Lamont glanced at the bathrobe Ewen had been living in and grinned. “I can do that for you. I can zap you anything you’d like. Are you getting tired of hotel chic?”
“Something like that. I’m going to need clothes to go out.” Ewen’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I need to collect my things from the hotel where I was staying. Check out properly. My credit card’s probably screaming from paying for two rooms I’m not using, and not likely to be needing anymore.”
Two rooms, that’s right. Lamont remembered Ewen had mentioned having his clothes in one room, and his source documents in another. “So, are we heading out today? Did you need some replacement glasses as well? I remember you wearing them the night you stopped me at the restaurant.”
“No to the glasses. I don’t need prescription lenses.” He tilted his head to one side, meeting Lamont’s eyes squarely. “I only wore them because I liked how they looked on my face, and I thought it would help others to take me more seriously. But as for going out today, that would be a yes.” Ewen straightened his shoulders. “I can’t hide in here forever, right? And I need my laptop, my clothes, and the research I stashed before everything went to hell.”
There it was - the first crack in the wall Ewen had built around the subject.
Lamont’s hound stirred, uneasy. They still had no idea who’d grabbed Ewen or why. The woman in business attire at the factory, the guards, the questions about sources - none of it added up to random thugs. Someone powerful wanted what Ewen knew.
But his mate was watching him.He’s testing me,Lamont realized.He is trusting me to do what I said I would do, which means being with him outside of this room.“It’s probably agood idea to get out and stretch out legs.” Lamont grinned to show he was fine with the idea. “Where’s the hotel?”
“It’s about fifteen minutes from here, I think, in which case it will be easily within walking distance.” Ewen’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “I can show you.”
“Then let’s get you dressed and head out.” Lamont wasn’t going to argue with his mate, even though the words “you can’t go out there” were on the tip of his tongue.
He materialized clothes for Ewen, choosing soft jeans, a pale yellow button down shirt and sneakers. Ewen grabbed the clothes, looked at him, and put them back on the chair. He dropped his robe, and Lamont just about swallowed his tongue.My mate is gorgeous. I should’ve zapped up clothes with more buttons so it would take him longer to get dressed.
“Oh, that feels so much better.” Ewen slapped at his jeans pockets and straightened his shirt collar. “I feel a bit more like myself now. Are you ready to go?”
Lamont double blinked. His mind was still picturing Ewen naked. “Yep. Yep.” Ewen’s laugh let him know he’d been caught daydreaming. “But we stay alert. If anything feels wrong, we leave immediately. Do we have a deal?”
“Deal.”
They left the hotel and stepped into Cairo’s morning heat. Lamont knew that male-male relationships weren’t appreciated in Egypt, but he stuck close to Ewen’s side as his mate led them through winding streets with the ease of someone who’d memorized the route. Ewen pointed out the café where he’d worked on initial research, the newsstand where he’d bought English-language papers each morning.
“I always liked being in this neighborhood,” Ewen said, sidestepping a cluster of tourists. “It felt more authentic to me than the touristy areas. It’s not so overrun with people trying to sell me marked-up souvenirs.”
“Have you stayed here before on other assignments?”
“Twice.” Ewen nodded and then pressed close to Lamont as they made their way past another group of people. “The first time I came here, I was covering archaeological discoveries in the Valley of the Kings and then, as it seems to happen with me, the next time I was following a story about antiquities smuggling.” Ewen’s expression turned wry. “I seem to have a talent for finding trouble in interesting places.”
“Is that why you picked journalism?” Lamont used his size to make sure no one was touching Ewen as they made their way down the street.
“I’m not sure that picked is the right word. It’s more like I fell into it and discovered I was quite good at it.” Ewen paused at a corner, checking the cross street. “Not to your caliber,” he added with a grin. “I have read just about everything with your byline. But back in the day, I did a piece for my college newspaper about the administration embezzling scholarship funds. My article got the dean fired, and three students got their money back. I realized I liked exposing people who thought they were untouchable.”
“I know the type you mean.” Lamont loved how his mate had a spine of pure steel underneath that slight build. It reminded him of a terrier, although he’d never say so. He didn’t want to deal with a pissed-off fox.
The hotel appeared ahead. It was a mid-range establishment that appeared to balance comfort with anonymity. Lamont approved - it wasn’t flashy or memorable in any way. Just one ofthose places where weary business people could lay their heads without being disturbed. The perfect place for a journalist to keep a low profile.
However, the closer they got, the more Lamont’s unease grew. There was something decidedly off, although he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Too many people loitering in doorways? Too few? Lamont didn’t know the immediate area well enough to know. He scanned faces, looking for recognition or threat.
Ewen didn’t seem to be bothered, pushing through the lobby doors. Lamont followed, positioning himself slightly behind and to the left of his mate. He was close enough to intervene, but far enough to give Ewen space.
The front desk clerk smiled in recognition. “Mr. Cross! We were worried when you didn’t return.”
“My business ran longer than expected.” Ewen’s lie appeared to come easily. “I need new keys for both rooms, please. I’m afraid I misplaced the others. Room five-twelve and six-fourteen, if you please.”
The clerk produced two key cards. “You also have a message that came yesterday.”
Ewen accepted the envelope, glanced at the contents, and then shoved it in his pocket. “Thank you.”
“Who was the message from?” Lamont was scanning the lobby as they headed to the elevator.
“My now-dead contact, letting me know he’d be a bit late.”
Damn.Lamont knew he should say something, but what could be said about something like that? Ewen was carrying enough guilt as it was, and no matter how much Lamont might say it was so, it was going to take a while for Ewen to understand he wasn’t responsible for the actions of others.
