Kurt slid his arm around her shoulder and pulled her tight to his side. The possessive move sent a little thrill clear to her toes. She might like her independence, but some part of her enjoyed a man who took charge. As long as he didn’t take too much.
“We’re still trying to sort out the logistics,” Kurt said, “but we won’t let a couple thousand miles keep us apart.”
The olderman’s eyes twinkled. Unlike his son, Lambert’s depravity didn’t leak out from beneath his navy suit like a bitter fog. “She’s definitely worth hanging onto, this one. But I’m hoping you don’t steal her away too soon. Not only is she the best pilot I’ve ever flown with, this little woman saved my life. Did she tell you that?”
Little woman? Caitlyn managed not to wrinkle her nose. Amazing how hecould be so condescending and complimentary in the same sentence. And, of course, he assumed she’d be the one giving up her life when they married.
“Yes, sir, she did.” Kurt’s big, warm hand squeezed her shoulder. “I gotta say, I’m not too excited about her getting shot at. I thought we left that behind in the Air Force.” There was no mistaking the irritation in his voice. If she didn’t knowbetter she’d fully believe he was an aggrieved fiancé.
“You’ll be glad to know, then, that I have doubled my security, especially patrols in the jungle and plantation.”
Shit. Doubled?
Lambert shrugged and shook his head. “The more successful you become, the more people want to take you down.” He said it like a man with nothing to hide. Like a man who didn’t mislead desperate people and useblackmail or threats to force them to work under horrible conditions.
She found it increasingly difficult to hide her distaste for the entire Lambert family in the weeks since she’d discovered Rose. And now she and Kurt had only a couple of hours to locate her sister and the others and get them out to the van waiting several streets over for her call. Sadly, not all of them would be willing toleave.
Fear was a powerful yoke.
“I can only imagine,” Kurt said to Lambert, pulling Caitlyn’s attention back to the conversation. “I guess everyone struggles.”
“Indeed,” Lambert said, with no trace of irony.
“I hope you don’t mind if I whisk my date away for a dance in the moonlight. Your home is too beautiful not to take advantage of the moment.”
“Not at all, young man.” Lambert turnedto her. “Ms. Brevard, thank you for joining my family for this happy occasion.”
“Of course. Thank you for inviting us. We’re honored to be here.” She wanted to rinse out her mouth with bleach. If only she could go back to believing he was a wealthy-but-benign man who greased a few palms to get his business done. All the money she’d taken from him—was still taking, but now with a purpose—had beenearned not just illegally, but immorally. “Enjoy your evening, and my congratulations again to your daughter and your family.”
“Thank you.”
Kurt whisked her through the back doors and carefully descended the steps to a large brick patio ringed by columns that stood like good soldiers ready for drill. “What an ass,” he murmured.
Gauzy fabric had been draped around the perimeter, lit with smallwhite lights and paper lanterns. Beyond the far columns, the lawn sloped down toward the sand, jungle on either side framing a view of the Caribbean Sea with a broad swatch of silver moonlight painting a path across the water.
Kurt gave a low whistle. “This place is incredible.” The cool breeze ruffled his dark hair as he took her into his arms for a slow dance. His touch burned right throughher dress.
“Built on the backs of slaves in the heyday of sugar plantations, and now maintained with the labor of modern-day slaves.” She kept her voice low and her smile firmly in place. “Now that my blinders are off, I can hardly stand to be here.”
He distracted her with small circles on her lower back. Only pride kept her from melting into his arms completely. “You’re doing great,” he said.“I had no idea what an accomplished actor you are.”
She met his gaze, and it darkened when she combed her fingers into the short hair on the back of his neck. Was he acting now? Was she? In spite of their mission, the magical location combined with Kurt’s arms around her waist made her feel a bit reckless. “I’m not that good,” she said, tightness building in her chest.
Her gaze strayed to hislips.
He kissed her. A jolt of energy shot through her veins and she kissed back. Hard. The depth of her lust left her stunned. He was everything she feared.
She pulled away slowly with a shaky laugh. “Don’t get too carried away, we’re still in public.”
His hold on her tightened, pressing her breasts to his solid chest. “I thought that was the whole point,” he said, his deep, intimate voicea soft caress gliding over her skin.
She struggled to catch her breath with him looking at her like she was the next course in his favorite meal. And then she noticed Glenn on the dance floor with a beautiful blond woman.
Caitlyn’s heart turned cold. She needed to find Rose and convince her to get out of this place before they lost their chance. Before she had to spend another hour here. “Onemore kiss and then we’re going to wander away from here to be alone.”
Kurt nodded. She touched her lips to his, and unable to resist, took a quick taste with her tongue. He moaned and deepened the kiss. In another life, under different circumstances, she’d maneuver him into the shadow of the trees and kiss him senseless.
With a sigh, she forced herself to disengage and glanced around. It wasn’twise to make a scene. But, luckily, nobody else was paying any attention to them.
