by Debra Webb
“Sophia’s house,” she corrected. The last family home Frankie knew had been the general’s residence on the post. Sophia had moved quickly after the funeral to the more fashionable Queen Anne neighborhood. “I was an army brat. We moved to a new post every few years. And we’re off topic again,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’m at home in Savannah now.” Sophia’s address had stopped feeling like home when her father died.
Aidan mentioned two addresses and names of florist shops. “Which one is better?”
“I have no idea,” Frankie said. “Just pick one.”
He did and his phone started rattling off the directions for the altered route.
Following the prompts, they reached a sprawling shopping center less than an hour later. After parking in front of the flower shop, they got out of the car. As Frankie reached for the florist’s door, she realized Aidan was headed to another store, two doors down. “This way,” she called after him.
“We’ll get there. Come here for a second.”
What was he up to? She glanced at the hours posted on the door. “They close in half an hour.”
“Then hurry,” he said.
The sly expression on his handsome face challenged her and his quiet voice carried a clear command. Doing nothing to hide her irritation, she stalked over and realized he’d stopped in front of a jewelry store. “No.” She crossed her arms. She was not going inside.
He leaned down and kissed her. That quick, brief kiss was enough to turn her knees to jelly.
“Yes,” he countered. “We’re going to do this right to be sure our cover holds up.”
“You can’t be serious.” He couldn’t possibly mean to buy her an engagement ring.
“I’m not a man who does things halfway,” he said. “Your mother will pick up on that and wonder why I rushed to propose before I was prepared.”
“This is pretend,” Frankie whispered through gritted teeth.
“But it’s supposed to look real,” he retorted with an exasperating laugh. “When I propose to the right woman, I’ll have a ring. We can’t have Sophia thinking I’m flighty or unreliable. We want the woman to hire me, right?”
Frankie shook her head, wishing for a hole to open up and swallow her. It would solve so many problems. Her back was stiff, her legs aching from the flight. She needed to get to the hotel so she could stretch out the kinks. Seeing her mother while dealing with the undercurrent of pain would be a disadvantage. She’d already lost the element of surprise when Victoria insisted on that phone call. Frankie wouldn’t give up more ground. “Fine.” Better to give in and get back on track. “Solitaire, classic setting, no bells, whistles or wedding bands.”
“Deal.” He opened the door for her.
She didn’t care for the amusement glinting in his deep blue eyes. “Are you charging it as a work expense?”
“Of course not,” he replied, clearly offended.
She let him take her hand as they walked to the glass counter full of engagement settings. Her heart kicked against her rib cage and a familiar spike of pain shot down her leg. She pulled in a slow, deep breath to help unlock her seizing muscles, which were straining against the hardware that kept her pinned together. Frankie forced herself to match his longer stride, refusing to trip or lean on him. Sheer willpower carried her closer to the twinkling gems on display, when she wanted to be anywhere else.
She felt a trickle of sweat at the nape of her neck, under her hair. Aidan might have imagined proposing to a woman, but it wasn’t a milestone Frankie had ever given much thought to. Her career had been at the forefront of her mind, and working in close quarters with men took a lot of the shine off the idea of choosing one man for a lifetime. Casual dates and having a good time with friends were enough for her, especially after watching her parents’ relationship disintegrate. It would be a long time before commitment and permanence broke the top ten of her priority list.
While the injury had sent her career in a new direction, it had only emphasized the lack of potential for her personal life. At one time, Frankie had wanted that devoted partnership her parents had shared. Now that idyllic romance was clouded by secrets, lies and questions that might never get answered.
The last place she belonged was here, admiring the glitter and responsibility of diamond engagement rings. “You know what?” She patted Aidan’s hand. “I’d like to be surprised, after all. You know what I like.” She forced her lips into a bright smile. It felt as if her face would crack from the effort. “I know what kind of bouquet will win Mom over. I’ll get the flowers while you handle this.”
“That’s a great idea, sweetheart,” Aidan said smoothly. “Let’s just get you sized first.” His smile looked completely natural when he greeted the salesman. “I meet the future in-laws at brunch tomorrow,” he said. “Can’t leave any room for doubts or bad first impressions.”
“You’ve landed a smart man,” the salesman said.
Frankie swallowed and managed a shaky nod. The metal sizing rings jangled as the salesman slid one loop after another over the fourth finger of her left hand. Her stomach cramped. If she didn’t get out of here soon, it was going to get ugly.
The salesman noted her ring size and she walked away as swiftly as possible without breaking into a sprint. A ring made all this too real, too extravagant. How did she keep getting outmaneuvered?
When they were done here, they were going to have a conversation about the ground rules going forward. No more games. No more kisses. This was her problem and she was going to regain control of the operation.
* * *
AIDAN WATCHED HER LEAVE. More than a little concerned she’d take the car and leave him stranded, he’d palmed the key while she was struggling with whatever was going on behind those big brown eyes.
He’d been sure the idea of a ring would be enough to call her bluff on this engagement idea. Well, he’d just consider this practice, he decided, pointing out a few settings that he liked.
