I adjusted my dress, sighing. I was wearing another over-the-top sexy outfit picked out by Nathan, because he said, “you can’t act as bait in a fucking burlap sack.” I also couldn’t run or really walk effectively, and I was going to definitely stand out, but I guessed that was the point.
I was already starting to have second thoughts, but I knew that if I voiced any of them then Nathan would pull the plug on the whole thing. I didn’t think we could wait any longer; that last attack was way too close for comfort, and I wanted these guys caught.
I knew he hated putting me in danger, but it was my choice. He could try to coddle and protect me all he wanted, but in the end I was going to make the decision that made sense to me. I was sick of sitting on the sidelines waiting for Nathan to take care of everything. It was time for me to step up.
And my decision made sense so far. When my father called Joshua up and suggested he go out for an afternoon with me, he immediately jumped at the suggestion. He even agreed to meet me near the boardwalk amusement park, which was the perfect spot for Nathan to tail us. It was in public, so Joshua wouldn’t make a move, but not too impossibly crowded that Nate would lose us.
The plan was simple. All I needed to do was either find out where his hotel room was, or wherever he was staying, or get him to take me back there. Obviously I wasn’t going to sleep with the guy or anything like that, but Nathan made it clear that I should let him think I might.
“Men are pigs, princess. Except me, of course,” he had said, smirking.
He was a pig, too, but he pulled it off at least.
“Want to back out?” he asked me as my phone started to ring.
“Not a chance.”
I swiped right and answered it. “Hello?”
“Hi, Claire? It’s Joshua.”
“Oh hey, Joshua.”
“Where are you? It’s more crowded than I thought.”
“I’m on my way up right now.”
“Okay. Meet me by the Ferris wheel. Can’t miss it.”
“See you soon.”
He hung up and I looked at Nathan.
“We good?” he asked.
“We’re good.”
“Okay.” He pulled me against him, surprising me with his tenderness. “I’ll be right behind you. Don’t do anything fucking stupid.”
I nodded into his chest, breathing his smell. I felt better knowing he’d be nearby. “I’ll be fine.”
“I know,” he said, pulling away, “because I’ll be right behind you the whole time.”
I took a deep breath. “See you soon.”
“Good luck.”
He grinned. I turned and walked away, my heart fluttering in my chest.
It was too late to back out. I was committed. Joshua knew I was coming, and if I did anything suspicious now, then the game would be over. Our biggest asset was the element of surprise. They didn’t know we had figured out who he was, and we were banking on it staying that way.
I walked into the crowd, trying to calm my nerves.
“Claire! You look great.”
Joshua kissed both of my cheeks, and I had to hold back my momentary anger. He looked exactly like I remembered, though maybe a bit more tired. He was dressed like a young business executive, minus the tie and the jacket, but he still radiated a smarmy superiority that pissed me off.
“Thanks. You do too.”
He smiled. “Of course. Shall we?”
“Lead the way.”
He walked off toward the carnival games, and I had to struggle to keep up. He figured out pretty quickly that I wasn’t used to walking in heels and slowed his pace down.
“So, Claire, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“I’m going to be blunt, because I value that in others. What’s the deal with this?”
I looked at him, terrified for a second that he had found me out.
Instead of trying to take me right there, he laughed. “By the look on your face, I’m guessing you’re not sure what I mean.”
“Sorry. I don’t.”
“I mean, why is your father pushing us together? Does he always do this with clients?”
I let out a breath and did my best to smile awkwardly. It wasn’t very hard, considering how uncomfortable I felt.
“Actually, no. Well, he likes me to entertain the clients sometimes, but he always gets a little pushy with the younger guys.”
“I see. Why is that?”
“I don’t know. He probably wants me to marry one of you.”
Joshua smiled at that. “And what do you think?”
“I think that I’m not averse to spending time with handsome men, but that I’m not interested in marrying my father—if you understand what I mean.”
His smile grew broader. “I can understand.” We approached a booth and he nodded at the kid working it, who nodded back as if they knew each other. The kid turned and walked away, leaving the booth unmanned.