Page 51 of Laura's Truth

Hackett appreciated nothing as much as good theater. Unless it was a rock-solid alibi.

Chapter 12

Laura’s breath caught as she walked into the swanky restaurant. If she’d found Drew tempting in board shorts on the beach under a cool sunrise, she didn’t know how to define what she felt for him now in the formal tuxedo.

He stood as she approached the table, coming around to pull out her chair. “You smell delicious, Mrs. Ketterly,” he said softly, his lips brushing her cheek with a chaste kiss. “How’s the ankle?”

She wanted more, wanted to cling, but based on this morning’s experience, she didn’t want to risk it here. “It’s holding up,” she replied, taking her seat. They both needed absolute focus on the job rather than each other. Anything less than one hundred percent and they would deserve whatever Hackett threw their way.

“You look…” Sharp. Handsome as sin. Tempting. “Stunning,” she decided, as he settled back into his own seat across the table. “How was your afternoon?”

“I’m thinking it wasn’t nearly as productive as yours.”

She understood the sub-context and sympathized. How could he not harbor at least a little resentment over sticking with the team plan when she knew how badly he wanted to take on Hackett by himself?

If he only knew how relieved she’d been when Eva had told her about his choice. Feeling another smile spread across her face, she kept it light. “We had fun. More than I expected, really.” And they’d managed to dodge one clear attempt on her life in the process. She’d tell him about that later, when they could laugh about it and not worry about being overheard. Then she recalled the charges they’d racked up from King Street to Market, but it had been such a good, normal time. “I’ll pay you back,” she promised in a low whisper.

“That isn’t something to worry about tonight.”

“True.” She opened her menu when he did, reluctantly taking her eyes off the handsome picture he made. “Have you decided?”

“Not completely.” He rattled off his top choices and suggested an appetizer along with a white wine.

“Sounds good to me.” She wasn’t sure she could eat more than a bite of anything as the nerves jumped in her belly. “What time do we need to be at the theater?”

“We don’t have to go.”

She arched a brow. He seemed to be in an odd mood tonight, though she could hardly claim to know his moods well. Of course they had to go. It was part of the plan. And when they’d completed their round of guarding Aziz, they’d regroup at the hotel Eva had booked for them on the Isle of Palms.

“You don’t have to go,” he clarified.

As if that made it any better. She felt the bottom drop out of her stomach as her elation turned to defeat. If she didn’t go, if he didn’t want her to go, it could only mean he had something else planned.

A solitary showdown.

Well, she wasn’t about to let him make that kind of mistake. She raised her water glass and took a slow sip. When exactly had she started believing the hype over the reality? Mr. and Mrs. Ketterly, dressed for an elegant evening, didn’t exist beyond the task at hand. She pressed her legs together, using the revolver strapped to her thigh as a cold reminder of where things stood.

“Laura?”

“Hmm.” She couldn’t meet his gaze, not even when he reached out and lowered her menu. Instead, she watched the people passing by on the sidewalk outside.

“I’m not changing the plan.” He cleared his throat. “I swear. I only want you to be safe.”

His quiet intensity drew her full attention. Her eyes, body, it felt as though even her soul was listening and waiting for him to offer up some great profound statement.

“You’re worried about my safety?”

He nodded.

She realized she wasn’t worried about that at all. She trusted the team, the plan. She trusted him to stick by her and give it a chance to work. When had he become more important? Would she feel this way if they were sharing a meal in a dining facility on some forward operating base on the other side of the world? Her concern for him no longer had anything to do with guilt over what Hackett had done to his life. Nothing to do with her professional obligations. Everything inside her knew this had taken an absolutely personal detour.

It would be best for both of them if she focused on the job and their combined safety.

Anything else was silly. Ridiculous. An unexpected result of spending the day with three women in love chattering about weddings over late afternoon mojitos. Drew wasn’t the unexpected, white knight, love of her life. He was a man who needed her help to restore his life and reclaim his place in the world.

Her dress, his tux, the romantic atmosphere was an act. Part of the job. She had the good fortune to be working with a talented and honorable man, whether or not he wanted to admit it.

She clutched the menu in her lap to control the urge to reach out for him and confess her tangled, roiling feelings. “I don’t want to miss the show.” There, that sounded reasonable. “I’ve heard such good reviews.” Even better and more in character.