She’d gone stiff. Her hand slipped back out from the crook of his arm, her attention fully on Jeremy.
“How do you know…you’ve got my father’s office bugged, of course.” She crossed her arms and nodded.
“Among other places. Regina, we’re on the same side.”
“How many times have I heard that line?” Regina shook her head disdainfully. “And you think after spying on me I’m just going to talk?”
“No, of course not,” Jeremy said. “Your trust and privacy have been violated and you’re rightfully pissed. I don’t blame you for being angry right now.”
“Anger isn’t half of it.”
Jeremy lifted a hand. “I get it. Look, I would have been upfront with you right away, but that young woman’s life is at risk and I had to be certain where your loyalties were. Your public acts with the crown prince are pretty convincing.”
Now Regina looked like she was about to go ballistic. Lach readied himself to grab her. Not because he didn’t want to see Jeremy Heath hurt—but because he hated to think about the blowback on Regina.
“I mean it as a compliment, Regina,” Jeremy quickly added. “If the princess’s life wasn’t at stake, I’d be whisking you off to Virginia right now and making introductions. You’d like to visit the Farm, wouldn’t you?”
All her anger suddenly evaporated as if it never existed. She looked back and forth between the men and then up went her poker face. Too little, too late. She was obviously interested in that offer.
Too bad. But Lachlan could hardly be surprised.
Now Jeremy had her. “So, please, for the princess’s sake, and for your future, I’d love it if you would talk to me. And from here on out, I promise to keep you looped in.”
Regina looked down, then back up at Jeremy. “Fine. Yeah, we’ll talk.” She walked over to Jeremy and spared Lachlan one last look.
“See you around, Soup.” She took Jeremy’s arm, and Lachlan figured that was the last he’d be seeing of Miss Regina Sparda, which was for the best—despite the unfamiliar feeling of loss as he watched them walk away.
EIGHT
Gina, age 22
As she walked away from Lachlan “Soup” Campbell on Jeremy Heath’s arm, Regina knew she was being manipulated. She knew Jeremy’s type—smooth, inoffensive, complimentary, a man who seemed like he could pull all the strings to get you everything you wanted, so long as he liked you, so you’d better make sure he liked you.
Regina really wasn’t into that. But, she knew how to play the game, so she leaned into him despite the swelteringly hot night and tried not to think about the incredibly handsome SEAL who did strange and wonderful things to her belly. She needed to keep her focus on doing everything she could to help Princess Sana, and if Jeremy Heath was a piece of that equation so be it.
Jeremy covered her hand with his. His skin felt soft—probably lotioned against the heat of the desert—and just a touch clammy. Completely unlike Soup’s rough, dry hands whose touch had sent shivers through her.
So, “Miss Sparda?—”
“Regina.” She smiled at him, putting some sugar into her voice. “Please.”
“Regina, of course.” Her name flowed off his tongue with bourbon-warmth. She imagined that might work for some women. “Tell me, what did the crown prince have to say?” He kept his voice casual as if they were gossiping while he directed her away from the party, giving them time, privacy, and a little more quiet. Undoubtedly, he was wired.
“You assume he was upstairs.”
“We know he was upstairs, as were you, obviously. Why did you find the need to crawl out of the window? You don’t seem traumatized, as if he’d been holding you captive, which is what we’d feared when you didn’t come back downstairs. Or is it a game the two of you play?” His gaze flicked over her.
Wow. If she didn’t know any better, she would have slapped Jeremy. She laughed lightly instead, hoping it made her sound dismissive. “I don’t play games, Mr. Heath.”
“Jeremy. And that’s not true. You play games all the time, Regina.” He stopped walking when they reached the far corner of the courtyard and the concealing shadows there. “Helpful games.”
“Helpful? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Jeremy laughed. “You don't think we know where our intel comes from, Regina? You’d be surprised by what we’ve accomplished thanks to you and your games, ever since you were a child eavesdropping on whoever your father needed to know more about.”
She tried not to blanch at his words.
“Hey. Take it as a compliment.” He’d softened his voice, taking all the teasing out of it. “You’ve been on the Agency’s radar for a long time. If you play your cards right, you'll be at the Farm in no time.”
