Page 42 of Laura's Truth
Laura had made a good case for the detour, refusing to attempt even the smallest inquiry over the internet, and throwing back his words about burning a safe ID with a phone call. That was his fault, emphasizing Hackett’s reach, but Drew was confident any form of communication for Laura, Ross, and Aziz that could be tapped already was.
Finally, the demonstration of Hackett’s influence had sufficiently spooked her. Knowing a delay of a few hours to Haleswood wouldn’t matter to the endgame didn’t make it any less frustrating. Drew wanted this chapter of his life closed.
While she claimed there had been nothing incriminating in her car or hotel room, that didn’t mean Hackett felt the same way. The bastard made his living exploiting every detail to the fullest.
Drew heard the sliding door from the bedroom to the balcony draw open behind him, heard it close again.
“Good morning,” she said in a voice rough with sleep.
Sexy was only the tip of that iceberg and he struggled for a diversion. “I hope so,” he replied quietly. When he hadn’t been dreaming of being caught in the crossfire of automatic weapons, he’d dreamed of Ross pounding him to a bloody pulp on a dirt street straight out of a classic Western movie.
“Ross will understand,” she said, joining him at the balcony rail.
“That’s hardly the biggest concern,” he said, hoping she didn’t hear him trying to convince himself.
“All right.” Her hand landed softly on his shoulder, then was gone before he could enjoy it. “I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”
Telling himself he was thankful for the solitude, he kept his gaze on the ocean. He couldn’t afford to like her, couldn’t risk everything that would follow if he let himself slide in that direction.
While she showered, he made coffee and took stock of their assets, such as they were. He packed up the laptop and hid the handguns in the shopping bags from the beach store. They’d leave the duffel and clothing here to make it appear that they’d be returning to the room. He had to keep believing they’d return victorious.
When she emerged from the bathroom dressed in a turquoise swimsuit and fluttery sun dress cover-up in a sunny shade of yellow, he got cleaned up while she put together leftovers for breakfast.
At the nineteen-minute mark, they left the room arm in arm. Following the plan, they put on a show for the security cameras. Kissing in the elevator, they were all smiles as they dropped the shopping bags into the trunk of his car before heading out to the beach for an early morning walk. He hoped her ankle would hold up to the effort, knew she wouldn’t mention it or let the pain show if it didn’t.
He gave her waist a gentle squeeze. “You look great.”
“Thanks.” She pulled her sunglasses down her nose, leaning back and giving him an admiring look from head to toe. “You’re looking all buff and yummy yourself.”
He laughed. She’d missed her calling as an actress. The way she leaned into him, the sweet, fleeting touches of lips and hands, those gorgeous eyes full of simmering desire… His body wanted to believe she was that interested. “You don’t want to oversell it,” he reminded her.
“What’s to oversell?” Her flip-flops hanging from her free hand, she strolled toward the water until the ocean lapped gently at her ankles with each step. “It’s a beautiful morning to share with my hubby.”
He glanced around, but no one was within earshot. “Are you pretending I’m your real boyfriend?”
“No such creature in my life.”
“Okay.” That shouldn’t make him feel so good. “So this is how you’ll be when you do get married?” And why was he practically holding his breath waiting for her answer? It shouldn’t matter so damned much.
She nudged her sunglasses into place. “As this is the closest I’m likely to get to that idyllic moment, I’m embracing it.”
“That can’t be true. You’re smart and gorgeous. The men should be lining up.”
“Careful,” she warned, a smile curving her lovely mouth, “if you make me all tense, it might blow our cover.”
“If anyone at the hotel identified you, we’d know it by now.”
“And yet, here we are, playing for the oblivious—and generally invisible—bystanders.”
He stopped, drew her around until she was caught in his arms, her body brushing his from chest to thigh. “I believe in thoroughly assuming the role that needs played in any given moment.”
“Promise?”
“It’s what keeps me alive.” He tightened his embrace, feeling her breath catch and her body quiver as her hands fluttered on his shoulders. It was a heady sensation knowing he wasn’t the only one affected by whatever chemistry kept sparking between them.
If Ross killed him, if Hackett succeeded, Drew wanted a real taste of Laura to carry with him out of this life.
Slowly, he lowered his head and kissed her. Thoroughly. When her mouth softened under his, when her arms slipped around his neck, he took them both deeper. Her mouth was sweet. Intoxicating. And as hot as the sun climbing up over the water.