Dead No More. L. Nicolello R.

Packing heat, are you, pretty boy?

      Lily bit back a laugh. That was okay. So did she. She opened the door before he could knock.

      “Hey.” He smiled down at her.

      She stepped aside as he strolled in, a black garment bag thrown over his arm. Her heart kicked up a gear, as it seemed to do every time he was near, and despite her best attempts, her gaze traveled south down his back and rested on his ass.

      “Looking good, Moretti.”

      Derek held out the garment bag on two fingers. “For you.”

      She eyed the bag, curious to see what he’d brought. They’d both agreed to let Derek take charge of her wardrobe, but Lily wasn’t entirely confident that his idea of appropriate evening attire matched her own.

      An easy grin spread across his face. Her stomach fluttered. Again. Give it a rest, Andrews. Don’t forget what happened last time. The fluttering stuttered, then disappeared entirely.

      He gave the bag a little shake. “I can help with the zipper if you need...”

      She snorted, snatching the bag from his outstretched hand. Their fingers briefly brushed, sending sparks down her spine. For a brief moment, she wondered if her eyes mirrored the want burning in his.

      Wouldn’t that be one hell of a way to derail their op before it even started?

      She turned and walked toward her bedroom. Derek followed after her. She glanced over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. “You. Stay put.”

      Lily kicked the door shut with her foot, silencing his deep laugh, and tossed the bag onto her bed. Unzipping the bag, she pulled out two dresses.

      Thousands of tiny black sequins covered the first gown. Soft chiffon, satin and lace made up the second. Each ink-black dress was exquisite. She’d been outfitted on other missions with her fair share of amazing clothes, but those were burlap compared to these gowns. She whistled softly. “Wowzah.”

      Lily carefully laid each out and examined them. Yanking her tank top over her head, she dropped it to the floor. She stepped out of her jeans, kicked them over to join her shirt and held out the first sequined dress. The neckline swooped down gracefully between two tiny spaghetti straps. She twirled the dress.

      The back plunged in a deep V.

      “Well, that won’t do.” She frowned and tossed the dress over the side of the chair tucked in the corner. A twinge flickered in her stomach. “Not ever again.”

      Turning her body slightly, she glanced over her shoulder into the tall mirror leaning against the wall. Angry purple scars peppered her back. The pang in her stomach twisted.

      Jackson’s treacherous actions had damaged not only her confidence, but also her body. She’d hoped to one day be able to move past the emotional barriers that day had erected.

      But she’d never escape the physical evidence of his betrayal.

      They—and subsequently Jackson—would be with her forever. Whether she liked it or not.

      She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. She didn’t have time to deal with that shit. Hands on her hips, she glanced at the second dress option. It reminded her of something she’d seen some Hollywood star wear on the red carpet. “Guess you’ll have to do.”

      Slipping the dress over her head, she let its soft fabric envelop her. The smooth material perfectly hugged her curves, fit her like a glove. Lily stared at her reflection in the mirror.

      The front plunged low in a deep V and barely covered her belly button or her breasts. A delicate strip of black lace connected the two sides of the V, concealing just enough to keep the gown from being entirely indecent. When she moved, her thigh peeked out the top of a mile-high slit.

      The dress was daring. Flawless. Exquisite.

      She loved it.

      Turning, she peered into the mirror again. The high back concealed everything it needed to.

      Well played, Derek. The dress couldn’t have been more perfect if it had been hand-tailored to her.

      Game on. Time to go to work. She hitched her leg up, let the seam fall open and reached for her .32, then stopped. Normally, she’d be strapping on her thigh holster.

      Not this time.

      Tonight, they’d agreed she’d go in unarmed. Not her preference, but there was nothing she could do about it.

      She left the bedroom and silently studied the man who’d blown into her life, turning it upside down. Derek stood with his back to her, gazing out the window overlooking the city. One hand was shoved in his pocket, while the other rested on Dakota’s neck as the dog sat by his side. The perfect pair, as if they belonged together in this place. With her. Lily froze. Where the hell had that come from? She shook her head. That would never happen, no matter how inviting a picture the two of them made.

      “So?”

      He turned and did a double take, desire sparking in his eyes. Lily recognized it immediately, and her stomach tightened. Derek whistled. “You look incredible.”

      Warmth spread through every inch of her body, pooling in her stomach at his open approval. She couldn’t deny the pull Derek had on her, had from the very moment he’d tackled her to the ground. Yes, she’d been pissed and fought it—still tried to fight it, if she was being honest—but the urgency to push him away diminished with every second he was near.

      “You think he’ll take the bait?”

      Derek’s eyes traveled down her body. He ran his hand over his head and scratched the back of his neck, then nodded.

      “Oh, yeah, he’ll take the bait.”

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

      Saturday, September 20, 7:00 p.m.

      COBALT BLUE GAVE WAY to the blackness of night as the sun finally relinquished control. Tiny stars pushed through the inkiness, twinkling in the autumn twilight sky. Lily glanced around, taking in every inch of her surroundings. She had to admit—she was impressed.

      The statuesque, all-stone building rose from the ground, elegant and majestic. A long, thin, rectangular reflection pool stretched off and to the right of the main entrance. Two tall stone pillars, straight from the ancient Aztec civilization, jetted up through the still-as-glass-water, their ageless and stoic beauty highlighted in the soft glow of a single spotlight.

      On another occasion, Lily would have loved to explore the gems hidden within the stone fortress jetting up from the ground.

      This was her first mission since...Lily paused mid-step as another wave of self-doubt pummeled her. Stop! She took a deep breath to silence the demons torturing her mind, to lock them away. Jackson hadn’t stopped her then; she wasn’t about to let the ghost of him stop her now.

      Derek pressed his hand against the small of her back. “You okay?”

      “Yeah, I’m good. Let’s go get our guy.” Lily straightened her shoulders, gathered the material swirling around her ankles into her right hand and climbed the grand staircase of Joslyn Art Museum with the grace and ease of an A-lister, immediately spotting the five armed guards stationed between each of the four imposing columns holding up the museum’s heavy stone ceiling.

      She tipped her head toward the five men. “Impressive show of force, isn’t it?”

      “Our host wouldn’t have it any other way,” Derek muttered.

      “Duly noted.”

      The man stationed between the second and third column held up his hand, halting them. “Invitation.”

      Derek handed him their satin envelope, compliments