Sutton was very business-like as they landed on a private airstrip and disembarked. He didn’t say anything about their near-kiss or even look as if it had affected him. Liz had a hard time getting her heart rate to slow down with him simply being near. That almost-touch of their lips had about done her in.

As they stood on the tarmac, she was shocked to see over a dozen of the well-built young men she’d seen at the wedding spilling out of the plane she had been on.

“Where did you hide them?”

Sutton glanced at his men then back to her. “It’s a big plane.”

It was indeed. She wondered why Sutton had stayed with her the entire time and why the men had given them so much privacy.

“It’s a lovely plane,” she said. “You’ve done very well for yourself, Sutton.”

One side of his lip lifted in a smirk. “Too little, too late, right Liz?”

“What does that mean?” She folded her arms across her chest.

A young man approached them. “We’ll follow you to the mansion, sir.” He nodded toward several limousines that had recently arrived.

“Thank you, Steve.”

“Any word from River?” Steve asked.

Liz perked up. Why wouldn’t Sutton have told her immediately if there was word from River?

“I’m tracking his location. They’re above the Pacific right now. He’ll check in soon.”

“Everything is going perfectly,” Steve said.

“Thank you for your hard work.” Sutton inclined his chin to him, and the white-blond haired young man followed his buddies to another limousine as the driver of their car opened the door and Sutton stepped back to allow Liz to enter first.

She settled into the plush leather seat, adjusting her formal dress. It would be nice to change out of the tight dress, but she was so used to being dolled up it didn’t bother her to stay in it.

Sutton sat down next to her, and his smell wrapped around her. She wanted to know why he’d made that flippant comment. Did he assume she’d married the duke for money? How laughable. Her net worth was miles above the duke’s, even now. Her father had made sure to set up Ally for life and the remainder of his funds transferred solely to Liz when he died. The duke had commandeered all of her money initially to build his empire, but he didn’t know about the accounts that her father had made untouchable to him. The accounts she and Kingsley had made James believe he was getting access to when he signed the divorce papers. If only her father had been brave enough to get Liz away from the duke. She didn’t blame him though. They’d tried twice. The duke’s men had easily killed anyone who helped her and covered their tracks so well nobody ever cried foul play.

She focused back on the man next to her. Sutton came from money so why was he acting all weird and jealous. “What was that daft comment about money?”

Sutton turned to her. His eyes swept carefully over her face. “Forgive me, Liz. This isn’t easy for me.”

The breath was walloped out of Liz. What wasn’t easy? Being around her wasn’t easy? She had no response for that and was relieved when Sutton’s phone rang. She stared out the window at a bright sunny day and realized she had no clue where she was.

Sutton ended his call a few minutes later, and she said brightly, “So, where have you taken me?”

He gave her a brief smile. “California. My home for the past twenty-five years.”

Trees and flowered bushes slid past the window. “It’s lovely.” England was cold and wet in February, but spring was in full bloom here.

He chuckled. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Liz glanced at him, but his ever-patient smile gave nothing away. She turned back to the window. They climbed up a rise through wooded sections, with brief glimpses of the ocean on their left-hand side. A large wrought-iron gate halted their progress. The driver talked to the guards briefly. Then they were rolling through the gate. Trees lined both sides of the road now. The climb leveled off, and suddenly, the forest gave way to sweeping grass. A stunning English Tudor-style home was on top of the bluff with the sea down below the cliff, stretching out to nothingness. The home was massive, and she could see other buildings, probably garages, shops, or guest homes that imitated the exterior of the main mansion. The afternoon sun was descending toward the ocean and framing the gorgeous home.

“Oh.” She gasped. She’d seen a lot of breathtaking estates in her day, but this one was absolutely perfect. “I love it.”

Sutton nodded, seeming pleased with her approval. “Thank you.”

“We’re going to stay here?” She hated to question him but staying here seemed ill-conceived. James had seen her dance with Sutton. She and Ally had both disappeared last night. Sutton’s home would be the first place he looked.

“No. Agatha is coordinating the yacht being loaded with supplies right now. We’ll leave tonight. The duke will need time to coordinate his men, but the first place he’ll come looking for us is here.”

“You’re right. You’re smart to be leery of him.”

“Make no mistake, Liz. I’m not running from him. I’m getting you somewhere safe. Then I will take the battle to him like he’s never seen.”

