Covert Kisses

by Jane Godman

  This is it. How you react now is everything. Aware of Cameron’s eyes on her face, she took the photograph and scanned it. Although she had seen Carla Bryan’s picture many times, the resemblance still took her by surprise. She has my face. We could have been twins instead of cousins. She didn’t have to fake the widening of her eyes or the sharp intake of her breath.

  “Who is this?” She raised her gaze to his face.

  “Her name is Carla. She is—was—the love of my life.”

  “Was?” Suddenly, Laurie wasn’t playing a part. All she was doing was reacting to the raw grief in those incredible dark eyes.

  “Carla died a year ago.”

  “Oh, my Lord. I’m so sorry.” Without thinking, she reached out a hand and placed it on his knee. “How did she die?”

  Cameron covered her hand with his. A warm tingle of electricity spiraled from the point of his touch through to her every nerve ending. Careful, Laurie. You know feelings are not allowed in this line of work.

  “I killed her.”

  * * *

  The lower reaches of the Stillwater Trail were popular with tourists. Higher up was for serious hikers and hunters. Starting out at the river’s edge, it wound inland and upward until it reached the highest point in the county, the treacherous climb known as Devil’s Peak. Aware she would be gone for much of the day, Laurie set out early, throwing a few snacks into her backpack before she left the rented cabin that sat just at the edge of the pine forest.

  Although her mother had lived in this state for only a few years, her short married life had been happy and she’d had fond memories of her time in Wyoming. Laurie’s childhood had been filled with stories of the beauty of Stillwater. Laurie herself had always planned to visit one day. How strange it should have happened this way. She locked the cabin door. Not that there was anything inside that would give her away. She was too professional to compromise her personal safety.

  If anything, her mother’s enthusiastic praise had understated the wild perfection of this place. The air filling her lungs was crisp, clean and plentiful. Which was just as well, because the scenery really did steal your breath from you. Tucked away on the northernmost edge of the state, bordering Yellowstone National Park, West County was still largely undiscovered by tourists. It shared the grandeur and wildlife of its well-known neighbor without attracting the same sort of fame.

  The trail started out deceptively flat, and Laurie had time to admire the emerald green of the gigantic trees rising on either side of her, the azure blue of the sky together with the sound of the sparkling stream tumbling alongside the path. After a few hours, she was breathing hard as the gradient increased and, by the time she reached the mountain-encircled body of water known as Wilderness Lake, she was glad of the chance to shrug off her backpack, sit on a rock and take a long slug of water.

  She had been there for about ten minutes, drinking in the rugged drama of the granite landscape, when another walker came into view. Although the man wore shorts and hiking boots, he looked as though he would be more comfortable in a business suit. As he got closer, Laurie noticed the sheen of sweat on his face and bit back a smile. Special Agent Moreton had been her partner in a lengthy undercover operation and she knew him well. Even so, if she hadn’t seen him in the outdoors with her own eyes she’d have continued in her belief that he was allergic to fresh air.

  Moreton carried a map, and as he approached Laurie, he held it out to her, pointing to a spot on it. Anyone observing them would assume he was one hiker asking another a question about the trail. “Were you followed?”

  “I don’t think so.” She bent her head over the map. “That doesn’t mean we’re not being watched through binoculars right now, of course.”

  He followed her lead, covering his mouth with one hand as he spoke. “Lipreading? You think Delaney could be suspicious of you already?”

  Laurie shrugged. “If he’s who we think he is, he’ll take good care to protect himself.”

  “How did he react when he saw you?”

  She shot him a sideways glance. “How do you think?”

  “Did he mention Carla?”

  She nodded, making a pretense of turning the map and looking up at the surrounding mountains. Anything to buy a little time. When she bowed her head again, her voice was quiet. “He said he killed her.”

  “That’s what he told police at the time. It was the grief talking. What he meant, of course, was that he failed to stop her from taking her boat out that night.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  Moreton looked startled. “You don’t mean...? No, he was at a state function in full view of hundreds of people when she died. Mayor Delaney was the keynote speaker.”

  “If Cameron Delaney is all the things you tell me he is, would he think twice about getting someone else to kill his girlfriend?”

  His round face became even more serious. “If you want out, you only have to say the word.”

  “You know me better than that, Moreton. When you approached me with this job, I knew what it involved. I’ll see it through. I guess if I’m having dinner with a guy I’d like to know in advance if there’s a chance he might have killed his last girlfriend.”

  “Dinner? Tonight?” When she nodded, he whistled. “He’s a fast worker, our guy. How will you deal with it if he wants to...” He cleared his throat. “...You know?”

  “You mean if he wants to have sex with me?” She almost laughed aloud at his pained expression. “I’ve done this sort of thing before, remember?”

  “I seem to recall you have a few creative ways of keeping them at arm’s length. So, now you’ve met him, what are your initial thoughts on Delaney?”

  Laurie hesitated. First impressions were important, and she knew Moreton was asking her because he trusted her instincts. For the first time ever, she wasn’t sure he was right to do so.

