Chasing Lies

by Sara Claridge

  And all he’d done was say au revoir, princesse. She tipped the rest of the whiskey into her mouth. How the hell was she going to trace him now? He’d already proven he was adept at hiding if he didn’t want to be found.

  Her mobile buzzed beside her. She picked it up and stuffed it in her pocket. It would be her boss wanting to know if she was ready to meet the new guy. Not only would she have to tell him that she was no longer in Maastricht, but that she’d lost their only lead, too. She could well imagine his response without hearing it.

  After a moment the phone went silent, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

  She drained the last of her coffee and pulled out her wallet, tipping her phone back onto the table. The screen lit up with Etienne’s name on the list of recent calls. She snatched it up. Why the hell was he ringing her? Was he calling to gloat? No. She couldn’t imagine him wasting the effort on such an emotion. He’d not left a message, but what could he say that wouldn’t be incriminating if she wasn’t the one who listened to it. Should she call him back?

  The phone blasted into life again, and she almost dropped it in surprise. Taking a deep breath, she pressed connect. “You’ve got a lot of nerve.”

  “Quoi?”

  “Don’t even pretend. I don’t know who you’ve got in your pocket, but there is no doubt in my mind that you were behind my little excursion.”

  A chuckle down the line confirmed her thoughts and sent more waves of irritation across her shoulder blades.

  “Where are you?” His voice made it sound like he cared, but she wasn’t about to be fooled again.

  “Why? So you can send me back to the station? I’ve had enough of the police today.” At her outburst, customers nearby turned and stared. Kate sunk further down into her chair. She needed to keep her cool and not let Etienne know how much he’d gotten to her.

  “I wondered how long it might take you to get to Avignon.”

  The audacity of the man was unbelievable. “I thought you said Montségur was the next stop?”

  “There was a change of plan.”

  Yeah, she bet there was. “Why, what’s there?”

  “Me?”

  Kate closed her eyes and groaned. “And why the hell would I travel half way across France just to see you?”

  “You miss me?” His voice was low and seductive.

  Her eyes flew open. Did she? “Nope.”

  “You want to improve your light-fingered technique?”

  A subtle reference to her supposedly stealing from the museum. The man was hilarious.

  “Already mastered safe cracking.”

  In the moment’s pause before he responded, Kate knew Etienne was thinking back to the time he’d told her to stick to the truth.

  “I didn’t think you were in jail long enough to learn new skills.”

  “Very funny. Actually, a friend taught me.”

  “So you do mix with criminals occasionally.”

  His deep laughter sent a shiver down her spine and fired her up. She couldn’t decide if she was annoyed at him for sparking such a reaction or at herself for being so pleased he’d called.

  “I don’t. I’m at the other end of your business, remember? I see a safe and go—how does someone do that?”

  “But you didn’t need to learn. What’s wrong with taking notes?”

  “I’m an over-achiever, sue me.”

  “I presume you’re still in Paris. There’s a train that leaves Gare de Lyon in forty-five minutes which would get you here in time for a late dinner.”

  “I’ve already got my eye on a nice little bistro not far from here.”

  Kate stared down at her empty coffee cup. She had no idea why Etienne wanted her to go to Avignon, but she had about thirty seconds to figure it out before he realised he had the advantage. Her gaze strayed to the laptop bag leaning against her leg. The front pocket bulged with her mobile scanner.

  The file, of course. While waiting in that small room earlier, she’d already figured out he must have copied the files at some point from her laptop, and while they were encrypted, she’d bet that it hadn’t slowed him down for long. The man definitely had resources far beyond her own.

  Thank goodness in a moment of clear thinking she’d thought to upload the scanned images to her workplace cloud storage and not her laptop. A small insurance policy to make sure Etienne couldn’t get his hands on all the information.

  A smile spread across her face. She’d had a hell of a day, but this, this made her happy. They both knew she needed him, and this put her back into play.

  She took a deep, calming breath. It wouldn’t do to give away how desperate she was to gain back her lead. “Wouldn’t it be simpler if I just emailed you the file?”

  “You’d do that?” A surprised tone came over the line.

  “No.”

  Silence. Her smile grew wider. She started to gather her things. “Okay. Dinner it is. You can tell me what I get in return. And Etienne?”

  “Oui?”

  “This time, no games.”

  “A tout a l'heure, chérie.” The vibration of his voice next to her ear sent a shiver across her neck.

  THERE WAS NO mistaking Kate as she stepped off the train. Something about her always drew his attention, no matter how hard she tried to blend in. Head bowed, she walked quickly towards the main concourse. Someone cried out a greeting, and her head raised.

  The sight of her pale face framed by dark hair made him want to take her in his arms and hold her close. His gaze dropped to her lips. The memory of how soft they’d felt beneath his was still fresh in his mind.

  Hidden out of sight in an alcove, he took a moment to appreciate her lithe form as she weaved in and out of the other passengers who were still disembarking. She’d changed clothes since he’d left her this morning. Now she was dressed all in black. A sign of her mood or an effort to blend in. Not that it worked, since she looked more striking than ever before.

