Chapter 6
“I hope he’s not threatening us,” Hannah said, adjusting her seat belt.
“Nah, he just loves to fly, says the skies are his mistress. He reminds me I’m not a pilot as often as humanly possible.”
They were taxiing down the runway. Liam lowered his head to his chest, mumbled something under his breath, then looked across the small aisle. “I hate takeoffs. I’d never be able to fly my own plane even if I wanted to, which I don’t. That’s what Pierce is for.”
“So he works exclusively for you?” Hannah asked.
“Meaning is he at my beck and call twenty-four/seven? No, not at all. He flies for Flex Jet. Several companies purchase an aircraft together and share the cost of owning it. Makes it easier for those who can’t afford to have a multimillion-dollar aircraft just sitting there. So, when he’s not on vacation, Pierce has to be available for them. He’s staying at my house while I’m out here and will return for me when I’m ready to go home. I guess you could say we’re both on vacation. Mine just happens to be a working vacation.”
Hannah raised her brow in question. “Did Max Jorgenson call you around the first of the month?”
“Yes, and trust me, I am going to make him pay. Big-time.” He managed to smooth out the sandwich he had dropped on his seat when he’d helped Hannah as she was choking. He took a bite, chewing and grinning at the same time. A piece of bread clung to his lower lip, and Hannah found herself wanting to reach across the small space between them to brush it away. She had to mentally command herself to refrain from doing so. Though she wondered how he would react if she did. The thought made her smile.
“What’s so funny?” he asked. He wiped the crumb from his lip.
If only he knew, she thought. “Max sent for me then, too. I wonder why the two-week wait?” Suddenly Hannah wasn’t so sure Max actually had a hacker. That’s what he’d said, wasn’t it? And given Liam’s reputation, surely he wouldn’t have called him all the way to Colorado just to . . . fix the two of us up?
No, no, no! I’m being ridiculous. We’re here to work, then return to our lives and enjoy the rest of the holiday season. Max would not go to such great lengths. She mentally removed the images of her and Liam together from her mind.
“You’re not eating?”
She looked at the sandwich sitting on the napkin covering her lap. “I guess almost choking to death has taken away my appetite.”
“At least have some of the potato salad; it’s really good,” Liam insisted as he scooped a bite between his lips.
She found her plate and fork and proceeded to eat every bite. “What can I say? I guess I was hungry, choking or not.”
Pierce announced they’d reached their flying altitude, and Liam seemed more relaxed. His large frame appeared to sink into the plush seat. Hannah didn’t know what to make of her reaction and scrutiny of this man. This wasn’t her normal reaction at all.
“So Max sent for you, too. I understand he’s experiencing a bit of in-house snooping,” Liam explained. “Both electronically and the old-fashioned way. Files—the paper kind—have gone missing, some cash. I hope between the two of us, we can find the culprit. Not a good time for a thief, Christmas and all.”
Hannah nodded. “That’s when they crawl out of the cracks. At least in my experience.” She paused. “Do you know me?” she couldn’t help but ask. Hannah always believed in cutting through the flesh and going straight for the bone.
“I know o f you. You’ve got quite a reputation.”
“Thank you. I could say the same for you, but I’m sure you already know that,” she added with a smirk.
“I’ve worked all over the world. It’s only logical that one’s success in this field is acknowledged,” Liam said without a trace of arrogance.
That’s true, Hannah thought.
“Do you find it odd that we both have law degrees, yet we’re doing . . . undercover work?” Hannah asked. They did have a few things in common, she admitted to herself. Was this really the reason Max had sent for them? A holiday romance? No, Max wouldn’t take advantage of that. Or would he? She had to admit, she didn’t know him well enough to make the assumption.
Liam chuckled and ran a hand over his stubbled chin. “No, not at all. I studied criminal justice first, then got my law degree. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go, then the electronic field exploded, and it turned out that I was pretty good at it. Did a couple of years working with the FBI’s Cyber Crime Unit, then decided I’d rather work alone and, as they say, the rest is history.”
