Page 52 of Laura's Truth

“Me too. We’ll enjoy it, I’m sure.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Did you get a chance to speak with your boss?”

Laura nodded. Eva had arranged that with a disposable cell on the drive from Haleswood to Charleston. It had been interesting, if not exactly helpful. Her statement, taken by the sheriff, had been faxed to Ft. Bragg, but she knew there would be serious fallout.

“What happened? They didn’t fire you?”

“Not in so many words,” she said with a smile. “You know it’s more difficult than that,” she added, searching for the words that would tell him the truth and maintain the ruse. “This might not have been the best weekend for us to indulge in a romantic holiday.”

“I’ll take that as a personal challenge.”

“You will?”

“Of course.” He winked at her, gave her the full-blown sexy smile. “I don’t want you to have any regrets.”

“I don’t.” She meant it. No matter what happened professionally or personally, as long as they captured Hackett, she wouldn’t regret a moment of this crazy experience. With him. Startling as it was, she let her mind wander through the minefield of potential desire and disaster as the various courses of their excellent dinner came and went.

What Hackett had done to Drew was unconscionable. Though she and Ross hadn’t really made a mistake with the reports, she knew she’d never feel complete if she didn’t try to make things right and file the clarifications and updates. On top of that, the idea that Hackett continued to betray his country, even ordering an assassination of a future ambassador right here on American soil, was intolerable.

When they left the restaurant Drew took her hand and led her to a waiting horse-drawn carriage. “What’s all this?”

“A little surprise and a little more fun. I figure we’ve earned it.”

She couldn’t stop the smile, enjoying every moment as the ruse spun out. The carriage took them along the Battery where the moonlight painted the water in a pale gleam. “Won’t we be late?”

“We have plenty of time.” He balanced their joined hands on his knee.

“I’m starting to feel like Cinderella.” She blamed the frivolous admission on the balmy night and the last glass of wine.

“As long as you don’t go looking for a prince.” He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

“That’s a prince kind of move,” she teased.

“I’ve managed to catch a few movies along the way,” he admitted. “Are you smitten yet?”

“Definitely.” Whether he thought she was playing along or sincere, it felt good to admit it. When they reached the theater, he helped her down, kept her hand in his as they joined the crowd milling around. She spotted Aziz immediately and squeezed Drew’s fingers.

But Drew’s gaze remained on the other side of the room, locked with Hackett. She rubbed Drew’s arm, then brushed a bit of lint from his lapel. They had to stay cool and maintain the pretense. After all, this was the heart of the plan, to bait Hackett into action.

“Give him enough rope to hang himself, darling,” she murmured at Drew’s ear. She focused on smiling at the people milling around them. Somewhere nearby, Ross and his team had the situation covered.

She and Drew had the one thing Hackett couldn’t anticipate: effective backup. Ross’s team would soon tip the scales in their favor and Hackett’s days of treason would come to an end.

***

Drew wished he had more details on Hackett’s attempt on Laura earlier today. From what Nicole had relayed through Rick, it sounded like a half-assed attempt to get under her skin.

Now, staring at the man, he wasn’t so sure.

Despite the plans and contingencies, Hackett being here didn’t feel like a good thing. Having Aziz standing right in the middle of the lobby surrounded by innocent bystanders felt even worse. When Hackett initially contracted the hit, he’d requested it look like a random crime.

He’d come to watch his hit man in action, which was what they needed, but Drew had to wonder if Hackett suspected the pending double-cross. No, Drew decided, taking a calming breath. There was no trail, not a single shred of data linking either Andrew Garner or Thomas Ketterly to the assassin Hackett thought he’d hired.

Today’s contact and confirmation had been designed to give Hackett confidence and Drew had to have faith that ploy was working.

“I should kill him and be done,” Drew grumbled.

“Think of the plan,” she scolded, smiling up at him as if he’d made some delightful observation.

“Think of the tax dollars saved,” he muttered.

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