Her Undercover Panther : A Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance

by Jasmine White

  “No drinking,” she said, shaking her head.

  “Suit yourself,” he said, firing up the engine. “But I bet you’d be a lot more relaxed if you’d drink one or two.”

  “I’m not here to relax,” she said.

  “I can see that.” He laughed, and without another word, they sped set off toward the island so fast that Tara’s knuckles turned white from holding onto the seat beneath her so tightly.

  This was going to be a long assignment with Luis as her partner. She could already tell.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Tara felt a little off balance when she stepped out of the boat and onto the dock two hours later. She took a step and her knees buckled slightly, though she caught herself quickly and straightened. Luis’s arm snaked out, wrapping around her waist and pulling her close to steady her.

  “I’m fine,” she said, pulling away from him, but he held fast.

  He leaned down close, his lips inches from her ear, his arm still locked around her.

  “We have an audience,” he whispered softly into her ear. “I know you’ve got this, but let me help you. The more they underestimate you from the get go, the better. There’s no need for them to know that you can take care of yourself.”

  Tara nodded, letting Luis guide her down the dock with one arm still around her. Her stomach clenched at his touch, and Tara chided herself for letting her guard down and succumbing even a little bit to the charms of a shifter. She knew that his kind could seduce a human against their will, and she knew better than to let his touch and his proximity affect her, even if it only affected her a little bit.

  Eyes hidden behind her sunglasses, she carefully scanned the area in front of them to see what he was talking about. It took her a few passes to see him, but there, several yards from where Luis and Tara stood, a man waited in the shadows of a banana palm to greet them. The man was huge, his arms crossed over an expansive chest, his face set in a decidedly unfriendly expression.

  Tara stiffened, but Luis held her tighter.

  “Lean on me,” he said. “He’s a nice guy, but everyone is on edge since the escape, and people are suspicious of a reporter being on the island, even though Arnold brought you in.”

  She stumbled over the name Arnold for a second, then remembered that Andrew was deep undercover as well and she would have to remember to refer to him as Arnold if she brought him up for any reason. Even if she thought they were alone, she would still act as if they weren’t alone, just in case. Tara was nothing if not meticulously careful when she was on a job, and she wouldn’t be the one to blow their cover. She couldn’t be too sure about Luis, but if Andrew trusted him, then he was trustworthy. That had to be enough for now, though she would be watching him, too. It would be crazy for someone involved with the possible trafficking ring to call and alert authorities, but Tara had learned over the years that criminals weren’t always smart, and the ones that were smart were on an entirely different level. Those intelligent criminals were the worst, and Tara had seen a seemingly dumb move turn out in favor of the criminal with deadly results for the agents involved. So she would be keeping an eye on Luis and anyone he deemed trustworthy. Just in case.

  They were nearly upon the silent man in the shadows when he stepped into the sunlight and smiled at Tara. His smile was menacing, but Tara ignored him. He could try his best to make her uncomfortable all he wanted; Tara wasn’t going to fall for it.

  “I take it that this is the journalist we were told to expect?” he asked Luis, still staring at Tara but not addressing her directly.

  “She is. Which hut will she be staying in, Eric? I’m afraid the ocean didn’t agree with her much, and she needs a little time to recover.”

  “I’ll direct her to the hut she’ll be using for the duration of her stay,” Eric reached for her backpack when he said this, but Tara took a step back and leaned even harder on Luis.

  “Arnold McClellan has asked to be her private companion for the duration of her stay. He’s made it clear that she is not to be bothered or hindered in any way, and Arnold was very specific about the places I should be certain to take her to for her publication on the resort.”

  Tara pretended to be off in her own little world while they chatted away in Spanish as if she wasn’t there. Luis was working Eric carefully, leading the man to believe that Luis was already well versed in the places that Tara should be allowed to go, giving Eric the distinct impression that he would be watching her carefully and making sure that she didn’t see anything that would cause them issues later.

  She was impressed with how Luis handled the man. Firm but accommodating, Luis chose his words carefully, and by the time he was done relaying his conversation with Arnold McClellan to Eric, Tara got the distinct impression that Eric’s worry was easing and the other man was confident that leaving her to Luis to control and guide through the island was the best course of action. Luis’s skill was exceptional, and Tara wondered why the Bureau hadn’t recruited him, despite his status as a shifter. She could see why Andrew trusted him and had faith in his ability to keep Tara safe and get her into wherever she needed to get in order to get the intelligence she needed to bring down GRE.

  Eric finally addressed her, switching back to English and plastering an inviting smile on his face that was supposed to be friendly. Tara couldn’t help but imagine that he was like the crocodile, waiting just below the surface with his wide smile, waiting to eat the unsuspecting victim walking by.

  “It appears that you have lucked out and will get to enjoy Luis for your entire stay, Ms. Storm. Please don’t hesitate to ask for anything you desire, and while you’re here, please feel free to relax and enjoy everything our beautiful island has to offer. You are our guest for the duration of your stay with us. We would consider it an honor to make this the vacation of a lifetime.”

  Tara nodded.

