by Marie Astor
Tina was about to tiptoe out of the bed—underneath the blanket she was fully dressed in sweats and a sweatshirt—when she heard Daniel stir.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked.
“Surprisingly so,” she admitted. Despite her anxiety about sharing the bedroom with Daniel, she had slept like a baby.
“I’m glad to hear it. At least this monstrosity of a bed is good for something.” He groaned, getting up to his feet and rubbed his back.
“Are you okay?” Tina asked.
“I’m fine. Despite its name, the loveseat isn’t exactly ‘loving’ of one’s backside.”
“That’s because loveseats aren’t meant for sleeping, but for lovers to sit on,” she blurted out before she could stop herself.
“Noted. I’ll be sure to take that under advisement.” He cracked a smile, mischief glinting in his eyes.
She blushed in spite of herself. “Should we go downstairs and check on the preparations?”
“Good idea. I’ll leave you to shower and get dressed. See you downstairs in twenty minutes?”
“Sounds great.”
She waited for him to leave the room and headed for the shower.
“Don’t mess up,” she chanted to herself as she stood under the pulsating hot stream of water.
The big day was finally here and they all had to play their part without a hitch. For Tina it meant that she had to go on pretending to be in love with Daniel Garrett without actually being in love with him. She couldn’t deny that her assignment was getting more and more challenging with each day, and the worst part was that it wasn’t even Daniel’s fault, at least not anymore.
Since the night of their exuberant dinner at the French restaurant, he’d been surprisingly reserved and business-like, and she’d be a liar to say that she wasn’t disappointed by the change. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she missed Daniel’s flirting, and she couldn’t help wondering what had caused the change in his behavior. Yes, there had been that meeting with Agent Norris very sternly telling everyone to behave, but she doubted that was the sole reason for the change. Daniel Garrett didn’t seem like the kind of man who took orders on how to behave, even if the orders came from the FBI. Perhaps he had simply gotten bored with her—after all he was an exuberant billionaire and his whims changed as frequently as the weather. Whatever the reason, Tina wished she could stop thinking about him, but it was hard to do when she had to constantly face Daniel in meetings and briefings. To his credit, Daniel had been true to his word and had included Agent Norris in every single meeting he had with Tina—so much so that she wished he hadn’t. Thankfully, this assignment was almost over. All she had to do was make it through tonight and after that she’d never have to see Daniel Garrett again.
“Get this nonsense out of your mind,” Tina muttered to herself as she meticulously blow-dried her hair. Normally she would simply rake her fingers through her mane under the stream of hot air, but today she meticulously wrapped a round brush over each strand, pulling and tugging them into perfect locks to give herself time to collect her thoughts.
With her hair perfectly coiffed, Tina pulled on her jeans and top, shoved her feet into comfortable rubber-soled shoes and headed downstairs. The fancy outfit and makeup would come later—she still had to surveil Garrett’s estate to make sure preparations for the gala were on track. Last minute vanity made her pause for a quick dusting of powder on her face and a dash of lip gloss. Moments later she was racing down the stairs, expecting to find Garrett waiting for her.
When she reached the ground floor, Tina was surprised to see Garrett’s butler. The butler bowed differentially.
“My apologies, Miss Sloan, but Mr. Garrett had an urgent phone call. He asked that you have breakfast without him.”
“Very well.” Tina smiled brightly. “I’m starving.”
“Please follow me.”
Tina followed the butler to the dining room where she saw a breakfast table set up. After she sat down, the butler lifted the covers off the dishes, revealing pancakes, bacon, eggs, and toast.
“The cook followed Mr. Garrett’s instructions for the breakfast selection,” said the butler. “Of course if you’d prefer a fruit salad or smoothie—”
“Nope, this is perfect. Mmm, smells delicious.” Tina was about to dig in when she noticed the confused expression on the butler’s face. She guessed the amount of food on her plate probably comprised a weekly ration for the kind of girl Garrett typically dated. But she was no stick-thin model and she could use comfort food this morning. “Could I get a cup of coffee?” Tina asked, shoving a forkful of pancake into her mouth, as the butler stood there, looking shocked.
