CHAPTER TWENTY
Sloane
A star-filled sky hung over our heads as we walked with Charles and Grace to a bar for predinner drinks.
Nerves sizzled in my stomach, and I prayed I was doing the right thing. Before getting dressed, I’d checked in with Agent Matthews and had gotten approval to allow Zane to help me. My handler actually seemed impressed with my quick thinking and use of available assets.
But I still worried that I was doing the right thing, pulling a man I was beginning to care for into this mess. Before I disconnected with him, Matthews’s last warning was for me to make sure I controlled the situation. But the man by my side wasn’t making that easy.
He proved that once again as we sat at a small table, having drinks with the other couple. His lips rarely left my face and his hands were all over me. It wasn’t that I disliked it, I actually loved it. But it was making it hard on me to concentrate enough to make small talk that might get some much-needed evidence on Smith.
I tried to think as Zane nibbled my neck. “I’m a photojournalist. You’ve probably seen some of my work if you’ve read a newspaper in the last few years. What is it you do, Grace?” I thought working on her first might ease Charles’ mind for when I asked him about his occupation.
But Grace didn’t answer me, Charles did the talking for her. “My girl has no need to work. Taking care of me is her job.” He ran his arm around her and pecked her cheek. “Isn’t that right, doll?”
Grace pressed her hand against his chest as she looked at him with large, grateful eyes. “That’s right. My job is to take care of you.”
Zane’s hot breath moved past my ear. “I’m going to take care of you all night long.”
A shudder ran through me, followed by a tingle along my inner thigh where Zane’s fingers roamed under my dress. I took his hand, moving it just a bit, as being diddled under the table wasn’t a very ladylike thing to do. Plus, I had business to attend to, a thing Zane seemed to be forgetting as he pawed me.
After taking a moment to calm my heated body and wandering mind, I turned my attention to Smith. “What is it you do for a living, Charles?”
“My family has an Italian restaurant in Jersey.”
“Mmm… Italian is my favorite. What’s the name? I’d love to try it if I get to that area.”
Smith seemed to be enjoying the show of my smacking Zane’s hand away. Maybe the tactic was brilliant. After all, how could he ever expect that I was trying to get him to expose important information that would have him spending time in the pen when I was busy with my hands-on boyfriend?
“Rubio’s. It’s a pretty nice joint. You have to try my ma’s meatballs. Oh, Lord, but they are to die for.” He rubbed his belly as he thought about the food.
“I’ll do that. How long will you be on the island?” I pushed Zane’s hand down as it was creeping up my side. Holding it, I hoped that would keep it still for a while.
“As long as I want. I booked the place for two weeks. Some friends of mine are going to come for a few days sometime next week. Grace will be left alone while I spend some time with them. You guys should keep her entertained for me.” He eyed Zane. “Can you do that? Keep my girl entertained while I do a bit of business?”
“Absolutely. Anything for you.” Zane gave him a smile then nodded toward Grace. “You can hang with us. That’ll be fun.”
“That will be fun,” I added, smiling at Grace. My pulse had picked up speed at the news, as I I was confident that I knew who his buddies were. If I could get a date of their arrival, then I could call in the big boys to make the bust. “When are your friends coming?”
He shrugged. “Like I said, sometime next week. We don’t like to set dates and shit like that. We’re a bunch of fly by the seat of our pants kinds of guys.” He ran his hand over Grace’s cheek. “I don’t want my doll here to have to deal with my friends. Some of them are crude.”
I leaned up, resting my elbows on the table, feeling Zane’s fingers trail down my back as his lips pressed against my shoulder. “Why don’t you just blow them off if they’re not the kind of people you want around your girl?”
Charles snorted. “Not that easy cutting some people out of your life.”
I smiled. “Kind of like family.”
He laughed. “Exactly. Can’t get along with them. Can’t kill them. So what do you do?”
I lifted my glass to him. “You smile and deal with them the best you can?”
He clinked. “Exactly.”
Unsure of how far I should push him with questions, I decided to not press the visit further just now. Besides, I was beginning to worry about the recording device as I’d felt the tape tug a few times when Zane pulled me close to his side. I decided to check it.
“I’m going to visit the ladies’ room.”
I hoped Grace wasn’t one of those females who felt that no woman should ever pee alone. She apparently wasn’t because she stayed while I excused myself.