  “Thanks for your hospitality, but I’m feeling a little woozy after that boat ride, and right now, all I want is some sleep.”

  “Of course,” Eric said, bowing slightly. “We have reserved for you our most luxurious hut. If there is anything more that you require, do not hesitate to ask, and Luis or I will provide whatever your heart desires. It is the farthest hut, so I will drive you there.”

  Tara smiled weakly and let Luis walk her at a leisurely pace toward the car that was idling nearby.

  Luis got into the backseat with Tara, pulling her close and wrapping his arm around her while Eric got himself situated in the car and put it into gear. Luis’s hand slid down, brushing the curve of her hip suggestively. She pinched him, but he only chuckled softly and left his hand where it was. Tara wrinkled her nose, but now wasn’t the time to say anything to Luis. She would deal with him in the hut. Until then, she would have to convince her traitorous body that a simple hand on the hip was nothing to get even a little worked up over.

  Eric drove slowly, careful not to kick up dust on the gravel road that barely accommodated the narrow car. It took them nearly ten minutes to get to the hut, but by then, Tara’s stomach had settled somewhat and the constant rolling, pitching feeling that had lingered since she’d gotten off the boat had subsided almost entirely. Despite feeling better, she continued to play the damsel in distress, letting Luis walk her, arm in arm, to the hut that was just above the sand that led to the ocean beyond.

  He opened the door and let her enter first, closing it solidly behind them and turning on the fans. As soon as the door closed, Tara turned on Luis, blue eyes flashing with anger, index finger poking into his chest.

  “I don’t care what is going on – you keep your damn hands off my ass or we’re going to have a problem, you got that?”

  Luis looked down at her, his mouth pinched, his expression grim.

  “Look. I’m not any more interested in being thrust together like this than you are. If you want the truth, I was hoping that Arnold would send a man so that I didn’t have to deal with some weak human throwing herself at me the entire time and inevitably fallin
g in love with me.”

  “I’m not throwing myself at you,” she said, hands on hips, her anger growing.

  “That’s right, you’re not. And that’s a problem. You’re so bent on proving that you’re just like the guys that you’re going to the other extreme. Eyes are on us at all times, maybe even here. You can’t act like you find my touch distasteful. People expect you to at least be receptive to me, and if you’re too against my touch and my presence, they’re going to suspect something. If that happens, you’re going to be sorry, if you’re still alive.”

  She turned away from him, angry at his words, but mostly angry at herself. He was right. She was undercover, but so was he. It was his job to seduce women, and if Tara was completely unaffected by his presence, Eric would know that something was up. She didn’t have to know Eric to know that this would be a bad thing. Eric gave her the bad feeling she always got when she met someone who was evil down to his core. She didn’t want him to be suspicious of her. It wouldn’t end well for either of them, and it would keep her from doing her job and protecting the innocent victims in all of this.

  “I’m sorry that I upset you,” he said softly. “I didn’t mean that you weren’t good enough because you’re a woman. I just think that we need to go about this a certain way if we’re going to be successful.”

  Her shoulders were rigid, her back still turned to him while she gathered her thoughts. She hated that he was right, but now was not the time for that. She had a job to do, and she was going to have to be smart about it. This job was nothing like any that she’d ever done before, and the rules that usually applied would be worthless here.

  She turned back slowly, taking a deep breath and looking into his hazel eyes.

  “So, how are we going to play this?”

  Her voice was calm, her resolve steadfast. She was going to do what it took. No matter what.

  Luis eyed her cautiously then nodded.

  “Let me seduce you. You don’t have to lose yourself, but they are going to be suspicious of a woman who is completely unaffected by our powers of…persuasion.”

  “So what do I do? Do I just throw myself at you like a lovesick fool? Is this power something you can turn off and on?”

  Luis laughed.

  “Nothing like that. I have no more control over my powers of attraction than you do over being attracted.”

  “But I’m not affected by you.”

  “I know,” he said, an amused look on his face. “It’s surprising. I wonder if Arnold knew that you would be like this or if this is just an added bonus.”

  “I thought you said that the others would be suspicious.”

  “They would, but that doesn’t mean that I expect you to actually fall for me. Just pretend that you don’t find my touch repulsive and we should be fine.”

  “You’re teasing me now,” she said.

  “I am. I’ll be honest, I don’t really know what to do with a woman who doesn’t swoon beneath my touch.”

  “It must be so hard for you,” she said, her tone sarcastic.

  “Actually, it’s kind of nice. Everywhere a shifter male goes, women look at him and feel a magnetic pull that they can’t explain. Sometimes, it can be a bit overwhelming.”

  “I imagine a room full of women who think that you’re the perfect dessert would be distressing for a man as handsome as you.”

  “Are you always this sarcastic?”

  “Probably. I don’t always do it on purpose.”

  He nodded. “So it’s a defense mechanism. I can see that. Working the way you do, with only men, I can see where you would find ways to cope.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  He shrugged.

  “It means that you’re sarcastic because you feel like you have to be. It’s not a judgment on you as a person, just an observation.”

  “Let’s just drop it, alright? So the plan is to make it look like I’m enjoying your company so that they think that I’m too twitter-pated to have a chance at a fair and balanced report on the island?”

