The Sapphire Heist (A Jewel Novel Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

one would suspect what they were up to.
    Steph had placed the order, supposedly on behalf of Isla’s favorite artist, who was on a meditation retreat. Steph had paid for the pending lunch delivery with an American Express gift card, so she remained untraceable.
    “Yes, ma’am. We pride ourselves on on-time delivery,” Clementine said, sounding as peppy as her name. “One p.m. sharp. We’ve got the beet salad, the cucumber sandwiches, the mushroom caviar—”
    “And the olives?”
    “Indeed, we have the olives.”
    Jake stood next to her, an eager look in his wide-open eyes. She flashed him a thumbs-up, like she genuinely wanted to reassure him that everything was on track between the two of them. He grinned in return. Fabulous. He had no clue she was on to his ruse.
    “And you’ll be sure to stay and serve all the food?” Steph said, returning to her phone call and resuming her pace along the street, Jake by her side. “I ask because Lynx wants Isla and her staff to feel treated to a wonderful meal as a special way of saying thank you for all the amazing work she’s done for the art community,” Steph said with a flourish in her tone.
    “In my humble opinion, nothing quite says thank you like specialty olives and roasted beet salad.”
    “Excellent. Lynx is so thrilled. He can’t wait to hear how much she enjoys the gourmet catered lunch,” Steph said, thinking that Lynx wouldn’t even know he’d sent them lunch for a few more days. She suspected he wasn’t tied to his phone while on a retreat. They walked past a sandwich shop boasting Caribbean-themed panini served on the patio under a red-checked awning. They smelled yummy, and the scent reminded her that some nourishment would be mighty welcome in her belly. But there’d be time for that later.
    Now it was work work work.
    Steph hung up and smiled at the enemy. Her plan was working. The man was putty in her arms, and once they pulled off Mission Lunch, she’d pull off Get Back My Damn Diamond. “All systems are go.”

    “Let’s review this,” Jake said, parking his hands on her shoulders as they stood outside the panini shop. To get her to focus, but also because he liked touching her.
    “Yes, let’s review everything,” she said, that same sexy tone returning to her voice. She was a live wire of sexuality today.
    “If you see something or hear something, or if they start to move, you text me. It’s set to buzz when you call,” he said, letting go of one shoulder to tap his back pocket where his phone was parked.
    “Let’s hope I don’t have to buzz you . . . unless it’s for me wanting you,” she said, her voice smooth like honey.
    Honey. Funny that he thought of honey just now.
    He bent his head closer to her, brushed a kiss along her neck. “You are driving me wild today,” he said with a groan. “But we need to get into position.”
    “I can think of some positions I’d like,” she said, slipping her hands around his back, then down to his butt. For the briefest moment, she almost seemed to be patting his back pockets. Maybe she was reassuring herself that his phone was there. She probably wanted to know he was highly reachable if need be.
    “As can I. But let’s save all that for later. I promise as soon as we finish today, I will be giving you a well-deserved trio of your favorite things,” he said as he extracted himself from her grip. He tipped his forehead to the sandwich shop. “And taking you there for lunch if you want. I think the look in your eyes says you’re lusting after a panini.”
    “No. Just you,” she said, all flirty and dirty.
    He resisted. Didn’t take the bait this time. “You’ll need these,” he said as he reached for his shades. Her gaze was fixed on his hand taking the binoculars from his pocket. He flicked them open and placed them on her face.
    “Ooh, I feel like James Bond now.”
    He explained how they worked, where she should station herself in the church, and his expected