It Happens in Threes

by Denise Robbins

Michael reached out, took a firm hold of her wrist making sure she understood the seriousness of his words. With her brilliant ideas the woman was going to send him to an early grave or at the very least give him gray hairs before his time. He schooled his voice in an attempt to restrain his temper.

  “Damn it, Ruby! Its bad enough you’re in his house and I can’t be there with you. I’m not comfortable or happy with that situation. And the way he looks at you—like you’re his next dessert.” He saw her eyebrows go up. “We’ll discuss that later.”

  Ruby placed her slender hand on top of his, her warmth and composure shocking him.

  “Mickey. I’m being cautious and careful. I’m also trying to help. I do know how to hack a system without getting caught. I’m not stupid.” In her hazel glare, he saw challenge, and defiance.

  “Besides, I bet George would appreciate my inventiveness. Please try to look at this from a wider perspective. You want to catch Nicolas. What I’m proposing could very well give you more evidence. And right now this is my job. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it.”

  “Hrrumph!” Throwing his arms in the air, he dislodged her hand from his.

  Ruby sat back in her seat crossing her arms over her chest. She’d made her point and let him know she was right.

  “You are impossible.”

  If he didn’t listen to her idea he’d regret it. Even more, she’d surely make him suffer. “Okay, explain to me what you want to do. Just remember you agreed to follow my orders. Therefore, I’ll make the decision if we go ahead with your harebrained scheme.”

  “Yes, dear.”

  Her very sweet, persuasive smile killed him. The woman was too smart for her own good and he was afraid it would backfire. Her assertiveness was her strength and her weakness.

  “Smartass! Talk.”

  As he listened, he saw excitement shiver down her spine. The spy game thrilled her, while she scared the crap out of him.

  “One of my ideas was to create a Trojan Horse that…”

  “A what? What the heck does a condom have to do with getting into his computer?”

  She giggled. Her eyes glittered green and Michael couldn’t prevent the smile that came whenever he heard Ruby laugh. Wonderful. His blood warmed, his desire heated.

  Their dinner was served with Ruby still in a fit of laughter.

  “Not a condom, silly. A Trojan Horse is a security-breaking program disguised as something benign, but designed to have destructive effects.”

  “If it’s destructive won’t it do damage and he’d notice it?” He wasn’t too sure she’d thought this through.

  “That’s what a layman would think, but it doesn’t have to leave visible effects. For example, code red was a Trojan Horse, its sole purpose to copy all email addresses from an address book. That might be useful.”

  Finishing a bite of her dinner, she continued. “I could code it to send a list of his files and their associated passwords to my laptop.”

  Pushing his plate away, Michael leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and waited for her to finish. He could see the wheels turning and she was bursting to say more.

  “My last idea was a sniffer. I can download a program that can break his wireless encryption protocol, thus allowing me to see the data that flies across his system.”

  She took a sip of her drink. “What do you think?”

  The wicked grin on her face made him extremely nervous. And proud. Ruby was exceptional. But he wasn’t about to tell her that.

  “I think we should finish our dinner. I’ll mull it over.”

  Michael wished he knew as much about computers as Ruby, then he wouldn’t need her. That’s why he’d always depended on Alex and look where that had gotten him. Almost killed. If Alex had still been his partner he would have done these things but he didn’t think Alex would have gotten close enough to the target to pull off some of these maneuvers. But Ruby had.

  “Mickey, you know it’s a damn clever idea, and I’m good at what I do. You can trust…”

  The frustration in her eyes, her voice, was excruciating for him.

  Steel crept into his voice. “I said I need to think it through. I need to determine and weigh the risks.” It wasn’t a matter of trust, but a matter of risk and danger. She wanted to help and she could, but it was still above and beyond what they’d agreed to. He didn’t know if he could let her do it. Michael reached out, brushed his knuckles against her silky cheek. He wanted to soothe the disappointment displayed in the little crease that appeared between her eyes above the bridge of her lightly freckled nose. “Try a little patience.”