  “Exactly. You don’t have to kiss me or anything, but it might help.”

  “Or maybe you just want to kiss me.”

  “That’s also a possibility.” He was smiling again, his eyes crinkling just slightly at the corners when he did.

  “Funny,” she said.

  “Who is joking?”

  “But why?”

  “I don’t know, really. I think it’s because you’re the first woman who’s come to this island who hasn’t thrown herself at me. It’s nice, but it’s also a little strange. I don’t really know what to think of you.”

  “Good to know.”

  Tara walked into the large bedroom, leaving Luis to follow her if he wanted to talk more. She looked at the giant bed in the center of the room and groaned.

  “I don’t suppose that there’s a pullout couch in the other room?” she asked, setting her bag down on the bed and sitting beside it.

  “No,” he laughed. “This place isn’t really set up for that sort of thing.”

  “So we’ll be sharing a bed?”

  “Is that so awful?”

  “No. It’s fine. Might as well get used to having you close.”

  “I promise that I’ll make it fun for you.”

  He laughed at the face she made.

  “You’re having entirely too much fun with this, Luis.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t tease you.” His expression softened, and he looked at her with something that bordered on pity. “You skipped lunch, and dinner will be served soon. Why don’t we change and we can head down for an early dinner?”

  “Are you going to wear one of those ridiculous thongs that only covers your manhood like the rest of the men?”

  He chuckled.

  “Do you want me to?”

  She shrugged, but she was only playing with him.

  “Maybe. I don’t know. It would probably look good on you.”

  “There’s no probably about it,” he said, stepping closer and putting a hand on her arm. “I look damn good in that skimpy little getup, but I prefer jeans. I could be persuaded to go shirtless if that’s the sort of thing you like.”

  His eyes were twinkling, and her skin beneath his hand was on fire with his touch. He might not have complete control of her desires the way some shifters seem to have over other women, but she wasn’t completely immune to his charms. Just the thought of him in a few strips of leather and nothing else made her body tighten in response to the image. Even fully clothed, it was hard to miss that Luis had a perfect body. She would be lying if she were to say that she wasn’t just a little curious to see how he looked in the standard resort attire that the other shifters wore.

  “You can keep your shirt on,” she finally said. “But after dinner, I think I’d like to take a walk on the beach.”

  He arched an eyebrow at her suggestion.

  “Really? Why?”

  “If you’re supposed to seduce me to keep me from uncovering anything of substance, wouldn’t a walk on the beach be perfect? Besides, I’m a California girl at heart, but I’ve been stationed at a satellite office in Fort Worth for a few years. I haven’t felt the sand beneath my feet in an eternity. There probably isn’t much we’re going to find out tonight anyway, so why not enjoy a few moments to ourselves while we observe everyone else?”

  “Sounds like a plan,” he said. “We’ll eat dinner, and then we will come back here and change into something that is a little more beach friendly.”

  “I didn’t bring a suit,” she said, not sure why she was feeling uncomfortable all of a sudden. She had suggested the beach, but talk of wearing a bikini was making her uncomfortable. Why?

  “Don’t worry about that. We have a store here, and I’ve been instructed by Ian and Arnold to charge everything to GRE.”

  “Great,” she said with no enthusiasm.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll look fantastic. I saw a suit in there when I was a companion two w
eeks ago. If it’s still there, it caught my eye, and I would love to see you in it.”

  “Wait, you were with a client recently?”

  “Of course. That’s my job.”

  “Did you have sex with her?”

  “Yes,” his head was tilted slightly, confused by her line of questioning. “The entire purpose of this resort is to give rich and powerful women an escape and some no-strings intimacy that they can’t get other places. Sex is just sex to me. I enjoy it, of course, but it’s just fun for me. I like to please women.”

  “So sex is nothing to you?”

  “Unless it’s love. Then it will mean something.”

  “Have you been in love before?”

  “Nope.”

  “But I thought there was a mate for every shifter? I guess I heard something about that before, when I was seventeen and they first started rounding shifters up. I was a little obsessed back then. I really wanted to wake up one evening to find a man outside of my window, declaring his soul-crushing need for me because I was his soulmate.”

  “Fated Mate,” Luis corrected. “What an odd thing to fantasize about.”

  “It was ten years ago, and things change. It was a teenage flight of fancy. I really thought you would be flattered.”

  “Were you dreaming of me?”

  “No. Of course not. I didn’t even know you yet.”

  “Then why would I find it flattering? Would you find it flattering if I said I’ve always wanted to sleep with a blonde?”

  “No. I would find you trite and just like every other man.”

  They were silent for a long moment, each lost in their own thoughts. After almost a full minute, Tara stood and picked up her backpack.

  “Let’s have dinner. This conversation is a little too heavy for my tastes.”

  “Sounds good, but are you going to carry bag with you everywhere?”

  “I have things in my bag that I can’t risk losing.”

  “You mean your laptop?”

  “Yes?”

  “I don’t think that anyone will bother your laptop. GRE wants you to write an article about them. No one is going to impede that.”