Liz whirled to face him. His eyes were so blue and colder than ever. “Sutton, no. I can see how brave, commanding, and tough you are, but you have to stop dismissing me like some ankle biter! You don’t understand the reach of his power. The empire he’s built.” She clenched her fists. “You should just let him have me and live your life. I can’t stand the thought of him hurting you.”

The car pulled to a stop in front of the mansion, and the driver got out and opened the door. Neither of them moved. The silence was heavy and it pained her. She and Sutton never used to have silence and fears and pains. Yet happiness for them was in the past. Now silence and pain was all they had.

Sutton’s fingers gently lifted her chin up until she was meeting his gaze. “Your worry for me is endearing, Duchess.” The way he said those words, her worry was not endearing to him at all, more irritating. “But your duke has no chance against me. I will win, and then you’ll be free to live.”

Liz could hardly breathe with him staring at her like that. It was clear he was not happy with her questioning him, but was there something in his gaze that said he wanted her to be free to live a happy life … with him?

Sutton released her and gestured for her to get out of the car. Liz gathered herself and took the driver’s outstretched hand and stepped out. Sutton stood next to her as she let the warm air seep into her skin. It wasn’t humid like London, and she luxuriated in the dry warmth as she enjoyed the open view out to sea. She wished they could stay here.

“Where is your yacht?” she asked.

He pointed across the bay that was south of his mansion and stretched back inland. She loved the view he had of the open ocean, the bay, and then the forest behind them.

“How soon are we leaving?” she asked.

“Tonight.”

“Under the cover of darkness?” she asked, trying to tease him with an eyebrow lifted.

He simply smirked at her.

“You really are James Bond,” she said.

He laughed. “No. I’m much wealthier than Bond, and I’m the boss.” Placing a hand on her lower back, he escorted her up the front porch steps. She glanced around for the men that had been following them in the other car, but they had all disappeared.

“How many men do you have under your command?”

Sutton stopped next to the twelve-foot double-entry doors. “Enough, Liz. You’ll be safe.”

Liz blinked up at him. He seemed so confident, but she really doubted he had any clue what he was up against. Questioning him seemed to frustrate him, but sometime soon, she needed to explain better the breadth of the duke’s power. She wouldn’t doubt if the Queen herself owed James a favor.

The door burst open, and a darling woman with a fluff of white hair and a loud patterned tunic with yellow and purple swirls on it grinned at them. “Well, there you are! Come in, come in.”

Sutton gestured for Liz to go first. The massive entryway with slate floors and three-story windows was lost on Liz as the little woman grabbed her in a hug. “Do you even remember me?”

Liz arched back and looked at the softly-wrinkled face. “Agatha?”

“That’s right, doll. That’s right.” She hugged her again. It felt wonderful to be wrapped in a motherly embrace. Liz had lost her own mother as a teenager and her father had never remarried, or been overly warm. Agatha held her at arm’s length and looked her over. “Oh, my goodness! You are stark-raving gorgeous. You’re prettier now than you were as a teenager.”

Liz had heard about her beauty nonstop throughout her life, but something about this sweet woman’s innocent declaration had her blushing. She snuck a glance at Sutton. His eyes on her were filled with longing, until he met her gaze. Then his face turned hard and stoic.

“Thank you,” Liz said. “It’s lovely to see you again.”

“You as well.” Agatha took her arm and led her to a grand staircase. “Let’s get you up to a room, and you have a lie down for a few hours. How does that sound, love?”

It sounded wonderful. Liz hadn’t slept at all last night on the plane, and the mention of rest had her legs weakening.

“I’ve got you plenty of clothes on the yacht and a change of clothes and toiletries upstairs. I’ve been planning this for days. Isn’t it fun?” Agatha let out a happy squeal.

Liz laughed. It wasn’t fun at all, except for those brief moments Sutton had met her gaze or touched her, but Agatha was a bright light. They reached the balcony at the top of the stairs, and Liz couldn’t resist looking down at Sutton. He hadn’t moved. He stared up at her, and his blue eyes weren’t as icy as before.

“Don’t you worry about my boy,” Agatha said, tugging on her arm. “He’ll get everything set up, and I’ll make us a lovely dinner. Then we’re off on our escapade when the sun sets.”

Liz wondered how Agatha could look at this like some party, but it was refreshing to not focus on her own worries or Sutton’s significant glances. “Will you be coming with us on the yacht?”

“Of course, love. I’m Alfred, you see?”

“Alfred?” Liz’s brow wrinkled as they entered a large suite with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the ocean beyond.

