Page 31 of Tempting Tessa

Tessa stood by the window, her silhouette lit by the fading afternoon light. When she faced him, the usual spark in her gaze was tempered. “Thank you,” she said to the maid, her voice carrying a clipped authority. The woman dipped her chin and disappeared, leaving them alone as she closed the doors behind her.

“Nice digs,” Tommy said. His bag thumped to the floor as he released it. “Didn’t peg you for the aristocrat type, especially after what you told me about your mom leaving all this behind.”

“I was told she had, but a few years ago, an attorney for the estate reached out to me. This place belonged to my grandparents. They’ve passed on, and with my mother gone as well, the place became mine. I plan to sell it, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.” Her fingers traveled over the edges of the furniture and fireplace. “It’s useful when I need somewhere no one would think to look for me. Also”—her gaze pinned him again—“when I need to interrogate someone.”

He stiffened. “Are you going to explain what that means, or should I start guessing?”

She gracefully lifted a snifter of dark liquid as she scanned him from head to toe. He felt like he was under a microscope. “I know about your plan. How you’ve set me up. Set up the swans.”

The air left his lungs. “What are you talking about?”

She used the glass to point at a chair. “Destabilizing global power structures and framing them for it. All the while, you’ve acted as if you’re on the trail of the Russian investors and their conspirators. You convinced me that you want to stop the EMP attacks when, in reality, you’re working with the Russians to execute them.”

He blinked. “Are you drunk?”

“Don’t tell me you’re not involved.” She swished the liquor around in the glass. “It’s clever, I’ll give you that. And Jessie? Making us all believe she’s dead while she’s orchestrating it behind the scenes. Wow. You really had me going on that one. Meg, too.”

“Wait,what? Making you believe she’s dead? Sheisdead, Tessa. And I’m not working with the Russians. For God’s sake, where the hell is this coming from? Meg?”

Her laugh was bitter. “Whose idea was it? Yours or Jessie’s?”

“Have you lost your freaking mind?”

“I can’t believe I fell for it. For…” She gestured at him. “You and your act.”

“I’mnotacting.” He crossed the room to stand in front of her. “What happened on the train? Who called you?”

“Spence. He told me all about a mole framing the swans for the attacks. I knew you wanted revenge for Jessie’s death, and I might have understood your actions if that were the only part of it, but the two of you betrayed all of us? How could you?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Yeah, I wanted vengeance on Mosai Hagar, and yes, I want those Russian bastards to pay for what they’re about to do, but… You think I’m working with them? That Jessie’s alive and we’re conspiring against the CIA? Seriously, what have you been smoking, woman?”

“Just tell me the truth.”

“I am telling the truth!” Disbelief tightened his throat. “I would never betray you, and yes, I have issues with the swans, but… How can you think I’d do such a thing? Not just to them, but with the EMP attacks to the soldiers at the bases? To the innocent people who’d be affected by them? Jesus.” He jammed his hand through his hair and paced away from her. He turned back. “You know me better than that, Tessa.”

“Do I?” For a long moment, she studied him with that unreadable expression of hers.

He let her see it on his face. No subterfuge. No lies.

Seeming to come to some decision, she blew out a long sigh. “This is why I can’t be a spy. I can’t constantly wonder if someone is betraying me.”

“I’m not.”

Another long look. “I analyze people to figure out their intentions, but I also have an internal radar that never steers me wrong. You’ve upset that radar. It feels…off.”

What was he supposed to say? “Sorry…?”

“I don’t want to have feelings for you. That’s the problem.”

Again, was he supposed to apologize? Screw that. “I’m not a traitor. I’m not working with one. I swear to you, I will never hurt you or betray your trust.”

For the third time, all she did was size him up. As if it took everything she had, she finally gave a nod and motioned him to follow her. “I want to show you something.”

He joined her at the desk, where a laptop was open. She hit a couple of keys, and the screen displayed a grainy video feed. He squinted at it, recognizing the setting. “The train station?”

“You, Spence, and Del are gifted at this technology, but I’m not without resources. This is from the station’s CCTV. Watch.”

She clicked the play button, and he leaned closer. On screen, people moved along one of the hallways. He scanned them before she stopped the feed, rewound it, and played it again. “What am I looking for?”

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