by Lisa Weaver
“My pleasure. It’s going to get a little rougher up ahead. How about if I take over for a bit?”
“Aye, aye, captain,” she told him with a sassy salute as she stepped aside so he could resume his place behind the wheel.
“So, I’m curious,” she said. “How did you and Damon meet?”
“Business. As far as Landers knows, I’m just a bored billionaire with money to burn. I made contact with him when I was working undercover for the CIA, as part of the investigation into a money-laundering ring we were tracking. I was sure Landers was involved up to his neck. I brokered a couple of investment deals with him, trying to find evidence to prove he played an integral role the scheme, but I couldn’t turn up a shred. In the end, I wasn’t able to link him to any wrongdoing.”
“And yet you’re still convinced he’s dirty?”
He nodded. “My gut tells me something about him is off, and I always listen to my gut.”
“Well, as far as I’m concerned, the verdict’s still out. Liz got a tip that Damon may have a connection to Mendacci, and that’s why she’s assigned me to do a little digging to see if I can turn up anything concrete to tie them together. Her informant was vague as to where the association stemmed from, though, so based on the innocent-until-proven-guilty premise, I’m approaching this assignment with an open mind.”
“Just so long as you don’t let a handsome face sway your objectivity,” he warned.
She chose to ignore his comment. “Securing Damon’s trust is in both our interests,” she reminded him instead.
“Just because the guy has a reputation for being a ladies’ man, that doesn’t mean applying for the next vacancy in his date book is your only way into his good graces. He’s a connoisseur of literature, with an extensive private library that he treasures. You’re a master librarian. That’s plenty of common ground to work with. You don’t need to encourage his flirtations.”
“His flirtations are all bark, no bite. You’re reading him wrong. He isn’t the inscrutable leech you believe him to be.”
“Oh no? So you’re telling me he didn’t make a move on you at the charity benefit? It looked as though he was getting quite cozy with you, to me.”
“His hands may have wandered once,” she conceded. “But when I made it clear I was only interested in a business relationship, not a dalliance, he was the perfect gentleman.”
“Of course he was. He had to be—you were in a crowded ballroom surrounded by hundreds of people. He couldn’t risk making a scene. If his hands went roving once, you can bet they will again.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Now you’re just being ridiculous. And what’s with the double standard? Tell me you haven’t used your charms to gain access to a target before.”
“Of course I have, but the situation was totally different.”
“That’s hypocritical. Employing flirtatious tactics to acquire contact with a target isn’t any riskier for me than it is for you. And you know it.”
“Well it’s not going to be an issue on this assignment, because I’m going to be along riding shotgun.”
“Strictly as a friend,” she reminded him. “You need to give me the freedom to gain Damon’s confidence so I can determine whether he has information that can lead us Mendacci’s whereabouts. Did you straighten things out with his PA in that regard? You made it clear to her that you and I aren’t a couple, right?”
“Well, actually …” he began.
“Oh no!” she interjected. “Don’t tell me you didn’t tell her.”
“I made a deal with you, and I don’t renege on my promises. I called her this morning with every intention of setting the record straight, but before I could get a word in edgewise Vanessa launched into an excited spiel about how Damon had asked her to set us up in his finest guesthouse. ‘A lover’s haven,’ she called it.”
“Ugh,” she groaned, smacking her palm against her forehead.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “At any rate, I couldn’t change the story without raising her suspicions. Or Damon’s. It’s too late in the game.”
“I suppose …” she agreed reluctantly. “After that little act you put on at the charity gala for Damon’s benefit, it would be difficult to change his impression midstream. I get that. You’re sleeping on the sofa in that ‘lover’s haven,’ though.”
“Assuming there is a sofa,” he said with a wink.
“If there isn’t, you’ll be getting up close and personal with the floor.”
“I can deal with that. It’s the least I can do since you’re letting me partner with you on this mission. We’ll make a good team, Steph. I’ll make sure Landers keeps his perverted paws off you, and we’ll search for the intel we need to connect him to Lawrence Mendacci. So am I forgiven?”
