely as we believe he is, he’ll see it and act.”
Nathan nodded along. “Where do we send him?”
“Carter, your dad keeps an apartment near the office. Penthouse. Security twenty-four seven. Just the place a careful person like Belle would agree to live in. Mal would buy that she’s there and he’ll stake the place out. Maybe even approach the staff or install himself somewhere nearby. When he does, my security will find him and take him out.”
“Kill him,” Carter said bluntly.
I gave him a level look. “Legally, we can’t ask them to do that. We can have Mal brought to us... and take it from there.”
Nathan rubbed his knuckles, squeezing his fists. “Don’t care what they say about you, Desai, you’re more than just a pretty face.”
I chuckled. “Is that what they say? Good. It’s always better to be underestimated than for them to see you coming.”
“Malcolm fucking Byrne won’t see us coming,” said Carter. “Let’s find Belle. Tell her we’re ending this once and for all.”
“Not now.” I stopped him halfway to the door. “She’s off with Mila and Kelli shopping for the party. She’s happy, relaxed, and having a good time. She’s asked us to stop talking about Mal because she doesn’t want to think about him. If we tell her what we’re planning, that’s exactly what she’ll do. Worry, stress, and try every day to talk us out of it. We’ve got four weeks of summer left,” I told them. “We can let her have a few more.”
“He’s right,” Nathan said. “We’ll tell her in a couple of weeks. Gives us time to work out the plan and her less time to talk us out of it.”
“Mal won’t get his hands on her again,” Carter hissed. “I don’t care what we have to do.”
“Agreed.”
“This ends.” I put out my hand. “Now.”
We shook.
BELLE
That night, I knocked on Carter’s door.
“Come in.”
I walked in as he was getting off the phone.
“Great. Thanks, Dad. Bye.”
“Dad?” I prompted as he tossed the phone aside. “Did I witness you wrapping up a civil conversation with your father?”
Carter openly raked me up and down, taking in my lace, floral romper and bow tie sandals. Pleasure rippled through my body at his appreciation. The way clothes made me feel was just as yummy as the power they had over other people.
“You did,” he confirmed. “Civil is the way to go when I want something from him.”
“What do you want?”
“Use of his city penthouse,” he said. “How’d shopping go?”
“Cecilia had a few things to say about my rising shopping bill. She had a point though. A new dress or gown for every party was getting excessive. Instead, we went to this amazing vintage shop and I got an ivory sweetheart gown from the fifties. You’re going to come in your pants when you see me.”
He laughed. “Exposure therapy to your daily outfits has me under control. I think I can make it without a public incident.”
I rounded the bed, holding out my hands. “What about a private one?”
“Depends.”
“On?” I asked as I drew him up.
Carter secured our hands behind my back and pressed our bodies closer than two people could be. “If those clothes are on you or the floor.”
A thrill warmed my cheeks. I’d been waiting weeks for Carter to speak like this. It surprised even me how quickly those old feelings returned. Though if I thought about it, they never truly faded. Carter Knight was quick, witty, passionate, and his eyes saw straight to my soul. Whenever I was around him, I felt stripped and laid bare.
It was terrifying being challenged by someone like that, but if I’d learned anything that summer, it was that a life playing it safe wasn’t one worth living.
“You going somewhere?” he asked. “Hanging out at the bar?”