“Shh,” he said, moving her beyond the bushes, to where no one could see them.
He cupped her cheek with one hand while he dug his fingers into her waist with the other.
“I have wanted to do this for so long.” His lips descended on hers, and his tongue wound its way between them.
Without thinking, Ava wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the passion of his kiss.
—:—
Kissing Ava was everything he’d dreamed it would be. Their tongues tangled together as she instinctively rubbed her body against his.
The noise, the other guests, even the voices in his head melted away until all that remained was the soft, sweet woman in his arms. He dropped his hand from her waist to her ass, and kissed his way down her neck, over her collarbone, to the place where the halter top of her dress barely covered her breasts. Soon, he hoped he’d feast on their bareness, but for now, he needed her mouth again.
Ava’s hands were in his hair, pulling until his scalped tingled. She whimpered as he ran his tongue back up her neck, scattering kisses along the way. His lips met hers again, and he nipped the bottom one when she didn’t open to him fast enough.
“Do you have any idea how much I’ve thought about you this last year, wishing I could get my hands on you? Wishing I knew how it felt to kiss you?”
Ava’s lips were swollen, and he saw that her cheek had turned the prettiest shade of pink where his whiskers had rubbed against it. Her eyes were downcast, and he didn’t like it one bit.
“Look at me,” he said, and she did. “Have you thought about me, Ava?”
She took a deep breath and bit her lip. “Tabon, you can’t just do this.”
“I can’t ask if you’ve thought about me?”
“No, I mean…just because Quinn ‘put us together,’ doesn’t mean I’m your date. You can’t just kiss me, or drag me away from the wedding, or... kiss me.” Ava looked behind her, making sure no one was paying attention to her raised voice.
Her eyes bored into his, and he met her gaze, waiting for her to say more.
“I’m the one that can’t do this,” she finally said.
“Can’t do what?”
“I can’t have sex with you, Razor, and just walk away tomorrow. I’m not a hook-up kind of girl—”
“You know you’re feeling the same thing I am.”
“No,” she said, pushing away from him. “I’m sorry if I misled you or gave you the impression that I was yours for the taking. I’m not. I had too much to drink that day, and…other things were on my mind. If you want to know the truth, I barely remember meeting you—”
He grasped her nape and covered her mouth again with his, wanting to force her lips apart with the tip of his tongue. Instead, he pulled back and looked into her eyes.
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you earlier when I switched our seats. I thought…hell, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I spent four years with a man who humiliated me every chance he got, and I vowed I would never allow anyone to do that to me again.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Razor,” she said as she walked away.
The thing he hated most, of everything she’d said, was that she’d called him Razor. No one called him Tabon, and that was his choice. But when she did, it felt right. Why did he love the way it sounded on her lips?
5
“Gentlemen,” said Doc, approaching him and Gunner later when the wedding reception was winding down. “Come with me.”
They followed Doc and Merrigan to the cottage they’d booked at the resort, and saw Striker standing right outside.
“I’m sorry about the timing, but this couldn’t wait.”
Once inside and seated, Striker laid it out for them.
“Ava McNamara is a witness in the upcoming trial of her former boyfriend.”
Razor’s head spun. He’d known it was Ava who would be needing their protection. “What did he do?” he asked.
“A whole slew of crimes, but we’ve got him for insider trading, money laundering, and investment fraud.”
“Wait a minute. All of this is under FBI jurisdiction,” said Gunner. “Why is the agency involved?”
“There are a couple of reasons. First, we believe someone from the FBI is in on it. Secondly, we have evidence that the scope of the organization he works for is far-reaching.”
“Meaning what, exactly?” Razor asked.
“Internationally.”
“Are we protecting the asset from the boyfriend, or from someone else?” asked Gunner.
“Someone else.”
Razor stood, running his hand through his hair. “Who?”
“We can’t say yet.”
“You can’t say, or you don’t know?” Doc stood and joined Razor. “That’s what I was afraid of,” he said when Striker didn’t answer.
“Why do you need Ava’s testimony?”
“She witnessed an exchange. We also believe she unknowingly has a connection to the organization.”
“If you want us to take this on,” Doc snarled, “you need to tell us everything you know, and everything you don’t. I’m not sending one of our guys in on this unless we’re fully briefed.”
Merrigan stood and put her hand on Doc’s arm. “May I?” she asked Striker, who nodded.
“MI6 has been on this longer than the agency has,” she began. “CRM Allied, an Irish export company with very hard-to-trace ties to Azerbaijan, has been on our radar for the last five years, but we haven’t been able to find enough to go after them. Dashiell Finnegan, whom Ava McNamara had a relationship with, was recruited by someone close to her. However, it was probably the worst decision CRM made.”
“We believe Finnegan knows enough to bring the entire organization down,” added Striker.
“Where is he now?” Razor asked.
“In custody, but under protection.”
