The only person’s feelings she cared about in this situation were Lachlan’s. She’d hated leaving him in Iceland and she had no idea when she’d see him next. And now this fake marriage. She thought about how Lachlan had walked away from her the first time, after Sana. God, he’d hurt her, but she understood now. Lachlan had been right—they had two very different lives, different paths to walk, both of them in service to their country. But now she wasn’t so sure about the path she’d chosen. All she wanted was to talk to Lachlan about it, see where he was at.
Would it ever work out between them? Could she ever leave this life and be herself again, free to be with the man she loved?
“Thank you,” she told Jeremy as he watched her work. “I guess it is getting to me.”
“Eva?”
She nodded as she finished threading the woman’s long brown hair through the bristles. “What if the rumors are true about Little Edward Cay? What if she finds children?” Gina shuddered. “Seeing that could scar her permanently. Or worse, Jeremy, what if she’s caught?”
He shook his head. “You can’t what-if, Gina. And what’s our alternative, letting this go on unchecked? Letting Marcus Porter continue breathing on this earth while people suffer?” He grabbed her hand and when she started to pull away he squeezed her hand tighter and wouldn’t let her. “I know it makes you feel like your heart is a frozen ball of ice sometimes. This job does that to me, too. It’s how we survive, Regina. We compartmentalize. Don’t let the right hand know what the left hand is doing. We’d go crazy otherwise, living with the contradictions.”
And wasn’t that the truth? She was living two lives. Jeremy probably was, too.
“Dammit, you’re right. I hate that.” She gave him a small smile.
“But you can always confide in me.” He rubbed his thumb over the backs of her fingers.
The offer tempted her. He’d given her no reason not to trust him. And it would be helpful—no, downrighthealing—to have an ally who knew about Lach. It might even make it easier to see him more often. She would do the same for Jeremy if and when he fell in love with someone.
It could work.
“I know I can confide in you, thank you,” she said.
And that was all she said. Maybe the CIA had taught her too well how to be paranoid.
The gallery’s phone rang. Jeremy dropped her hand and picked up the receiver while putting it on speakerphone. “Solaire Gallery.”
“Hi, darlings,” Eva said, sounding rushed. “You’ll never believe the week I’ve had. I’m not even in the country right now.”
Gina and Jeremy exchanged a look. Was she backing out? Discovered?
“Oh, no,” Gina singsonged her concern in case Porter was sitting right beside her. “Where are you, sweets?”
“I’m at my place in London if you can believe it. My shoot ran overtime and they’d better as hell pay me for the extra hours. Needless to say, I wasn’t able to catch a flight.”
Gina was already scribbling on a pad of paper:Cold feet. She raised her eyebrows and Jeremy nodded.
“Oh, no that’s so disappointing,” Gina went on. “We really are counting on you to approve and collect the piece we just got in. I’m really not supposed to play favorites, but we do have other interested parties. I don’t think I can hold them off, and I really do think the piece belongs with you.”
“Well, Marcus is in the city too, and he’s eager to fly to Little Edward Cay. We’re entertaining some guests and I just don’t see how I can get away?—”
“Then we’ll come to you,” Jeremy offered smoothly. Gina quickly grabbed her cell phone and started looking up flights from LAX to Heathrow. “We’ve been meaning to get to London for ages anyway.”
“And one of the other interested parties is there,” Gina inserted for good measure. “In case you say no. It’s really advantageous for us, actually.” She found a flight they could make if they left the gallery within the hour—just enough time to crate up the artwork and grab their go-bags. If Eva agreed to it, they’d pass her the hairbrush. If she didn’t, maybe Gina could talk her back into spying for them. Gina started the booking process.
“Besides, you could see the piece right where you’re hoping to hang it. What better way to decide,” Jeremy said. “Yes, I like this idea of coming to you.”
Eva paused for what seemed like eternity. “Sure, darlings, that’d be great. You have my address, yes?”
Gina and Jeremy grinned at each other.
“We do. Can’t wait to see you! Ciao, bella!” Jeremy hung up. Gina was already up and moving, preparing the artwork and the hairbrush both for their flight.
“Still think she’s backing out?” she asked Jeremy.
“Yeah, I didn’t like that pause.” He stood up and stretched. “But I have all the faith in the world that you’ll talk her back into working for us.”
So did Gina. Too bad the thought made her sick to her stomach.
