Hannah Howell (13 page)
Authors: Stolen Ecstasy
“Was I clever then?” She unsuccessfully tried to smother a yawn.
“If you were any cleverer, I’d be ready for burying right now.”
“I suppose that’s a compliment.”
He laughed faintly, then sleepily pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Never had he felt so deliciously sated. Her instinctive skill had given him more pleasure than the art of the most practiced courtesan. He grudgingly admitted to himself that it was because he felt something for her. What she gave him was fuller than a simple easement of his body’s lusts.
“It was the best I’ve ever known, Leanne,” he murmured, compelled to let her know in some small way what she meant to him, despite his own confusion.
She smiled faintly and curled herself more
Chapter Eight
“B
OSS
? B
OSS, YOU BETTER WAKE UP
.”
OSS
? B
OSS, YOU BETTER WAKE UP
.”
Hunter managed to open one eye and glare at Charlie. “Whatisit?”
“Watkins is here.”
“Here?”
“Yes, Hunter. Right here.”
That cool voice wiped the last remnants of sleep from Hunter’s brain. Trying not to look as horrified as he felt, he sat up to look at the man standing just to Charlie’s right.
“This is a rare event.”
“I had a report this morning from a mutual acquaintance. You do recall Lucia, do you not?”
“Vaguely.” Hunter inwardly cursed his arrogance in assuming that Lucia was not really worth worrying about.
Watkins smiled thinly. “She informed me that you have a guest. Strange that you failed to tell me about this added member of your little group.”
“She’s not part of the group, merely a tag-a-long.” Hunter felt Leanne sit up behind him, shielding herself behind his body, and wished he had had time to talk to her before confronting Watkins, time to warn her that a lot of what he was about to say would be lies.
“Lucia also told me that you seem to have—er, misplaced one of your number. She felt certain he was beneath the freshly turned earth in the garden area of this hovel. I regret to say she proved correct.”
Even as he wondered how they had missed what sounded like a prodigious amount of activity around the place, Hunter remained outwardly calm. “Just how did Lucia come by all this information?”
“Ah, it seems jealousy and offended vanity compelled her to indulge in a little spying. What happened to Luke?”
Although Watkins’s mild tone of voice changed very little, Hunter heard the sharp demand for an answer. “He grew uncontrollable.”
“I suspected as much. I would have preferred it if you’d turned the matter over to me, however.”
“He drew on Tom. There wasn’t any choice about killing him.”
“And you intended to inform me of all this today, of course.”
“Of course.”
“And now you are going to introduce me to your charming companion.”
That was the very last thing Hunter wanted to do. Despite the fact that Watkins had been talking to him, most of the man’s attention had been centered on Leanne. Matters were getting uncomfortably complicated. He was not sure he had the agility of wit needed to keep Watkins from growing suspicious and Leanne from getting all the wrong ideas. He would have to walk a very fine line. Turning slightly so Leanne was more visible, he slipped his hand beneath the covers to rest it on the small of her back.
“This is Miss Leanne Summers. She joined us in Clayville. Leanne, this is Mr. Watkins.”
When the man took her hand in his to kiss it, Leanne barely repressed a shudder. His lips and hand were cool and very dry. Although he was not unattractive, there was something nearly reptillian about his looks, especially his heavy-lidded, flat gray eyes.
“You must call me Henry, my dear.”
She felt no wish to do so, but something in Hunter’s expression made her believe extreme caution was best. “Of course, Henry.”
“I hate to tug you away from such loveliness, Hunter, but we must talk. My man, Joseph, is preparing breakfast. I’m sure Leanne will want to join us.”
Leanne had no wish at all to join him, but said nothing. It was clearly an order, not an invitation.
Hunter waited but, when Watkins made no move to leave, he finally rose to get dressed. He had hoped to speak privately with Leanne, but it was clear he was not going to be allowed that. As he buttoned his shirt, he bent to kiss her, praying she would understand the brief message he whispered against her lips. Then he strode out of the room with Charlie and Watkins.
