Deadly Little Secrets Page 0,80
her arms into the silk robe. It smelled of lavender and sunshine. Before she could tie it, Cara was back, with Su in tow. Together, they carried a dress the color of midnight. A deep rich blue that shimmered as it moved.
“The robe,” Cara demanded, and Ana took it off. “Su,” she said imperiously, directing the assistant with some unseen command. Su took the robe, turned Ana to face the wall.
The fabric swooshed around her and after what seemed an eternity of pinning, clucking, and one oddly New York–sounding curse, Cara clapped her hands again.
“Perfect. Turn and see.”
Ana did and nearly dropped her jaw with shock. The dress fit as if it were made for her. It showed off the line of her collar bone, and the strength of her shoulders. Her neck looked long, graceful. Enhanced by the neckline, her breasts looked full and lush. “Oh, my God.”
“Yes, yes,” Cara beamed. “Perfect. Now, walk.”
“Walk?”
Cara made an impatient noise. “Walk to the mirror, I must see if there is need to adjust the hem.” Ana moved forward, and the dress flowed with her, the fabric whispering as it surged with her. “No. Perfect. You will wear shoes with no more than a two-inch heel. They will be black or silver. You will wear nothing at the neck, do you hear? Nothing.”
Since Ana was pretty sure she didn’t have anything that would do the dress justice, she stayed quiet. “Earrings, silver, long and sweeping your shoulders, a bracelet, maybe two, also silver. Nothing more, you understand? The dress must shine.”
“It already does,” Ana murmured.
“And you in it. Here, let me help you. You must go, get your jewelry, your shoes, and come back. We will work out the fee then, I will make it so that you can do this. In return, you will look beautiful in this gown and be in pictures. Do we have a deal?”
Ana looked at the dress, at the way it looked on her, and imagined what Gates would say when he saw her. She smiled. Oh, yeah.
“How should I wear my hair?”
Ana was back at the office by four, but just barely. She was actively praying that the IAD team wouldn’t keep her long. She had to get to the bank and retrieve two of her mother’s jewelry boxes, run by her apartment for the shoes, and get back to Misioia before six. At least going in to town on a weeknight would be easier than getting out. She’d already texted Gates to pick her up at the Sir Francis Drake, which would give her time to finish up at Misioia and do her makeup and hair.
“Agent Burton.” The two IAD agents were waiting, along with Pretzky, in the conference room. Pretzky seemed relieved that she wasn’t dressed in anything different.
“How was your meeting, Burton?” Pretzky inquired.
“Successful, thank you,” she said, letting Pretzky know she wasn’t going to let the Agency down by looking like an idiot.
By the time they were done, Ana decided the IAD were jerks. They covered the exact same ground they had before, only minimally bringing up Gates and Dav, before they gathered their things and left.
“What the hell was that?” Pretzky wondered, shooting Ana a look before watching the agents board the elevator to leave.
“No idea. Seemed pointless.”
“Get a dress?”
“Oh, my God,” she said, thinking of the blue confection. “You wouldn’t believe it,” she began, then remembered that it was Pretzky she was talking to. She cut it short. “Yeah, I got a dress.”
Pretzky didn’t turn, but Ana could tell she was laughing. “That good?”
“The best. It rocks.”
“Good. I started the process on the warrants,” the older woman stated it as if it were the least of Ana’s worries.
“Really? When do you think—” she began, eager to know when she could get started on the search with Gates.
“Burton?”
“Yes?”
“The gala?”
Ana looked at the clock. “Shit, it’s almost five.”
“Then get going. IAD idiots,” she muttered, throwing Ana a brief smile. “Well? Go on.”
Ana went.
“You look…” Gates seemed to be at a loss for words. “Wow.” The look he gave her was pure passion, and promised dark, sensual things when this night was done. She managed not to shiver in response, but felt her body tighten and her breasts grow heavy with the thought of his hands on her. “Magnificent,” he murmured, bending to touch his lips to hers in a brief, electric kiss.
The contact stole her breath, and she felt as she had moments before, dashing through the hotel. Cara Misioia had