  As she drew nearer, Etienne could see the dark shadows under her eyes. He glanced around her. No one appeared to be following her, yet. But they’d been fast enough to pick him up after his meeting with Didier. It wouldn’t take much to figure out whom she was meeting if they’d watched her board the train to Avignon.

  Whether it was Mercier’s men already on the trail or some other interested party, he hadn’t decided. Either way, it was a hassle he could do without.

  Etienne waited until Kate was just a couple of steps away before coming out of the shadows. He’d positioned himself in the alcove knowing she would have to walk past to get to the taxi rank.

  She gasped as he pulled her back into the small space.

  “It’s okay, it’s me.”

  “What the hell?” Her voice was hushed, but the force of her words spoke of her anger.

  “I was followed. I wanted to be sure you weren’t, too.”

  She pulled her arm back, and he released his grip.

  “Of course you were followed. It’s either paparazzi or another insurance company wondering what you’ve done with the goods you stole. Or maybe both—it would make one hell of scoop. Billionaire playboy gets kicks from stealing paintings, while setting up accomplice for false arrest.”

  Okay. That answered that question. He was not getting forgiven anytime soon. “I meant someone seriously following me.”

  “What was I doing?”

  “Inconspicuously. A professional.”

  Her lips narrowed as she compressed them together. “You’re not helping yourself.”

  He lifted his in a wry smile. No, perhaps not, but he loved how riling her put a flush in her pale cheeks and made her brown eyes blaze with a hint of gold. “Not police. Not insurance. Definitely not a photographer. Someone who lives in the shadows.”

  “Like you?”

  Etienne raised his brows. “Maybe.” He stared out of the alcove. The crowd had thinned, departing out of the doors and into the night.

  “Okay. Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her
to a side entrance. They’d be less noticeable there than exiting through the central doors. “Put your head down and keep walking.” He tried to pull her hand through his arm, but she resisted. “We’ll be less noticable as a couple.”

  A sigh slipped past her lips, but she linked her arm though his.

  “I’ve got us a room around the corner. It’s small enough to take cash and not ask questions.”

  “You promised me a lavish dinner.” Her voice held an accusatory tone.

  And that was just another reason to curse Mercier. If indeed it was his men following them. He too had been looking forward to dinner with Kate, although her tone gave the impression she’d been more keen to enjoy a hot meal than his company.

  “I raided the vending machine before you arrived.”

  She gave him a sideways glance. “Typical. Only I could pick up a cheap billionaire.”

  “I’ll let you have first dibs.”

  “You really know how to treat a girl.”

  Sarcasm dripped from her every word. Not that he didn’t deserve it, but he couldn’t help riling her a little further. “I’ve never had complaints before.”

  Kate’s grip on his arm tightened. At first he thought it was her reaction to his suggestive tone, and then he heard it. The unmistakable sound of footsteps behind them.

  “Stay calm. It’s probably nothing.” Except the tingling in the back of his neck said it almost certainly wasn’t. “You see that restaurant up ahead? Let’s stop by the bright lights.”

  “Now you’re just teasing me.”

  He lifted his lips briefly in a grim recognition of her faint attempt at humour. When they got to the restaurant, he swung her around and into his arms, allowing him to look over her shoulder down the street. He bent his head and nuzzled her temple.

  A dark figure stayed just out of sight about twenty meters further down the road. Pressed into the shadow of a building, it was difficult to distinguish whether it was man or woman, but the footsteps, though soft, definitely had a weight to them. Etienne would bet it was man. The question was, who did he work for and what did he want?

  He wasn’t ready to show his hand yet. When he caught up with someone from Mercier’s gang, he wanted to have all the pieces in place. It was the only way to control the situation.

  “What’s happening?”

  Kate’s whisper brought his attention back to the woman in his arms. He still couldn’t quite place the scent she wore, but either way it was intoxicating. A distraction, if he allowed it to be.

  “There’s a man, I think, hiding in a doorway.” He leant back a little way and placed his hand under Kate’s chin. She looked up into his eyes, her gaze guileless, trusting. Why, he couldn’t fathom. He’d done nothing but wreak havoc in her ordered life so far.

  A movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention. “He’s on the move.”

  She went to turn her head, but he splayed his fingers across her cheek, preventing the movement. Her warmth breath hit him as her lips parted in surprise, and a hunger from within rose up.

  As the figure drew closer, Etienne bent his head to claim Kate’s mouth. He’d meant only to hide their faces, but when his lips touched hers, it was all he could do not to clamp his hand on her hip and drag her towards the hard length of him.

  The footsteps went past and faded into the distance. Kate opened her lips to him, and he lost himself in the sweet taste of her desire. Her hand crept into his hair and pulled him closer.

  He was used to putting his life on the line for work, but never like this. With his heart hammering in his chest and his breathing ragged, it seemed as if he was in one of the most dangerous places in the world. Kissing Kate had become an exciting adventure he didn’t want to end.

  A man coughed, none too subtly, as he walked past with his dog. Etienne released her lips from his and drew back. Kate’s gaze met his. Her brown eyes were slumberous with desire, and he fervently wished they were anywhere other than in the middle of the street.