“Who else knows about Ava’s involvement?”
“The man we believe controls CRM,” answered Striker.
“For fuck’s sake.” Razor raised his voice, getting sick of Striker dragging this out unnecessarily.
“Ava McNamara’s father,” said Striker, who shrugged when Merrigan scowled at him.
“Jesus,” Razor muttered. “And you’re saying he knows she’s a witness?”
Striker nodded. “There is little doubt that Finnegan made him aware of Ava’s involvement.”
Razor looked at Merrigan. “How long have you known this?”
“Wait a minute—” said Doc, but, for the second time, Merrigan rested her hand on his arm.
“I didn’t. The McNamara family was never on our radar. Or, how should I put this? MI6’s investigation was of someone whom, now, I’d say is operating under a fake identity.”
“Who have you been investigating?”
“Makar Petrov.”
Razor sat back down and rested his head in his hands. Petrov, a black market arms’ dealer, had disappeared over twenty years ago, rumored to have been killed and dumped in the Caspian Sea; his body was never found.
There was no intelligence naming his killer, but when Razor had heard the story, he figured it had to be CIA. The man had been as evil as they came, and had been responsible for selling weapons to countless rogue factions from several different nations who all had one thing in common—they hated the United States with every breath they took.
“What about the other twin?” Gunner asked. “What does she know?”
“It was suggested to Ava that she not divulge what she knew to anyone, particularly her sister. Given it would put Aine in danger, she agreed.”
“And the mother?”
“From what we can tell, she has no idea that she married a Russian mobster twenty-two years ago. Petrov, if it is in fact him, obviously underwent a great deal of plastic surgery. We also believe he killed the real Conor McNamara and took on his identity.”
“What evidence do you h
ave?” Razor asked.
“Only that McNamara was listed on a flight manifest, traveling one way from Dublin to New York City, within a few months after Petrov was reported dead. Prior to marrying the twins’ mother, McNamara had no family who might’ve reported him missing.”
“I meant that McNamara is really Petrov.”
“We don’t, but we hope to very soon.”
“How?”
Striker held up a bag containing a toothbrush. “DNA.”
“How’d you get that?”
“Housekeeping.”
Razor shook his head. “Do you already have Petrov’s?”
“MI6 does,” answered Merrigan.
Razor turned back to Striker. “What’s the plan? Why’d you come to us?”
“It’s a close-cover assignment,” he answered.
“Got anybody in mind?”
“You know I do, Razor.”
“Why me?”
“Because we believe Ava McNamara would be open to a…relationship with you.”
“No, I won’t allow it,” said Doc. “It isn’t how our team operates.”
Striker raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you alone called the shots,” he said, looking first at Doc and then at him.
“Razor?”
“I’m in,” he answered, refusing to look at anyone seated at the table before he walked out.
“You sure about this?” Gunner asked, following him outside.
“Yeah. I’m sure.”
“It means lying to her.”
Yeah, he knew that. There was no way Ava would go along with witness protection unless she knew the full story, which at this point, he couldn’t tell her. Until they could prove her father wasn’t who he said he was, and could bring him down, Ava would have to be kept in the dark.
“No,” said Doc, joining them outside. “As I told Striker, I won’t allow it.”
“And as Striker said, it isn’t your decision, Doc.”
“You’re telling me that your intention is to seduce my daughter’s best friend, and pretend to be involved with her for God knows how long? Are you out of your mind?”
“Who says I’d be pretending?” Razor walked away.
He knew Doc wanted to follow him. He also knew Gunner wouldn’t let him.
—:—
“It was a beautiful wedding,” Ava said to Quinn when she and Mercer were thanking their guests for celebrating with them.
“I can’t believe you’re going to India,” said Penelope. “I’m so jealous.”
Ava remembered Quinn saying that she’d asked Mercer once if he’d take her there, and he’d answered that he’d take her everywhere. She wondered if India would be their only stop, or would they continue traveling? No one deserved a never-ending honeymoon more than Quinn did.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Ava said, hugging her friend tightly.
“You keep Razor on his toes,” Quinn teased. “Seriously, though, I think the two of you are well-suited,” she whispered.
Ava rolled her eyes, but secretly, she wished it were so.
“Speak of the devil,” said Quinn, winking at Ava when Tabon approached them and stood right behind her.
“Got a minute?” he whispered.
“No.” Ava walked away from him and over to the sidewalk leading to where Mercer had parked Quinn’s Porsche. She stood with the rest of the guests as they fêted the couple with rose petals on their way out.
She turned back around and saw Tabon standing off to the side, studying her.
“What do you want?” she asked. “I thought I made myself clear earlier.”
“I have an offer to make you.”
Ava rolled her eyes and walked away, but he stayed on her heels.
“Just listen. This doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
She stopped and folded her arms in that way that practically pushed her boobs right out of her dress.
He took a deep breath, willing himself to look anywhere but there.