  “You know I had my doubts about this job. Using a man’s grief to get under his skin? That has never felt right to me. It was only when you showed me the file about what was going on here—what Delaney Transportation is potentially a cover for—that you convinced me. The evidence against him is about as watertight as it gets.” She spread her hands, palms upward. To an observer, she could have been indicating she was clueless about the route. “Initial thoughts? The file you compiled told me he’s one of the wealthiest men in the state. Each of the three Delaney brothers inherited a modest amount of money from their father. Cameron used his to set up the business, growing it into a thriving corporation within a few years. He’s also a successful businessman and politician. Mayor of Stillwater. The voters love him. He’d get my vote and I don’t even know what he stands for. The guy’s got charisma. Underneath it all he’s hurting like hell. Even when I rocked his world yesterday, the facade stayed in place. I’d say he’s going to be a tough one to crack.”

  “If anyone can do it, you can. Delaney is one of the smoothest operators we’ve come across. On the surface, he’s squeaky clean. He’s never had a parking ticket, or filed a late tax return. We have to throw him off balance. The psychologists tell me Delaney will be drawn to someone who looks so much like Carla. He was devoted to her. You’ll shake him out of his usual composure. When he’s with you he may just slip up, make a mistake, however small, and allow you to get close enough to glimpse the illegal side of the business. It’s a long shot, but it’s all we have right now. I want to close this bastard down, but so far every attempt we’ve made to get someone undercover inside the firm itself has failed. This operation has been going on for a long time, but it’s only recently we’ve had the evidence to pinpoint Delaney Transportation.”

  “Possibly he’s started to slip up. There’s no doubt that Carla’s death devastated him.”

  Was Moreton frowning because he sensed sympathy in her voice? Even imagining he could detect a moment’s hesitatio
n? “Every time that bothers you, think about the drugs and firearms that are pumped onto the streets every day. And we both know that’s not the worst part of this operation. Human trafficking. Forced prostitution. A nasty, but very lucrative, business. Many of the girls we’re talking about are as young as thirteen. Some are younger. If ever you find yourself feeling sorry for Delaney, think of them.”

  Laurie felt a flash of anger light her eyes as she raised them to his face. “Are you questioning my commitment?”

  “Never.” Still in his role as the hapless hiker, Moreton folded his map and turned, shrugging as he pointed back at the trail. “Anything you need from me?” Laurie shook her head. “Next time, maybe we can find somewhere civilized like a coffee shop?”

  After he’d gone, Laurie sat a while longer, allowing the peace of her surroundings to soothe her. In six years of working undercover, she had never let her emotions get to her. For a moment back then, she had come perilously close. Why was it so hard to be objective about Cameron Delaney? From the outset, she’d allowed emotion to creep in. It must be the Carla factor. It was hard not to feel a connection to the other woman when she had recently discovered their relationship. The cousin she never knew she had. And Carla had died tragically. Just when she had everything to live for. Sighing, Laurie rose and tugged her backpack into place. She’d have to work a bit harder to fight the feelings in the future. There was a job to be done. Starting with dinner tonight.

  Chapter 2

  Cameron gripped the steering wheel hard. What was he doing? What had possessed him to invite her to dinner? You know what it was, a voice inside his head chimed instantly. You idiot. Carla is dead. This woman is not her. Perhaps if he repeated those words often enough, his heart would stop pounding so loudly every time he thought about Laurie Carter.

  Twelve months ago, he would have said his heart couldn’t pound. If anyone had asked him such a stupid question, he’d have explained it wasn’t possible for his heart to do anything. Because the night Carla died, Cameron had been left with a gaping hole in place of a heart. So he supposed the fact he could feel something in the region of his chest in place of the awful, aching heaviness that had been there for the last year was a positive step. He just wasn’t sure it should be focused on this stranger who reminded him of Carla. Reminded him? He almost laughed out loud at the understatement. Laurie Carter was Carla’s double. The resemblance was uncanny enough to be scary. It was frightening the hell out of Cameron. In a spine-chilling yet surprisingly exciting way.

  He steered the car up the narrow track that led to the Paradise Creek vacation village. A group of twenty or more log cabins clustered together at the base of the mountain like children clinging to their mother’s skirts. More and more of these places were springing up each year as people were discovering that Stillwater had as much to offer as Yellowstone. Some, like this one, were tastefully done and well managed, but there were a few eyesores that caused Cameron and his fellow council members an ongoing headache.

  Cameron took his role as mayor seriously. Having been Stillwater’s youngest-ever council member at twenty-four and its youngest-ever mayor at twenty-six, he never forgot his duty to the community where he grew up. His four-year term of office was coming to an end, but, in the words of the local radio station, “There’s more chance of the Wyoming wind forgetting to blow than there is of Mayor Delaney not getting reelected.” That validation would allow him to continue the projects he had already started. Closing down cheap tourist traps was on his list.

  Leaving his car in the little parking lot at the end of the road, Cameron walked a few yards to the first cabin and knocked on the door.

  “It’s open. Come on in.”

  She doesn’t sound like Carla. The thought steadied him, and he stepped straight into the open-plan living space. The place was furnished in traditional vacation-rental style. Polished pine paneling, exposed brickwork and functional furniture had been softened with colorful rugs, cushions and subdued lighting. As Cameron was taking in his surroundings, a door to his left opened and Laurie appeared.

