Page 76 of Dangerous Devotion

Their exchange lightened the mood, and they took up where they’d left off, flirting and exchanging teasing banter. Giving each other knowing looks that suggested their night would continue once they got back to the hotel and doing their best to show the world they were totally caught up in each other.

Which wasn’t far from the truth, despite the shadow that lingered over them.

By the time Simpson stood to leave, May had mastered herself again.

When Simpson passed their table, AJ made his move. “Major General. Hell of an eye for wine selection you’ve got.” He tapped the side of the nearly full bottle.

Simpson beamed, the redness in his cheeks and the slightly blurry look in his eyes a tell of how much wine he drank tonight.

AJ stuck out his hand to shake Simpson’s. May forced a smile onto her face, but it felt too brittle, a farce she wasn’t certain she could pull off.

“Please allow us to pick up the tab for the wine,” AJ offered.

Simpson waved a hand. “Consider it a small gift, a token of my affection for May and her family.”

“Thank you, Shaw.” She pushed to her feet to lean in and embrace the man. A week ago, this was much, much easier. Now the move felt not only like the worst lie she could tell but like treason to her country and all she held sacred.

When she drew away from Simpson and slipped into her seat again, AJ was beaming at her.Good job,the expression in his eyes said.

She let the air she’d been holding trapped in her lungs slip out and smiled in return.

“I’m surprised you’re still in town,” Simpson said.

Just sticking around to get your bomb!

“We’re just being tourists. You know…never stop being a newlywed.” She infused a flirty note into her tone and aimed another look at AJ.

Right on cue, he reached across the table and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. A shiver raised inside her at his touch, along with a little sinking sensation of dread that Simpson might see right through them.

She leaned into his touch as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Then she snapped back to reality. Simpson was still standing there, taking this all in.

“I hope your dinner was just as fantastic as ours was,” she said to him. “Your companions seemed to be enjoying themselves. Do I know them?”

“My companions? No.” His tone sharpened a bit. “They’re art dealers. We like getting together once in a while to discuss the market.”

“That seems right up your alley.” She met Simpson’s penetrating expression with her own. Hoping she was pulling this off, and if not, that AJ would jump in and help her out.

He remained silent, watching the interaction. He picked up his wine glass and took a real sip.

“You know, May, I’ve been thinking about the training session you did,” Simpson said.

“Oh?” Surprise was a genuine ripple through her system.

Simpson nodded. “The soldiers learned a lot more than they would from watching a demonstration. Your idea to use fake equipment in a hands-on way was really what we needed.”

Her blush was real too. “Thank you, Shaw. That means a lot to me.”

“I’ve been thinking about a higher-level training. For a group of high-ranking officers.”

She straightened in her seat. This was it. A way onto that base again. Access to the hangar containing the bomb.

“What a fantastic idea. I already have ideas for what to share with a group like that.” She slid her eyes to AJ’s. His face gave nothing away.

She couldn’t be overly enthusiastic. She needed to remain cool, calm.

“But I’ll have to check our travel plans and see if we have enough time to make it to our next destination. We have tickets to a concert.” She smiled widely at AJ.

“Yes, the concert. May’s been looking forward to it for, what…three months?”

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