  Her shoulders lifted in a motion meant to gesture whatever, but he’d hit a nerve. Patience was not one of her virtues. She had passion and persistence but she lacked that third P of success, patience, always had. Probably always would.

  If he didn’t let her do this, she’d most likely go off half-cocked and do it anyway. Just to prove she could. Plus, she was right. George would love the idea, and back her up one hundred percent, leaving Michael in the doghouse.

  “Don’t pout.” Was he telling her that, or himself? “Let’s have dessert.”

  TWENTY-ONE

  When they pulled up in front of Nicolas’s house all the lights were out except the exterior lamps and one in the office.

  Michael alighted from the driver’s side, went to the passenger’s door and opened it for Ruby, helping her out.

  “Looks like your host is busy. Let’s take a walk on the beach.”

  Relieving her of the key, he unlocked the door, ushered her through it, and closed it quietly behind them. He didn’t want to disturb Nicolas, didn’t want a third wheel.

  Having dropped her purse on the leather sofa, Michael took her arm in his, escorted her through the back doors past the patio and pool and onto the sand. He held her steady as she removed her heels leaving her barefooted, standing head even with his chest. Draping an arm across her shoulders, he started them walking down the beach.

  “Change of subject. Given anymore thought to your own business?”

  “In between brilliant ideas to help you out, it’s crossed my mind a time or two. I mean I know this is a contract job and can’t last forever.”

  He heard the wistful, wishful tone of her voice. “Don’t even think about it. This was a one shot deal. Mom and Dad would string me up by my toes if they had even an inkling of what you were doing and that I got you into it. I think you need to stick with the used bookstore idea.”

  Her lips curled. His protectiveness showed, but he couldn’t help himself.

  “Besides, the idea of you getting this close to criminals like Nicolas La Rue doesn’t sit well with me. We don’t even know what he’s capable of.”

  “He doesn’t seem like the violent type.”

  “Looks can be deceiving. You should know that.” She winced at his honesty. He hadn’t meant to bring up her ex-fiancé. The slimy bastard. “Everyone can become violent or even kill given the right situation.”

  At his words, the shudder rippled through her causing her shoulders to quake under his arm. His words had the desired effect of putting a little fear in her. Good, he thought. Turning her to face him, he enveloped her more into his embrace.

  “I forgot to give you something.”

  “What?”

  Her head tilted up, her gaze curious and waiting like a child when you tell them you have a surprise. He peered into two inviting emerald pools, wanted to dive right in. Forget his missing partner, her stalking ex-fiancé, money laundering, and the spy business. Forget everything, but the woman he held in his arms right here, right now.

  But he couldn’t. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a tiny wrapped box with a pink bow on it, rested in the palm of his hand.

  Ruby stared at it, then at him. She was precious. Any other woman would have snatched it out of his hands so fast he’d have gotten nail scratches. Not Ruby.

  “Go ahead. It’s for you. Consider it an early bir
thday present.”

  She smiled and took the gift offered. Standing barefoot in the sand, the slight breeze lifted her hair from her face. Ruby untied the ribbon and put it into her cleavage. His mouth went dry. The woman drove him mad. He wanted to be that silk ribbon tucked between her breasts.

  She removed the lavender wrapping paper, and instead of going the same way as the ribbon, as he’d hoped, she handed it to him for safe keeping. She eased open the velvet box.

  “Oh, Mickey, it’s beautiful.” She gazed at him, bright green eyes shimmered with moonlight and unexpected tears.

  “Actually, you are. Would you like me to help you with it?”

  She gave a fast nod. “Yes, yes, please.” She passed him the box and he pocketed it. Handing him the necklace, she turned away from him. Lifting her hair from her nape, Michael strung the necklace around her neck, and hooked the clasp.

  She spun around flinging her arms outward. “How does it look?”

  “Stunning.” She’d taken his breath away. The raspberry color of the tourmaline stone hung right between her breasts. He pictured her standing in front of him wearing nothing but that pendant. It was his brand and she would wear it always. She would be his always.

  Was he hers? When had his world shifted?

