Hidden Sins (25 page)

He opened his door and climbed out of the car and I followed his lead. He met me around the side of the car and pointed toward a door. “There’s an elevator over there we can take to the house or we could just walk up the ramp.”

“Let’s walk. That’ll give you time to explain why one man needs so many cars.” Without realizing it, I slipped my hand into his as we walked up the ramp.

“There are two reasons. First, I love cars. Second, it behooves someone in my profession to have different options. They are not all my personal collection. Depending on the job, employees will use vehicles that fit their cover,” Luke said, as we reached the top of the ramp. The garage door had lowered behind us and I looked around the large space.

“Likely story.”

“I’m sticking to it.” He grinned.

My mind flashed back to the man who’d been chasing us. “Do you think he’s dead?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yes,” Luke answered, leading me through the garage toward a door. “You’ll be safe here.”

“How can you be sure? If they know I’ve been with you here and there, they’ll surely know to look for your home. They’ll find your home.”

Luke’s eyes brightened. “I really do need to tell you more about what I do and the resources that are available to me and my firm,” he said, unlocking the door with a simple press of his thumb.

“Seriously?” I asked, looking at the thumbprint pad.

“Yes, seriously, and I will program your print into the system tonight.”

“I know I owe you an explanation—”

“A very long explanation,” Luke interrupted.

“But I almost wonder if yours will be longer,” I said, as he pushed the door open.

The room in front of us was vacant, empty of anything and everything. It was small with a door on the opposite wall. There was no furniture. The walls were a stark white and the floors a pure white marble to match. My pulse quickened as I looked around the bare space.

“Haven’t decided what to do with this room?” I asked.

“No. It has a purpose,” he replied, not offering any more explanation as we made our way across the floor to the next door. It, too, had a fingerprint ID pad that he quickly pressed his thumb onto.

He opened the door, and a tiny surge of relief entered my system when no more mystery rooms were unveiled. I was now standing in a beautiful kitchen with walnut cabinetry and ivory granite. A Viking six-burner stove was in the island and double ovens were in the wall to the left.

“You cook?” I asked.

“It’s the best way to be able to eat.” He smiled. “Would you like something to drink?”

I shook my head, unable to believe that an hour ago I was feeling pretty good from the amount of wine I’d consumed, and now that was all a distant memory. Instead, I was left with a pit in my stomach and the inability to focus on much of anything.

I took a few steps into the kitchen and saw a great room a few steps below. Windows covered the far wall, but sheer drapes framed the windows. A large, ivory sectional was centered in the room. It was quite beautiful. My guess was in the daylight I’d be looking at the ocean in the distance.

I turned and paused. “Before I start guessing incorrectly, would you mind telling me what that empty room off the garage is for?”

His eyes filled with mischief and his smile broadened. “Why don’t you tell me what you think it’s for? We could use some levity for the evening.”

“I have an active imagination and I’d just embarrass myself. Thank you very much. Please just do me the courtesy.”

“If you don’t at least throw out one of your ideas, I’m not going to tell you.” He folded his arms in front of him.

“Fine. I’ll just wait until Mia gets here, and I’ll ask her.”

“What makes you think she knows?” His brow arched. He was calling my bluff.

“It looks like it can be cleaned easily. Almost like you could just spray it out.”

“And why would I need to do that?” He was entirely too amused.

“Maybe it’s where you bring captives…”

“Captives?” he repeated.

“Like for deeper questioning,” my voice lowered. “Interrogations.”

Luke broke into laughter and I wanted to nail him. “I told you I had an active imagination.”

“You weren’t kidding,” he continued to laugh. “I’m not CIA. I don’t waterboard people. I wouldn’t bring anyone back here that I didn’t implicitly trust anyway.”

“Sooo I’m part of the inner circle?” I asked, smiling faintly.

“Indeed.”

“Well, I gave you one of the many ideas that came to me. Now spill the beans.”

“I use the room for photography. The ceiling opens up and lets light in.”

Oh. My. God.

“Uh-huh. Yeah. That was my second guess,” I said. “I was just putting you on notice.”

“Is that so?” he asked, taking a step toward me.

“I wanted you to know that I understood all this spy stuff.”

“I’m not a spy,” he corrected. “I just own a private security firm.”

I looked around the house and smiled. “A very successful security firm that makes policemen apologize. I also have a feeling you know more about me than you’re letting on.”

“I don’t know enough,” Luke replied, seriousness dismissing my playful intent.

“Same could be said about you,” I whispered.

“I don’t deny it, but I’ll try to do better. Starting with giving you a tour of my home.”

“I guess that’s a start,” I said.

“It’ll have to do until Mia gets here.”

“Well, show away.” I smiled and his gaze fell to my lips. A complete swarm of butterflies crashed inside my belly the way his gaze lingered on my mouth. I found myself moistening my lips as his gaze intensified.

“I give you way too little credit,” Luke muttered, his eyes connecting with mine.

“How so?”

“I think you know exactly what you do to me.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I hid my smile at his admission.

“Oh, I think you do.” He grinned. “But two can play that game.”

Luke’s fingers grazed the small of my back as he pushed me gently forward, guiding me to see the rest of his house. I felt a warmth pool in my stomach as he maintained his touch.

“This is the great room,” he said, his touch still unfastening me.

“I gathered that.”

Pushing me forward, we walked down a hall. “There’s a powder room behind that door. And this door leads to an exercise room. The library is at the end of the hall. And the music room is connected to it.”

“Music room?” I asked, feeling my heart rate quicken.

“Yes. A music room.”

We walked down the long hall, stopping every so often for Luke to push open a door, leading into one of the various rooms he mentioned. We stood in front of the large French doors at the end of the hall. Between books and music, I couldn’t wait for him to open the door.

