Page 74 of The Spy
Tabatha
Boring didn’t begin to cover how this date was going. Minus the little Gabe interruption several blocks back, I was the textbook definition of bored.
My skin was still tingling from everywhere Gabe had touched me in the flat. Even as I left the flat, memories of his hands on me were like a thrumming echo that I couldn't shake. And now as I walked through the Fox Gallery with Jennings, I was still thinking about him.
Thinking about the way his fingers had trailed down to just above my knickers, and the way his gaze had met mine in the mirror. Thinking about the way his thumbs had traced just underneath my breast, I couldn't shake it.
"Earth to Tabatha. What are you thinking about?"
Jennings’s voice jolted me out of my reverie, and I forced myself to smile up at him. "Oh, just this great artist that I found. She’s fantastic. And she's royalty. Queen Penny of the Winston Isles. I found some of her early works she donated for a charity auction. And they are stunning."
"Oh, wow. I'd heard she was an artist before she married the king. I thought all of those would be locked up in a box somewhere."
"Most of them have been, I think. But occasionally, she releases some of her work. They're gorgeous, really. And it’s very nice of her to do so for a good cause."
"Well, if you would be willing to arrange a viewing, I would love that."
He tucked his hand along my lower back as he directed me along. We oohed and aahed at the canvasses on display. Most of them were too modern for my liking, but I'd been coached well on what to say, what to hold back from. What might be Tabatha Bracknell’s style.
But what the hell did I know?
I was teetering on the edge.
I didn't want to be here. But I had to be. This was the gig. While Tate and I were here, my team had slipped in as house staff. Kaya, Mabel, and Isabel had all been hired on as maids. Kaya was thrilled to actually be in the field, although it was relatively low risk. They were gathering intel and data, mapping the rest of the property that was not on the schematics we had.
"I have to say, you're distracted today."
"I'm sorry." I patted his arm. "This is beautiful. And I'm having a good time, honestly. I'm just a little focused on work."
He took my hand and squeezed it, and I winced slightly. I knew what he'd want tonight, and I hoped to God my team was getting what we needed because there was no way I could stomach him touching me.
It won't get to that. At the very least, you can feign illness.
Yes, that was an option. But if we couldn't get the information we needed, then we were up a creek. My cover would only hold for so long. He wasn't going to need me for much longer.
Unless you want to date him for real.
Well, not for real, but I knew that this was a possibility. Still, it made my gut twist.
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and directed me along. "Come on, let's get out of here. Take a walk."
I laughed. "Walk?" I glanced down at my shoes.
"Yes. It's a nice night. And don't worry, the crowd won't be far away."
"All right."
He led me along Soho streets pausing at the small boutiques along the way. He paused in front of the jewelers, asking me questions, trying to ascertain if I was taking any interest in anything.
Finally, he led me into a shop that screamed ‘out of your price range,’ François. He used something that looked like a membership card to get in.
Had I heard of the brand? Yes. Had I ever even looked at the brand? No. Because, essentially, this brand of dress was for the uber-wealthy, duchesses, princesses, and queens like Beyoncé. But here I was, following along with him because he was a member. "Look at anything you like."
He frowned as his phone rang in his pocket. "Excuse me, I'll be right back."
I ambled along, careful not to touch anything, attempting to look every bit the poised plaything of a billionaire I was supposed to be. Since I was a guest of Jennings Tate, no one followed me, made me uncomfortable, or made me feel like I didn't belong. That was interesting. Places like this had always shunned people who look like me.
My phone buzzed and I pulled it out of my purse.
