“But Sassy, this house is your birthright. Do you really want it to become a rooming house?”
“That’s exactly what I want. Read on.”
She watched his expression as he took it all in, finally seeing on his face the expression she’d wanted. It said,Oh yeah, Sassy. This is boss.
He asked a few questions, and she wrote down notes for herself, then he closed the report. “This is so good, Sassy. And knowing you, when you present it in person, you’ll win over every single person in that room. Your dad was right. You’ll be better than either of us if you keep this up. Will you still let me work here when you take over?”
She grinned, feeling more than just a little proud of herself, and more than a little crazy about Tom. She wanted him to look at her that way—and more—forever.
“Depends on how you behave, mister.”
“Guess what? You win a prize.” He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a red Pez dispenser with a Snow White head on top. “Here you go.”
She popped the little head up and crunched on a pink candy. “What do I get if there’s even more to the plan? Because there is.”
A dark eyebrow lifted. “Hmm. Depends on what it is. Good plans, of course, are worth more.”
She handed him another sheet of paper. “Future plans.”
“What?”
“I’ve worked out what we could do if all goes well. We can potentially buy another in two years or so. Maybe more than one.” She held up a finger. “But! If it doesn’t work, I still own the building. It’s in a prime location. We’ll make a profit no matter what.”
“So good, Sassy. You win the grand prize.”
“Which is?”
Those blue eyes sparkled. “Dinner tonight?”
Now was the time. She felt it. She lowered her lids to half-mast and her voice to a purr. “With drinks at my place to follow.”
He felt it, too. She saw the blue in his eyes deepen to black, and she was lost. Sean Connery had nothing on this man. The heat coming from his gaze melted her insides.
“I’ll bring Pixy Stix,” he said smoothly. “What flavour?”
“Surprise me.”
forty-sixMARION
It happened in the blink of an eye. Marion pulled the trigger, and the Vietcong behind her was obliterated. At the same moment, Daniel stepped out of the other pistol’s path, twisted it from the man’s grip, and turned it on him instead.
The crack of her gun had been deafening, and she’d fallen to her knees with shock. She started to look back, to see what she’d done, but Daniel gathered her in his arms and held her against his body.
“Don’t look, Marion. Hang on to me instead.”
She felt the energy coming off him in waves, his own fear dissipating as he held her safe. She burrowed into the fibres of his shirt, unable to get close enough, aware of her own ridiculous whimper, her relentless plea for him toforgive me, forgive me, even though she knew she had done the right thing.
“It’s all over, Marion. You saved our lives,” he murmured, and she soaked in his voice like medicine, craving more. If she could open her veins and pour him into her bloodstream, she would.
He tightened his arms around her. “You’re all right, Marion. You’re okay. I will hold you as long as you need.”
Then he twitched slightly, and she became aware that he’d heard something she had not. Like a little girl hiding beneath the covers, she stayedhidden in his shirt, unsure if she could handle any more. She held her breath, listening, and heard male voices beyond them, speaking Vietnamese.
Daniel lowered his lips to her ear. “They’re with us. It’s okay. You’re safe.”
She drew back and looked past him. Some of Bao’s men were walking through the open space, nearing the hut.
“Marion,” Daniel said. “I have something to tell you.”
