Seducing the Accomplice (3 page)

“Are you asking me to have dinner with you?”

No, it was just the insane urge to make sure she was okay. He could try to tell himself it was only because she was all alone in a country like Albania, but it was more than that. “What if I was?” he asked anyway.

“I’d have to be honest and tell you I’ve already eaten.”

“Then my only other option is to offer to walk you to your room.”

Her eyes had livened since he’d sat down beside her. “Haven’t you done enough for me tonight?”

He decided not to respond to that.

“What will you do when you get to my room?” she asked.

“Leave you there and go to mine.”

Her eyes blinked warmly. “Why not just stay here and talk for a while?”

Because he was enjoying this far too much.

“It’s getting late.” He stood and put some cash on the bar. “Come on. Let me walk you to your room.”

“You’re not one of those overly chivalrous guys, are you?”

“What constitutes overly?”

“Worries too much about appearances. Always does what’s right, except ‘right’ in his mind is warped because he thinks a woman constantly needs to be treated like fragile glass…”

He laughed. “That’s your definition of chivalrous?”

“Overly.”

“Right. Overly.”

He held out his hand. “Come on. I promise to leave you alone until morning.” And then he could have bitten his tongue for that last part.

She looked from his hand to the empty wineglass and his untouched drink and then back up at him. “You haven’t had any of your drink.”

“I don’t need a drink anymore.” She’d given him plenty of distraction. He was no longer plagued by his anticlimactic reaction to killing Dharr.

She put her hand in his and stood. Then, slipping her hand free, she looped her arm with his and they left the bar.

“This is my biggest problem, you know,” she said when they were in the open lobby. “I’m too trusting.”

“It’s just a walk to your room.” He didn’t like how good she felt next to him. Pressing the elevator button, the doors opened and he led her inside.

“What floor?”

“The top one.”

He pressed the corresponding button. The elevator moved.

She kept glancing at him all the way up. He caught every one but didn’t encourage her, keeping his hands at his sides.

The elevator stopped and the doors opened. She stepped out ahead of him.

“Which room?”

She told him and looped her arm with his again. All the way down the hall the energy between them simmered. At her door, she inserted the room key and pushed the door open, turning in the entry to face him. Her blue eyes were alert even with all the alcohol, and her lips had a charmed curve to them. He liked the way it animated her face.

It was definitely time to go. He bowed his head slightly. “Sleep well.”

Her animation dimmed and he could tell she was disappointed. “You, too.”

Heading for the elevators, he felt her watching him before hearing the door close. Damn, he wanted to turn around and go back. Why? How could he be attracted to another woman so soon? He’d just killed the man who’d taken the last woman he loved. Why should this one have such an impact?

He was making sure she was safe. He’d do that for any woman. After tomorrow, he’d never see her again.

He had a suitcase full of money and someone was going to miss it in a real hurry. He had to leave before the consequences caught up to him.

What would a delay of a few hours matter?

He’d take her to the embassy in the morning, make sure she had money and a passport on the way. Then he’d fly out of here.

He just hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake.

Chapter 2

B
right sunlight filtered through the partially open drapes. Sadie slowly came awake. Rolling onto her back, she blinked her eyes clear.

Where was she?

It all came rushing back. Adam. The bar. That man…

Had she dreamed him?

Sitting up on the bed, she looked around the comfortable and elegant hotel room. He’d come to the bar. Walked her to her room, hinting to the promise of morning. She hadn’t dreamed him. He was real. Smiling, she fell back onto the bed, one arm slung over the pillow above her head, charmed all the way to the clear blue sky despite her headache.

Had she really met a living, breathing nice man? No other man had ever gone out of his way for her the way he had last night. He hadn’t even tried to get in the room with her. He hadn’t taken advantage. He’d just been a friend when she needed one the most.

She sighed and closed her eyes, feeling like floating away on a white, puffy cloud. He was handsome, too. Dark blond hair and blue eyes splintered with gold. Tall and strong.

Rolling her head to the side, she checked the bedside clock. A little past nine. Catching sight of the red light on the phone, she smiled more. She had a message!

Giggling all by herself in the room, she flung the covers off and scooted close to the nightstand, sitting up. There was only one person who knew she was here.

Unless it was Adam. Maybe he’d realized he had her passport.

She picked up the phone and pressed the button for the message.

“Sadie, this is Calan. You met me last night.”

The disappointment that it wasn’t Adam soon vanished with the sound of Calan’s voice. Closing her eyes, she tipped her head back and savored it.

“If you wake before nine, give me a call.” He told her his room number. “Otherwise, how about meeting me downstairs for breakfast? I’ll be waiting.”

Hanging up, she put her hand over her heart. “He’s waiting.”

Hopping up off the bed, she skipped to the bathroom for a quick shower. A half hour later, she was back in her white halter dress and rushing to the elevators.

Downstairs, she made her way to the only restaurant that served breakfast in the hotel and stepped inside. Searching the tables, she saw him. Her heart beat with a fresh rush of excitement.

