“They’re bringing their what and dynamite and were shorted on their what?”
“Almost every country uses a different kind of plastic explosive. C-4 is the best, because we can mold it into a specific shape that will force the blast to where we need it to go. PVV-5A, the Russian version, does the same thing, just not as well.”
“And that other stuff, the pennylight?”
“Pentolite is a step above dynamite, and a step down from plastic explosives. It won’t get the job done for this vault. My guess is, Maduro’s men are thinking that with enough of that shit, they can blow the vault.”
“What will really happen?” Eden asked.
“A huge fucking crater with the vault falling into it, and people on the outside dying.”
“And us?”
“The concussion in here is going to be bad. Real bad.”
Eden gave him a smile. A real smile. “Okay. I understand now. Thank you. I really appreciate you not sugar-coating the smelly stuff.”
She put her hand on his thigh and used it as leverage to push herself up. She walked over to the table, and Asher would bet his bottom dollar that there was more swing in her walk than was normal. She pulled out the chair at the far end of the table and then sat down on it and daintily crossed her legs. Then she put her elbow on the table, and chin in her hand. He wasn’t absolutely sure because he couldn’t see that well, but Asher was pretty sure she was batting her eyelashes.
“So, sir, do you have any food in that handy-dandy vest of yours? If not, I think I would like another bottle of that fine Fiji vintage, if you don’t mind.”
How in the hell can she make me want to laugh? He really liked the idea of a little make-believe.
Chapter Thirteen
“I don’t have a menu for you, but I can tell you about today’s specials.” He picked up his vest, went back to the room and grabbed a couple of things, then wandered closer to Eden. Her skirt had ridden up high on her leg. He might not have been able to see her eyelashes, but he sure as hell could see her toned thigh. She knew it too, the little vamp.
“Uh-um. You were going to tell me something?” she reprimanded with a knowing grin.
Asher shook out one of the tablecloths and covered the table, then placed a bottle of water in front of her and bowed.
“Your drink,” he said in French.
“Thank you,” she responded in kind.
He grinned at her ease in getting into the game. “For the appetizer, I would suggest that you start with our wild seed option. It has a hint of salt, while providing that satisfying crunch for the most discerning palette.” Asher rustled around in his pocket.
“Not sunflower seeds,” she begged in English. “My brother Bobby lives on those, I can’t stand them.”
“I said discerning palette, Mademoiselle,” Asher continued in French. “I would only provide the best options in such an exquisite establishment.” He pulled out a baggie of corn nuts and Eden burst out laughing.
“Monsieur,” she switched back to French. “I stand corrected. I should have realized that of course, you would continue to provide me with only the best this evening.”
Asher’s cock ached as he remembered Eden’s naked body beneath his. But enough of that, now they were just having playtime.
Sex is playtime.
‘Shut up!’ he told himself.
This time, Asher was close enough to where he could see her eyelashes slowly close and open, luring him into her fantasy.
He poured out the corn nuts for her.
“Kind sir, are you going to dine with me?” Her French accent was perfect.
“It is my duty to first provide for the lady. For the main course, I would suggest one of our healthy options. There are four different flavors to choose from, each has a chewy cardboard texture base, layered with a sawdust cream filling that is then coated with a facsimile of either chocolate, strawberry, peanut butter, or mint. I must say, they are all very healthy and contain quite a bit of protein.”
“I think a corn nut and strawberry pairing would go nicely together,” her voice went up an octave as she visibly cringed.
“You are being too kind. I think you should leave that to me. I would suggest you go for the peanut butter and corn nut.”
Eden’s laugh was throaty. “Thank you. I will.”
Asher handed her the protein bar, then settled himself down with the strawberry bar. He left the corn nuts for Eden.
“How do you speak French so well?” she asked in the same language after she took another delicate sip of water.
“My mother is from Belgium. I grew up speaking French and Flemish.”
“But you’re American.”
“Yeah, Dad was Army Intelligence assigned to NATO. He met Mom there. According to him, it was love at first sight.”
“And your maman?”
Asher grinned. “She needed a little convincing. She was young and was the baby of the family. The idea of marrying a foreigner didn’t sit well with her.”
“What was the age gap?”
“Eight years. Dad says their first date was horrible. He couldn’t speak French worth a damn, and mom’s English was almost non-existent. What was worse, her sister tagged along.”
Eden laughed as she popped another corn nut in her mouth.
“I can top that. When I was fifteen, my dad sent out Eddie and Bobby on one of my dates.”
“They were your brothers?” Asher guessed.
Eden nodded. “Bobby was seventeen and Eddie was nineteen. It was summer so he was home
