Read Online Royal Opposites by Lori Crawford - Free Book Online Page B

leveled a pointed look in his direction while she said,
    “Thank you,” to the bellman. He nodded and went on his way while Joan pressed the button to recall the elevator.
    “They’re most often on the ground floor,” Tom couldn’t help but mutter in his own defense. He had no idea if that were true or not. He just wanted to wipe the smug look off her face. Except, it seemed to have the opposite effect. She appeared amused. At least she wasn’t mad at him anymore.
    They followed the man’s direction and found the business center with no problem. What was a problem was that there didn’t appear to be any available computers in sight. The place was packed with business men and women all wearing identical name badges and frantically trying to handle whatever needed handling in their lives. There was a line to even get to the signup sheet.
    “What do you say we try elsewhere?” Joan nodded and looped the camera strap around her wrist after freeing it from the bag on her shoulder.
    This time when they got off the elevator, Tom strode with purpose toward the exit. He heard a snicker behind him and spun in time to catch Joan trying to suppress a grin. It was contagious.
    He smiled, too, and offered her his arm. She switched the camera strap to her free hand when she took his arm. He realized, belatedly, that every time he’d seen the camera, it had been attached to her in some way. He was glad she was being so cautious with the security of the footage.
    The elevator ride and stroll across the lobby was made in companionable silence. He was glad she seemed to be over whatever she’d gotten upset about. While they approached the car, Tom pulled his keys from his pocket.
    “Any idea where we can find a computer to use?”
    Joan tilted her head in thought. “An office supply chain.”
    “I guess it does make sense to buy a laptop. Then we can—”
    “No. We can do what we need to do from a demo computer.
    They’re usually wired. We can upload a copy for us then give the FBI the card.”
    “I have a better idea.” Tom frowned at the deep voice that spoke from behind them. He and Joan froze in their tracks. “Hand over the camera.”
    At the demand, both Joan and Tom turned in slow motion to face the heavy guard who was standing less than five feet from them. He was wearing plain clothes, but there was still no mistaking his identity. He held out a hand like he expected them to obey, no questions asked. Tom exchanged a look with Joan. At her tiny nod, they whirled away from the guard to run. They didn’t get more than a few steps before the skinny guard appeared in front of them. With cars on both sides and the guards in front and behind them, they were boxed in.
    Tom shielded Joan the best he could with his body. “Look, gentlemen, I’m fairly certain that what you are doing is against the law. Move aside and let us pass. We’ll forgive and forget the rest.”
    “Well ain’t you just too kind?” The heavy guard sneered.
    “Yeah. Too kind,” his partner echoed.
    “Give me that camera and we won’t have to hurt you.”
    “If we both run at the skinny dude, I think we can get by him,” Joan whispered in Tom’s ear. He focused on her proposed target and nodded.
    “Go!”
    At his command, he and Joan sprinted toward the man. The look on his face would’ve been comical if they hadn’t been so desperate to get by him. He went slack jawed and his eyes got big as saucers. Together, Joan and Tom hit the poor man and knocked him flat on his back. They didn’t pause to see if he got up or not.
    Just kept running toward the Acura.
    A couple rows away, Tom risked a peek over his shoulder to check the guards’ progress. The heavy one had joined the chase, but the skinny one was still trying to climb to his feet. Keys clenched in his fist, Tom sped up since he noticed Joan was pulling ahead of him.
    She beckoned to him when she skidded to a stop at the passenger door of his car. “C’mon, c’mon!”
    Tom