by Leslie North
As the intel slowly penetrated Serena’s brain, an odd buzz started within her. Free. She was finally free. The bad guys had been caught and she no longer had to live on the run. The TV screen zoomed in on two grainy images of the suspects, taken at the airport she guessed, and she vaguely recognized the two thugs from the villa where she’d been kept.
Real. This is real.
Gracie began to fuss, jarring Serena out of her thoughts.
Noah. She needed to find Noah and tell him. Serena pushed aside her half-eaten food and stood. He’d gone out to do his morning check of the perimeter, so he probably didn’t know yet. She hurried out the side door and into the gardens in the back, searching the edge of the property for him, all while giddiness bubbled inside her like champagne. She could go home, back to New York. California. Wherever she wanted. She could wear new clothes again, buy Gracie whatever she wanted.
She was so lost in her daydreaming that she nearly collided with Noah, who was standing near one of the large trees at the corner of the property, talking on his phone.
He put out a hand to steady her, then held up a finger for her to wait.
“Yep. Got it,” he said, his gaze locked on hers. “Thanks, Levon.”
Noah ended the call, then looked back up at her, saying at the same time she did, “They caught the guys.”
Serena started laughing and Noah grinned.
“I heard it on the news inside,” she said, rubbing Gracie’s back. “I think I’m still in shock a little bit. I can’t believe it’s over. Just like that.”
“Yeah.” He took a deep breath. “With a whimper instead of a bang, right? Not that I’m complaining.”
“No.” They started walking back to the house together, Gracie over Serena’s shoulder. Serena kept pinching herself to believe it was real. “I get it. It’s sort of…anticlimactic considering we were planning for hellfire and bullets, but yep. I’ll take it too. But what does this mean about the bounty on me? Is that still out there?”
“If the two guys arrested were the ones offering it? No—the bounty should be gone.”
“That’s…so amazing,” Serena said with a sigh of relief. “Were you talking to your team back home?”
He nodded. “They called me with the intel about ten minutes ago, just before it broke on the news.”
“Do they know any more about those two thugs? Why they took me?”
“Nothing yet.” He swatted away a couple of mosquitos buzzing around them and raked a hand through his hair. “The authorities haven’t revealed much. Clint’s been digging around in their histories after we learned their identities, but so far there’s no real connection to you that we’ve been able to find, other than they wanted money.” He shrugged, frowning. “I always assumed there was more to it than that, but sometimes people are just greedy, I suppose.”
“Hmm.” She transferred the baby to her other arm and stepped up onto the veranda. “So, what are our next steps? Do we head back to the States right away or…”
“Not until tomorrow. The guys already had everything booked, and the earlier flights in and out are full, so it’s less hassle if we wait until tomorrow morning to go. Without the thugs out there tracking us, we shouldn’t have any problems.”
“Awesome.” She followed him inside and upstairs to their room. “Are we spending the night here or in Frederickston?”
“The capital. Levon got us booked into some swanky hotel-casino for the night. I tried to get him to change it to something less exposed, but he said it was the only room open.” He set his phone on the dresser to charge, then headed for the bathroom door. “Besides, I guess we can consider it a celebration now instead of a staging area.”
“Staging area?” She set the baby down on the bed and rolled her stiff shoulder.
“Yeah. The guys are working to get us safely out of St. Dourdane, but now we don’t have to worry.”
There was no holding back her smile anymore. The more she heard those words, the better they sounded. She wanted to spin around and scream with joy. Instead, she just crossed her arms and bounced on the balls of her feet to avoid waking up a snoozing Gracie. A new idea occurred to her, and her eyes widened. “We can get a car this time. No more trekking through the jungle. And we can sightsee too. If we get into Frederickston earlier enough, we can check out the town. Maybe upgrade our room to a VIP suite. I’ve never stayed in that city, but I’ve heard it’s nice.” At Noah’s dubious look, she waved him off. “It’s all my treat, of course. Once I can access my funds and move them around freely without worrying about anyone using the paper trail to track me down. I’ll ask the owner if I can make some calls downstairs to arrange things.”
