Read Online Black Diamond Death by Cheryl Bradshaw - Free Book Online Page B

opposite direction. His next stop was the flower shop where he emerged with a bouquet of lilies. He threw them in the passenger seat and drove to the Lakewood Chateau Townhomes. The valet at the front took his keys and with flowers in hand, Parker headed inside.
    I parked non-valet in the only parking spot I could find at the end of the street and went in after him. I managed to slide inside without much notice and saw Parker enter the men’s room. Now all I had to do was wait. I stood a few feet away and examined a brochure of the place until he exited.
    Show time.
    I crossed him diagonally and bumped him hard enough that the book and pen I carried fell from my hands and crashed onto the floor.
    “I’m so sorry,” I said, “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
    He bent down and grasped my pen while I went for my book.
    Our eyes locked and he grinned.
    “No need to apologize,” he said.
    I took my pen from his hand and our eyes connected again. This time I held his gaze a bit longer and smiled a half-sweet, half-seductive smile.
    “Well,” I said, “thanks again.”
    I turned and started for the door.
    “Wait just a minute,” he said.
    Hook, line, and sinker. It was too easy.
    “At least give me your name before you leave.”
    “Alright then. It’s Sloane.”
    He stuck out his free hand.
    “Good to meet you Sloane, I’m Parker.”
    “Nice flowers,” I said.
    He scrutinized them for a moment like he forgot they were there.
    “Oh these, I bought them for my mother,” he said. “It’s her birthday tonight.”
    It sounded truthful enough, but his eyes told a different story.
    “Well, Parker. Nice to meet you,” I said.
    “You live around here?”
    “Not too far,” I said.
    “I haven’t seen you before. I’m sure I would have remembered.”
    “Big city,” I said.
    He shook his head.
    “I meant here at Lakewood. Are you a resident?”
    “Oh, right.” I said. “Not yet. I’m in the market though so I thought I’d check it out.”
    “I see.”
    “What about you, do you live here?” I said.
    “Sometimes.”
    “And other times?” I said.
    “I have a house in Park City, but I travel a lot for work. My family has a private jet so I can’t complain.”
    One would assume that line fascinated the ladies. A man with a house in Park City, a townhome on the side, a private jet, and a sports car that looked like a hornet. Most women would find him hard to resist. I wasn’t most women.
    He looked at his watch.
    “Would you recommend this place?” I said.
    He nodded.
    “My townhouse isn’t like the others you’ve probably seen. You can take a look at it if you like.”
    “That’s nice of you, but I don’t want to—”
    “I insist,” he said.
    He glanced at his watch again.
    “How about tomorrow?” he said.
    “Sounds great.”
    “I’m number 312. Does eleven o’clock work for you?”
    I nodded.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow then,” I said. “Oh, and enjoy your mother’s birthday party.”
    He picked a lily from the bouquet of flowers and extended it to me.
    “I look forward to tomorrow.”
    “Me too,” I said.
    More than he knew.

CHAPTER 18

    Parker had been so swept up in our tete-a-tete he failed to notice the bug I planted on him during my little mishap. Now I just needed it to pay off. I hoofed it through the parking garage and ensured his car remained in its space, and then waited for the fun to begin. I passed the time by running blondies plates. They belonged to one Zoey Kendrick with an address off 18th and Walnut in Sugarhouse.
    There was a knock on Parker’s door, followed by the click-clack of heels. Blondie perhaps?
    “I’ve missed you,” Parker said.
    I wondered how much you could miss a person you spent time with a few hours earlier.
    They shuffled around and then kissed.
    “For you,” Parker said.
    “They’re beautiful,” a woman’s voice said.
    “And you’re even more beautiful.”
    “Come, sit down,” he said. “Tell me about your life since I