“Impressive,” Hannah replied.
“Your résumé isn’t too shabby, either,” he observed.
My résumé? Has he actually checked into my background?
Hannah didn’t respond.
“You’ve got a very good reputation, Ms. Ray. Both you and your firm. Surely you know your name is recognizable? I’m impressed,” he added.
“Thank you. Yes, we’re pretty well-known, at least in Florida. We don’t do too much out of state, or out of the country, for that matter. I like to stay close to home.”
“That’s one of the reasons I decided to leave the Cyber Crime Unit. Too much travel.”
“I wouldn’t think there would be a need to travel as much since most of the work is electronic, via the World Wide Web.”
Liam cleared his throat. “Let’s just say certain clients want you on their turf. The days when I had to take such clients are gone,” Liam added.
“Then why are you traveling now? Did Max threaten you or something?” Hannah asked, though she was grinning when she asked the question.
He laughed, too. Hannah found she liked the sound, deep and throaty. Darn, this needs to stop. Now. She was not on her way to a ski resort to find a date, she reminded herself. She was supposed to catch a thief.
“You know Max. He didn’t actually threaten me. He simply said he needed me, and here I am. We go back a long way. I’d do just about anything for him, and he knows it.”
“I’ve only met him once, through his wife, Grace. She protected a client of mine, and sadly, that same client is in need of her services again. Whether or not she will use them is another matter entirely. Unfortunately, there isn’t much one can do in cases like that. I only hope she comes to her senses and makes a decision to end her very bad marriage to an abusive jerk. Her husband is turning out to be a very dangerous man.” Hannah stopped. What was she doing? Client discretion was a priority. She knew better, but in her own defense, she hadn’t named any names.
“Grace is a good egg, no doubt about it. I really admire her. Plus, they’ve got that cute little girl now. Max adores being a husband and father; I’m so happy he’s finally found his bliss.”
“I suppose so,” she commented lamely.
Liam reached for her paper plate, and his, then tossed them in a small plastic bag he’d removed from the pocket of the seat in front of him.
“Thanks.”
“We’re coming down; I can feel it. So I take it you haven’t found your bliss?” Liam asked, as though he were asking her what her favorite flavor of ice cream was. Or was she just reading more into his comments and questions because she’d assumed Max had plans for the pair other than catching a thief? Most likely the latter.
Hannah peered out her window. The snow-covered mountains were breathtaking. Tall pines of all shapes and sizes looked like miniature Christmas trees placed strategically down the side of the mountain. “It’s beautiful out there. Minus the cold,” she said, hoping to avoid answering his question.
“Certainly different from what we’re used to,” he responded. “Though Florida has a beauty all its own. Especially Sanibel Island. I love it when I get to spend time there.”
She smiled. “Sanibel is awesome; I love it there, too. I almost purchased a condo there, but since my offices are in Naples, I decided it would be best to stay closer to home. I love Naples, too, but it’s growing too fast for my tastes.”
“You realize we’re pr
actically neighbors?” Liam said. His blue eyes twinkled like sapphires.
Heat crept up her neck, settling on her face. She turned away so he couldn’t see her. She was freaking blushing! Thirty-three, about to turn thirty-four, on Christmas Eve no less, something she made sure no one knew, and here she was blushing like a high-school girl with her first crush.
“Did I say something to offend you?” Liam asked sincerely.
Taking a deep breath, and hoping her flush wasn’t as bad as it felt, she answered, “No, not at all. I was just . . . calculating the distance.”
“By land or water?” he asked teasingly.
“Land, actually.”
“It’s roughly forty miles by land and around twenty-five through the Gulf.”
She laughed. “Good to know.”
Pierce chose that moment to come over the intercom system. “Folks, it’s time to fold up your tray tables and make sure you’re buckled in ’cause we’re about to touch down. And Liam, I mean it. Wear the damned seat belt.”
Hannah’s eyes traveled to Liam’s waist. “You’re not buckled in! Shame on you.”
“In all the excitement, I forgot.”
