Cooper Security 06 - Secret Intentions (12 page)

“We old grumps may prefer to stay here, smoke cigars and drink brandy, but you, my dear, are entirely too lovely to rub elbows with old men when the opportunity to dance with your companion presents itself.” He looked at Jesse with an indulgent smile. “Go enjoy yourselves. You’ll be staid and boring in due time.”

Since the secretary of energy had already left for the evening, Jesse saw no reason not to do as the ambassador asked. The idea of dancing cheek to cheek with Evie posed a temptation he was in no mood to ignore tonight.

They made their way back to the ballroom, where a group of musicians had assembled in one corner of the room and was playing a slow, bluesy version of “I Only Have Eyes for You.”

Evie looked up at Jesse. “The terrace?”

He nodded agreement, stifling an unexpected twinge of disappointment at being denied the chance to take her in his arms and dance her around the ballroom floor. But when they reached the terrace, he saw that most of the couples braving the cool night air were dancing as well, as the music from the ballroom carried all the way across the corridor to the outdoors.

Jesse held out his hand. “No avoiding it now.”

She smiled and took his hand, letting him pull her into his arms. “I hope you’re better at this than I am.”

“I’ve been to a Marine Ball or two.” He guided her slowly around the terrace, looking for a place where they could continue their conversation without being overheard. They headed down a set of steps into the garden itself before they found a spot secluded enough to risk speaking freely, and even then, they were in view of several other couples strolling through the gardens under the watchful eyes of embassy staff.

Jesse pulled her back into his arms and started to dance again, even though the music was barely audible from where they stood. “Loosen up, Evie. We have to look as if we’re enjoying ourselves. Now, tell me what Talbot Dreier told you.” Jesse bent his head closer, his cheek brushing hers. He closed his eyes for a second, fighting a fierce rush of desire that threatened to overwhelm his usual sense of control.

“It was all innuendo,” Evie admitted, “but I don’t think I’m wrong about what she meant.” She repeated the conversation in detail. “Do you see why I think he’s having an affair?”

He did. “Secretary Gamble was here for a few minutes early in the evening, gave his regrets to the ambassador and left.”

“Did anyone else leave at the same time?” she asked, sounding curious.

“If so, nobody commented on it.”

“Surely someone knows who he’s seeing on the side, don’t you think?” As a couple of guests moved near them, she stepped closer, lifting her face toward his. “Just pretend we’re any young couple, dancing together in the British ambassador’s rose garden.” He heard a hint of dry humor in her voice.

If she knew what her touch did to him, would she find the situation so amusing? He could barely breathe, his heart racing like a rabbit chased by a coyote. Desire coiled low in his belly, a wily serpent preparing to strike.

He wanted her. Time to deal with reality.

He had never thought of her as anything but Rita’s sister before now. Never considered what it would be like to touch her, kiss her or make love to her. He’d been Rita’s fiancé and she’d been Rita’s sister. The relationship had begun and ended there.

But he wasn’t Rita’s now. Rita had found someone else, someone she loved. And the way he felt these days when Evie was around—what if that meant something important? What if there could be more than simple animal attraction between them? Was that even possible?

She smelled good. Felt good, her curvy body soft against his.

She lifted her face, gazing at him. He saw a question there, deep in the smoldering blue depths of her eyes. His body quickening in answer, he tightened his arm around her waist, drawing her closer still. Her hands flattened against his back, her hips sliding against his thighs. He flexed his leg, and her body shifted, her legs parting, tangling with his.

He exhaled in a rush, pressing his forehead against hers. “Evie—”

She cradled his face between her palms. “Yes?”

He gazed at her, drowning in arousal.

Sliding upward, her breasts flattening against his chest, she kissed him.

A low groan rumbled through him as he responded, his mouth hard and hungry over hers. She parted her lips, inviting him in, her tongue dancing against his, sending shudders rippling down his spine. The sound of murmured conversation around them faded away, leaving only the thunderous cadence of his pulse in his ears and the ragged whisper of their mingled breaths.

You broke her heart.

