It was a thankless gig for the models.
Finn enjoyed watching them, though. Every one of them was beautiful – some at a level above beautiful, bordering on exquisite. The one Madison Marina had employed, for example, was a fine specimen of the opposite sex.
She had long, dark hair, which was shot through with fascinating red highlights that twinkled when the overhead lights hit them just right. Her brown eyes were thoughtful, and when she was talking to people she forced them to reflect interest and welcome. When she thought no one was looking, though, they clouded over with an internal sadness that Finn found both interesting and heartbreaking.
And her body? Since she was wearing one of the smallest bikinis Finn had ever seen, there wasn’t a lot left for his imagination to fill in. She was tall, about five-feet, eight-inches of lithe beauty. Her chest was ample – and if the jiggle was any suggestion – they were all real.
Finn found himself watching for the jiggle, looking forward to it every time – and then internally cursing himself when he realized what he was doing. He was no better than the other leeches ogling her like a piece of meat.
After several hours, she took a break – sliding into a chair a few feet to his left and opening up a bottle of water. Finn searched his mind for something to talk to her about.
“Could it be any hotter in here?” Great. Talk to her about internal climate control. That will impress her.
“I think the air conditioner is broken,” the woman replied. “I guess it’s good I’m practically naked.”
Finn, who had been gazing at her shapely thighs, immediately snapped his attention back up to her face. Up close, she obviously fell into the ‘exquisite’ category. Her cheeks were round, her chin narrow. She had one of those faces that could drive a man to distraction – which was the problem currently facing Finn. Both her body and face were warring for dominance in his mind. He didn’t know where to focus.
“What are you doing here?”
“Huh?” Finn shifted uncomfortably. “What did you say?”
The woman smiled, her eyes telling Finn she knew exactly what he’d been thinking. “I asked what you’re doing here.”
“I’m running security,” Finn said. “The Madisons hired our firm to make sure no one absconded with their diamond. I’m Finn, by the way. Finn Hardy.” He extended his hand.
The woman shook it. “I’m Emma Pritchard.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Emma nodded, her long hair shaking around her shoulders. “Are they really worried that someone will steal the diamond?”
“It’s always a danger in a situation like this,” Finn said, shrugging. “I don’t think there are a lot of hardened criminals running around here. Hard times make people desperate, though. It’s just added security for their investment.”
“And that’s what you do? You run security?”
“I’m partners with my brothers in Hardy Brothers Security out of Sterling Heights,” Finn replied. “We’ve been in business for a few years now.”
Emma narrowed her eyes, considering. “That name sounds familiar to me.”
Finn bit the inside of his mouth. Hardy Brothers Security had made the news in two high-profile cases the previous year. He wasn’t sure which one she was referring to. He decided to take a guess. “Yeah, we were involved when the sheriff’s assistant, John Madison, was taken down in the fall.”
Emma cocked her head to the side, clearly trying to remember. “You guys saved the news reporter, right? What was her name?”
“Sophie,” Finn said. “Yeah, my brother is the one who saved her.” Finn had been present, too, but he didn’t want to brag. At least not yet.
“That’s right, Sophie Lane,” Emma said. “That was a big deal. I’m glad she’s okay.”
“She’s great,” Finn said, smiling.
Emma must have misread the smile. “Oh, is she your girlfriend? Is that why you were involved?”
“No,” Finn said, shaking his head. “She’s my brother’s girlfriend.”
Emma’s smile warmed – or maybe Finn was just hoping his imagination wasn’t running away with him. “Oh.”
“Yeah, they’re pretty much joined at the lips now,” Finn continued. “They’re pretty cute.”
Emma smiled. This time Finn was certain it was real. “I don’t think that’s where I know the name of your security firm from, though. Were you guys involved when that guy tried to kill the clerk at the courthouse? That was you, right?”
Finn chuckled. “That was us, too. That was my brother, James, though. I wasn’t even there for that one.”