“Okay.” Noah sighed and held up a hand. “I’ll talk to the guys again too about arrangements.”
A few hours later, Serena and Noah and Gracie walked into El Palacio del Paraíso in downtown Frederickston. The rumors she’d heard about the place didn’t do it justice. From its renaissance style architecture to the lush and lavish indoor gardens and outdoor reflecting pools—not to mention an indoor replica of Venice, complete with gondolier rides—the whole place was magical.
They walked across the huge marble lobby to the reservation desk, and for the first time in her life, Serena felt underdressed. While Noah got them checked in, she whispered into Gracie’s ear and pointed out the lovely crystal chandeliers and the enormous fish tanks set into the walls filled with colorful tropical fish. Across the way, a whole row of luxury designer boutiques beckoned.
Oh yeah. She was definitely going on a shopping spree later. After she got Gracie bathed and down for a nap. If Noah was willing to watch her.
“Okay,” Noah said, coming up beside her a few minutes later. “Here’s your key and a special card for the elevator. We’re on the top floor and it’s private access. No card, no admittance.”
“Cool.” They went over to board the elevators and the baby started fussing again. “Would you mind taking Gracie for a bit once we’re settled? I really could use a change of clothes.”
He held the elevators doors for her and stepped on board before putting his key card into the slot. The doors closed, shutting out the low murmur of the fountains and the sweet scent of lavender and vanilla, mixed with the fragrance of fresh green plants in the air. The place was surprisingly quiet given all the people milling about in the lobby.
As the elevator sped silently upward, she glanced over at Noah. His expression was unreadable and for a moment, she thought maybe he’d refuse to take the baby. After all, his mission was over now. But then he raised his chin and swallowed hard, the sleek muscles in his neck working.
“Yeah, I’ll take her,” he said as the elevator chimed and the door swished open to what looked like Shangri-La. “In fact, why don’t you give her to me now and you can go on ahead to shop? Maybe even go to the salon downstairs. I hear it’s like some kind of five-star place or something.”
Serena tore her gaze away from the stunning floor to ceiling views of downtown Frederickston across from them and turned her attention back to Noah. “Are you sure? She needs a bath and a fresh change. I just fed her a little while ago on the way here so she should be good there.”
“I’m sure,” he said, tossing his key cards down on the counter, then walking with her through the suite as they explored their new digs for the night. It was spectacular. No doubt about it. And Serena should know. She’s stayed in luxury resorts all over the world. The Premier Suite was room after room of pure decadence. From the plush Persian rugs covering the marble floors, to the full-sized grand piano in one corner of the luxe living room, it was a connoisseur’s delight. Antique furnishings filled the suite, along with an entertainment and sound system that was top of the line. Crystal and china dinnerware filled the full chef’s kitchen and the bathroom was like a spa experience in itself. Huge sunken marble tub big enough for two. A separate walk-in glass and travertine tile shower. Double vanity and enough thick plush towels and robes for a small army.
Serena was tempted to climb into that tub now and never come out. But first, she needed clothes. And a haircut. And a mani-pedi too.
Without another word, she handed over their daughter to Noah, then backed down the hallway toward the elevator. “I won’t be long, I promise.”
“Have a great time,” he called, holding the baby up next to his face so he could wave her little arm at Serena. “We’ll be fine, Mom.”
By the time Serena got back upstairs a few hours later, she felt like a new woman. Gone were her worn clothes and scruffy long hair. In their place was a spiffy new shoulder-length cut and a cute little cocktail dress for dinner that night. She’d also had her finger and toenails painted in a shade of fuchsia to match the flowers on her dress. In her hands were multiple shopping bags containing new tops and sweaters and jeans and pants and lingerie and socks. She’d also picked up a bunch of new things for Gracie and a couple of items for Noah, though he was harder to buy for. She wasn’t sure what his style was beyond the camo and T-shirts—or the jeans and sports coat she’d seen him in the night they’d met.
