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She thought of the journey ahead and felt a sudden chill. This wouldn’t be a pleasure trip. Playing the waiting game with Antigua would be a new process to her, and she didn’t like it. She couldn’t balk or do anything differently than the orders that had come down. This had been organized by the top brass, and there would be ramifications if not done strictly by the letter.

Sam went back to reading his paper. She noticed he had found the sports page.

She’d never liked jocks and figured he’d been one in school. He had the body for sports, lean but well-muscled. He had other attributes, as well. Thighs that could carry him long distances and broad shoulders for strength.

Good Lord, woman. You’re worse than a horny teenager.

For the remainder of the trip to the airport, Lana checked over her notes and added several from the information Horn had given her. Since there would be no horses or animals to shoot aboard the ship, that left women and card games for Antigua. This would be a very long journey.

The limo cruised around the parked cars and buses waiting outside the terminal and on out onto the tarmac where their fancy private jet waited. No lines, no weapons checks, and they were allowed to drive to within a few yards of the aircraft.

Sam took charge of the luggage, waving her off when she tried to get her things from the trunk.

“Go get settled in, and I’ll handle the lifting.” He seemed anxious to get the flight underway.

“Thanks for the help, Sam.” That trait she’d never associated with him. Of course, she’d only had a brief relationship with him, and her mind had not been on his manners. “I’ll take my makeup bag.”

He looked puzzled. “Point to it.”

She rolled her eyes and pointed to the black tote at the back of the trunk. He brought it out and handed it to her, a slight smile on his lips.

“What? You’ve never seen a makeup bag?”

“I thought you chicks carried all that in your purses.”

“I carry a Glock in mine.”

Chapter Four

Lana chose a window seat with plans to sleep for most of the flight. She tucked a pillow under her head and leaned back in her seat, listening to the bustling sounds of caterers filling the refrigerator and cupboards in the small galley.

She heard the doors close and the engines turn over into a smooth drone. Her eyes opened in time to see the runway flash by like a video in fast forward and felt the thump of the wheels speeding over the concrete. At last, the jet lifted, and the sensation reminded her of being on a roller coaster going straight up those rickety rails.

The sleep she’d wanted didn’t come. Instead, her thoughts were riddled with details of the mission. She’d read the files on Antigua, seen photos of some of his victims. It hadn’t been pretty. Dead bodies would always give her a queasy feeling, but it came with the job. Then, she thought of Antigua’s other side, the fun-loving playboy, the gentleman attending charity events and gala parties with the most beautiful, affluent women.

None of that mattered. His crazy scheme had to be stopped. Despite her screwed up relationship with Horn, they’d get the job done.

“Is this seat taken?”

The sensation of a far off thunderstorm moved around her. The fleeting scent of spice charged through her senses. Of course, Horn stood in the aisle, waiting to be invited to sit with her. She squinted up at him. “I did want to nap for awhile.”

“It’s a long flight.” He lowered his gorgeous body next to her. “Let’s talk about us.”

“You have a short memory, Horn.” She turned toward the window, punching her pillow. “Go have a sandwich.”

“Don’t tell me you plan to make the bureau your life.” He leaned closer and laughed softly. “You’re too much woman to waste yourself chasing fools all over the world. That won’t give you an album to show the grandkids.”

The arrogant ass had prodded her into answering. “I have no plans to wither away in the department. Thanks for your concern.”

Obviously encouraged by her comment, he chipped away at her personal life. “So, what are your plans?”

“I passed the bar exam on the first try, and with very high scores.” Lana yanked the magazine he’d pretended to read from his hand. “I have plans to open my own law firm.”

“You’re going to be a bleeding heart defense attorney?”

Had she read a certain amount of snide attitude in his remark
?

“I hope to help anyone that is being screwed over.” At the moment, she couldn’t quite remember why she’d fallen over herself to get into bed with him. “What interest could you possibly have in my future?”

“None, really.” His casual ease of looking her over ripped Lana’s self defense to shreds.

“If that’s true, then you won’t mind ceasing the personal interrogation.”

