The Black Sheep and the English Rose by Donna Kauffman

intrusion so as not to lose the sale. Not that he couldn’t get another buyer for such a precious piece. But setting up another transfer would take time. And that was the one thing Reese couldn’t afford now that he had possession of the artifact. Especially not with Felicity Jane smiling at him so guilelessly.
    â€œYes, I do,” Reese said, casually shifting his gaze from the gentle swell of Felicity’s creamy breasts, to Finn’s face. He hadn’t bothered to hide his prurient interest in her, but there was no gleam of challenge in his clear gray eyes, either.
    Finn struggled a little with the fact that though Felicity claimed Reese had shown no sexual interest in her, there was both the manner in which he’d left her, and that blatant stare just now, that said perhaps it was otherwise. And yet, Finn still believed that Felicity had been telling the truth. Perhaps Reese just wanted to stir the pot. Finn supposed time would tell who the fool was. Time was becoming quite the precious commodity all the way around, it seemed.
    â€œDo you have a specific area of interest?” Finn asked, not expecting a straight answer, but wanting Reese to know he wasn’t simply Felicity’s man candy for the evening.
    Reese easily held Finn’s gaze, not the least bit intimidated. “Oh, I dabble in quite a few areas.”
    Finn merely smiled. Perhaps it was better if Reese underestimated him. “A man of many talents, then.”
    Reese shot Felicity a brief, but surprisingly personal smile, then turned back to Finn. “So it’s been said.”
    Finn dug his fingers into the napkin he’d been spreading on his lap, but otherwise did nothing to give away the surprisingly strong impulse he had to suddenly rearrange Reese’s aristocratic nose. “Anything specific capturing your interest of late?” He kept his tone harmless. His gaze, if Reese was even a remotely good judge of character, was anything but. “I understand you are tapped in quite well to the international grapevine. Any good tips on currently available…commodities?”
    From the corner of his eye, Finn noted the Russian’s jaw visibly tighten. He didn’t make eye contact, but Finn had little doubt when Andreev speared a stalk of asparagus on his plate, he was imagining cleanly skewering something else entirely. Good. Finn wanted him pissed off, wondering if Reese was playing him, worrying that this deal might slip right out from under him. Because even a soulless man like Andreev had to be a little unnerved at the prospect of returning to Chesnokov with his pockets empty. That was bad for business.
    â€œThere are always items of interest available,” Reese said smoothly, as if oblivious to the tension circling the intimate setting. “The global market moves swiftly. You really need to stay on top of things if you want to succeed.” He glanced at Felicity again as he said that last part.
    Finn knew he was being baited. What he hadn’t expected was how hard it was not to let it get to him.
    â€œOh, John, don’t sound so pompous,” Felicity teased, interjecting herself into the conversation with casual ease. She spoke to Reese quite comfortably, like old friends. Or lovers.
    Finn hated the doubt that began to creep in.
    She rested a hand briefly on Reese’s forearm. “Tell us what exciting deal you’re cooking up with Yvgeny, here.” She gifted the Russian with a fast, charming smile. “We’re being quite rude, intruding on your business dinner, but it’s so rare John and I get the chance to catch up, what with him always in a rush, and me being so tied up all the time.”
    Her smile spread, and Finn felt her toe nuzzle his ankle as she continued talking. Flirting was more like it, not that the Russian was buying anything she had to sell. Yet. Finn would have enjoyed sitting back and watching her work the table if he hadn’t had to stay