He moved to her mouth, his thumb tugging down on her lower lip so that when he kissed her he could control her. Not that he needed to; she opened to him like a flower turning toward the sun.
The chime of her doorbell rang through the house, splitting them apart.
“That must be Dad.” Rose propped herself up on her elbows and let her head roll back. “Why now?”
“Didn’t you want him to visit?” Max pushed up and rolled his shoulders, stretching his neck from side to side. “I’ll make myself scarce so you two can have some time together.”
“Are you leaving?”
Panic clawed at her neck. What if the thugs were hanging around waiting for Max to leave? Tension seized her muscles, causing her shoulders to bunch up around her neck. She couldn’t be alone, not after what happened.
“No, I’ll stay here. I have a few calls to make anyway.”
So much for not being a damsel in distress.
Rose frowned and picked herself up from the couch, folding the blanket neatly before heading to the door. “You can use my room, if you like.”
“It’s fine. I’ll go outside.” He grabbed his jacket and headed for the courtyard.
* * *
MAX SLID THE door to the courtyard open and made a quick exit as Rose greeted her father. The two of them deserved some time together, but he sure as hell wasn’t leaving Rose on her own—even if it was with the guy who’d determined she needed a bodyguard in the first place.
Never mind the fact the he didn’t want to leave her. He tipped his head back and stared at the swirling gray clouds overhead.
His job had nothing to do with want. It was about doing what was necessary, being logical...rational. But Rose wasn’t just a client. She was more than a code in the Cobalt & Dane Security records system. Or a checkbox on his job description.
But this path would only lead to pain. He’d be going home as soon as this job was done. He missed his family, missed the hot Aussie summers and, most of all, he missed his team.
He couldn’t lead Rose on.
Mind back on the job, Ridgeway. You’ve got a problem to fix, remember?
He grabbed his phone from his pocket and dialed the office. The receptionist put him through to Quinn, who greeted him with more enthusiasm than was normal.
“I thought you were coming in today,” she complained, but the excitement in her voice overshadowed her irritation.
“I had to deal with something important. Sorry. I know I owe you a coffee.”
“And don’t you forget it,” she said. “But I have news. I found some info about that diamond.”
“You did?” Max leaned against the edge of a rickety garden table.
“Don’t sound so shocked. I’m kind of good with computers, if you hadn’t already worked that out.”
“No, you’re a genius. Now spill.”
She laughed. “If that’s how you sweet talk the ladies, I’m not at all shocked that you never get any action.”
If only she knew. “Yeah, yeah. The diamond?”
“Right. So, I found a newspaper article from the seventies about a guy from New York who found a diamond in a public mine in Arkansas.” The words rushed out, electric with her excitement. “The damned thing was sixteen carats, and it’s the second largest diamond that’s ever been found at the park. Well, on record anyway. The article went on to say that the diamond is supposed to be worth over a hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”
Max let out a long, low whistle. “And they just let him keep it?”
“Yep. That’s how it works.”
“That’s all great, but how can you be sure this is the same diamond I asked you about?”
“The guy had a daughter.” She paused, he assumed for dramatic effect. “Her name is Noelle. That can’t be a coincidence.”
“It could be.” But Max had a view on coincidences: they didn’t exist. “Where is the diamond supposed to be now?”
“Turns out the guy who found it doesn’t have it any more. He lost it in a poker game.”
“No way.”
“Yep. He had a huge gambling problem and he made a bet with the wrong person.”
“Do we know who that person is?”
Quinn huffed. “Do you think I’m a hack? Of course I know who it is.”
“Well...”
“Some guy called Vito Costello. There’s a reference to the diamond in a true-crime book about the five families of the American Mafia. The book didn’t call it the Noelle Diamond, but it said the diamond was over fifteen carats and it had been found in a public mine. The timing adds up, the size adds up, the location adds up.”
“Okay, let’s assume it’s the same diamond. Where is Vito Costello now?”
“Dead. Assassinated in the late nineties. The diamond hasn’t been mentioned since.”
Max rubbed a hand along his jaw. “I still don’t see how this connects to Rose.”
Quinn paused. “Vito Costello had a daughter named Lucia. I found a picture of her from some society thing from 1994. She was gorgeous, red hair...the works.”
“And?”
“There was a man standing with her. The name under the photo said Nigel Lawson.”
Max’s blood turned as cold as the snow-coated tree in the courtyard. “Rose’s father?”
“It’s possible it’s another Nigel Lawson, but...”
“But?”
“The caption listed him as a native New Yorker, and judging by how he looks in the photo, the ages match up. It’s not concrete, but these can’t all be coincidences, right?”
“No.” Max ground his teeth together, his jaw working as he scrambled for some possible explanation. “They can’t.”
“I know it’s not what you wanted to hear—”
“It’s fine. You did a great job, thanks.”