“Right,” Hannah kidded. “Seems like Pierce knows your habits quite well.”
He nodded in the affirmative. “I’m hoping to get to know yours a lot better, too.”
Hannah didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing. Five minutes later, they were on the ground. Thank goodness, she thought, because if she’d had to come up with an answer, she wasn’t sure what she would’ve said.
Chapter 7
Hannah said good-bye to Pierce and thanked him for saving her from a long drive. “I can’t imagine why Max didn’t have me fly directly to Telluride, so thanks again.” She shook his hand and made her way inside the small airport. Actually, she was very suspicious of the entire setup, but she’d give Max the benefit of the doubt for now.
Liam stayed behind, apparently taking care of any last-minute plans he and Pierce had. She’d overheard them talking about Pierce’s planned fishing trip, and it brought tears to her eyes. Even though her father had been a business tycoon, he never lost his love of fishing. Hannah had accompanied him on many trips, and she, too, enjoyed the sport, though she refused to keep her catch, always tossing the poor creatures back into the water. Her father respected this, and he, too, would toss whatever he caught back into its home waters. She did know he didn’t practice this when it was just he and his buddies. And that was okay with her. She wasn’t that unreasonable when it came to nature. She knew the fish she enjoyed so much at The Captain’s Table, her favorite waterfront restaurant in Naples, didn’t magically appear out of a manufacturer’s deep freeze.
“Ms. Ray?” a young woman behind the counter asked.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Jorgenson has a car waiting for you and Mr. McConnell. He said to tell you he was sorry he couldn’t be here personally to drive you to Maximum Glide but gave directions to where each of you is staying.”
Hannah saw the green-and-white plastic name tag on the woman’s beige blouse. “Thank you, Mandy. I’m sure we can manage without him.”
The woman looked to be in her early twenties. Black hair cut in a sleek bob, creamy skin untouched by the sun or time, she smiled, revealing a mouthful of silver braces. “He said you could, and I’m supposed to give you this.” She handed Hannah a large gift box. Wrapped in shiny silver-and-gold paper with three giant bows—a red, a green, and a gold one stacked atop one another. Good grief! Was she supposed to bring a gift? She’d been such a Scrooge when it came to Christmas, she had to admit she was not up on all the latest holiday etiquette. She took the package from Mandy. “Thank you,” was all she could manage to say. The box was extremely heavy, and Hannah wondered what was inside.
“Mr. Jorgenson told me that you were not to open the box until you were settled in your condo. He was very adamant about that. He even told me I’d get in all sorts of trouble if I didn’t insist on emphasizing the importance of this. I hope it’s okay with you?”
Poor Mandy. The young woman looked as though she was about to cry. “I promise.” Hannah placed her hand in the air, with her thumb and pinkie down so that her remaining three fingers were in the correct position as she proceeded to recite the Girl Scout Law. “ ‘I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place and, be a sister to every Girl Scout,’ and I promise not to shake or peep in Max’s box.”
Mandy shrieked, “Oh my gosh! How did you know?”
Hannah nodded at the picture on the countertop. Mandy was a Girl Scout leader.
Mandy removed a tissue from the box on her desk. “I forget that’s here sometimes. How cool is this?”
“Then you trust I won’t open the box?” Hannah asked with a grin.
“Absolutely. From one Scout to another, I trust you wholeheartedly.”
A clapping sound from the airport entrance caused both Hannah and Mandy to turn around.
“Very well said, Ms. Ray. You never mentioned you were a Girl Scout,” Liam said as he strolled toward them.
“Well, it isn’t exactly something that comes up in everyday conversation. Mandy has been given strict orders from Max to give me this”—she nodded at the shiny wrapped present on top of the counter—“and if I open it before I’m settled in at the condo, then not only am I in deep trouble, but she could be as well. When I saw this picture”—she indicated the silver-framed photo—“I knew that one Scout would trust another, especially if I recited the Girl Scout Law.”
“I like that. A true Girl Scout.”