“Yes, Sutton’s Batman, and I’m Alfred. The one who makes sure he’s fed, makes sure the Batcave doesn’t smell like dirty socks. The truly indispensable one in the operation. I don’t usually go on the adventures, dear. I’m too busy setting everything up for the next one. It’s a jolly good time.” She pulled Liz into a bathroom where several outfits were laid out, as well as almost as many beauty products as Liz had at home.

“You did all of this for me?”

“Of course, darling.”

“And you think Sutton’s Batman?”

Agatha chuckled. “It fits, right?”

“He reminds me more of James Bond.”

Agatha’s nose wrinkled. “No. Bond’s too much of a womanizer for my Sutton.”

Liz’s spirits lifted. Did that mean Sutton wasn’t a womanizer?

“Plus, then I’d have to be M. She’s too stuffy for me. I’d rather be Alfred, the Michael Caine version of course. Oh, I do fancy him. Or maybe Catwoman. Rar!” She lifted her hands like claws and laughed. “Okay, love. You must be knackered after all you’ve been through. Take a shower or a bath and then get a little kip. I’m on dinner. We’ll be out of here and safe, far away from that nasty husband of yours soon.”

Agatha patted her arm and hurried out of the bathroom.

“Cheers.” Liz called after her.

“Cheers!”

The bedroom door shut, and Liz was alone. As she peeled off her formal and pulled the pins from her hair, she hated that she suddenly felt so alone and almost depressed. She was always by herself at home. The brief moments of sunshine when Sutton looked at her a certain way, or touched her, or Agatha’s bright voice and warm hugs made her yearn for a far different life than would ever be possible for her.

* * *

Sutton watched Liz ascend the stairs with his heart in his throat. Staying cold and detached from her was the worst mission he’d had in years.

No. Doug’s death had been so much worse. He thought of his son, so full of life, charm, and jokes. What would Doug think of Liz? He would like her, but that didn’t mean much. Doug had liked everyone.

Sutton shook his head and marched into his office off the entryway. The real bones of his operation were underneath the mansion in the control center, but he was suddenly too exhausted to walk down the steps. He’d had no sleep last night, and the constant pressure to hold himself aloof from Liz was slowly and surely ripping him apart.

He sat in his office chair and dialed Barry Duncan’s number.

“Sutton.” Barry’s voice boomed out. “Thanks for getting back to me.”

“How’d you get on with the duke after Liz and Ally disappeared?”

“Oh, he was great. That schmoozer doesn’t want anything to ever appear out of place. I thought he might accuse me of helping steal his daughter and kidnap his wife, but he was all business. Money grubber for sure.”

“Yes, he is,” Sutton agreed, though he could think of much worse names to call Gunthry. “And the contracts are getting established?”

“Yep. I’m going to have all kinds of products shipped with the duke. River tipped me off to another idea besides planting the heroin and cocaine on Gunthry’s boats to frame him.”

He sat straighter. He loved any ideas that would hurt the duke. “Yes?”

“The group River’s been working with targets human traffickers throughout the world. It appears the duke has his hands as deep in that pot as anyone around. He may not be a trafficker, but he’s not shying away from providing transportation services to the slime of the earth. River’s contacts want to work with us to tip off the U.S. and British Coast Guards and Interpol at the same time. Wouldn’t it be fun to nail him for that, and we don’t have to do a blasted thing but have the anti-traffickers keep an eye out for the right timing?”

“The only problem is I want it all to come down on the same day that I oust him in the House of Lords for … past crimes.” It wasn’t that he didn’t trust River’s father, but he’d learned to be careful about sharing the entirety of a plan with too many people. Kingsley and Zane, one of his SEALs, were the only ones, besides him, that were in on everything.

“Oh, gotcha. All right. We’ll stay the course but see what we can work with on this angle as well. I think he transports for the traffickers regularly enough we should be able to catch him on both.”

“Brilliant. Thank you.”

“No, thank you. Because of you, my son is safe with the woman he loves, and I haven’t had this much fun in years.”

Sutton chuckled and ended the call. He stared out the window at the wooded section of his property to the northeast. Everything was going to fall into place beautifully, and the duke would regret the day he’d crossed Sutton’s path. Yet Sutton wasn’t thinking of the fury on Gunthry’s face when his world fell apart. He was thinking of Liz’s sweet smile when Agatha had hugged her in the entryway. Why couldn’t he be the one hugging her?