The smile he shot her made her insides all squishy. How could she stay mad at him when he was so darned irresistible?
“You’re forgiven. I’m going to stretch out in the sun for a while, if you don’t mind. It’s too glorious a day not to take advantage of.”
“Go ahead and relax. I’ve got the wheel.”
Confident he could pilot the sleek craft with his eyes closed, she sank into one of the padded sun chairs built into the deck to bask in the warm sun and enjoy the view.
Sunlight sparkled off the waves, seagulls soared overhead, and the sky stretched out in an endless canopy of blue. Soon, lulled by the soothing caress of the sea breeze, her eyes grew heavy and she drifted off to sleep.
She wasn’t surprised when her naptime was invaded by a sexy, marauding pirate—a pirate who bore an uncanny resemblance to Frank. Standing above her, his white shirt open to reveal a muscled chest and six-pack abs and his dark, wavy hair pulled back in a low, masculine ponytail that only accented the strong definition of his high cheekbones and rugged jaw, her dream-time hero took piratehood to new levels of scrumptiousness.
Things between her and the sexy swashbuckler were just heating up when a light caress on her arm roused her from her dream. Opening her eyes, she focused drowsily on the actual Frank.
Talk about eye candy. He was even more heart-stoppingly gorgeous than the pirate doppelganger who’d starred in her dream.
“Hey, sleepyhead. We’re almost there,” he told her, smiling.
It would be so easy to reach up and draw him down to the deck beside her to reenact that steamy scene from her dream.
She wondered how he would react if she initiated a bit of her own pillaging, but quickly closed the door on those illicit musings.
“It’s something, isn’t it?” he asked, dragging her focus to the stunning outcrop of land rising out of the ocean. It looked like paradise, with long stretches of sandy beach edged by rocky cliffs and massive stands of glorious fir trees standing watch.
“It’s spectacular!” she agreed.
As they drew closer, Damon’s estate became visible. Situated at the center of the island, it featured handsome stonework and dozens of floor-to-ceiling windows that would ensure amazing views of the ocean from all angles.
While Frank tied the speedboat off at the dock, she grabbed her sundress and slipped it back on over her swimsuit. He was helping her disembark when a lithe blonde wearing an elegant sea-foam-green dress approached them, grinning broadly.
“Frank!” the woman greeted him, reaching his side and enveloping him in an affectionate hug. “Welcome to Isle de Lion.”
She should have guessed Damon’s PA would be drop-dead gorgeous. The blonde was fashion-model perfect, from the mane of glossy, golden curls cascading down her back to the rose-lacquered toenails peeking out of her ivory Fermani sandals—and every inch in between.
She watched as Frank returned the woman’s hug with an easy familiarity that made her wonder just how close he really was to Damon’s attractive personal assistant. The warmth that flowed between them was sincere. Had they been lovers? Were they still? Was there more to Frank’s dislike of Damon than his belief the man was a criminal?
“Stephanie, this is Damon Landers
’s right-hand woman, Vanessa Briars,” Frank said by way of introduction.
Doing her best to ignore the stab of jealousy jabbing her in the heart, Stephanie shook the perfectly manicured hand Vanessa offered, returning the woman’s smile.
“Thank you so much for having us, Vanessa. Damon told me a lot about his collection at the charity gala. I’m excited to get to work organizing it.”
“Damon sends his regrets. He’s sorry he wasn’t able to be here to welcome you himself. He planned on being here, but he was called away to attend an unexpected business meeting at the last moment. He’ll be back in time for dinner tonight, and he’d love it if you both would be his guests.”
“That sounds lovely,” Stephanie said with a smile.
“Excellent! Now that that’s settled, why don’t I give you a tour of the island?”
Damon’s estate was nothing short of spectacular. The property spanned four miles, with breathtaking views on every side. In addition to Landers’s enormous mansion, there were also four guesthouses, a boathouse, and an expansive infinity pool that stretched to the edge of the ocean. “Opulent” didn’t begin to describe the island.