“She claims to want simple and classic,” he explained to Ted, the salesman. Aidan answered questions about his budget and barely refrained from inquiring about the return policy. If her mother had the connections and skills Frankie and Victoria implied, she could send someone out to pester Ted about this sale. Aidan didn’t want to give Frankie any reason to say this engagement nonsense had failed because of him.
She’d said no bells and whistles, and no wedding bands—obviously—but he didn’t take the first glittering gem Ted showed him. Once he’d examined his favorites, he chose a three-quarter-carat princess cut on a flared band of white gold. It made the best statement. Classic, clean lines. The white gold matched the setting of her earrings. The stone was big enough without overpowering her slender, fine-boned hand.
He’d just completed the purchase and was waiting for the jeweler to adjust the sizing when the door chimed and Frankie returned, carrying an arrangement of some sort wrapped in tissue paper. The sweet fragrance filled the store. “They tell me these will pop and stay beautiful for days,” she said, leaving as much distance as possible between the two of them.
He tried to decipher the scent to avoid sympathizing with her obvious discomfort. “Roses?”
“No.” She shook her head, her nose wrinkling. “Lilies and tulips. Her favorites. She’ll be wrapped around your finger in an instant.”
“That’s helpful,” he said, rocking back on his heels. “Ted tells me your ring will be sized and polished shortly.”
“Great.” Her smile was brittle. “I’ll, um, put these in the car.”
“It can wait.” Aidan stepped forward, crowding her just a bit. “I missed you.” He brushed his lips to the corner of her mouth. “Did you miss me?”
She wanted to snarl at him, that was clear, but he was only playing the part that matched her idea. He needed her to go all in or bail out before
they showed up on her mother’s doorstep.
“I hardly know what to do with myself without you,” she said, her voice far too sweet.
He laughed and took the flowers from her hands, setting the vase near the register. “Are you hungry?”
She shook her head again.
Aidan suspected pain and nerves were blocking her appetite. The faint brackets around her lush mouth and her stiff posture clued him in. If he thought she’d open up, he’d ask more questions about her recovery. She hid her injury well and he believed she was close to 100 percent. That didn’t mean he couldn’t be thoughtful or help her manage what must be challenging at times. He just had to do it in a way that didn’t offend her.
Ted caught their attention as he returned with a small, emerald-colored velvet box. “All set,” he said, handing it to Aidan.
For such a tiny thing, it felt damned heavy in his hand. He studied Frankie’s face as he popped open the lid, giving her a glimpse inside. “Will that do?”
Her eyes were huge as she looked at the ring, then up at him. “Aidan...”
He waited, but she didn’t finish. “I think we hit the mark, Ted. Thanks.” His fingers felt thick and sluggish as he pulled out the ring and nudged it gently onto Frankie’s finger.
His breath backed up in his throat and he felt light-headed. Getting sick here would ruin the moment and he willed his stomach to stop churning. He’d vowed never to go through these motions again. Knowing it wasn’t real didn’t seem to help matters. He blinked away the hazy memories until he saw Frankie’s hand, the new ring and nothing more.
She flared her fingers, her gaze locked on the ring, her lips parted in surprise. “Aidan, I... It looks so—”
He kissed her before she could finish and blow their cover. “I’m honored you said yes.” He handed her the flowers and guided her quickly from the store.
At the car, he opened the passenger door for her. “I’ll drive. You look a little shell-shocked.”
He closed the door before she could answer, but the silence didn’t last.
“What are you thinking?” she exclaimed as he backed out of the parking space.
“If it’s too small, speak now and I’ll exchange it,” he said, his voice rough with the emotions he couldn’t quite block out.
She swore. “You know it isn’t. This is crazy, Aidan.”
“Your idea or my cooperation?” What did he have to do to get her to drop this?
“Be serious,” she snapped. “You can’t just buy me a ring.” She started to tug it off. “Go back to the store.”
He pulled into the next available parking space. “Have you changed your mind about this approach?”
She glared at him, her hands tangled in her lap, the vase of flowers sitting at her feet. “No.”
“Then it stays on.” The command came out with more heat than he’d intended. “Think of it as the prop that will reinforce the story you want your mother to believe.”
“You don’t get a prop from a real jeweler.”
“That’s a matter of opinion.” He set the navigation on his cell phone for the hotel they’d booked. “I suggest you get used to it. If your mother or anyone else catches you without it, you’ll have bigger lies to weave.” His second engagement was going far worse than the first one. At least this time around he knew it was temporary. Hopefully when he met her mother he’d have a better understanding of why Frankie insisted on this tactic.
“Fine.” She drummed her palms on her knees. “It’s just—”
“Find a complimentary word,” he warned.
Aidan shook off the frustration and bad memories as they merged with the traffic. As the silence stretched he figured she couldn’t find a compliment, or she was plotting her next strategic maneuver. Either way, he was grateful for the momentary truce. When he’d pulled to a stop under the hotel awning, he turned to her again. “Did you think to change our reservation to a single room?”
She sagged back into the seat. “No.” She reached across the console, her hand soft on his arm, the diamond bright on her finger. “But let me handle this one, okay?”
Unsure whether that was wise, he brainstormed ways to mitigate the damage if she launched yet another surprise attack or kept the separate rooms.