“This is one of my favorite rooms in the house, besides the master.” The way his voice slowed on the word master made my insides rattle. I felt his smile as he opened the doors. He knew what he’d done to me.

It was beautiful. There were floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, wrapping the entire room, but I didn’t see another door, and he’d mentioned a music room connected to this one. I spotted a ladder that was on tracks in the far corner but no door.

“Does that just wheel around the room?” I asked.

“It does.” He nodded.

I took a step inside and could smell the books. The room didn’t need any decoration besides the bookshelves that were filled with colorful spines. It rivaled any public library I’d ever stepped foot into.

“This is beautiful,” I muttered.

“Glad you love it.”

“Where’s the music room?” I asked.

“It’s a secret room.”

“Are you serious? And you wanted to laugh at my whole interrogation theory on the marble room?” I asked.

“The marble room. I like that. Has a nice ring.” He smiled.

“So where is the entrance to the secret room, or are you going to make me guess?”

“You won’t be able to find it.” His eyes twinkled with amusement.

“How can you be so sure?” I asked.

“It’s the design. It’s not meant to be found.”

“Is that a challenge?” I asked.

“I guess it could be,” he acknowledged.

“Well, I bet you that I can find the entrance to the music room,” I replied, crossing my arms.

“And what are you willing to bet, Hannah?” His eyes darkened in such a way that I almost fell over. I glanced nervously around the room.

“I don’t have much to offer,” I replied, blushing.

“I doubt that to be true.” Luke was completely amused but changed the subject. “How about if I lose, I’ll cook you a four-course meal?”

I nodded. “And if I lose?” My heart was racing.

“A kiss,” he responded simply.

“That I think I can handle. But there’s not much incentive for me to win,” I replied, laughing.

“I’m a fabulous cook.” He smirked, watching as I began to make my way to the nearest wall of built-in shelving.

I began running my hands along the shelves, feeling for anything that was out of place.

“You would need to be.” I continued moving my fingers along the wood as my eyes noted the amazing collection of titles. I could spend the rest of my life in here and be completely content. It was so odd being in Luke’s presence. In one moment, my past was coming back to haunt me and in the next, I was able to dream of another way of existing in realms I’d never imagined.

“Am I getting warmer?” I asked.

“And you think I’d tell you?” he joked.

I continued walking along the wall, spying any books that looked out of place or any shelving that looked off. I’d finally moved onto the far wall and still nothing, when Luke’s cell rang and he picked up on speaker.

“You here, Mia?” Luke asked.

“Pulling up the drive. Just wanted to make sure you were decent,” Mia laughed.

I busted into laughter.

“And you’re on speaker. Thanks for that,” Luke replied, smiling and shaking his head. His gaze dropped away from mine, and for once, I caught a little embarrassment flitter through him.

“Whoops. Shit,” Mia chimed. “Anyway, we’ll be there in a few.”

Luke disconnected the cell and turned to look at me. “Sorry about that.”

“What’s to be sorry about?” Our eyes locked on one another and I felt a tingle run through me.

Luke ran his fingers through his hair and looked around the room. “I think I might have won this bet.”

“How so?” I asked.

“Do you have an answer for where the entrance is?” His brow quirked.

“There wasn’t a time limit,” I reminded him.

He pressed his lips together. “I assumed that was a given.”

“Never assume…” My eyes darted behind him to a bookshelf where I noticed a book tipped against another. All of the books in the room were upright. None were out of place. I bet that had fallen when the door moved. I was sure that was exactly where the entrance was. I quickly skimmed over the area and brought my gaze to his. I didn’t want to win this bet.

“So Mia and Mitch are almost here. That’s probably good,” I said.

“And why’s that?” Luke asked.

“Like you said, I lost the bet. So when are you going to cash in on your winnings?” I teased, my pulse quickening.

“We’ve got a lot to discuss, and I’m hoping that tonight’s events persuaded you to tell us what’s going on. That was too close a call, and I don’t want to lose control of the situation. But in order to design a defensive strategy, I need answers,” Luke replied.

“I’ll try.”

His gaze deepened. “So to answer your question, I’ll cash in when there’s no chance of being interrupted.” Luke’s seductive grin added another layer of complexity to my feelings. The look in his eyes revealed a powerful man who didn’t have a problem asserting what he wanted in life, and in this moment, I was what he wanted to claim. And even though I was more nervous than I could ever imagine, it felt really good. 

He pressed his hand against my back and softly moved me forward just as the alarm beeped, alerting us that Mia and Mitch had entered the premises.

“Let’s get settled,” Luke murmured as we walked into the hall. “There’ll be plenty of time for the other.”

My heart nearly popped out of my chest as a mischievous smile spread along Luke’s lips. I’d never taken that next step before, and recently that seemed to be all I could think about when I was around Luke. I couldn’t let my feeling for him overshadow what I needed to do, and I worried that every day I stayed, I endangered us all.

Luke

I could no longer worry about rushing Hannah. I needed answers. We’d nearly been run off the road because I’d let my personal feelings for Hannah get in the way of taking precautions. If the man had tapped our bumper a moment sooner, I probably wouldn’t have been able to correct our vehicle, which was why he landed over the cliff and we didn’t.

“Sir,” Mitch greeted me in the foyer. “Mia’s in the kitchen.”

I nodded and without thinking slipped my hand in Hannah’s as we walked through the hallway. She didn’t say a word once we left the library, but her eyes said it all. She felt responsible for this and had made up her mind. She was going to go if I didn’t stop her first. I needed to distract her. And against my better judgment, the plans for tomorrow had to go on. I needed to get her mind on something else, remind her of what a life can be.