“What an amazing place!” Stephanie remarked, genuinely awestruck.
Vanessa nodded her agreement. “Isn’t it? It’s been in the Landers family for generations. Most recently the island belonged to Damon’s paternal grandfather. Damon’s dad passed away when Damon was just an infant, and his grandparents raised him. Damon was the only heir to the Landers family fortune. When Damon inherited the island, he decided to turn it into something extraordinary. He makes the largest of the four guesthouses available at no cost as a vacation getaway spot for artists of all types; musicians, painters, sculptors, writers, and dancers.”
Leading them to a stone villa, Vanessa opened its front door. “This is where you’ll be staying while you’re here.”
The building was warm and welcoming, with striking oak-beamed ceilings and lots of windows that framed the stunning seaside views to perfection. Polished oak gleamed on the floors as well. A fireplace in the living room promised to chase the chill out of the air if necessary.
“This is lovely,” Stephanie gushed, delighted with the elegant-yet-cozy ambience of the place. And since the guesthouse had three bedrooms, the question of whether or not their accommodations included a sofa was a moot point.
Vanessa wrapped up the tour with Damon’s own home. The mansion was a sight to behold, as amazing as every other part of the property. With a wrought-iron circular staircase, marble flooring, and the most luxurious of furnishings throughout, the home was simply stunning.
“And this is where you’ll be setting up the library …” Vanessa gestured with a smile.
The room Damon had chosen to house his book collection was a bibliophile’s dream come true. The enormous, airy space featured a vaulted ceiling. Two walls were dominated by windows that afforded impressive views of the gardens and the ocean beyond. Another wall featured a gas fireplace with a marble mantel flanked on either side by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Overstuffed chairs provided perfect spots for cozying up with a book or two.
The last wall was covered by one huge, built-in bookcase. Additional modular bookshelves in the same mahogany wood as the rest of the furniture in the room sat on rolling frames so they could be placed anywhere in the space.
Boxes filled with books were scattered around the floor. All the great classic authors were represented, but the collection also extended to more modern works. There was a wonderful selection from every genre, with a strong bent toward fiction over works of nonfiction.
“If there’s anything you need, let me know and I’ll arrange to get it,” Vanessa told them. “And Frank, while Stephanie mulls the space over and decides how she wants to set things up, I’ll get our butler to take your belongings to the guesthouse. Would you mind going back with me to show him where your luggage is?”
“I’d be happy to.”
Watching as they headed out together, Stephanie did her best not to let the easy rapport Frank had with Damon’s attractive PA bother her. She told herself she wasn’t jealous, but when Frank returned with the pretty blonde half an hour later, laughing with her over a shared joke, she had to admit to herself that, yes, she was indeed jealous.
Grr.
“Damon phoned while we were getting your luggage settled,” Vanessa told her. He’s wondering if you might consider doing him a favor.”
“Of course. What does he need?”
“He’s been contacted by a book dealer in response to a search he’s been conducting. He’s been trying to locate a rare, first-edition volume of Treasure Island. The dealer claims to have a copy that he’s willing to sell. Damon was wondering if you might be willing to assess the edition and verify its authenticity. He wants to be certain it’s worth the asking price.”
“Sure,” she readily agreed.
“Great. The meeting will be held at Damon’s office in New York, so we’ll take his helicopter out tomorrow morning.”
“May I come along?” Frank asked.
Vanessa shook her head. “I’m sorry, Frank. The copter is a three-seater, and since Damon will be making the return trip with us, there’s only room for Stephanie and me.”
“What about the pilot?” Stephanie asked.
“You’re looking at her,” Vanessa replied with a grin. “It falls under the ‘miscellaneous duties as assigned’ part of my job description.”
“Ah … a woman of many talents,” Stephanie said. “That’s great. And the trip sounds like fun.”