She made some educated guesses, given he was a guy and what guy didn’t love playing James Bond every once in a while? When the elevator dinged and she stepped out, she felt as excited as a kid at Christmas. The TV was on in the living room and Noah was on the couch, a sleeping Gracie in one arm and an ice bucket with a bottle of wine chilling in it on the coffee table in front of him.
“I hope you didn’t give the baby any of that,” she teased.
“What? No,” he said, swiveling slightly to see her, then stopping short. His poleaxed expression was compliment enough for her. “Wow. You look…”
Serena grinned. “Like it? I tried on a bunch of different stuff, but after wearing pants for so long, I wanted to feel like a girl tonight.”
“Beautiful,” he murmured, standing slowly as if in a daze. “You look beautiful, Serena.”
“Thanks.” Heat shimmered inside her as their eyes caught, held. Oh yeah. He was definitely getting some tonight. Was there anything hotter than a man with his kid? At the moment, she couldn’t think of anything. She set her bags aside, then rummaged around inside one of them for his gift. “Here, I got you something.”
She handed him the square blue box with one hand and took Gracie from him with the other. The baby stirred and stared at her with wide blue eyes, one tiny hand reaching up to grasp a strand of her hair. “Hi, baby girl. Do you like Mommy’s new do, huh? Do you?”
Gracie squealed with glee.
Noah opened the box and scowled. “You didn’t have to do this. It’s too expensive.”
“I know I didn’t have to,” she said, leaning slightly to see the glimmering silver of the Omega Planet Ocean Watch with Blue Dial she’d bought him. She’d asked the clerk what watch 007 would wear and the man had told her this one, so that was what she went with. She bit her lip. “I wanted to. After everything you’ve done for me and Gracie, I wanted to give you a gift. Don’t you like it?”
He inhaled deeply and looked up at her. “I love it. It’s incredible, but you don’t owe me anything for doing my job. Seeing you and Gracie happy and safe is enough for me.”
Her heart squeezed and her core melted. “Please, take it. I want you to have it, Noah.”
He pursed his lips and stared down at the watch again. The seconds ticked by slowly, until finally he smiled. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, then headed toward the bedroom. “Now, get ready because the man from the tailor shop downstairs will be up soon to fit you for your tux.”
“Tux?” Noah’s dark brows drew together. “What do I need a tux for?”
“The casino. The high-limit room only allows guests in formal dress in to play and I feel like gambling tonight. After all, I’ve been pretty lucky today so far.”
14
By the time Noah got through with the tailor and the alterations were made to his new tux, he had to admit he felt like a million bucks. As he admired his reflection in the mirror, it still took him a moment to wrap his head around the fact that this was real.
Twenty-four hours prior, he’d been scrambling to find a way to get Serena and Gracie out of this place and back home to the US without getting them all captured or killed—all while praying that Gracie’s fever wouldn’t get worse. Now, the bad guys were caught, the baby was better, and Serena had turned up after her spa day looking hot as hell.
Maybe after they gambled for a bit, they could come back here for a little romance…
“How are you doing in here?” Serena called from down the hall of the suite. Moments later came a soft knock on the door. “Can I come in? Are you decent?”
“Not since the day I was born,” he joked, then walked over to the door to open it. He expected to see her with Gracie in her arms, but she was solo. Serena had also changed, from the pink floral dress she’d had on earlier to a breathtaking deep purple gown that hugged her sweet curves in all the right places and made her creamy skin glow. Noah blinked and swallowed hard, opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again, fumbling for words. “You, uh. You look…stunning.”
“Thanks.” She tilted her head to the side and narrowed her gaze on him, reaching out to run her palms down his lapels. “You look pretty breathtaking yourself, sir.” Her fingers stopped at his wrist, tracing over the expensive Swiss timepiece there before taking his hand. “You might not like to wear a tux, but man. That tux loves you.”