“I do mind.” Sam adjusted his seat to lie back as if he meant to sleep. No such luck. “We have eight hours to become acquainted, Pearly. Everything we’ve done together has been in a hurry. Relax and talk to me.”

He didn’t intend to go away. Lana remembered her panic in the hotel room where they had gone at each other with sheet-scorching passion. Why had she sneaked out like a guilty hooker? If he’d been just any nine-to- five guy, would she have left like a thief in the night? But he wasn’t just any guy. Horn belonged to her family of law enforcement. She’d been bombarded with the possibility of being fired, shamed by the brass, or worse, the fact she’d been an easy mark for one of their agents. Having sex with him revealed she had no control, couldn’t be trusted, and her name would be mud.

For two years, she’d lived under the gun, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

She couldn’t stop the shiver that crept over her body. To her amazement and pleasure, Horn removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

His warmth still clung to the fine fabric and seeped deliciously into her skin. She snuggled into the delicious comfort, meeting his gaze with a brief smile. “Thanks, Horn. I could have gotten a throw from the closet.”

“I’ll take care of you, Pearly.” He looked at his watch and then smiled. “Want to know about me?”

“I promise to be entertaining.”

“I don’t like vaudeville.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you about Ms. Pearly.”

“Take your damn coat back.”

Why couldn’t the man just talk business?

“Pearly, I bet you’re an only child.” He leaned back and closed his eyes.

“Don’t expect me to apologize for that.” She bit her tongue. He had weaseled more information out of her with amateur innuendo. “I suppose you’re the only one.”

He shook his head and chuckled. “Wrong, gorgeous. I have three brothers and a perfect little sister.” He closed his eyes and looked content as a big cat that’d just eaten a satisfying meal.

Lana’s curiosity kicked into high gear. “And you have no children?”

She heard his soft groan and hesitated to look into his eyes. He began to count off on his finger tips and grinned evilly as she counted nine.

“Sorry to disappoint you, lady, but I haven’t fathered any children yet.”

“That sounds like you have plans to make some woman very happy.” She suddenly wanted to know his every secret, even though she had no intention to open her own life to discussion. “You surely don’t intend to stay with the bureau until you retire.”

He startled her, sitting up to study her with no hint of teasing. “I had intended to do just that, but Washington has been requesting my return to battle.” He laughed. “Not out in the desert, but training recruits. I keep telling myself, hell no.”

“And you have said hell no?” Lana shivered with the discovery they could actually hold a real conversation. She liked it. “You don’t like the military?”

“Quite the contrary.” He grew thoughtful, measuring his words. “I love the Army.” His jaw set in a hard line, the subject obviously stirring unpleasant memories in his mind. “I finally reached the saturation point and got out at a good time for me.”

She wanted to know more about this man so stricken with loyalty to his fellow soldiers. He rubbed his jaw, obviously not going any further with his criticism of the military.

“I’m curious about your decision to become an agent. The rules are pretty stiff here as well.” He gave her a look of disbelief. “Well, they are. For most of us.”

“Pearly,” back went the seat and he folded his arms over his chest, “you’ve read too much into the files you sneaked a look at.”

What could she say? Yes, I’m a sneak.

She took advantage of the fact he didn’t have her in one of his penetrating stares. “I admit I checked you out.” She swallowed, trying to moisten her dry throat. “I wanted to know about the guy I slept with.”

His reaction shouldn’t have surprised her. He patted her hand and laughed. “I know you weren’t disappointed, Pearly.” He gazed at her through half closed eyes. “I sure as hell wasn’t. “

Lana had opened the proverbial can of worms again and struggled to shift his attention away from the topic. “What have you been doing all this time?”

“Putting scumbags in prison.”

“Yes, your reputation jumped off the pages.”
Shut up. Why are you antagonizing him
? “You always get your man no matter who gets in the way.”

The silence swirling around them hurt her ears. She jumped when he raised his arms and stretched before speaking to her.

“I don’t give quarter where none is deserved.” He caught her hand in a firm squeeze. “I’ve been working on ways to arrest Antigua for two years.”