“Of course, Miss Sloan. I was just about to ask if you prefer coffee or tea.” Embarrassed, the butler shuffled about and hurried to fill her cup. “Will there be anything else?”
“Not at the moment. Once I’m finished with breakfast, I’d like to take a look in the kitchen to see how the preparations are going.”
“Of course.” The butler bowed slightly. “I’ll inform the cook.” With that he left the room, leaving Tina to finish her breakfast in solitude.
Tina wondered about the phone call that had kept Daniel from joining her for breakfast. Of all the times he’d sought her company unnecessarily, today was the day the two of them should stay in close contact. There was still a lot of ground they needed to cover before the gala tonight. She munched on her pancakes, wondering if she should seek out Daniel after breakfast or proceed to check on the gala preparations without him. She was about to pop the last piece of her pancake into her mouth when the door opened and Daniel walked inside.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting.” His glance fell on her plate. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like for breakfast, so I told the cook to do a full spread.”
“I’m glad you did.” She grinned approvingly. “Won’t you join me?”
“I just had a blueberry and spinach smoothie.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Sounds gross.”
“It’s supposed to be very nutritious and help with mental clarity. I read it in an article by a very reputable nutritionist whose name escapes me right now.”
“I see the mental clarity thing is working,” she teased him. “But seriously speaking, you never mentioned the smoothie thing before and it wasn’t in your bio. As your fiancée I’m supposed to know things like that.”
“Don’t worry—I was just trying it out today, with it being a big day and all. Plus I don’t plan on discussing my diet with Bassand.”
“Just making sure.” Tina lifted her coffee cup and took a long swallow. “This coffee is heavenly, as was the rest of the breakfast. My compliments to your cook.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He picked up a stick of bacon from her plate. “Mmm, maybe I ought to rethink the whole smoothie situation.”
“I think so. If I knew about your Spartan regimen, I would’ve saved you a pancake.”
“Thanks for the offer,” he said visibly stiffening, and she wondered if she had overdone it by inadvertently flirting with him. “Shall we take the tour of the grounds to make sure everything is ready?” he asked, all business.
“By all means.” Tina got up from her seat. “Lead the way.”
He nodded and pulled the door open for her. But he didn’t offer her his arm, as he used to—a gesture that had made her so nervous before and that she so longed for now.
***
“Have you heard from Tina? Are we all set for tonight?” asked Dennis, as he fastened his bowtie.
“For the umpteenth time, yes,” Janet replied.
“No need to get touchy,” Dennis shot back. “I’m just making sure everything is in order.”
“You’ve only asked me this like sixty times already.”
“You can never be over prepared,” he countered.
“Weren’t you the one telling me that Tina didn’t need any hand holding?”
“Agreed. It’s not her I’m worried about
, it’s us because if she or Garrett mess up, our necks will be on the line.”
“Great. You’ve just made me feel fantastic.” Janet exhaled. “Can you please just cut the crap and let me get ready in peace? We’re supposed to pick up Bassand and Nicole in less than an hour.”
Dennis drew a line over his lips with his fingers. “I promise to be as mute as a monk that has taken a vow of silence.”
Janet cocked an eyebrow. “It’ll either have to be a very brief vow or a very undisciplined monk.”
“We’ll see about that.” Dennis proceeded to fumble with his tie, looking self-righteous. “Dammit, this tie just won’t tie,” he grumbled.
“That vow of silence lasted a whole five seconds,” Janet observed.
“Fine, I agree—I wouldn’t make a very good monk after all, not that I would ever want to become one and give up my very hot wife,” he added with a wink.
“Good point. Here, let me help you with this tie.”
“Lenny and his ideas. I don’t see what was wrong with my clip-on,” Dennis complained.
“It’s a clip-on,” Janet pointed out as she attempted to tie Dennis’s tie into a perfect bow. “Hold still.”
“It’s from Brooks Brothers,” Dennis countered, holding very still.