General Marsh’s voice rang in Jesse’s head, a memory and an indictment. Another memory flashed through his desire-addled brain, breaking through the heat. Rita’s face, stained by tears and misery. She’d asked so little of him, hadn’t she? Just to find another career, away from the Marine Corps and the constant threat of danger. He could have done it. Hell, he had done it, when leaving the Marine Corps had suited his own needs.

He closed his hands over Evie’s arms and set her away from him.

“No.” He released his grip on her, feeling ill.

She stared at him, trying to breathe without gasping. “No?”

“We can’t do this.”

A look of dismay flitted across her face before her expression went neutral. “Oh.”

He lifted his hand to touch her again but let it drop back to his side. “It’s a bad idea on every level. I never should have let it happen. You’re Rita’s sister.”

“Right.” Her jaw tightened. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s mine.”

“Nobody’s fault. And no harm done.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure?”

“I got caught up in the romance of this place, I guess.” She laughed lightly. “We’re lucky it wasn’t poor Agent Darcy who was out here dancing with me! What would he have thought when I planted one on him?”

Jesse felt a stab of jealousy at the thought, but he fought to cover it. “Right. Caught up in the moment.”

“We should probably be mingling with the crowd, shouldn’t we?” Around them, the other couples had started moving inside as the October night deepened, bringing with it an uncomfortable chill. He slowly followed Evie to the terrace doors.

* * *

E
VIE WAS RELIEVED
to run into Darcy back in the ballroom, glad for a buffer between her and Jesse after the fiasco in the garden. Darcy stood near the entrance, talking to a man Evie recognized as the State Department spokesman. She’d seen him on television a few times, although she couldn’t remember his name.

Darcy introduced them. “Tom, this is an old friend of mine, Jesse Cooper, and his friend Evelyn Martin. Jesse, Evelyn, this is Tom Claiborne.”

“Cooper,” Claiborne said with a slight narrowing of his eyes. Evie felt Jesse go tense beside her. “The security expert.”

“And you’re the State Department spokesman,” Jesse replied lightly, although Evie read wariness in his dark eyes.

Claiborne lowered his voice. “Your run-ins with Barton Reid were an anomaly. Reid is not representative of the entire Department of State.”

“Right.” Jesse didn’t sound convinced.

Claiborne ignored his skepticism. “What are you doing in the capital?”

“Sightseeing. Been a while since I was in D.C. and I thought it was time to visit again.”

“And scored a ticket to this party?” Claiborne arched his eyebrows.

“That was my doing,” Darcy said smoothly. “I know Cooper through a mutual friend who asked me to make sure he got to meet Henry Steed, because they have a few things in common.”

“Really?” It was Claiborne’s turn to look skeptical.

“We’re both avid anglers,” Jesse said with a relaxed smile. “Although neither of us gets to indulge ourselves much these days. Too busy.”

Claiborne turned his gaze to Evie. His scrutiny was sudden and intense, making her feel as if someone had turned a spotlight on her. “Forgive me, Ms. Martin. Rude of us to leave you out of the conversation.”

She smiled, digging deep for control to keep from showing her unease. “I didn’t feel left out,” she assured him. “I’ve enjoyed watching your press briefings. You’re very good at your job.”

“Thank you.”

If she’d hoped her polite but impersonal flattery would appease his interest and shift his focus away from her, she was disappointed. He snagged a glass of champagne as a butler passed and offered a glass to Evie.

“Thank you, no,” she said with another polite smile. “I’ve had enough.”

“You look so familiar,” Claiborne said.

A lightning bolt of panic raced through her, but she struggled not to show any reaction. “I get that a lot. I must look like some actress or something.”

“No, that’s not it—”

“I’m sure you’ll remember tomorrow, but for tonight, we must bid you good-night.” Darcy stepped between Evie and Claiborne, clapping the State Department spokesman on the shoulder.

“So early?”

“I have a meeting first thing in the morning, and Jesse and Evelyn wanted to get an early start on their sightseeing in the morning.” He turned to Evie and Jesse, a look of apology on his face. “Come, shall we bid Henry and Eleanor good-night?”

Jesse and Evie said a quick goodbye to Claiborne and followed Darcy from the ballroom. Moments later, they found Henry Steed and his wife in the drawing room.

“So soon?” Henry asked when Darcy told him they were leaving.