Touching her mouth, Leanne frowned at the door. She could still feel the words he had pressed to her lips.
Trust me
. Two questions came immediately to mind. Why would he say that, and should she heed his admonition? Shaking her head, she got out of bed to consider her options as she dressed.
Trust me
. Two questions came immediately to mind. Why would he say that, and should she heed his admonition? Shaking her head, she got out of bed to consider her options as she dressed.
Something was going on. She had sensed all sorts of undercurrents in the conversation. Unfortunately, she had few real clues. Edging closer to the door, she eavesdropped as she finished dressing.
“A very pretty companion you’ve gained, Hunter.” Watkins sipped at the coffee Joseph served them.
Surreptitiously glancing from Tom to Jed to Charlie, Hunter found little help. All three men seemed fascinate by their coffee. He hoped they continued to stay out of the conversation, for he was about to talk a lot of nonsense. He wanted no one to gainsay him now.
“Pretty enough, I reckon.”
“How did you acquire her?”
Hunter relayed a very condensed version of Leanne’s involvement in the robbery. “So, you can see she’s no threat. She’s as wanted as we are. If we fall, she falls.”
“So it seems.”
“So it is.”
“And she’s yours.”
“She’s keeping me entertained for the moment.”
Leanne had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. That cool statement was like a slap in the face.
“So entertained that you cast off the very adept Lucia,” Watkins drawled.
“The costly Lucia. Why pay when I can be satisfied for free?”
“Then perhaps your Miss Summers would be amenable to a more—er, profitable arrangement.”
It was hard, especially when he literally ached to plant his fist in Watkins’s face, but Hunter just shrugged. “She’s a free woman.”
“Good. Ah, Joseph has prepared another fine meal. Where is our lovely guest?” Watkins asked as his man set out the food. “Do you think she fell back asleep?”
“Nope. She’s just taking her sweet time like women do.”
Hurrying away from the door Leanne quickly checked her appearance. She could not dawdle any longer. Something told her that Watkins would not hesitate to send someone to get her if she did not appear soon.
Hurt had given way to confusion. She could not fully believe Hunter was as callous as he sounded. Though it was true he had made no promises, never spoken of love, there were other things that contradicted his harsh words. There was the way he treated her, the way he spoke to her at certain times, and even their lovemaking. All those things said he was not as heartless as he now seemed.
Shaking her head she hurried out the door. She would have to study the situation more closely. Instinct told her something was going on, something she did not yet understand. It also told her that Hunter’s cruel words were all part of it. She prayed she was right.
The breakfast progressed smoothly, but Leanne was not sure she learned much except to dislike Watkins even more than she had at first sight. He was all that was well mannered and elegant. She could fault nothing he said or did. Yet, beneath that veneer she sensed all that could be bad in a man.
Hunter continued to act callous and indifferent. It now puzzled her more than hurt her. Hunter no longer seemed the man she had come to know. Not even in the first few hours of their meeting had he seemed so insensitive, so cold, as he did now. He certainly did not act like the man who had cast off another lover for her sake and told her so softly that she was the best.
she smiled faintly at the man called Joseph as he collected her plate, her action one of absentminded courtesy as she wondered how or if she could find out what was afoot. Apparently, Watkins was the boss, the one who arranged, directed, and benefited from the robberies, yet none of her companions were at all friendly with the man. Jed and Charlie acted with a wariness that bordered on fear. Tom said almost nothing, even when spoken to directly. Hunter was coldly polite, at times nearly insolent, yet ever careful in his answers.
It was all very unsettling, very confusing. She hated not knowing what was going on, hated the way even Charlie and Jed seemed unreadable. Trying to figure it all out was giving her a headache.
Another thing that bothered her was Watkins’s interest in her, an interest Hunter did nothing to stem. She did not want the man’s interest but knew it would be stupid to boldly reject it. She tried to keep him at a distance by using her most coolly correct manners, but her strategy was failing miserably.