  “He’s gone.” His voice came out as a rough whisper.

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her along the street. “The hotel is just around the corner.” He looked behind them to check that they were now alone. Satisfied that no one was following them, they walked quickly in silence.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  AS KATE WALKED into the bedroom, the charged atmosphere between her and Etienne was palpable. A cold shiver crossed the back of her neck, and she pulled her coat closer. She was about to cross a line and didn’t want to stop herself, even if she could.

  The room was small and definitely not luxurious, but that was probably why Etienne had chosen the hotel. He was less likely to be recognised in a place where cash and no questions were the norm.

  Not that he looked like the billionaire playboy she teased him about earlier. When he’d grabbed her at the train station, she’d thought he was just another commuter she’d foolishly ignored. It wasn’t until she felt the strength of his chest muscles beneath the wool of his jumper and heard his soft, seductive tone that she’d realised who it was pulling her into the alcove.

  Etienne strode across the room and drew the curtains shut. The action blocked out the illumination from the street lights and plunged the room into darkness. She sensed, rather than saw, him reach out towards the wall. At the click of a switch, the room was once again bathed in light. Except the low glow the lamp emitted did nothing to add any warmth to the grimness of their accommodation.

  Only then did she register the room was bare save for the bed and another door she presumed led to the bathroom.

  “Sorry.”

  She twisted around to face Etienne. “What for?”

  “The kiss.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. So much for the tension she’d read between them. The look on his face said it all. He regretted his actions. While she’d been busy fantasising about removing that jumper to discover for herself what lay underneath, he’d probably thought nothing of it until they ended up in a room with only a bed to sit on.

  But her ego couldn’t leave it alone. “You didn’t enjoy it?”

  A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. “Far from it.” Etienne ran a hand through his hair. “I meant only to hide our faces, but I continued long after our follower had carried on down the street.”

  Apparently she’d read his expression wrong. Perhaps in spite of all the lies and deception, they could be honest about this. Though for the life of her she couldn’t fathom why someone she should abhor had the power to fire up all her senses. Maybe there was some truth in opposites attract.

  She met his gaze. “I didn’t stop you.”

  “No.”

  The low tone of his response sent her heart hammering in her chest so hard she could feel the vibration in her throat. Her breast grew heavy, and her nipples tightened under his heated gaze.

  “If we had to do it again, I wouldn’t mind.” She forced herself not to cover her mouth in surprise. Where had this brazen woman come from? Perhaps being robbed, mugged, and arrested had altered her normally cautious self. Though she couldn’t really blame Etienne, she’d put herself on this path the moment she’d stopped following orders and started following him.

  “No?” His arched eyebrow spoke of his disbelief.

  Kate swallowed hard. Pushing aside her doubts of sleeping with the enemy, she raised her head a little higher. “No.”

  He took a step closer. Heat pooled low in her body.

  “So, if I reached for you now, you wouldn’t scream the house down.” He closed the rest of the distance between them and lifted a hand to cup her cheek. His mouth was soft. His lips questioning.

  Kate pulled back just a fraction. “See? No screams,” she jested.

  “Not yet.”

  His words sent a chill down her spine, and she’d never felt more alive as she gave herself up to his persuasive lips. Her hands slid up and slipped inside his jacket, her fingers twining into the soft wool of his jumper.

  The b
eat of his heart beneath her fingertips was the only sign that he wasn’t as in control of his emotions as his outward facade suggested. She took solace in the fact that maybe he was struggling with their obvious attraction to each other as much as she was.

  She opened her lips to his probing tongue, and he deepened the kiss as his hands pulled her body close to his. There was no doubting his desire for her, but it wasn’t enough.

  Releasing the hold she had on his jumper, Kate wound her arms around him, giving in to a driving need to mould his body to hers. To feel his erection pressed hard against her. She recoiled as her fingers touched the unmistakable shape of the grip of a gun.

  Her heart pounded and the sound of blood rushing turbulently through her ears almost deafened her. She was no stranger to guns, but it had been a stark reminder of just who Etienne was and the line she was about to cross.

  Etienne reached out and grabbed her wrist, preventing her from putting anymore distance between them. “It’s okay. Don’t panic, chérie. I’ll take it off.” He cupped her cheek with his other hand and kissed her lips softly.

  There was no point in fooling herself. She wanted Etienne. To feel his lips on her body. The heat of him inside of her. It wasn’t the illicit danger of being with the enemy that caused her stomach to somersault every time he was near. It was the man himself. The zing of heightened awareness that had hit her from the moment they’d met.

  It should have been a turn off. Her mother had ended up giving her life to help them escape the criminal underworld in Scotland. Did that make Kate a fool for succumbing to the desire that burned between them? Even if it was driven by lust, not love.

  She watched silently as he removed his jacket and placed the gun on the bedside table, all the time warring with the turmoil of emotions inside of her.

  He stood in front of her, his hard-toned body clearly defined under the soft woollen jumper. His gaze captured hers. Desire flickered slowly in his dark eyes. He didn’t have a finger on her, but she was burning up.