“I have a planning meeting in the morning for a state visit from a foreign dignitary,” Darcy explained.

“And we’re going to try to get in as much sightseeing tomorrow as possible,” Jesse added, stealing Darcy’s earlier excuse for them. “Evelyn hasn’t visited D.C. before, and I don’t want her to miss anything.”

“My dear, do wear comfortable shoes!” Henry said with a soft laugh, shaking Evie’s hand. “And take plenty of photographs. You will regret it if you don’t.”

Finally back in the limousine, Evie slumped against the seat back, feeling boneless. “I think Claiborne recognized me. It’s just a matter of time before he figures it out.”

“How would he know you?” Jesse asked.

“Her photograph has been all over the local papers,” Darcy said. “She looks different now, of course,” he said, waving his hand at her short, dyed hair, “but—”

“But maybe not different enough,” Jesse finished for him. He looked at Evie. “We’d better not go back to the motel. Too many eyes around there. Too many people who might figure out who you really are.” He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have brought you here with me.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Let’s not go through this again.”

“I can check you out of the motel if you wish,” Darcy suggested. “And arrange new lodgings.”

“Any other motel we check into will pose the same problem,” Evie said. “Unless you’re suggesting we leave D.C. altogether.”

“Maybe we should.” Jesse’s gaze darkened.

“No. We finally have a lead, as nebulous as it is—”

“A lead?” Darcy asked.

Evie and Jesse both looked at the DSS agent, then back at each other.

“Or is this a need-to-know situation?” Darcy asked.

“He might know something that could help us,” Evie said softly.

Jesse frowned.

“I realize you have reason not to trust people in general at the moment.” Darcy’s tone was quiet and calm. “But I
am
on your side. I have seen the damage done by MacLear and the Special Services Unit. I’ve lost friends and colleagues to their underhanded machinations. If what you’re doing now will bring them down for good, I will do whatever I can to give you aid. But I am hamstrung if you keep vital information from me.”

“Tell him,” Evie urged.

Jesse took a deep breath, glancing toward the limousine chauffeur barely visible through the smoky glass partition separating the passenger seats from the driver’s seat. “Can he hear us?”

Darcy shook his head. “The glass is soundproof as well as bullet resistant. To speak to him, I have to press an intercom button.”

“Could the limo be bugged?”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake!” Evie turned to Darcy. “It’s not a state secret or anything. We just think Secretary Gamble may be cheating on his wife.” She summarized her conversation with Talbot Dreier, also pointing out the secretary of energy’s impolitic quick exit from the party.

Darcy’s only reaction was a slight twitch of one eyebrow. “Infidelity is hardly an anomaly in D.C. politics.”

“Still, it gives us a lever,” Jesse said. “If the Espera Group is corrupt enough to hire the SSU to do their dirty work, they have no business influencing global energy policy. We need to know just how involved Secretary Gamble might be in their push for the treaty and stop him.”

“And you think knowing that he’s cheating on his wife will give you the leverage you need to do that?” Darcy sounded skeptical.

“It’s more than we had before today,” Evie said.

“But what do you have, really?” Darcy gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “Innuendo at best, from a woman who believes politics and cronyism are keeping her husband from rising more quickly in the government ranks. She’s hardly a disinterested observer.”

Evie’s exasperation level was reaching the boiling point. “So you agree with Jesse? We should just run back home to Alabama with our tails tucked between our legs?”

“I’m pretty sure I never suggested that,” Jesse murmured drily.

“I think it’s an opening. But just an opening. You need more.”

“We’re not stupid. We know that.” Jesse’s scornful look would have felled a lesser man, but Darcy merely looked placid and mildly amused.

“If we need more, we’ll get more,” Evie said firmly.

“Any ideas how you intend to do that?”

The limousine’s arrival at the curb outside Annie Harlowe’s apartment saved Evie from having to answer. Instead, she gave Darcy a polite nod as the driver came around to open the door from them.

“Thank you for the ride and the party invitation,” she said primly, letting the driver help her out.

Darcy stepped out with them. “My offer to check you out of your previous motel stands. Do you know where you’ll be staying?”

Jesse looked at Evie. “Why not here at Annie’s apartment? Cooper Security is paying for the place anyway, and there are two bedrooms.”