He returned a minute later. “All clear.”
The men gave Kurt and Caitlyn a cursory pat down and checked her purse, and finally waved them on. It looked like they weren’t taking any chances with security after the attempt on Lambert’s life a few weeks back. Even with the woman who’dsaved him.
When the guards returned to their posts around the perimeter of the airfield, Caitlyn closed the hatch. She took Kurt’s hand and they strolled toward the plantation’s back gate. Golden sun backlit the house, making it impossible to make out the home’s features, and casting the runway in shadow.
A cool breeze made the warm, sticky air nearly bearable in his jacket. Thank God he didn’thave to wear a tie too.
Leaning toward Caitlyn, he got a lungful of her enticing scent. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks.” She smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the lips that left him reeling.
Up ahead, the wrought-iron-and-wood gate swung open and a man in his late twenties with light brown hair and a smug smile blocked their path. “Caitlyn.” His lecherous gaze traveled down her body and backup again. “Wow. You look fabulous.”
Who the hell was this punk? They’d just arrived, but was it too soon to punch someone?
“Thanks.” Caitlyn squeezed Kurt’s hand. She probably wanted to sock the asshole too. “I’d like you to meet my fiancé Kurt Steele.” She turned to Kurt. “This is Glenn Lambert. Treavor Lambert’s son.”
“Hi, there,” Kurt said as he stuck out his right hand. He couldn’t bringhimself to tell the man he was pleased to meet him.
He was prepared for some kind of power play, but Glenn gave him a quick, firm handshake and stepped out of their way with his arm out toward the house. “Enjoy the party. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
“Okay.” Caitlyn shivered and tugged Kurt up the brick path. When they were out of earshot, she said, “He makes my skin crawl.”
Kurt rubbed theback of her hand with his thumb and glanced back to see Glenn watching them. “You have good instincts.”
Lambert’s house had been transformed. Small star-shaped lights hung in clusters from the wood beams that ran the length of the ceiling in a magical display. Dozens of round tables filled the great room, covered with turquoise or salmon tablecloths and large centerpieces of tropical flowersarrayed in a flat circle.
One would think this was the wedding reception.
Too bad Caitlyn couldn’t enjoy it, even with the sexy man on her arm, though she liked having Kurt by her side far more than she’d expected. The look in Glenn’s eyes when he greeted them at the back gate had been more predatory than usual. Darker somehow.
She shouldn’t chafe at wanting backup. It wasn’t a sign of weakness.Even special ops guys worked in teams.
“Any sign of her?” Kurt asked, his breath tickling her neck and raising goosebumps on her skin as he casually scanned the room.
Caterers filled the chafing dishes at the buffet, and servers circled the room with trays of drinks and appetizers. Reini, the woman of formidable size she’d met two weeks ago in the kitchen, stood in a corner dispatching a crewto clear tables and clean up mishaps.
None of them were Rose. For all Caitlyn knew, these were outside catering or legitimate hired help.
“No. Not yet.”
He squeezed her hand. “We’ll find her.”
They played the happily engaged couple as the real engaged couple sat at one end of the room, flanked by their families. After dinner and a round of speeches from the fathers of the bride and groom,Lambert revealed a dance floor on the back lawn overlooking the beach. A string quartet played music, and couples filtered outside where another bar had been staged.
As she and Kurt rose from the table, Treavor Lambert approached.
“That’s Lambert,” she said under her breath.
“Ms. Brevard!” The man beamed at her so genuinely, she could almost forget he was a devil under the charming facade.“I’m so glad you made it. And this must be your lucky man.”
“Yessir. Hi.” Somehow, she managed to smile. “This is Kurt Steele,” she said as the men shook hands.
“Nice to meet you, sir,” Kurt said.
Lambert winked at him and gave them both a genial grin. “It’s good to meetyou. I was beginning to think the little lady here was blowing smoke just to keep Glenn away from her.”
Caitlyn manageda breathy laugh.
