Page 36 of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour

She pressed her body against his. “To your suite,sì.But I think we should wait to order until we’ve worked up anappetite.”

13

Bianca didn’t even stir asBilly slipped off the mattress at dawn and padded into the bathroom.

He checked his phone. Still no word from Rogers, which probably meant the agent hadn’t been able to find out anything useful. That was disappointing.

He sent a text to Vesna, asking if her sources had come up with anything yet, and received an immediate response.

Not yet, but soon I hope.

He texted back.

Any way to speed that up?

His phone buzzed again.

I see someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I’ll crack the whip.

He shot another message to her.

That’s all I ask.

Twenty minutes later, Billy was showered, dressed, packed, and in the middle of writing a note to Bianca, when he heard the sheets rustle.

“Leaving already?” she asked, her voice heavy with sleep.

He sat beside her and threaded a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’m afraid the train waits for no one.”

“There are trains to Venice all day. Take a later one and play with me some more.”

“Tempting, I assure you. But you know how these tours are. I wouldn’t want to give our PR person a heart attack.”

“True,” she conceded. “Then I must settle for a memory of what was.”

He leaned down and kissed her. “And what a memory.”

She laughed and kissed him back. “I hope we can do this again. In Venice, perhaps?”

“The invitation is open.” He stood. “Get some more sleep, then order breakfast. I’ll tell the desk the room will be occupied until noon.”

She stretched and yawned. “What a wonderful idea.”

“Take care of yourself, Bianca.”

“Safe travels, Billy.”

The others were in thelobby by the time Billy arrived. With them was the six-member team from Strategic Services. Instead of wearing suits that would draw attention, they were dressed casually. Their job today was to makesure Billy and the others made it onto the train with little fuss and hopefully unnoticed. A new team would meet the travelers when they arrived in Venice.

Billy had a quick word with the receptionist, then Lizzie led the group out to a pair of waiting vans. The Centurion people climbed into one, the Strategic Services team into the other, then they were off.

“I wish we’d had time to do a little sightseeing,” Adriene said, looking wistfully out the window.

“That’s why they call this work and not a vacation,” Peter said.

“You’ll just have to settle for attending parties and rubbing elbows with Europe’s elite for now,” Tessa said.

Adriene shrugged dramatically. “Well, if I must.”

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