“It’s still a clip on. This’ll be a very fancy affair—a clip on won’t do.”
“Oh yeah? How’s it going Mrs. Fashion Police?”
“All done,” Janet said proudly, stepping back to examine her results. “A perfect bow.”
“Let me have a look.” Dennis glanced in the mirror. “Huh, it does look better than a clip-on.”
“See? And you look very dapper in this tuxedo of yours,” she added.
“It’s not mine—Lenny picked it out, hence the skin-tight fit. But if my wife likes it, I guess I can put up with it for one night.”
“Nicole better keep her hands off of you.” Janet checked her lipstick in the mirror.
“What are you talking about?” Dennis asked.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice the way she flirts with you.”
“I didn’t. Okay, maybe a little,” Dennis admitted under Janet’s penetrating stare. “But she only does it to annoy you. I doubt she’s really interested in me. And even if she were,” he added hurriedly, “I couldn’t care less.”
“You’d better not.” She nudged him lightly with her elbow. “I’m not going to share my man with anyone, job assignment or not.”
“You’ll never have to worry about that,” Dennis said solemnly. “And I might add that you look dashing in this dress Lenny picked out for you.”
“I do, don’t I?” Janet exclaimed giddily, checking her reflection in their full size bedroom mirror. Somehow Leonard had convinced Agent Norris to give him carte blanche on the wardrobe. For the gala, he’d selected a strapless floor-length gown of dark blue silk taffeta that hugged Janet’s body perfectly. When Janet saw the designer label she nearly gasped—the dress had to have cost a fortune. She wondered how the bureau was going to fit that into their budget, but then decided to leave it to Agent Norris to deal with. It wasn’t every day that she got to wear a designer gown. “Lenny may have many faults, but he’s got a great taste in clothes.”
“Women’s clothes—yes,” Dennis clarified. “You look ravishing,” he murmured, leaning in for a kiss.
“Careful—you’ll get my lipstick all over you. We’d better get going or we’re going to be late.”
“Grr, I can’t wait for tonight to be over with.”
“Let’s make sure everything goes off without a hitch and then we can celebrate,” Janet said playfully, but then the smile disappeared from her face. It was show time and they had to put their game faces on.
Chapter 18
“We’re on,” said Janet as their car pulled up in front of Bassand’s mansion.
“It’s show time, baby.” Dennis got out and held the door open for her. “We’ll take Bassand’s car from here, so no need to wait around,” he added to the driver.
“Ready?” Janet whispered to Dennis as they climbed up the front stairs of Bassand’s townhouse.
“Of course we’re ready,” Dennis assured her. “This guy is child’s play compared to the reprobates we’ve dealt with in the past.”
“That’s true enough,” Janet muttered. Even though their past cases had involved tackling gangsters way rougher than Bassand, who despite his vast criminal activities had a very refined demeanor, she couldn’t help feeling uneasy. It was too late to say anything to Dennis now—he was already ringing Bassand’s doorbell.
“Mr. Bassand is expecting you.” The butler bowed as he opened the front door.
“Good.” Dennis nodded. “Because we’re kind of in a rush and we don’t want to be late.”
“Right this way.” The butler weaved his way down the hall, leaving Janet and Dennis no choice but to follow him.
“Err, we really do have to get going. Perhaps you could remind Mr. Bassand that we have a special invitation for the private viewing of the attraction before the gala begins. We wouldn’t want to be rude to the host,” Dennis said, but the butler kept on walking.
“My apologies, but I believe it will be best if you relay your concerns to Mr. Bassand directly.” The butler bowed as he opened the door, unveiling an upholstered sitting room.
“Janet, Dennis, come in, come in,” Bassand greeted them heartily. He was dressed in a tailored tuxedo with a perfectly tied bowtie and patent black shoes. There was a small red carnation in his left buttonhole. “That will be all, thank you.” He nodded briskly at the butler and the latter departed seamlessly. “Please, make yourselves comfortable.” Bassand gestured at the sprawling couch.