Instinctively taking in the surroundings, Aidan logged every face and position of the other guests in the lobby. He’d reviewed everything Victoria had sent him last night when he was battling the typical new-case insomnia.
Sophia Leone co-owned a security company after her years as an analyst for the alphabet soup in Washington, DC. Her own daughter suspected her of abusing her position to eliminate her husband. To support the case, the Colby Agency hadn’t bothered to hide their travel itinerary, and Frankie had told her mother she’d be arriving today. As the widow of a high-powered general, Sophia must have a vast network of friends from all over the globe. Aidan knew he and Frankie would be at a disadvantage in these early hours. It wasn’t paranoia to suspect someone was on-site keeping watch.
Which guest was here as a favor to Sophia? Which one would report Frankie had arrived with a man acting like a boyfriend? Aidan put a mental tag on the two most likely candidates and then shifted most of his attention to Frankie as she checked in.
He was glad they planned to keep the initial mother-daughter reunion brief, so they’d have time to review the key players at Leo Solutions tonight. With any luck, his contact at Interpol would have more information on the passports Frankie had found.
“Adjoining rooms?” Frankie queried. “I was sure I booked a suite.” She bumped Aidan’s shoulder as she pulled out her phone. “How did I mix that up? Honey, do you have the confirmation I emailed you?”
Aidan pulled his phone from his pocket. “Let me take a look.”
“We’ll get it straightened out,” the woman at the desk assured her.
“We just got engaged,” Frankie explained, letting the diamond flash. “We’re here to surprise the family.” Her smile was as bright as the diamond. “I’m so excited.” She rubbed her hand up and down his arm. “I probably clicked the wrong box by mistake.”
Impressed—affected—by her performance, he cursed himself for asking her to commit to the role of excited fiancée. He should’ve just said no to the cover story change. She thought he was worried about her physically, when her emotional state concerned him more. Now he feared he’d fall for her if they kept this up. What a fool he was.
“Congratulations.” The woman checking them in admired the ring before setting her fingers on the keyboard. “I do have a suite available. Let me just...” She tapped more keys. “That should do it.” She glanced up and beamed at them. “I’ve adjusted the rate through the weekend.” She programmed two key cards and tucked them into a small envelope, pushing it across the counter. With a map of the hotel, she pointed out their room and the basic amenities. “You’ll be right here with an excellent view of the city,” she said, circling what appeared to be a corner room. “Park wherever you like. The closest elevators are down the first corridor on your left.” She pointed. “Do you need help with your luggage?”
“I’ll manage,” Aidan said. He wanted some privacy, and fast. He didn’t want Frankie second-guessing or throwing him another curveball.
They made it up to the suite in one trip even with the flowers. Frankie walked inside and stopped short in the center of the room. “Holy cow. That view. We should get engaged more often.”
The “we” gave him pause, though she was right to be thinking in teamwork terms. He blamed the strange twitch between his shoulder blades on the residual effect of sliding that ring onto her finger. Stepping up beside her, he enjoyed the floor-to-ceiling corner window that gave them a panoramic view of Seattle’s west side. “You have a beautiful hometown.”
“That’s overstating it.”
&nbs
p; Her reflexive disagreement made him feel better somehow. “Did you ever live in a place that felt like a hometown?”
She turned away from the windows to set the vase of wrapped flowers on the tall dresser next to the television. “We moved a lot, obviously. Wherever we lived, there were certain items that went in specific places. Little things like the key rack near the door, a family portrait in the dining room. My mom’s theory was those details made the transitions easier.”
He followed as she rolled her suitcase into the bedroom. “Did it work?”
She looked over her shoulder, a mix of nostalgia and sorrow clouding her eyes. “Yes.”
Should he point out the mixed messages she gave him about her mother? It was as if she described two different women: one a devoted wife and mother, possibly a hopeless romantic, and the other a sharp mind capable of wreaking havoc on the world at large.
A fresh awareness, and a desperate ache to fix everything for Frankie, filled him. Had he learned nothing from his mistakes? He was an investigator, end of story. He had to remember that, had to keep his focus on the facts, for her safety and his.
He backed toward the door. “I’m going to check on the leads I was working on those passports.”
“Fine,” she said, not looking at him. “I’ll, um, work out a few things in here.”
“Is an hour enough time?”
The only sign of tension was the little catch in her breathing. “That works for me.”
Chapter Six
Frankie let Aidan drive to her mother’s new house in Queen Anne while she held the flowers. Periodically she stretched her hands to relieve the tension that mounted with every passing block. After some restorative yoga in the hotel room, she felt better, stronger and ready to calmly face whatever came next. Though it hadn’t done any good last time, a tiny part of her still wanted to charge in and blast her mother with an all-out attack.
Unfortunately, unless she used the condemning statement Sophia had signed, Frankie didn’t have anything else confirmed enough to ask about. Aidan hadn’t turned up any concrete information on the passports. The best he could tell, they’d never been used, despite the stamps inside. So why had they been in the safe-deposit box? Frankie reminded herself things were moving forward, intelligently if not quickly. For the first time since getting kicked out of the navy, she didn’t feel alone.