He was watching her, sexy and gorgeous. Even all that alcohol hadn’t exaggerated that. She was beginning to be glad she got stranded in Albania. Maybe this would turn into a vacation after all.

A hostess asked something in Italian.

“I’m meeting someone. I see him,” Sadie said in English, afraid her swooning was too obvious. She must be glowing like the moon.

Smiling broadly, unable to help it, she approached him.

He stood as she reached the table. She gave him a casual hug before sitting down.

“I’m so glad you left that message,” she said.

“I’m glad you decided to meet me.”

He looked so good in jeans and a white cotton dress shirt with the sleeves rolled halfway up his forearm that she swooned even more, if that were possible. And then she caught herself. What if she was making another mistake, trusting too soon?

A waitress came to take their order.

Calan ordered and then said to her, “Goat cheese omelets. Trust me on this one.”

It sounded good but fattening. She settled back against her chair when the waitress left. “What brings you to Albania? I didn’t get a chance to ask you that last night.”

It him took a few seconds to reply. “I’m a business analyst for Homeland Bank. I came to assess the economic potential of opening a branch here.”

In Albania? Homeland was one of the biggest banks in the United States.

“I travel to a lot of different places.”

That seemed feasible. “Where are you going next?”

“Wherever they want to send me.”

Was he being vague or was it just her imagination? She needed to practice being more cautious. “Where do you live?”

“Just outside of D.C.”

She hadn’t expected her luck to be so generous as to put him in the same city as her. “I’m from San Diego, but I have an apartment in New York.” That was a lot closer…

“What do you do?”

This was where she always felt like hedging. Saying she was a socialite wasn’t very appealing, but neither was the truth. “I paint.”

“You’re an artist?” He seemed impressed. They all were at first.

“Not the kind you’re thinking. My work isn’t in a gallery anywhere. I sold some prints at a county fair a few years ago.” She could see him questioning how she could afford to live in San Diego and have an apartment in New York. He didn’t even have to say anything. “My father is founder and president of The Mancini Corporation. Table Mesa Kitchen? Pascoli’s? Salt Reef Bar and Grill?” Need she go on?

Calan nodded and she could see he understood. “I’ve heard of them.”

Heard of them but not eaten at any of them? She didn’t ask.

“Your dad must be very successful,” he said.

“Yes.” Very was an understatement.

“Is he wiring you money? You said you didn’t have much cash, and you don’t have any credit cards.”

“No.” She braced herself for what came next. “I’ll take care of that after breakfast.”

She watched him ponder that. “If your father isn’t helping you, have you called anyone else?”

“I don’t need to. Contrary to what my father thinks, I can take care of myself. It’s not the first time this has happened. It’s never been quite this bad before, but I’ve been left holding the bill, as it were. My father thinks I need to learn how to stay away from people who are only using me for money. Or learn how to recognize the bad ones before I find myself in these situations.” She turned from his observant gaze and pretended to look around the restaurant, wishing she knew what he was thinking.

She saw their waiter coming with their breakfasts and was glad to occupy herself with something. The aroma coming from her colorful plate made her murmur, “Mmm.” She took a bite full of spinach and sundried tomatoes mixed with the goat cheese omelet.

“Mmm,” she murmured deeper.

“It’s one of my favorites,” Calan said with a grin.

“It’s one of mine now, too.” She ate another bite.

He ate with her for a while, sharing a look with her every once in a while. She fumbled over the temptation to believe he really liked being with her. This was how it always began, with easy camaraderie and the promise of more, only she couldn’t remember it ever feeling this good.

He put his fork down, finished with his breakfast. “Would you like me to take you to the embassy? You don’t have a car, and you’d have to take a taxi…”

More warmth pooled around her heart. All she could do was look at him and smile her enchantment. He met her eyes and she felt a mutual chemistry simmer to a new level between them. The prowling interest in his blue eyes triggered an answering desire.

“I’d like that very much.”

They stared at each other awhile, until Calan’s expression changed and he looked away. It was as if something had turned a switch off inside him. Did he regret the offer?

“I don’t want to be any trouble,” she said, just in case.

Whatever had crossed his mind slid behind a smile. “You aren’t. It’s just that I have to leave today. I should have left this morning.”

Today. He had to leave today. “Oh.” She looked down at her plate.

Reaching over, he put his hand over hers on the table. “But for now, I’m right where I want to be.”

And nothing could have made her happier. “Me, too.”

Calan walked with Sadie out of the embassy. After meeting with a duty officer in the consular section, she had her passport request in progress and was able to arrange a wire transfer of money. As soon as he dropped her off at the hotel, he could leave without worrying about her. Except he still didn’t want to leave. He didn’t understand his difficulty. He’d never felt like this before. He had to put a lid on this, drive her back to the hotel and head for the airport. No more messing around.

Closing the passenger door of the rental for Sadie, he went around the car and got behind the wheel.