Zane smacked my ass before I could get away from the table. “Hurry back. I miss you already.”
I wasn’t sure if he was playing the part of a starry-eyed lover or if he really was one. Although I thrived on his attention, this much PDA was overboard, by a lot.
Once I got into the restroom, I made sure the wire was still in place before opening my purse to listen to the receiver. Tucking buds in my ears, I turned it on and spot-checked the track.
Heavy breathing.
Rustling clothes.
More heavy breathing.
Sexy whispers.
More sexy whispers.
Shit.
I could hear Smith talking, which was the most important part, but I was annoyed with the other sounds that seemed to take over the recording. The unprofessional sounds. I could never share this with Agent Matthews.
Disgusted with myself, I stuffed the receiver and earbuds back into my purse. This was my fault. I’d handed over control, and it had cost me.
Going back out, I found Zane waiting at the table for me alone. He stood when he saw me. “We’re going to meet them at the restaurant.”
I marched right past him. “You go eat with them. I’m too mad to eat.”
With one strong hand, he stopped me. “Hold on a minute. What the hell are you mad about?”
Looking around the bar, I knew this wasn’t the place. “Outside, come on.”
Even as I tried to take the lead to leave the bar, he wouldn’t let me. He took my hand and walked in front of me. As soon as we were out of earshot, he stopped and held me by my shoulders. “Now tell me what you’re so mad about. You have some good information. Someone he isn’t thrilled to be meeting is coming to see the man. Surely, we can get some pictures of him meeting the people. Maybe even find a way to plant a recording device on him or something like that. We have time to plan now. I can get anything we need sent to us.”
I was shaking, I was so mad. Mostly at myself. “Zane, the recording is useless. Thanks to your constant foreplay, all you can hear is your breathing, whispering, and my clothes rubbing the mic.”
His brows went up, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Shit. I didn’t think about that. I’m sorry.” He took me by the shoulders again and looked me in the eyes. “But we have information anyway. Don’t let that little mishap piss you off so much you don’t go to dinner.”
How could I tell him that I was mad as hell at myself and I had to figure out what the fuck I was doing? The professional agent in me was taking a back seat to the new girlfriend I’d become. I had to take some time to redirect myself.
“Look, my stomach hurts. I don’t feel well at all. I’m going to my place to take a hot bath.” I began to walk away.
He didn’t try to stop me. “I’m sorry, Sloane. I really am.”
“I know, Zane. I just need to be alone for a while.”
I looked over my shoulder and found him heading to the restaurant. I suppose he didn’t want to stand the other couple up. All I knew was that I needed to get on the phone with Matthews as quickly as possible and give him the information I did have.
The lost recording wasn’t the end of the world, but me losing the controlling hand was. Zane was such a powerhouse. I knew it would be next to impossible to get him to follow my lead.
I had to figure out what to do or end his involvement completely. Even if I did have to tell him he was falling for a liar. In the end, I was there to do a job, not fall in love.
As soon as I got into my bungalow, I called Agent Matthews.
“What do you have, Anderson?”
“Some of the rabbit’s friends will be coming to play sometime next week.” I explained the full conversation and that we’d been asked to babysit his girlfriend.
I fell back on the bed, feeling frustrated.
“You can’t get a date for us?”
“He said they don’t do dates and I doubt I’ll be given enough lead time to scramble a last minute team. If you send a few agents here early next week and have them stay for the whole week, I’m sure we could make an even bigger bust than we’d planned on.”
“You’re probably right. I’ll talk to my men and get a plan of action in place. How’s everything else going?”
“Fine,” I lied.
Everything wasn’t going fine. I’d lost control. But I wasn’t about to admit that to my boss. I’d work it all out. Even if it meant losing Zane.
“Okay. Keep your eye on the prize. It looks like you’ll be bringing home more than one bad guy, Anderson. Way to go. Way to use what you have available to you. I have to admit, you’ve surprised me. You’ve got a real gift there. With that sweet face and natural, innocent look, no one would believe you were filling them full of shit. You’re learning a lot from this mission.”
My gut twisted. “Thank you, sir. Over.” I put down the phone and hurried to the bathroom. I was going to be sick.
Sick of myself. Sick of being a paid liar. Sick of the fact I was going to hurt a man I was growing to care more and more for with each passing moment.
What do I do now?