“Thank you.” Janet perched herself on the edge of the couch, realizing that this room was different from the previous rooms where Bassand had met with them.
“I think it’s time we end this charade.”
Janet instantly recognized the cold voice carrying through the air as that of Nicole Sheridan’s. She looked up and saw Nicole enter the room dressed in an off-the-shoulder floor-length black evening gown. She was pointing a gun at them.
“Nicole, I understand you have plenty of reasons to hold a grudge against us, but please let’s not get carried away—” Dennis began.
“Shut up and sit down,” Nicole barked, her gun aimed squarely at them. “Leonard, you know what to do.” She jerked her head at Leonard who had appeared from the back of the room with a thick coil of rope under his arm. “Tie them up quickly. We’ve got to get going.”
“What’s going on here?” Janet asked, shivering inside and doing her best not to show it. Their plan had gone horribly awry.
“We’re on to you. That’s what’s going on here,” Nicole sneered. “Did you really think we’d be stupid enough to buy into this lame scheme of yours after you cheated us out of the Monet?”
“But we didn’t cheat you out of the Monet,” Janet pleaded, her heart pounding. “We wired the money, just as Armand requested.” This part was true. The FBI did transfer a hefty sum to Bassand’s offshore account as part of the entrapment operation. “We have the perfect plan to get the Eternal Light. Don’t ruin it.”
“You double-crossed us,” Nicole seethed. “No one double-crosses us. No one. Now you’ll pay the price.” She eyed Leonard imperiously. “What are you waiting for? Tie them up, Leonard. Armand and I have a party to go to.”
“Whatever you think is going on, you’re wrong,” Janet went on. “You can’t just show up without us. I have a special invitation from Garrett’s fiancée for a tour before the gala. Garrett was going to give us a private viewing of the Eternal Light, which would give us the perfect opportunity to scope out the place.”
“As tempting as that sounds, we have a better plan,” Nicole scoffed. “We won’t be staying for the tour or the festivities. We’ll just pick up the Eternal Light and be on our way.”
“Nicole, you got it all wrong,” Dennis tried to reason with
her. “We want the Eternal Light as much as you do—”
“I know you do,” she cut him off. “But you’re not going to get it.” Her eyes flashed at Leonard. “I don’t like repeating myself. Don’t tell me you can’t follow basic instructions.”
“Sit down, both of you,” Leonard spoke with gruff assuredness he’d never exhibited before.
“Lenny, you’re making a mistake,” Dennis whispered. “Think about what’s at stake here—”
“What are you two whispering about?” Nicole pointed her gun at Dennis’s face. “Don’t even think about luring Leonard with some pathetic promise of a larger share. He knows Armand and I will take care of him.”
“I’m sure,” Dennis shot back. “Like the two of you will take off with the profits and leave Lenny here to face the consequences.”
Quick as whiplash, Nicole hit Dennis on the corner of his mouth with her gun. “That’s for talking too much—”
Janet thought she saw an opening and, remembering the self-defense moves Tina had taught them, was about to ambush Nicole when Armand uttered a warning sound and Nicole pointed the gun right at Janet’s temple. “Not so fast. Now, sit back down. Tie them up, Lenny.”
“Hold out your hands,” Leonard demanded and Janet and Dennis did as they were told. His movements quick and rough, Leonard tied their wrists and ankles with the thick rope he’d brought with him.
“Make sure the knots are tight,” Nicole instructed him.
“They’re tight,” Leonard gritted through his teeth.
Nicole bent down to examine the restraints. “Good.” She nodded in satisfaction. “Now Armand and I have to go. You stay here and watch these two. Once we have the diamond, we’ll meet you, as agreed.”
“Can’t I come with you?” Leonard pleaded.
“And who’s going to watch these two?” Nicole asked.
“We talked about this, Leonard.” Bassand stepped into the center of the room. “This is your chance to redeem yourself for all your misdoings. I’ve dismissed all the servants. After we leave, handle these two as we’ve discussed. Prove yourself to me and you shall be rewarded.”
