The Lady Is a Thief Read Online Free PDF

were already aboard. I
explained to the Captain and showed him my credentials. He called Fitzhugh and
he vouched for me. Since I also have business in Los Angeles, I didn't think
you'd mind the company—or the additional challenge.”
          The plausible explanation threatened to take
the wind out of her outrage, but it didn't budge her suspicions or silence the
clang of alarm in her mind. She didn't like too many coincidences.
          She held out her hand and said nothing. He
smiled again, but not as easily nor with as much humor. He looked worried.
          Good.
          She carried the folder and retreated to the
side to pick up a phone. “Captain, please ring me through to Miles Fitzhugh.”
          The Captain completed the call and she kept
her gaze on Jarod. The folder contained exactly what he said it did. The facts
and figures of the Costa Rican deal—a folder she put into her bag in the
conference room. She didn't make mistakes like that and she hadn't opened her
things during the limo ride.
          He would have to be pretty slick to have
filched it right under her nose.
          Miles answered the phone on the third ring. “Fitzhugh.”
          “Miles, it's Katherine.” She assumed her smooth, mildly flirtatious tone that she often used
with her father's older business executives—it placated and tempted at the same
time.
          “Good evening.” He sounded worried.
          He should be.
          “Yes, could you please explain to me why
Jarod Parker is aboard my plane?”
          The awkward silence followed by Miles'
pained cough told her he hadn't wanted to agree to this, or was, at the very
least, mildly embarrassed. She waited, allowing him a moment to gather his
composure. Jarod leaned against the table, hands resting against it in relaxed
fashion. But despite his body posture, his eyes narrowed and the corners of his
mouth tightened.
          “I'm sorry, Katherine. I should have warned
you. Your father…” He hesitated.
          Her father.
          Dammit!
          “I see. He put you up to this?”
          Miles went silent, probably out of a
thirty-year relationship personally and professionally with Lord Hardwicke. “In
a manner of speaking…”
          “It's all right, Miles,” she soothed him,
repeating his name. That always seemed to do the trick in the past and this was
no exception. “I'm sure Mr. Parker will be perfectly respectable company for
the flight and I appreciate your honesty.”
          At the next stretch of silence, she let the
old man off the hook. Her father's interest in her marriage prospects over the
last year took a deplorable rise. He'd teased her with a dozen potential
matches at various parties across Europe. When she started avoiding him at
parties, he'd thrown two at her via professional engagements.
          She stared across the cabin to sexy
candidate number three.
          At least her father's taste seemed to be
improving.
          “Have a good evening, Miles.”
          “Absolutely,” relief swamped the man's
voice. “You as well, Katherine. Until
next time.”
          They rang off and she carried the folder
over to the table. Jarod straightened and held her chair out for her again. She
gave him a long, studying look.
          Setting the file down, she leaned back in
the chair. The stewardesses joined them, opening the serving seals and pouring
the wine. They were efficient and quiet, although Cindy, the older of the two
women, gave her a wink and a thumbs up behind Jarod's
back. The staff approved of her father's efforts.
          Too bad she couldn't really enjoy them at
the moment.
          When they were alone, she picked up her
wine. “You should understand, Mr. Parker, this isn't going to end well for
you.”
          “Oh?” He lifted his brows.
          “Absolutely not.” She sipped the wine and smiled. It didn't matter that he was sexy as hell, if
her