She thrilled at the strength in his fingers, almost stuttered on her question. “What’s been the hold up?” His thumb pressed into her palm, and her thighs tightened. “Why haven’t you gone after him?”

“Waiting for you.” His lips invited her into a quick fantasy of their firm texture on her mouth. It had been too erotic to simply be tossed into the memory basket. He must know where her thoughts had taken her. “You were handpicked, Pearly. Trained and groomed to become the woman to take Antigua down. Does that worry you?”

Lana thought over his words, leaving her hand in his. “No. As you said, I have been trained for this party.”

* * * *

Sam deliberately hadn’t told Pearly much about himself. Not about the nights he’d lain awake thinking about her, and especially not about the times he’d picked up a phone to call her. Hell yes, he’d memorized the number to her office. She hadn’t been the only woman in his life, but she’d damn well taken every emotion he had when she skipped out on him. The others didn’t count.

“Pearly. You asleep?”

Her long lashes fluttered, and she squinted at him. “What is it, Horn?”

“I have an idea.”

A rush of pleasure jumped from his heart to his crotch when she moistened her lips.

She spoke with terrific interrogation style. “Let’s hear it.”

“Why should we pretend to be strangers meeting for the first time on that tub?” She looked him square in the face and leveled a cool stare on him. “Well, hell. It takes too long to chase after a woman and look convincing. It takes a lot of candy and flowers to make it look like the romance has seriously begun. You see where I’m going with this?”

“We have orders, Horn.”

“I take that as a no.” He moaned in an attempt to hold her attention. “You need to live dangerously once in a while, Pearly. Since you aren’t receptive to me in this life, at least make it easier on me now.”

“What does that mean?” A wisp of her perfume wafted to him when she sat up straight.

“I don’t know how to play the game.” He took a magazine from the stack on her lap, purposely ignoring her stare. He glanced at her. “What?”

“Enlighten me, Horn.” Her fine jaw set in a cute line of determination.

“I mean I won’t play silly games for you or anyone else. “ He flipped the magazine into the seat across the aisle. “We go in loaded for love or it’s not going to happen. Orders or no orders, I’m not running after you with my tongue hanging out.”

“Gee, and I’ll bet you wonder why you can’t hook up permanently.”

“Naw, you have it all wrong, gorgeous.” He turned toward her, pulling his best con game. “Wouldn’t it look more convincing if we were already hot for each other? No kid games.” He added a serious note to his ploy. “I don’t want to have to scare off some randy guy with bad intentions.”

Her soft sigh was music to his ears. Pearly just might buy his idea.

She turned her face to the window, and he had to strain to hear her. “Just don’t think I’m going to stand still for your pawing me in public.”

He hoped she didn’t look his way too soon. The grin on his face would blow the deal. She hadn’t said no to pawing in private. Ah, sweet heaven, she would make his life worth living.

Chapter Five

The coffee had to be the best Lana had tasted in a long while. All that perfection probably came from the fact Horn had brought it to her. He’d certainly been perfect in bed.

At the moment, Mister Perfect sat in on a card game with two other agents flying on to Colombia from Argentina. Grant Stoner and Phil Winters didn’t know they were playing with a card shark. That much had been in Horn’s file, expert with all weapons, top physical condition, and unmatched in fixing games of chance.

She got up and stretched to loosen her tight muscles, deciding a little snooping on her partner might be a good idea. The washroom just happened to be on the way, and she wanted to freshen her makeup, anyway

With makeup kit in hand, Lana moved along the aisle, slowing down as she reached the card game. She smiled in amusement, noting the high stakes was a pile of toothpicks. At least Horn had the decency not to take their money.

He glanced up and winked at her and then focused back on the game. The man had to be the world’s biggest flirt, and she loved it. His dark hair gleamed in the overhead light, and his complexion could have been polished copper. He looked absolutely delicious with the sleeves of his blue shirt rolled up and his collar open to give her a peek at his neck. Lord, he was so well built her body responded to the memory of him against her naked skin.

How cheap can you get giving him the come on look? You are so transparent
.