A slow smile spread over Noah’s lips. He didn’t spend much time thinking about his looks. Usually he was too busy working or fighting. But tonight, he’d never been so glad that Serena found him attractive. Lord knew he couldn’t stop staring at her. The silky hair, the perfect makeup, the gorgeous face. The globes of her breasts teasing him over the top of her strapless gown, as if begging him to cup them in his hands and toy with her pretty pink nipples. His body tightened in response to his erotic thoughts and he coughed to clear the sudden constriction in his throat, focusing instead on more pressing concerns. “Where’s Gracie?”
“The hotel sent up a babysitter to watch her for us while we go to the casino.”
“You’re okay with that?” He frowned slightly. In all the time they’d been together the past days, Serena had seemed almost as protective of the baby as he was. Sure, they’d left her with the B&B owner’s daughter while they’d had dinner their first night at the B&B, but they’d been just a few steps away the whole time. “Are they qualified?”
“Immensely,” Serena said, sidling past him to smooth her hands down the back of his jacket, making him shiver slightly under her touch. God, it felt so good having her hands on him again. He almost closed his eyes and just enjoyed the moment, but a high squeak from Gracie echoed down the hall, jarring him. He glanced back at Serena over his shoulder, and she immediately answered his silent question. “I went over all the babysitter’s papers and even called a couple of references while you were in here with the tailor.” She brushed off his shoulders and smacked him lightly on the butt before snorting. “It was worth the wait.”
He chuckled, deciding he didn’t mind being treated like a sex object if Serena was the one doing it. After checking his cuff links one more time, he turned and offered her his arm to escort her back down the hall. “Well, if you’re satisfied, then I’m satisfied.”
They’d nearly reached the living room when Serena rose on tiptoes to whisper in his ear, “Later on, I hope we’ll both be satisfied, in bed.”
Damn if that didn’t make him almost trip over his feet. Noah managed to catch himself with a hand on the wall before he face-planted in front of the babysitter, his cheeks hot and his blood pounding in his ears. He barely heard the woman’s name and covered his gaffe with a stern nod of his head. The woman looked about sixty-five and was the epitome of what he thought of as the grandmotherly type. Grey hair pulled back in a bun, kindly smile, even wire-rimmed glasses.
Once
the introductions were made and Serena had given the sitter instructions for Gracie’s bedtime, he and Serena headed downstairs to the lavish casino. It was probably good he’d dressed like a secret agent tonight because damn if he didn’t feel like he’d walked onto the set of some international spy movie. From the elegant gaming tables lined up in rows down the huge casino showroom to the crystal chandeliers and carved marble decorations, posh didn’t begin to cover this place. They walked down a flight of stairs into the throngs of impeccably dressed people milling about. He’d been around his share of diplomats and world leaders during his time as a SEAL, but man. He half expected the Queen of England to come walking out at any time.
Noah resisted the urge to fidget in his pricey suit and allowed Serena to guide him toward the high-dollar room. Inside, tables of blackjack and baccarat were interspersed with roulette and other games.
“What do you play?” Serena asked, stopping at the side of the room.
“Poker.” He scanned the area. “See any open seats?”
“There’s one over there.” She pointed to a table across the space. “Go take it.”
“What about you?” he asked, frowning.
“I’m just going to watch for a while,” she said, reaching into her tiny evening bag to pull out a phone she must have bought that day, too. “Actually, I think I’m going to go out and call my brother, Nate. We’re not super close, but I feel like I should talk to him directly after everything that’s happened and let him know I’m okay.”
She’d mentioned her brother once, when she’d asked who’d hired him, but then hadn’t brought the man up again. He'd wondered about that but didn’t want to upset Serena by questioning her after everything she’d already been through. Lord knew he understood dysfunctional families better than most after the mess he’d grown up with. When she was ready, she’d talk to him. Until then, he refused to push.