“I heard Petrela Castle is spectacular. They serve lunch there,” she said, and her hint didn’t miss its mark.

“I can’t stay,” he said. Not even for lunch.

“Right. You have to go.”

He drove out of the embassy compound. A man sitting in a dark blue Volkswagen Passat caught his attention. He was watching them. Calan pretended not to notice, while apprehension reared up and put him on full alert. Driving out into the street, he watched the rearview mirror.

Sure enough, the Passat pulled out into the street behind him.

A stream of expletives chased through his mind. He’d stayed too long. All because of this crazy attraction he had for Sadie, an attraction he’d half-veiled with concern for her safety. He should have known better. He should have practiced more self-control.

But then, he hadn’t expected anyone to find him this soon. That revealed a lot about what kind of people the money had come from. Well-connected. Powerful.

No one had followed them to the embassy. He was certain of it. Someone along the way had recognized him. He’d gotten gas. The station was just up the street. Had someone seen him and then watched him turn into the embassy compound? The gas attendant? Someone along the street? It made the most sense. And now the people Dharr had been doing business with not only knew who he was, they knew
where
he was.

Turning onto a one-way street, Calan pressed on the gas. The car followed.

“Where are you going? This isn’t the way back to the hotel.”

He ignored her. This was going to change her mind about him in a real hurry. Her opinion would erase whatever chemistry that had brewed up between them. He was glad he didn’t have time to be disappointed.

Around another corner, he sped past a car, his quick maneuvers making Sadie grab hold of the door handle.

“What are you doing?” She sounded alarmed.

She should be.

Sailing into another turn onto a tree-covered street, he pulled into a parking lot and drove to the opposite side, where pavement gave way to dirt. He drove over that to get to another street.

Sadie screeched, using the dash to keep herself from being yanked around too much.

“Calan? What’s going on?” she yelled.

“Someone’s tailing us,” he said.

“What?” Letting go of the door handle, she twisted around and looked behind them and then pinned him with an intent look. “Why?”

He raced past a stadium, weaving around other cars and narrowly missing a man who’d started to cross the street. The hotel was just ahead, but instead of going there just yet, he made a left and drove back to the street the embassy was on, turning the opposite direction. When he was sure no one followed, he turned around and drove back toward the stadium, watching for the Passat.

Reaching the hotel parking garage, he parked and shut off the engine. That’s when he noticed Sadie staring at him. Her stunning eyes were incredulous and upset.

Here it came.

“Why was someone following you?”

He opened his door. “We have to hurry.”

“Aren’t you going to answer my question?”

Shutting his door, he started walking around the car.

She stood outside the car and slammed the door shut. “Why do we have to hurry? This isn’t my problem, it’s yours. Oh, my God, I can’t believe this. I’ve done it again!”

He stopped in front of her, angry that she’d just equated him to her loser boyfriend. “We need to get our things and leave the country as fast as possible.”

“What?”

If she had a passport—a legitimate passport—he might be inclined to put her on a commercial flight home. But she didn’t. And he refused to risk her waiting here all by herself for days, without him here to make sure she was safe. No way. But she was going to need some convincing.

“You want to go home, don’t you?” he asked her.

He started walking for the elevators. Sadie followed, but he was sure that was only because he was going to their rooms. Maybe she thought once she was in hers, she was safe from him. She was safe from him anyway, but she wouldn’t see it that way.

In the elevator she folded her arms. “Tell me why someone was following you.”

He took in her bright blue eyes. Where once sweet infatuation had glowed, now distrust and anger radiated. Talk about bad timing. Why couldn’t he have met her in the States somewhere a year or two down the road?

He moved to stand in front of her. Her brow shot down but she didn’t shy away from him.

“I’m still the same man you met last night. Nothing about that has changed. I’m someone you can trust.”

“You aren’t answering my question. It doesn’t make you look very good, you know. It makes you look like a liar involved in criminal activities.”

Nothing like getting right to the point. That was what made her so different from other women he met. She was strong and honest but she was also too innocent for his line of work.

He moved closer. “I’m someone you can trust,” he repeated.

She grunted, eyeing his advance and stepping back against the wall. “I don’t even know you.”

“I’ll get you home.”

“I’ll get myself home.”

This was hopeless. He cursed himself some more for being so negligent. This mission was different than any other. He’d waited years to see it through. And now this. Resignation sank in and he sighed.

“I really wasn’t planning on running into you at the bar. I went there for a drink, that’s all.” The elevator stopped but he didn’t care. Not even when the doors slid open. “I was supposed to be gone early this morning, Sadie. I shouldn’t have stayed.”

But he had. For her. She blinked with the meaning of that and indecision crossed her eyes.

“Do you want me to apologize for that?” he asked. “I will, but I won’t mean it because I don’t regret helping you.”

The doors slid closed but the elevator remained still. Silence surrounded them while Sadie continued to waver.

“Who are you, really?” she finally asked.

“Calan Friese. I didn’t lie to you about my name, but my passport says something else.” And it was one of many. “Why?”