the slanting afternoon sunshine. She wore a splashy black and white patterned halter dress, her hair a loose mass of curls, big white hoop earrings dangling at her ears. Her spike heels were fire-engine red.
It had been a long time since a woman had captured his imagination so fully. Since Stephanie. Since his biggest mistake.
Bax stopped and drew Joss down to sit. “We need to talk,” he said abruptly.
“Shouldn’t we be getting inside?” she asked.
“Sure, but not together.”
She frowned. “Why not? They’ll find out we’re a pair eventually. It’s part of our cover.”
“I want to get the lay of the land first. Information is power. If they know everything up front, we lose any advantage we have.” And in a situation like this, they needed every advantage they could get.
“So how do you want to do it?”
Alone, was his first thought. Alone, he’d be efficient. Alone, he’d be free to do the most practical thing without worrying about her safety. Alone, he wouldn’t have toworry about his own. “I’ll go in first, just to check it out. I’ll ring you on your cell phone when it’s clear to come in.” It was against his better judgment. Why in God’s name had he agreed to this ridiculous situation?
Then he looked at the dapple of sun and shade on her bare shoulders and he knew why.
“So you’ll stay back and I’ll hook up with Silverhielm.”
“Be casual. Don’t tell him everything all at once. You’ve got time. Remember, you’re the one who has something he wants, so ultimately you’re in control.”
“Have some faith, will you? I’ve stalked music promoters for years. I know how to meet someone accidentally on purpose. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to start a conversation with him. Why do you think I wore this dress?” She glanced down at the swells of her cleavage.
To drive him nuts, Bax thought, remembering the feel of her naked body against his.
“I figure Jerry would be dating someone a little cheap, a little flashy,” Joss continued, oblivious. “It fits with the profile.”
“It fits a few other things, as well,” he observed dryly.
Joss flashed him a quick grin. “Thank you. It’ll get Silverhielm’s attention, I think. And if it helps distract him a little while I’m talking with him, so much the better.”
Bax couldn’t say about Silverhielm, but seeing the way the dress molded itself around her body distracted him, and at a time he could ill afford it. “I’m sure it’ll do the job.”
“Thank you.” She gave him an amused look, reminding him that not much got past her. “So once I get talking with him, how far do I go? Do I mention Jerry and the Blue Mauritius?”
“Play it by ear. Remember, we just want to catch his attention at this point. Keep him a little off balance. That gives us the advantage.”
“Okay.” Joss took a deep breath.
“You sure you’re up to this?”
She blew the breath out. “Of course I am. So we meet at the hotel afterward?”
Bax nodded. Without thinking about it, he reached out to take her hand. “One important thing to remember. Don’t trust Silverhielm and don’t, under any circumstances, leave with him. No matter how good an opportunity it seems, we can’t afford the risk.”
“Even if he offers me a ride in his way cool limo?” Joss said, widening her eyes.
“Especially then.”
“Relax.” She gave a quick grin. “I get my adrenaline rushes other ways than hanging out with murderers.”
Bax knew it wasn’t smart, but he couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her, just for a moment. He wouldn’t think about what a familiar pleasure the taste of her was becoming. For a few moments, he just let himself savor her mouth, warm and mobile against his. Finally, he straightened. She would be okay, he told himself. And so would he. “I’ll beep your mobile when the coast is clear.” He rose. “Be good.”
Joss gave him a reckless smile of promise. “I’ll be great.”
7
S TRINDBERG ’ S
It had been a long time since a woman had captured his imagination so fully. Since Stephanie. Since his biggest mistake.
Bax stopped and drew Joss down to sit. “We need to talk,” he said abruptly.
“Shouldn’t we be getting inside?” she asked.
“Sure, but not together.”
She frowned. “Why not? They’ll find out we’re a pair eventually. It’s part of our cover.”
“I want to get the lay of the land first. Information is power. If they know everything up front, we lose any advantage we have.” And in a situation like this, they needed every advantage they could get.
“So how do you want to do it?”
Alone, was his first thought. Alone, he’d be efficient. Alone, he’d be free to do the most practical thing without worrying about her safety. Alone, he wouldn’t have toworry about his own. “I’ll go in first, just to check it out. I’ll ring you on your cell phone when it’s clear to come in.” It was against his better judgment. Why in God’s name had he agreed to this ridiculous situation?
Then he looked at the dapple of sun and shade on her bare shoulders and he knew why.
“So you’ll stay back and I’ll hook up with Silverhielm.”
“Be casual. Don’t tell him everything all at once. You’ve got time. Remember, you’re the one who has something he wants, so ultimately you’re in control.”
“Have some faith, will you? I’ve stalked music promoters for years. I know how to meet someone accidentally on purpose. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to start a conversation with him. Why do you think I wore this dress?” She glanced down at the swells of her cleavage.
To drive him nuts, Bax thought, remembering the feel of her naked body against his.
“I figure Jerry would be dating someone a little cheap, a little flashy,” Joss continued, oblivious. “It fits with the profile.”
“It fits a few other things, as well,” he observed dryly.
Joss flashed him a quick grin. “Thank you. It’ll get Silverhielm’s attention, I think. And if it helps distract him a little while I’m talking with him, so much the better.”
Bax couldn’t say about Silverhielm, but seeing the way the dress molded itself around her body distracted him, and at a time he could ill afford it. “I’m sure it’ll do the job.”
“Thank you.” She gave him an amused look, reminding him that not much got past her. “So once I get talking with him, how far do I go? Do I mention Jerry and the Blue Mauritius?”
“Play it by ear. Remember, we just want to catch his attention at this point. Keep him a little off balance. That gives us the advantage.”
“Okay.” Joss took a deep breath.
“You sure you’re up to this?”
She blew the breath out. “Of course I am. So we meet at the hotel afterward?”
Bax nodded. Without thinking about it, he reached out to take her hand. “One important thing to remember. Don’t trust Silverhielm and don’t, under any circumstances, leave with him. No matter how good an opportunity it seems, we can’t afford the risk.”
“Even if he offers me a ride in his way cool limo?” Joss said, widening her eyes.
“Especially then.”
“Relax.” She gave a quick grin. “I get my adrenaline rushes other ways than hanging out with murderers.”
Bax knew it wasn’t smart, but he couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her, just for a moment. He wouldn’t think about what a familiar pleasure the taste of her was becoming. For a few moments, he just let himself savor her mouth, warm and mobile against his. Finally, he straightened. She would be okay, he told himself. And so would he. “I’ll beep your mobile when the coast is clear.” He rose. “Be good.”
Joss gave him a reckless smile of promise. “I’ll be great.”
7
S TRINDBERG ’ S
Similar Books
Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day: 100 New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten-Free Ingredients
Zoe Francois, Jeff Hertzberg MD
