Rarities Unlimited 04 - The Color of Death

sudden distaste for the man who was older than her father. Or maybe he knows that McCloud wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about the Seven Sins, so he thinks it’s safe. Either way, Purcell is slime.
    But all she said aloud was, “Emerald-cut sapphires of that size and quality don’t come on the market every day.”
    “Day?” Purcell straightened and reached into the case without looking away from the smooth, firm tits he’d love to squeeze. “Honeypot, sapphires like this are rarer than a faithful woman. I ought to know. I’ve helped more than one of the little darlings do the adultery dance. And unlike this sapphire, I gave those gals a real thorough deep-heat treatment, if you get my meaning.”
    Kate’s smile became all teeth. She made a sound like a terrier sinking canines into a rat. “I still can’t believe that the gem hasn’t ever been heated. May I look at it again?”
    “What are you offering?”
    Same as last time, you jackal. A cheap peep show. “I won’t be able to say until I look at it again. Reassurance, you know?” Kate said. “I just can’t believe it’s worth more than twenty-five thousand a carat. Before my client starts rounding up that kind of money, I have to be sure. I mean, this is only the preshow, after all. Lots of world-class gems haven’t even been put out yet. Surely you understand?”
    The husky hesitation in her voice made Purcell’s palms hot. He’d seen bigger tits, but hers were here, now, and he wanted to see more of them.
    “Oh, what the hell,” he said, pulling out the small box that held the sapphire. “You handled those tweezers real well yesterday, just like a pro. Need a loupe?”
    “No, thanks. I brought my own this time. I didn’t want to take a chance on dropping yours again.”
    Besides, only an idiot used the same distraction twice, but pointing that out wasn’t any part of Kate’s agenda.
    He grinned. “You didn’t do any harm. You can go looking for a loupe in my lap any old time you want to.”
    Kate didn’t think her acting skills were up to answering. Then she thought of Lee, missing for five months, almost certainly dead, and— Don’t go there, she told herself roughly. Crying doesn’t do a damn bit of good, especially now. Suck it up. You have a job to do.
    “You’re way too kind, Mr. Purcell,” she said hoarsely. “I felt like such a fool.”
    “You felt just fine from where I was sitting.”
    She swallowed hard and fished in the pocket of her jacket. When her fingers wrapped around the cool curve of the loupe, it steadied her. She took out the small 10x magnifying glass and looked at Purcell expectantly.
    He waited, hoping that she would come around the glass like she had yesterday. He’d really liked squeezing that firm ass between his thighs and the heavy display case.
    She didn’t move.
    “View’s better from here,” he said.
    She shook her head. “No, you’ll just get me all flustered again. I have to keep my mind on my business.”
    “You sure, honeypot?”
    “That you’d get me flustered? I sure am.” And this time I might not be able to stop myself from parking my foot in your crotch. “You have a way of making a woman forget what she’s doing.”
    He laughed. “So they tell me.”
    He took the clear top off the box, nudged it toward her, and handed her a pair of jeweler’s tweezers.
    Ignoring the slick feel of his fingers rubbing over her palm, shepositioned the tweezers and picked up the thirty-carat stone. Holding the loupe to one eye, she brought the sapphire closer until it was in focus.
    The color was everything a blue sapphire should be. The inclusions didn’t detract from the brilliance. The cut was superb.
    Show time.
    She set the gem back in its box and simultaneously fumbled with the loupe. It smacked against her collarbone and slid down between her breasts. She gave a stifled little shriek and went after the loupe with her right hand. As she fished around in her bra, she flashed more skin at Purcell.
    She needn’t have worried about holding his attention. He was staring at her breasts so hard he was sweating.
    “You turn me into all thumbs,” Kate said, smiling at Purcell, “but—”
    The rest of her words were lost in a gasp as large masculine fingers closed over her left hand, all but crushing it.
    “C’mon, get a move on it,” said a rough, impatient voice. “We’re late. I’ve been looking all over hell for you.”
    Kate went cold as she glanced up into a stranger’s