Max hung up the phone and watched Rose and her father through the window. He could now see where she’d gotten her unusual yellow-green eyes and small nose.
Rose laughed at something Nigel said. He enveloped his daughter in a hug and she looked as though she might explode with joy.
The lights from the Christmas tree, which Rose had switched on, sparkled in the corner of the room. She held a small gift in her hands, gripping it as though it was her last anchor to earth. The green and red wrappings caught the flickering lights, making the whole thing gleam.
The scene could have been on a Christmas card.
Max groaned. There had to be a logical explanation why the diamond was connected to her father. Perhaps whoever was after it assumed her father had passed it down to her?
Right about now would be a good time for a Christmas miracle. In the absence of that Max had to figure out the answer to this riddle and hope that Rose would be okay whichever way the pieces fell together.
But there was no way he could share this information with her—not until he had proof.
11
ROSE PLACED THE gift under her Christmas tree. It looked a little ridiculous sitting there all by itself, but the sight of the lovingly tied bow warmed her.
“Thanks for dropping by,” she said to her father as he surveyed the room.
“Are you going to give me the grand tour?”
“Honestly, this is pretty much it.” She swept her arm around. “Welcome to my humble abode. The only other rooms are the bedroom and the bathroom, which aren’t interesting...and the bedroom is a mess.”
“Fair enough.” He nodded and an awkward pause settled between them. “I’m glad you found a place in a safe neighborhood.”
“Yeah.” Not as safe as she would like, currently.
“So has Max come up with anything new? Do you have any idea who broke into the store?” he asked.
She shook her
head. “Not really, there isn’t a lot to go on.”
“But nothing else has happened since?” He looked at her closely, a line etched between his eyes. “Do I have anything else to be worried about?”
Rose turned to look out the window in an effort to hide the conflict within her. She’d started to repair her relationship with her father. Would lying now really be the right way to go?
Someone had told her once that honesty was the best policy, but she wasn’t sure it applied here.
“Rose? Has something else happened?” He touched her shoulder, a gesture he’d only rarely bestowed on her as a child.
It helped the deeply rooted desire for a happy family bubble to the surface. “We had an incident today, but Max took care of it.”
Her father shook his head. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want you to worry. They didn’t take anything, and I’m fine. I swear.” She closed her hand over his. “I’m safe with Max.”
They both looked outside where Max sat on the table, tapping away at his phone. She caught his eyes when he glanced up.
“Tell him to come inside. He doesn’t need to sit out in the cold just because I’m here.”
Rose went to the door and opened it a sliver, shivering as the wind seeped in.
“Is this my cue to come inside?” Max stood and ambled to the door. “I don’t mind waiting out here.”
She shook her head. “Come on. It’s cold. I don’t want you turning into a popsicle. You won’t be much use to me then.”
Pushing the door open farther, he walked past her and his hand grazed her arm. “Popsicles can be useful if you use them the right way.”
“I don’t even want to know where your mind is right now.” She slid the door shut and flipped the lock, her eyes lingering on Max’s perfectly rounded ass as he walked over to shake hands with her father.
“So, my little Rosie tells me you had an incident today.”
Max’s eyes slid across to Rose, but his expression didn’t give anything away. “We did. There were two men who followed her. But nothing came of it. She wasn’t harmed.”
“Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”
“Dad, it’s okay. We didn’t want to worry you.”
Her father rubbed his temples with his fingers. A small gold ring on his pinkie caught the light—she remembered that ring. She’d taken it from his room and worn it as a child, playing dress up with her mother and father’s things.
“I want to be worried.” He shook his head, his green eyes flashing. “I want to be kept in the loop. Promise me you won’t keep anything from me. Not a damn thing.”
“I promise.” Her hands fluttered by her side, unsure of how to comfort her father.
“You, too.” He looked at Max. “I expect to be informed of what’s happening with my daughter.”
Max nodded. “Of course. I’ll keep you up to date.”
“Good. That’s all I ask.” Her father nodded, his hands clasped in front of him. “I’d best be going. Don’t open your present until Christmas Day.”
“Will I see you then?” Rose asked nervously.
“Of course.” He touched his hand lightly to her shoulder again. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Despite the hard day she’d had, her heart was ready to burst. Perhaps she didn’t have to go on hating Christmas anymore. She could cook a roast turkey, have her dad over and spend time getting to know him again. She sucked on her lower lip, her head telling her not to jump to conclusions, but she was bouncing with joy.
Max hovered beside her, his arm inches from hers. “I’ll be in touch over the next few days.”
“Yes, do that.” Her father walked to the front door.
After Rose waved goodbye to her father, Max turned to her. “How did it go?”
“Good.” She grinned. “Really good. He seems different.”
“It’s been a long time.”
She folded her arms across her chest, ready to tease him. “Are you saying I’m old?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” He rolled his eyes and she laughed.