  On the drive over he had done his best to convince himself the likeness was not as strong as he remembered. It couldn’t be. Unless they were identical twins, two people couldn’t possibly look that alike. He’d done a pretty good job of persuading himself. Now she stood before him, a smile just beginning to light the blue depths of her eyes, and his internal lecture became so much meaningless white noise.

  Laurie wore tight black jeans, heels and a gray silk blouse. Her hair, which had been wet and bedraggled when he last saw her, was styled now, the chestnut waves falling loose to just below her shoulders. She favored a less-groomed style than Carla, with only minimal makeup and jewelry. Even so, he was stunned all over again at the sight of her.

  “I didn’t know where we were going. I hope this is okay?”

  Aware some sort of response was required, he coaxed his facial muscles so he was able to return the smile. The effort was painful. “You look amazing. And we’re going to my favorite restaurant, Dino’s.”

  And what will Dino—one of my oldest friends—say when I walk in with Carla’s double on my arm? Will he ask me if I’ve lost my mind? Tell me I can’t turn the clock back? Point out what I already know, that just because she looks like her, it would be unfair to expect Laurie to become some sort of Carla substitute?

  “Is everything okay?” The smile in her eyes had faded and was on the verge of becoming a frown.

  “Everything is fine.” The lie came easily. Despite his misgivings, he wanted to know more about this woman who had the face of his lost love. “Shall we go?”

  It was a short drive from the cabin into town, and Cameron was reminded again of the little things he’d lost when Carla died. Companionable silence and the subtle perfume of a beautiful woman were two of them. They were approaching the main street when Laurie shifted slightly in her seat. He got the impression of her bracing herself before she spoke.

  “Why did you ask me out tonight?”

  Cameron drew into a parking space in front of Dino’s and switched the engine off before he answered. He supposed he should have anticipated the question. “You intrigue me and I’d like to get to know you better.” Honest, but only a fraction of a complicated answer.

  “Because I look like Carla?”

  He liked the directness of her approach. It meant he could be equally blunt in return. “I’d be lying if I told you that wasn’t a big part of it.”

  Cameron turned to face her. For a moment something shimmered in the dark space between them. Something that had nothing to do with Carla. He wanted to reach out and grab it, hold on to it, welcome it as the first sign of life going on. In twelve long, empty months, he hadn’t once dared let himself believe he could ever feel anything for another woman. Hadn’t wanted to. It felt like the ultimate betrayal. Now, like a fragile candle flame in the darkness, there was an unexpected flicker. He wanted to cup his hands around it and shield it. He wasn’t sure what it meant. If it meant anything. Wasn’t sure he wanted it to mean anything. All he knew was emotions, even conflicting and confusing ones, were better than hollow, gut-wrenching emptiness.

  Before he could do or say anything, Laurie smiled. “I’m starved. I hope this place does a good steak.”

  * * *

  When your job meant you were constantly playing a part, you had to be prepared for any eventuality. Walking into a busy, brightly lit restaurant and having the whole place fall instantly silent was a new experience. It was one Laurie hadn’t been prepared for. In hindsight, she should have anticipated it. Every eye followed their progress as the hostess escorted them to a table at the rear of the room. Cameron nodded and smiled at a few people, apparently at ease with the situation even though she suspected he wasn’t. He’s a politician; he’s used to the limelight. Even so, this is bizarre. Do they actually think I might be Carla? Th
at she didn’t die on the lake that night after all? She faked her death and has staged a comeback? Or I’m her ghost following in Cameron’s wake and he hasn’t noticed me? That last thought made her choke back a nervous snort of laughter.

  Curious stares continued to be directed their way, even once they’d taken their seats. There was no way she could not comment. “So that was fun.”

  “I’m sorry. Is this too weird for you?”

  Those dark eyes were achingly intense, and once again she experienced a pang of guilt. No matter who he was, or what he had done, this man was grieving. If her mission was successful and ended in his arrest and conviction, would Laurie feel proud of her part in his undoing? She didn’t want to explore that question any further. She had a feeling she wouldn’t like the answer. “Just doing my job” didn’t always cut it. Not in response to her own conscience.

  “I was thinking more of you. This—” she outlined her own face with a circular motion of one finger “—must be painful for you.”

  “Not really. I’ll admit it was a shock when I first saw you, especially when you emerged from the lake...” Laurie winced. Her plan had been to get his attention. She hadn’t thought about the impact on Cameron of her wading out of the very waters where Carla had died in a boating accident. Take his breath away? You were lucky he didn’t have a heart attack. One more reason for her to lie awake tonight questioning her own integrity. “Now? The resemblance still jolts me, but, believe it or not, I am able to convince myself you are not her.”

  His smile nearly undid her resolve to keep a grip on her emotions. You can’t trust this man. Every piece of intelligence points to him being the mastermind of one of the most repulsive operations we’ve seen in a long time. That was what she had told herself as she read his file and studied his drop-dead-sexy photographs. Face-to-face, it didn’t help. One look from those dark eyes and her insides melted.