Kiss Me Forever/Love Me Forever. Rosemary Laurey

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      “What the Hades were you trying? I told you to stay out of my office!” Sebastian Caughleigh stormed through the door.

      James raised an eyebrow. “I wanted an eyeful of the American heiress.”

      “You already had one.”

      “No harm done then.” James lounged in the wingback chair.

      “No?” Sebastian sneered down at his nephew. “If you’d taken her wallet as you were supposed to, she’d have been delayed, maybe even gone home in disgust. Instead, she’s here and oh so very anxious to look over her property. I’ve stalled her until the morning. You’d better find what we need tonight. There must be enough of it to fill a van.”

      “I’ll find it. Trust me, Uncle.”

      “Trust you? I’m not that stupid!”

      James ignored that. He stretched his thin legs out towards the empty fireplace. “Where is our eager American now?”

      “Safely ensconced at Emily’s.”

      “How nice. Tuck away your newest opportunity in your inamorata’s cottage.”

      Sebastian sat in the opposite chair, rested his forearms on his thighs and snarled towards James, “A word of advice. Don’t fail. It could get difficult for you if you don’t succeed tonight. Remember whom you’re letting down.”

      “Such unkind words, Uncle. Threats even. You hurt my feelings. Maybe I won’t tell you what I took from Miss LePage.”

      “You will.”

      James reached into his pocket and hefted a small brown leather book. He made as if to toss it to his uncle, then pulled back his arm. “Interested?” He smiled at Sebastian’s outstretched hand.

      The hand stayed open. “Give,” Sebastian hissed. James tossed the book at him. Sebastian caught it and flicked the thin pages. “Her diary. Wonderful. Now we know when she plays bridge.”

      “More than that, Uncle. I had a good read while you were out courting her. It’s one of those ‘everything’ books—phone numbers, addresses, bank account numbers and every lunch date and dentist appointment since January. Without it she won’t be doing much telephoning or sending postcards to her pals back home.”

      Sebastian wrapped his fingers around the soft leather. It might make interesting reading but its loss was hardly enough to make her leave. He glanced at the marble clock on the mantelpiece. “It’s almost four. I’m taking her over to the house at eleven. That gives you eighteen hours. Find everything.”

      James tilted his chin. “Or else? What?”

      “You may have to get an honest job.”

      James paused in the doorway. “Don’t worry, Uncle. It won’t happen. Who’d hire me?”

      Sebastian frowned at the empty grate. Hadn’t James understood anything? They couldn’t risk those papers falling into anyone else’s hands. Too many reputations were at stake and too much money. If only the wretched woman had stayed on the other side of the Atlantic. She could have had a comfortable three-quarters of a million. He would have settled some old scores, and been set up for life. Now—who knew?

      She had to be gotten rid of. No, a better idea. Woo her? Why not? Court her a little. Break her heart and she’d go running back home.