The moment Neil picks up, I hiss, "What does a woman have to do to get kissed around here?" as I pace my bedroom. "My plan was solid. Wear minimal clothes, vir not to revealing, just enough for peek at the goodies; lounge around like a goddess that belongs in his life, give him a glimpse of what 'we' could be, ply him with champagne and make him notice me with the damn strawberries, and voila. He's seduced enough to want to fucking kiss me, or bone me there and then, give me a way to rip down his walls. But I get nada?"

After what seems like eternity, Neil wheezes in the phone, "That's how you seduce a guy? Poor bloke. Or maybe the guy's not a champagne guy."

"I should have roofied him." I stare at my door. "I could have had him pinned between my legs by now, twisting his nipples like a damn screw, and he'd be squealing—chalk his foggy memory and sore nipples to kinky sex and binge drinking in the morning."

"Ann, you're not serious?"

"Of course I'm serious." I drop on the bed. "But I'm not stupid—or maybe I am. Look at how my evening went. He's fast asleep in his bed and I'm in my room, talking to you like I'm the damn criminal."

"Again, you don't know if he—"

"Yeah, yeah." I stare at the door again. "I really thought I had him when I said I took a bath in his tub while he was out and I hoped he didn't mind."

"You didn't?"

"Of course I didn't." I cringe at the idea. Me, bathing in a jacuzzi tub as if I'm here on a honeymoon and not undercover to nail a rich bastard. "I practically threw myself at him, while wanting to throw up the whole time. Maybe I misread the signals? Maybe Carter Thebes isn't a floozy like they make him out to be and Nina was really in love with him... "

"Does he strike you as the kind to fall in love?" Neil cuts in. "You've spent, what, almost two months around the guy nonstop. Been to his house, had lunch with him, picked up his damn laundry—"

"I've never picked up his laundry."

"You know what I mean. You've been around him."

I try to think back. Has he felt more serious in life than I expected?

The way he stared at my lips earlier flashes to mind. He had wanted to kiss me. I'm 90% sure. And it wasn't lust. He had genuinely wanted to kiss me at one point in the evening.

I remember staring at him too. Why? Had I wanted him to kiss me too? I mean, that's what I was attempting to do, no? Get him interested so I could bring down his walls?

"I don't know," my voice sounds hoarse as I put that thought out of my mind. "I'll have to think of something else to get him to talk."

"Or...?" Neil draws out the sound. "Here's an idea. You're there for a few weeks, alone with him, with no one to interrupt. Take the time to get to know him. Ask him questions—out of curiosity—about the things they've said in the media. About Nina, and other things. And who knows, maybe he'll talk."

"You told me to seduce him." I purse my lips.

"And it's obvious you can't or don't want to, so use the only other option. Win his trust."

Win his trust.

The words form an echo train in my mind as I fall asleep.

How do I win his trust? The man's already suspicious about the stalking.

#

Next morning, by the time Carter wakes up, I've had a breakfast spread brought up to the room and ordered his favourite coffee, just the way he likes it. I'm in the middle of putting a croissant and some fruit pieces on my plate when the door opens and out he walks, in a plain white T-shirt and a checker print pyjama pants. His hair, worthy of running a hand through, thoroughly tussled. His eyes clinging to sleep just enough to make his eyes look hooded. He looks so normal. So everyday, and that is utterly hot.

And perhaps it's the intimacy of walking up so close or getting a glimpse into his life outside of work, I'm momentarily stunned.

It takes me a moment to peel my gaze away and find my tongue, "Morning."

"Morning," his voice is husky from sleep as he eyes the spread. "Hungry?"

"Something like that." My cheeks warm and I don't know why I pick up his coffee and hold it out to him. "It's an apology. I feel like I ambused you into staying up late, plying you with champagne, which you probably don't even like—most men don't, or so Neil says..." I'm rambling. I don't know why I'm rambling, but once I've started I keep going. It's like the nervous energy I've felt since last night on the couch needs an outlet and here I go. "And I have to apologize for following you—" the words fly out of my mouth before I can wrestle them back down my throat. "I was curious about your Paris girlfriend—or girlfriends... I mean, they say you're a man with a woman in each town, but I haven't seen a woman around you since I joined so..."

I swallow the lump in my throat and grab the new plate and thrust to at him. "The least I could do was order us breakfast and a coffee. Makeup for my tardiness yesterday. I'm here to assist you, not sticky beak into your life like a journalist. So, sorry." I flash him a small smile. "Can we still be friends?"

He slowly takes the plate off my hands. "Are we friends?"

An untamed chuckle escapes me. "I hope so."

He nods as if to say, 'Right' then drops his plate on the table and transfers one of the mini danishes, an apple strudel, and a piece of pineapple. "Who's Neil?"

"I'm sorry?" Fuck, did I blurt out Neil? Did Nina ever talk about him? Me? Does Carter recognise the name?

"You said Neil told you men don't like champagne." He takes his breakfast to the lounge and sits there widespread. "Boyfriend perhaps?"

Another chortle escapes me. "God no. He's a close friend."

The way Carter eyes me, I swear it's either jealousy or disbelief.

Win his trust, Neil's words come back to me and I take my breakfast to the lounge too and drop onto the sofa an arm's reach from him. Close but not invasive. I'm friendly, I want to say. You can trust me.

"He dated my sister for a hot summer in high school, until he realised she's absolutely unhinged when it comes to romance, and made a clean break fast." I sip my coffee, hoping I look relaxed enough, sound relaxed enough. That talking about Nina isn't painful in front of him. "I can't say the same about all the other men who fell for her charms since."

His brows furrow as he stares into his mug. "And you befriended your sister's ex?"

"Well, no." I chuckle again. "He was our neighbour first, then went to the same high school, then we became friends because we were both in the same sports grouping... then he discovered Ni—her, while walking home with me one day... and I guess it was lovely at first chat?"

By the time I look up, Carter isn't staring at me with a look I cannot read. "So she stole your friend?"

"We're still friends. In fact, we practically talk everyday—"

"That's not what I asked." Carter smiles knowingly.

"Maybe a little," I admit, ripping a piece of my croissant.

Carter nods and turns back to his plate of food. "I don't have a girlfriend in every city."

I can't help but huff a laugh. It sounds more like a whoosh of relief. Am I glad he doesn't have girlfriends everywhere he goes?

I shake my head and sip my coffee. Don't be stupid. I'm glad he bought my reason for stalking him yesterday.

"There are no meetings scheduled for today and you only asked me to jot down 'Do things' on your calendar." I rip another piece of the croissant. Neil had said win his trust and this is the best I can come up with, "Shall I ring the concierge and book you a driver for the day? Or i can make myself scarce if you'd like to have the day to yourself."