Cat Got Your Tongue? Read Online Free

frowned.
    The way in which he was staring at the Renoir made her nervous. He didn’t look like someone merely appreciating the sale of a rare Renoir to the best bidder. No, he was studying Cole and the painting with too much intensity, his eyes drawn together in a harsh frown.
    To others, he appeared to be an interested party. To Alex, he had suspicion all over him.
    The auction over, Max reached for her arm. “Shall we have a drink?”
    Alex nodded and shot a glance at Steven. He’d refocused his intense scrutiny away from Cole onto her and their eyes met and held in a silent challenge.
    And then it hit her with a force that made her chest tighten.
    He was after the Renoir.

Chapter Two
    Alex loathed it when her two worlds clashed.
    She knew she should rat Steven to the security, but her loyalties to her mother made her hesitate. Besides, she had no proof to offer which made the complaint fruitless.
    “That was exciting,” she said to Max with a half smile as they reached the bar. “Would you like me to arrange to have the painting delivered to your home?” She was looking for an excuse to walk around and find Steven.
    Max shook his head. “No worries, I’ll take it back with me. It’s small enough to do so.”
    “The Renoir caused a stir.”
    “The price caused the stir. Cole did well.” He handed her a glass of champagne and looked up as a business associate joined them for a drink.
    Grateful for the distraction, Alex scanned the room in hope of catching a glimpse of Steven.
    And she found him—standing outside on the opposite side of the road watching his mark.
    Cole Anderson.
    Cole stood at the entrance of Christie’s, waiting for the painting to be loaded into his limo.
    Thanks to the likes of her mother and the Steven Bryson’s of the world, more and more people appeared reluctant to part with their paintings after purchasing them.
    When Cole disappeared into the awaiting limo, Alex shifted her gaze across the road to Steven. He was on his motorcycle and shoving on a helmet. Damn.
    “Max, honey,” she whispered, “I have the most awful headache. I’m going to catch a cab home.”
    Max’s brows furrowed. “Are you sure? I’ll call for the limo.”
    “No. You’re still busy and I’ll get the doorman to call for a cab.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”
    Alex dashed into a stationary cab just as Cole’s limo pulled off. She rummaged through her purse and handed some money to the cab driver.
    “Follow that limo.”
    “Can I expect any trouble, miss?”
    “Only if you don’t follow the damn limo.” She glanced out of the window, her heart pounding in her chest, and saw Steven pull in behind Cole’s limo, keeping his distance to avoid being spotted.
    He was following Cole, which confirmed he wanted the Renoir.
    Tonight.
    A bit odd that he hadn’t nabbed it at Christie’s before the auction if he was so desperate for it.
    When they approached Cole’s luxury townhouse on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, Alex ordered the cab driver to drop her further up the road. She didn’t want to be seen by either Cole or Steven.
    The motorcycle sped away but she knew Steven would return. It was midnight and most cats worked between the hours of two and four in the morning.
    She scanned the deserted street. Cole had gone inside and fifteen minutes later, the light on the top floor went out.
    Go home.
    She’d heard of Steven’s reputation and knew that he was no ordinary cat burglar. He often carried a weapon and wouldn’t hesitate to use it on whoever stood between him and the art.
    No, she’d wait.
    She had a bad feeling about this.
    ****
    Cole woke to the sound of a car alarm going off in the distance and grumbled with irritation. With a yawn, he climbed out of bed, looked out the window, and tried to focus on the street below but his eyes felt heavy, his work schedule and several late nights having caught up with him.
    God, he was tired.
    Not unusual for