“Mr. McConnell?” Mandy asked inquiringly.
“That would be me,” he said.
“This one is for you.” She reached beneath the counter and pulled out another box, only this one was larger. “Mr. Jorgenson asked that I give this to you. Same deal. You can’t open it until you are all settled in at the cabin. You’ve got the hottest address at Maximum Glide; you know that, right? Are you two famous or something? Mr. Jorgenson has rolled out the red carpet for both of you,” Mandy said, then continued, “Not that you have to be famous or anything to have the red-carpet treatment. We get a lot of famous people here. Tom Cruise, for one. But we all recognized him.”
“Ah, I hate to disappoint you, but we’re here to work for Mr. Jorgenson. So, no, we are not famous in the sense that you think,” Liam answered for both of them.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude, I’m just a bit on the nosy side. At least that’s what everyone tells me.”
Hannah spoke up. “Nosy is not a bad thing. If you ever get tired of freezing and want a change of scenery, look me up.” She reached inside her purse and gave Mandy one of her business cards.
“Oh, cool! You’re a private eye! And in Florida. Wait until I tell Jason, my boyfriend. He will truly be impressed. He’s always after me for being so nosy. Are you for real? About looking you up and all?” Mandy asked, her eyes as wide as the moon.
“Sure, we can always use an extra set of eyes. Of course, there is training and certification required, but in my business, nosiness is considered an added bonus.”
Hannah and Liam laughed together. “Yes, it is in mine, too.”
“Don’t tell me, you’re a private eye, too,” Mandy said in such an excited tone, Hannah thought the young woman was about to lose her voice entirely.
“Sort of. Now, if we could get that car Max promised, I am ready to call it a day. What with the time difference and all, I think it’s nearing my bedtime.” Liam winked at Hannah as he said this.
“Yes, mine, too,” she added, then felt like kicking herself. Did he think she was implying something more than sleep? Surely not. He was an adult, the same as she. He acted like one, and she was acting like Mandy, a young woman starstruck by anything out of the ordinary.
“I’m sorry. I talk too much, too. Jason tells me that all the time.”
Hannah silently agreed with the mysterious Jason, but she’d keep that to herself. Mandy was just young and excited.
“Here are the keys. Mr. McConnell is supposed to drive; again, this is from Mr. Jorgenson, not me,” Mandy added. “I have to follow the rules.”
Mandy came from behind the counter with a small bellman’s rack. She placed their packages from Max on it, then Liam took his and Hannah’s suitcases and placed them beside the packages. He reached for his wallet and took out a hundred-dollar bill. He placed it in Mandy’s hand. “Take Jason out to dinner on me,” he said, leaving the girl speechless.
“But . . . I’m not,” Mandy said, then stopped. “Okay, I will do that. Tonight. Thank you so much, Mr. McConnell. And Ms. Ray. I’m going to tell Jason what you said about nosy being a good thing, too. Now, follow me,” she said, and proceeded to pull the cart through a set of automatic doors. A blast of air sent shivers through Hannah. She tightened the belt on her coat and stuffed her hands in her coat pockets before stepping out into the blistering cold. It was much colder in Telluride than it had been in Denver.
“Aren’t you cold?” Hannah asked as she followed behind Mandy and Liam.
“Freezing,” he shouted.
The wind was picking up, making it hard to hear and be heard. Hannah wanted sunshine and hot sand between her toes right now. She did not like being cold. Not one little bit.
Mandy led them to a bright yellow Hummer with the engine running. “This is for you to use as long as you’re here,” she said.
Did Mandy think they were a couple? Surely not! Had Max implied that when he’d arranged for only one vehicle?
Liam opened the passenger door. “Go on, get inside. You’re freezing.” For once, Hannah agreed and let him take control of loading their luggage and those mystery packages.
A minute later, he was in the driver’s seat. Only she saw that he now wore the denim jacket he’d been carrying. He made a few adjustments to the seat and the mirrors, then put the vehicle into DRIVE.
Mistletoe Magic Page 26