“I can see by your empty plate that you enjoyed the meal, Leanne.”
“It was delicious, Henry.” She started to form a polite leavetaking in her mind, only to freeze at Watkins’s next words.
“Joseph’s abilities are best judged over dinner. You must join me this evening. All of you, of course.”
“As you can see, Henry, I did not bring along an adequate wardrobe. I would feel most uncomfortable dining out in these clothes.”
“A problem easily solved. Hunter and I shall see to it immediately.”
“How nice.” She suspected her smile was weak.
To her dismay, Watkins truly meant immediately. He had Hunter out the door before she could think of anything that would delay them so that she could drag Hunter off for a moment’s conversation. Worse, Jed, Charlie, and Tom were whisked away as well. In moments she found herself alone; there was no one to watch her and no one for her to question. She still had no answers, only questions. Shaking her head, she wondered if she would get any time alone with Hunter before they had to go to Watkins’s to dine.
Although the men darted in and out all day, the sun was setting before she saw Hunter again. He had sent Tom to give her the new dress. It was a beautiful gown of the finest silk in a rich blue color that flattered her eyes. However, she felt little joy in it. It meant she had to see Henry Watkins again. She was struggling to pin her hair up when Hunter strode into their room, kicked the door shut, and tossed his hat on the bed.
“Watkins said he’d prefer your hair loose.”
“Did he.” She stuck another hairpin in to secure her hair. “Life’s road is littered with disappointments.”
“Leanne . . .” he began.
She whirled to glare at him. “What? Alone? No guard? Perhaps there’s an ear pressed to the door.”
“No. Not for the moment, at least.”
“Managed to slip the leash, did you?”
“Yeah.” He started to take off his shirt so that he could wash up. “Leanne, there’s a lot you don’t know, can’t know, just yet. You’ll just have to trust me. I reckon things don’t look too good . . .”
“You reckon right. Things look as if the very last thing I should do is trust you. Things look as if you mean to toss me to the wolves, hand me to Watkins on a silver platter. It’s not only his slaveys that can press an ear to the door.”
He swore softly as he splashed water from the basin over his torso. It was not hard to know what she meant. She had heard every word he said before she joined them for breakfast. He was lucky he was still breathing. Leanne should have been spitting fire, but she was not as furious as he’d expected. Evidently she was going to give him a chance to explain. He hoped she would accept the weak explanation he planned to give her. Though he hated using her, she was now vital to his plan.
Drying off, he admired her gown. It made him even more reluctant to use her. She looked beautiful. The dress revealed her lithe shape to perfection and flattered her coloring. She was temptation on two dainty feet and Watkins was a man who ruthlessly took what he wanted. The plan Hunter had formulated could well prove more dangerous than he had anticipated. Unfortunately, he had no alternative.
“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.” He donned a clean shirt.
“I don’t want to, but I haven’t been given any good reason not to.”
“You’ve got to trust me.”
“That only goes so far, Hunter, especially when your words and actions tell me it’s the last thing I should do.”
“I haven’t got the time now to explain everything. It wouldn’t be smart either.” Moving to stand before her, he lowered his voice to a near whisper. “There’s only enough time to ask you to do something for me.”
“What?” Following his lead, she also spoke softly.
Grasping her gently by the shoulders, he replied, “Play up to Watkins.”
“Exactly what do you mean by that?”
“He’s made no secret of the fact that he wants you. It would serve my purpose real well if you let him think that interest is returned.”
“It isn’t.”
“I know that, but he doesn’t. All I want is for you to draw him away from his guards.”
“Why?”
“It’s a long story. I promise I’ll tell you all of it, but not now. Please, just trust me. I need your help.”
“Just how much help do you expect me to give?”
Suddenly realizing what she suspected, he gave her a brief kiss. “Not too much. Just get him alone.”
She felt the knots in her stomach slowly ease. “Only promise, not deliver?”
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