Nate woke up a bit disoriented since he didn't recognize the room he was in. Then he felt someone stirring beside him and soon the memories of the night before came flooding in his head.
"Good morning" he whispered down to the female figure snuggling against his bare chest.
" 'Morning…" she mumbled her eyes still closed and it didn't seem she had any intention of getting up.
He softly chuckled. "You're not a morning person, are you?" he caressed her back sliding a hand under the sheet that covered them.
"Not really no," she slightly turned her head so that she could look up to him while her chin still rested on his chest. "Especially if someone kept me up most of the night."
He smirked as his hand now rested on her behind. "I can't remember any complains. On the contrary, I think you were pretty pleased about it. Five times, if I recall correctly." He told her with a smug on his face.
"Hmm…." Her finger was tracing imaginary patters on his chest. "Not bad for someone who claimed to be out of practice"
"I was inspired." With his hand he gently pulled her up his body and he kissed her inviting lips. They continued to kiss, teasing each other, already feeling the desire between them rise.
Suddenly they heard a stomach rumble. Sophie laughed embarrassed and buried her face into the cook of his neck.
"Hungry?" he smiled.
"I'm starving" she sheepishly confessed lifting her upper body and looking down on him.
"Have you got something in or should we go out?" he asked while his hands kept wondering up and down her body, it was like they were addicted to her skin.
"I've asked Robert to do the groceries, I think there must be something in." She reluctantly rolled on her back.
"Okay" he picked up his boxer, which had landed on the floor next to the bed, and his undershirt quickly putting them on. "I'll go and see what there is and start making breakfast." He picked up his watch to look at the time. "We've got three hours before you have to make contact with Franklin."
"I'll go and have a shower then" she got up holding the sheet with one hand to cover her body.
Blushing Nate started to walk away but Sophie stopped him by grabbing his arm with her free hand. "Thank you for last night, it was amazing." She smiled.
"I've enjoyed myself quite a bit too" he smirked.
Sophie rolled her eyes. "I don't mean just the sex, even if that was mind blowing, but the all evening too. It's been a long time since a man made me feel so special."
Nate noticed an air of sadness in her eyes and wondered what memory could have put it there. "I meant it when I said that I wanted this to work. I might not be romantic all the time or be able to express my feelings, but I care for you."
She nodded tears filling her eyes. "Okay, make me breakfast now, mister" she patted his cheek playfully and kissed him briefly on the lips.
"Sure, boss"
When Sophie finished getting ready, Nate had already prepared French toast and was now cooking an omelet.
"Hey" he looked up from the pans.
"This smells nice. Is there anything you're not amazing at?" She walked around the kitchen counter and hopped on it.
"Here" he put a small bite of food on fork and brought it to her lips. "Try this"
Sophie eagerly put her lips around the fork. "Hmmm…." She moaned at the delicious taste in her mouth. "I think I can get used to you cooking for me"
He chuckled "It's ready! Could you set the table, please?" He served the food on the plates and the opened the fridge to get the fresh orange juice.
She jumped off the counter and brought the hot plates to the table and got the cutlery from the drawer.
Two hours later, they were sitting in the car getting ready for the con.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Nate asked for the last time, his eyes were checking the surroundings and already establishing a perfect place for him to follow Sophie and Franklin.
Sophie rolled her eyes, but gave him a small smile anyway loving this protective side of him. "Nate, I've been doing this for a long time, way before I met you" she reminded him.
"I know, I know. A guy can still worry, can't he?"
She put a hand on his cheek and brought her lips to his. "I love that you do" she whispered against him.
Behind her, Nate saw Franklin approaching the club. "He's here"
Sophie turned around and checked the man Nate was pointing. "Okay" she sighed. "Remember, he knows you, so try not to be too over-protective and let him see you."
"You won't even know I'm here"
"Hmmm…" she looked doubtful, but exited the car and made her way towards her mark. By the time she reached him, she was already in her new persona. "Mr. Franklin"
The distinguished young man turned around startled, but she soon caught him checking her out. Distracting him was going to be easier than she thought. "Yes?"
"I'm Charlotte Prentice, 18th Duchess of Hanover. I've been told I should talk to you about my… what can I say… little problem?"
"Please, Duchess" he helped her get seated at his table. "What can I help you with?"
"The government is giving me trouble with some taxes they say I haven't paid, but right now I don't have the funds and they are threatening to take away some piece of my art collection and valuables than I'm very attached to"
John Franklin took a sip of the drink in front of him and Sophie smiled at him trying to luring into her charms, as she took a sip of her drink too "And how can I help you?"
"I have been told that you've found a way to resolve the matter" she replied vaguely.
"Have you?" he raised his eyebrow with interest, but Sophie could see a glimpse of panic in his eyes. "I really don't know what you're talking about"
"Of course you don't" She smiled at him like she knew he was lying, but for now she was going to play his game. "I understand, Mr. Franklin. You can't you give away your secrets to anyone and without a price…"
Now that caught his attention. "And, if I might know something, not that I'm saying I do, how much are you willing to pay for it?"
"I understand you're interested in a certain Monet painting" She could openly read he was interested, he would certainly make a terrible poker player. "A painting that happens to be in my possession"
"It does?"
"So, does it seem like a fair exchange?" she smirked taking another drink from her ice tea.
Franklin eyed her considering her offer "Let me think about it" That was code for: let me make some calls around and see if what you're telling it's true. "Where could I reach you eventually?"
Sophie opened her purse and took a business card out. "Here is my phone number" she slowly got up. "I'll be excepting your phone call, Mr. Franklin." And she walked away.
Nate was waiting for her in the car that was now parker around the corner away from Franklin eyes. "That was just great!" he told her once she got inside.
"Did you doubt me?" she playfully asked.
"Never"
When they got back home Sophie went straight to the bedroom to get changed while Nate started working on his laptop. Fifteen minutes later Sophie walked back to the room and leaned behind Nate putting her arms around him. "What are you looking at?" she tried to peek at his screen.
He looked over his shoulder "I googled you" he smirked. "How real is this Duchess persona? Because the things I've found are kind of detailed"
Sophie pulled away quite upset. "Why would you look for it?" She turned around and ran her hands through her hair.
He shrugged "I just wanted to see what Franklin will find"
"You just couldn't leave it Nate, could you? You have to be a control freak" she retorted back.
Nate couldn't understand why she was so upset about it. "What's the problem?"
"What did you find?"
"This and that. But it's all made up, so I don't understand…"
She groaned frustrated. "That's the problem Nate, it's not fake" she abruptly walked to the bedroom slamming the door behind her.
A/N This chapter was getting too long so I divided into two parts. It shouldn't take me long to update, since most of it is already written. What do you think? Will Sophie forgive Nate and why was she so upset? How will the con end?
Thanks for reading and for reviewing. Keep them coming, please. I'd like to know your opinion :)