Max stared at the Christmas tree as though it held the secrets of the universe. As the lights flickered on and off, they cast shadows over his face. Unfortunately he was anything but an open book. “I wish I could read you,” she admitted. “It’s like trying to analyze a brick wall.”
He cocked his head. “Why do you want to read me? I’m not terribly interesting.”
“Oh, but you are.” She sat on the arm of the couch and gazed up at him. “You keep your true feelings so close to your chest, and it intrigues me.”
He blew out a long stream of air. “I’ve told you more than anyone else I’ve ever met.”
“More, but not everything.”
“No one knows everything about another person. There are always secrets, whether important or not. Everybody hides something.” He shrugged. “It’s human nature.”
“You’re jaded because of your job.”
“Perhaps.”
“Why did you bail on me last night?” She asked the question without looking at him, her eyes fixed on the gift sitting lonely under her tree. “I woke up in the middle of the night and you were gone.”
He dropped down on the couch beside her and pulled her onto his lap. “This whole situation is really complicated.”
“Is it?” Stronger women might have been able to stand up at that point, but his touch warmed her to the marrow of her bones. She relaxed against him, her hand toying with the zipper on his jacket.
“I’m going back to Australia when this is all over.”
Her chest squeezed. “You are?”
“My old boss has offered me a job.” His dark eyes searched her face, his hands wrapping gently around her waist.
“And you want to take it?”
“I do.”
She nodded. Hot sex wasn’t enough to keep a man from his home. She knew that. But they had more than just sex...didn’t they? She couldn’t have imagined that the spark between them was simply lust, no matter what he said.
“I never expected this to go anywhere when you came out of the bedroom at the hotel.”
The memory was bittersweet. “Me, neither. Is this all in my head?”
“I don’t know what it is, Rose. The timing is all wrong.” His lips pressed against her forehead, the touch bittersweet in its tenderness. “I’ll be leaving soon and you’ve only just arrived.”
“We need to be with our families,” she murmured. She couldn’t throw away the budding connection with her father for a guy she’d just met.
“I do. You have to decide what’s best for you.”
He said the words carefully, as if censoring himself. What was he hiding? Trying to find meaning in such banal words was like conducting an Easter egg hunt in the wilderness.
She opened her mouth to probe further but he caught her lips with his. This kiss was different from the others they’d shared, softness met with exploration. He kissed her as if he wanted to stretch the moment on forever.
“Were you going to say something?” A cheeky glint sparkled in his dark eyes.
“I seem to have lost my train of thought.” She ran her hand up the back of his neck and tangled her fingers in his hair. “Funny how that happens.”
He kissed her again. Longer. Slower. “Very funny.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, inhaling the scent of leather from his jacket.
“I’m going to find out who’s doing this, Rose. I promise you, I will not leave you until I’ve caught whoever’s pulling the strings behind these attacks and locked him up.” His hand toyed with her earring. “You have my word.”
She closed her eyes and fought back the wave of emptiness th
at washed over her. “I don’t want your word, Max. Words lie.”
“Then you have my action.” His deep voice broke and he tried to cover it by clearing his throat. “I won’t fail you.”
No, but you will leave me...just like everybody else.
* * *
MAX SAT WITH Rose in his arms for a long time, and despite it being the middle of the day she eventually fell asleep. Rose tried to act as though she was calm and in control...but the stress showed in the dark rings under her beautiful eyes.
He traced the sweet curve of her cheeks, the dainty angle of her nose and the gentle point of her chin.
Today could have ended very badly. Emotion built up in his throat as he watched the soft rise and fall of her chest. If he’d hesitated a moment longer, if he hadn’t followed his instincts, she might have...
A thought struck him. Neither of the men had tried to use her as a hostage, and they hadn’t been carrying guns. The knife had seen better days—not exactly the kind of weapon you carried if you planned to use it.
Had they been instructed not to hurt her?
Tension roiled in his gut. The diamond’s connection to her father niggled at him, compounding his worry over the coincidence of the timing of Lawson’s phone call and the bug. He looked at the lamp.
He wanted to crush that bug beneath his boot and give the person on the other end of the line one hell of a headache, but he couldn’t let on that he knew it existed. Not when information was finally rolling in.
As carefully as he could, he lifted Rose up and laid her down on the couch. She stirred, an incoherent mumble escaping her lips, but she didn’t wake. He dragged the blanket over her sleeping form and touched his hand to her head for a moment before leaving her to rest.
He paced the apartment like a caged animal. He didn’t have enough evidence to implicate Nigel Lawson in the attacks against Rose, and warning her to stay away from him would only ruin her chance of a relationship with her father. Then again, if he was really the one orchestrating these attacks, she wouldn’t have a relationship with him anyway.
This was exactly why it was a dumb idea to get involved with the client. He should have known better.
A Dangerously Sexy Christmas Page 13