  She leapt at him. Her strong slender arms wrapped around his neck. Holding her close, her heart beat against his chest, her pulse raced against the lips he pressed to her neck. His mouth found its way to hers. She opened, accepted him. His tongue probed and she let him in. She purred.

  His fingertips trailed down her throat, felt her pulse quicken. His hands continued their journey down to her right breast, where they lingered at her nipple, circled it until it peaked. Remembering the low cut in front of little black dress, Michael slid his hand inside.

  She gasped, but he didn’t let her move away. Michael molded her breast in his hand, brought it up for him to suck. He bent his head, tasted one nipple, lightly licking at first, making it a taut little pebble.

  “Oh,” she moaned.

  His hand went to the hem of her dress, lifted it a tad, and found the juncture between her legs. Shocked to find she had no panties on, he thrilled at the touch of her soft mound.

  “Please,” she begged, arching up to meet him.

  His hands caressed, teased, stroked. He felt the heat, the wetness, her nails digging into his shoulders.

  The tension coiled inside her tighter and tighter. Her hips moved against him. He tantalized her, wanted to keep her on the peak, and dipped his fingers into her slow and shallow. She arched again and his fingers went deeper, caused her to explode into shudders.

  He watched as she bit her lip and convulsed. The woman was passionate in everything.

  He looked up from their embrace, caught a glimpse of movement in the house and snapped back to reality and their purpose for being there.

  He pulled her into his arms whispering tender words, kissing her temple. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold off, but I think I have to for now.”

  Bewildered, his words didn’t make sense. He was stopping. Again. What was he doing to her? Was he deliberately trying to drive her insane?

  She needed to catch her breath. Through half-lowered lids, she regarded him. His blue eyes smoldered. “What? Why? I don’t understand.”

  Michael nodded in the general direction of the house behind her. “Because we have company. In the window. I think he’s seen enough.”

  Her head snapped up and whirled around. At Nicolas’s office window a figure hid in the shadows. What if he saw? What the hell was she thinking, of course he saw. That’s why Michael put on the performance. At dinner he’d said he’d make certain her scheme to get close to Nicolas wouldn’t happen. Her throat constricted.

  “You bastard. You did this for his benefit?” Her blood boiled. Her body trembled. She thought he wanted her. She knew she wanted him. It had all been an act!

  “I...I didn’t mean to go that far. I couldn’t help myself. I want you so damn much, I just couldn’t stop.”

  She kept her voice low and steady. “You used me? You purposely brought me out here and put me on display for your own objectives. How could you?”

  “Cat, it’s not like that. I didn’t mean to. I did, but I didn’t. Please…”

  She slapped him. She slapped him hard, straight across his face, cutting off any excuse. She saw the stunned look on his face, in his sapphire eyes. It shocked her just as much. She didn’t give a damn. “Go to hell, Mickey!”

  “Ruby!”

  Ignoring his plea, and his reach, Ruby turned and ran toward the house. The pain in her chest excruciating. She couldn’t catch her breath. How could he?

  * * * *

  Michael stood, shell shocked. His heart sank, ached as Ruby ran from him, her soft blonde hair flying behind her. He cringed at the memory of her stricken face, as she shrank from his touch. What had he done?

  He regretted their behavior. No, his behavior. He hadn’t meant to go that far. He’d lost control. Raking fingers through his hair, he strode after her, intent on making her understand. But he didn’t understand. She pushed his buttons. Why? Why was Ruby the one woman that could make him abandon all reason and restraint? One look, one caress, that’s all it took. He forgot his business, forgot his training, and sent the woman he cared more about than any other fleeing from his embrace, hurling her in the direction of the criminal. The attractive, intelligent, wealthy, criminal with whom she had a past.

  Enraged at the thought of her and Nicolas, Michael shook his head and reached for the door. Oh, no. That wasn’t going to happen. His white-knuckled hand gripped on the handle, he stopped before opening it, before making an even bigger ass out of himself, an even bigger mess of the situation. He had to think.

  He’d fix it. He had to.

