They spent the next hour going over how to operate the hairbrush. There was even a panic alert that would send out a distress call and destroy the footage—which was automatically uploaded.
“So, you’ll be protected,” Jeremy reassured her. “If you send out that call, we can come in and get you. And we will.”
By the time they left, Eva was all smiles. Even the weather had cleared up. And the watercolor was a bright spot on an otherwise dark wall.
“I can do this! I’m going to save people.”
Gina hugged her again. “Thank you.” She squeezed her eyes shut, holding back mixed emotions, feelings she couldn’t even name.
As Max drove them back to the hotel, Jeremy hugged Gina. “Told you she’d love the piece. And it looks amazing on the wall, don’t you think?”
“Yes, yes it does.” Gina did her best to fake enthusiasm.
“We’ll celebrate with champagne back at the hotel. I’m so proud of you, darling.”
All she wanted to do was run. Open the car door and disappear into London, find her way to the train station or the airport, and fly to Paris. Tell Lach it was over for her, that she wanted out. That she didn’t care anymore, just wanted to disappear with him somewhere.
She wanted out of her own skin.
Wanted to stop being Gina Smith and go back to being…who?
She wasn’t Regina Sparda anymore.
The rest of the ride was a blur, though she was sure there was a fake smile plastered on her face. It was second nature to fake her emotions now.
It wasn’t until they got to the room that she let her face relax. Her cheeks hurt.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she mumbled as she grabbed a robe and walked to the bathroom door.
“What was that text you got this morning?” Jeremy asked, his voice flat.
“Text?” Her heart rapid-fired.
“Don’t do that.” Now he sounded disappointed. “You’re not staying in London for the next few days, are you? Or maybe you are, but you’ll find reasons to slip away for an afternoon here or a morning there.”
As if he doesn’t do the same thing. “Jeremy?—”
“There’s someone else, isn’t there.” It wasn’t a question.
She turned. “Someoneelse?” She laughed lightly. “No. No, I just need to get away sometimes.”
“Regina, don’t lie to me. Not tome.” He smiled sadly as he walked slowly toward her. “Do I know him?”
She bit her lower lip regretfully. “I can neither confirm nor deny there is anyone else, let alone if you’ve ever met this person.”
Jeremy chuckled softly. “Yeah. Well. Go on then.”
“What?”
“Go see him. He’s here in London, right? That’s what that text was about. He found out you’re close by and wants to see you.”
“No, that’s?—”
“Regina.” He pinned her with a sharp, though not unkind, stare.
She sighed. “Please. Don’t make me reveal to the home office that I'm in a relationship.”
He gazed into her eyes, his looking wistful. “I won’t get you into trouble, Regina.”