Risking a quick glance at Frank, Stephanie spotted thunderclouds gathering in those brilliant blue eyes of his, telling her he wasn’t at all happy she’d agreed to go on the outing without him.
Those thunderclouds erupted into a full-fledged tempest the moment Vanessa left the room. Arms crossed in front of his chest, he looked anything but pleased.
“Fun?” he hissed as soon as Vanessa was out of earshot. “Are you crazy?”
“What?” she queried, feigning innocence.
“You know very well what. I’m referring to the what we discussed when you were assigned this mission. You’re putting yourself at risk by spending time alone with Damon.”
“I’m not going to be alone with him. Vanessa will be with us.”
“Only for as long as it takes for Landers to get you away from her. You don’t know what his motives are for asking you to do this favor for him. He might—”
She held up her hand, halting his protest. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Encasing me in bubble wrap. You like to whip out a roll whenever it looks like my life is about to get bumpy. You need to stop.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “He’s not what you think. One-on-one time with him is dangerous.”
“This is not up for discussion. I’m going—with or without your blessing.”
Shaking his head, he reached out a hand to cup her face. Her heart sighed.
“I just want to keep you safe, Kitten.”
“And I want you to trust me to make my own decisions. I’ll make the right ones concerning Damon. I know you think he’s slimy, but I see a different side to him.”
“I’m sure you do. Has it occurred to you that’s because it’s the side he wants you to see? I can guarantee he has more than the Dewey decimal system on his mind,” he warned.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Frank couldn’t mask his irritation at Stephanie’s stubbornness. The urge to protect her was fierce. He wanted to lock her in the library while he handled both pieces of this mission—his and hers—but he knew she’d never buy into that.
“You don’t have to do this favor for him in order to carry out your assignment. You already have access to his inner sanctum—you can track down what we need without having to spend time alone with him.”
She raised her eyes to the ceiling as if looking for divine assistanc
e. “I take it you aren’t okay with my going to New York.”
No, he wasn’t okay with it. He was still seeing red at the thought that Landers had already put his hands on her once at the charity benefit. Stephanie thought she had a handle on the situation, but he knew it was unwise to discount the playboy tycoon’s powers of persuasion.
“I don’t know why you didn’t stick to the plan.”
“It’s just one brief meeting. No harm is going to come of it. Besides, look on the bright side. Vanessa and Damon won’t be around the mansion. There will be two less people to worry about while you investigate Damon’s possible connection to the man responsible for Pamela’s death.”
“It’s a dangerous dance, this dalliance with Landers. I don’t want you lowering yourself to that level.”
“Coddle alert!” she warned again. “For the last time, I’ll be perfectly safe with Damon. Would you stop making it sound like I’m going to bed him to extract his secrets? I can assure you I have no intention of going down that road. I don’t need to resort to smarmy tactics to get the info we need. Now, if you’re done second-guessing my methods of operation, I’m going to start cataloging this amazing collection.”
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
They worked well into the afternoon, unboxing books and organizing them according to author and genre. Frank was impressed by the speed with which Stephanie was able to organize and shelve the huge collection. By the time they decided to call it a day, she’d made an impressive dent in the project.
He shot her a beaming smile. “It looks great.”
“Thanks for all your help. Are you sure you’re not overdoing it with your shoulder? Some of the volumes are heavy.”
“I’m positive. The shoulder is fine,” he assured her. “So … we have a couple of hours until we join Damon and Vanessa for dinner. What would you like to do?”
“A swim would be nice, but I’m guessing that’s still off-limits for you, right?”
“Yeah, but I’d be happy to lounge and do some reading while you enjoy the pool.”
Unfortunately, relaxing while Stephanie made the most of the gorgeous infinity pool proved to be easier said than done. Frank tried to concentrate on the spy thriller he was reading, but his focus kept getting hijacked by the sight of Stephanie’s long, tanned limbs gleaming in the sun. She swam like a fish, lithe and sleek, and he couldn’t tear his eyes off her.