  * * * *

  Ruby ran. From Michael. Ran from his touch, from his deception, from the man she trusted. Straight to Nicolas’s kitchen. Cupboard doors slammed as she pulled out bowls and pans. Drawers banged when she retrieved utensils. As she added ingredients into a mixer, Ruby berated him and scolded herself. How could he? How could she? How could she have trusted him? Damn! She should’ve known better, known not to trust any man. But she’d wanted to trust Michael.

  He gave her the exquisite necklace that hung on a gold chain around her neck as a birthday present. She caressed it, wrapped her fist around it, closed her eyes, and wanted to scream. She wanted to yank it off, but she couldn’t do it. The gift had touched her heart. And made her daft.

  It wasn’t his fault. It was hers. She’d thrown herself at him. The memory flashed and burned in her brain. She trembled at the warmth of his kiss, the hands that ignited her passion, and the heat from them that brought her to orgasm. Damn! He got to her.

  By the time she tossed the pan in the oven to bake, Ruby felt better. She wouldn’t take the blame for tonight. She wouldn’t blame him. She’d show him.

  She cleaned up the disaster in the kitchen. Seeing the remnants of her cooking all over her little black dress, Ruby realized she had to clean up. She needed to change into something more casual, comfortable, something she wouldn’t care if she got chocolate all over. With fifteen minutes left on the oven timer, she went to her room to change.

  About to leave her room after dressing in a pair of cutoffs and a T-shirt, Ruby heard Michael’s words echo in her head. “Always be aware of your surroundings. You never know when the smallest thing will give you a clue and save your life. When you leave your room, make a mental note as to where everything is.”

  Why she listened to him now was beyond her, but she did. She was in Nicolas’s house. No one would be in her bedroom. That’s what she told herself as she made sure her shoes were organized so every other pair the toes faced away from the closet door. In the top dresser drawer, she arranged her panties in neat little balls with a quarter facing heads down under each bundle. When the buzzer started to go off, she set the diary next to the lamp on the Country Fre
nch nightstand one pinky finger’s width from the edge. Then she yanked open the door, the oven buzzer grew louder, and she sprinted from the bedroom. She didn’t want burnt brownies. That would be the perfect dessert to end her evening.

  Just as she crossed the threshold into the kitchen the racket stopped. When she saw Nicolas, her socked feet came to a sliding halt. Knowing what he’d witnessed, Ruby felt her cheeks heat with color. She didn’t want to see him. Then her embarrassment turned to amusement as she watched him.

  He looked out of place, too well-dressed, too affluent for the bright red oven mitts that looked like lobsters protecting him from the hot pan. When his lavender eyes met hers, a grin spread across her face. As odd as it was, seeing Nicolas in the kitchen had a stunning, almost mesmerizing effect.

  She questioned how this man, the one holding the pan of brownies looking about as domestic as a pet cougar, the same man she’d known for years, who’d been her mentor and friend could be a criminal. Then Michael’s words chimed in. What you see is not always what you get. Shaking her head, hair slapping her in the face, she tried to erase his voice, the all knowing Michael’s voice. It didn’t work.

  Did those words apply to Nicolas? She had a difficult time believing it. Then her father’s words came to mind. Be careful of the quiet ones. Did that apply to Nicolas, too?

  She stopped gaping at him long enough to grab two pot holders from above the stove and take the hot pan from him, placed it on the iron trivets she’d set out.

  “You look like you just got off a loopy roller coaster,” Nico said from behind her. “Don’t act so surprised. I know how to bake a cake.”

  She turned, beamed a deliberate smile at him. “That’s nice, but its brownies not cake.”

  “Oh.” He glanced down at the pan. “Are you sure?”

  “Considering I made them from scratch I guess I’m sure.”

  “Now it is I who is stunned,” he said. “You are an amazing woman. First beautiful, then brilliant, and now you cook.” He removed the pot holders from her hands, took them in his, and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “Marry me and I’ll be your slave for life,” he said with what sounded like sincerity in his voice and absolute lust in his eyes.