“I heard you and your sister were planning on spending a few more days in California.”
She nodded. “Pen and Tara are thinking about it too.”
“I’d like to offer you a place to stay.”
Ava laughed. “With you?”
“No, not exactly.”
“Explain yourself, then.”
Razor smiled. Damn, he liked this woman. “I have a place a couple of hours up the coast, in Cambria. It’s near where Doc’s family lives.”
Ava rolled her eyes.
“Wait,” he said, holding up his hand. “Hear me out. It’s a duplex. Each side sleeps six, although two of you would have to share a bedroom since there are only three.”
“Where would you be?”
“On the other side.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you doing this?”
Razor stepped forward, close enough to tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
“Because I want another chance with you.”
“Ah, so there are strings.”
“Absolutely not. I just want to get to know you better, Ava.”
She shook her head. “I’m not interested.”
He cupped her face with his palm. “Please.”
“Don’t do this to me,” she said, shaking her head again.
Razor kissed her forehead. “Please,” he murmured again.
He saw her eyes were closed, and felt her lean into him.
“I need to talk to the girls.”
“Where are they?”
“They went back to the cottage to change.”
“I’ll walk you there,” he said, taking her hand in his.
Ava stopped walking. “Tabon?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Is this just a game to you?”
He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him.
“No, it isn’t. I can’t forget you, Ava, and believe me, I’ve tried.”
“What if I don’t feel the same way about you?”
Razor smiled. “My heart will be broken, but I’ll live. And in the meantime, I’ll get to spend some time getting to know the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “For now, I’ll consider your offer and talk it over with my sister and our friends. But don’t push it, Tabon.”
He kissed her hand. “I’ll be waiting to hear from you. I’m in Cottage Fourteen.”
—:—
“How’d it go?” Gunner asked when Razor walked into the bar.
“Fine, I think.”
“She’s staying at the duplex?”
“She’s talking it over with Aine and the other two, but I have a feeling they’ll agree to it.”
“Shit,” groaned Gunner.
“What?”
“You, sleeping next door to four hotter-than-shit young women. You’ll have them all to yourself while I go and see my parents.”
“I’m only interested in one of them.”
“You’re only pretending to be interested in one of them.”
Gunner had it wrong, but if Razor admitted exactly how interested he really was in Ava, he knew his friend would go straight to Doc, and maybe even Striker, and tell them that he’d already crossed the line and wasn’t fit for this assignment.
“I gotta get back to the cottage. She’s going to call me there.”
“Roger that,” said Gunner, raising his glass of beer. “Wait,” he said when Razor turned to leave.
“Yeah?”
“Be careful, Raze.”
—:—
Penelope and Tara were sitting on the floor of the cottage’s main room, talking to Aine when Ava walked in.
“Holy shit,” exclaimed Pen. “What is going on with you and Tabon?”
Ava brought her fingertips to her lips, remembering the way he’d kissed her earlier. “I’m not sure.”
“Where is he?”
“Um…waiting to hear f
rom me.”
“About what?”
Ava looked at her sister. “You know how we’ve been talking about spending another week or two here?”
“We are too,” said Pen.
“He’s offered us a place to stay.”
“Us or you?” asked Tara.
“Us. He has a duplex in a place called Cambria.”
“That’s where Quinn was for a while,” said Aine. “She said it’s really beautiful.”
“Anyway, he said we could stay in one side of it.”
“Where will he be?” asked Pen.
“The other side.”
“Oh. That’s disappointing. He didn’t invite you to stay with him?”
“I think it’s what he wanted, but I would’ve said no.”
“Why?” asked Tara.
“How embarrassing would it be if he kicked me out the first night, after he was done with me.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Pen, needlessly over-enunciating every word.
“There is no question that Razor is a player.”
“That may be true,” murmured Aine, whose eyes met Ava’s. “But Tabon isn’t.”
6
“Before I call him, I want to go say goodbye to Mom and Dad,” Ava told her sister.
“Where are they?” Aine asked.
“I have no idea. I’ll call Dad. You call Mom, I mean, Peggy.”
Aine rolled her eyes. “I always get stuck with Peggy.”
“Dad is heading to the bar,” Ava said after she disconnected the call.
“Mom is in the bar.”
“Oh, no,” they said at the same time, hurrying in that direction and hoping to waylay their father before both of their parents made some kind of scene.
“There he is,” said Aine, pointing.
“Thank God,” said Ava.
“Hey, Daddy,” Aine said, catching up with him first.
“There’s my other beautiful girl. I was wondering if I was going to get to spend some time with you today.”
He turned to Ava. “And you too, Ava, what a treat!”
“Where’s Kelly?” Aine asked.
“Napping,” said their father, rolling his eyes. “Too much sun or something. I was on my way inside to get a gin and tonic.”
Razor (K19 Security Solutions) Page 4
