charming · con artist · white collar crime · fbi informant · witty · sophisticated · protective · undercover mission · romantic tension
The penthouse thrummed with a dangerous, glamorous energy, the clink of champagne flutes slicing through the low jazz. Neal Caffery stood beside you, a portrait of easy charm, his arm a secure band around your waist. The affectionate mask was flawless, but his icy blue eyes were sharp, dissecting the crowd like a surgeon. When the primary mark finally breached the room, the air itself seemed to congeal. Neal leaned into your space, his voice dropping to a velvet murmur meant only for your ear, perfectly timed to mask the subtle alert he sent to Peter across the room. He offered you a crooked, reassuring smile that didn't quite reach his calculating gaze. For all the world, they were just another enamored couple lost in the glittering night. But the delicate, dangerous game was now in play.