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“I do. It's at Bob and Connie's place.”
“Oh, of course. I forgot. You wouldn't want to carry heirlooms around the world with you.”
“Speaking of heirlooms,” he said slowly, “what did you ever do with the emerald I gave you?”
She averted her eyes. “Do you really think I'd keep something that reminded me of you, after the
way you dumped me?"
“Yes, I do,” he said.
She glared at him. “I meant to throw it away.”
“I wouldn't have blamed you,” he assured her. He smiled. “But I'm glad you didn't hate me
enough to actually do it.”
“It's a pretty ring,” she commented.
“But you don't wear it.”
“It's part of the past. I wanted to start over. I went to university and when I came out, with a major
in public relations, I walked right into this job. I've been very lucky.”
“You're alone,” he remarked.
“I wanted it that way,” she said shortly. ”When I'm ready, I'll start looking for a husband."
“Have anyone in mind?” he asked carelessly, gathering his stuff.
“Mack,” she said triumphantly.
He raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Do tell.”
“Mack's settled and financially secure, and good company.”
“You'd shrivel up like a prune if he touched you,” he scoffed. “I've seen the way you draw your
legs up when he comes close.”
“You have not!”
“Kirry, you don't know a damned thing about modern surveillance techniques, do you?” he asked
dryly. “Maybe that's good. I'd hate to make you inhibited when you dance around your bedroom in the
nude.”
She gasped audibly and went scarlet. “You Peeping Tom!”
“Accidental, I swear it,” he said, holding up a hand. “It was the mirror. I had the camera just a
little too far to the left…”
She aimed a blow at him, and he sidestepped just in time.
He laughed delightedly. “I thought you were spectacular,” he said deeply. “All pink and mauve
and blond. A nymph caught cavorting among the ferns. I didn't sleep all night long."
She glared at him. “I hate you.”
“Kirry,” he said softly, "I didn't see much that I haven't already seen before. I know, you don't like
remembering that, but it's true.
“If I'd known what was going to happen later, that you'd believe those sick lies of Chad's…!”
“You'd never have let me touch you. I know that,” he replied, his voice quiet and somber.
She wrapped her coat closer around her gi. “I'm ashamed of that night, anyway.”
That stung. “I can't imagine why,” he said matter-of-factly. “We were engaged. Most engaged
people make love, and it isn't as if we went all the way.”
“They make love when they actually plan to get married. That's why you always held back
before, wasn't it, because you never had any intention of marrying me?”
“Once or twice, I thought about it,” he confessed. “You were hungry for that damned ring, for the
proposal. I humored you, because you wanted it that badly. But I knew that I'd be no good as husband
material until I got the wanderlust out of me. I tried to tell you that, but you were so young.”
“Young and stupid,” she agreed. “And desperately in love.”
He averted his eyes. “In love, hell,” he said curtly. “You wanted to sleep with me.”
“Of course I did, but it was much more than that,” she argued.
“You were only eighteen,” he returned, moving toward the door. “It's ancient history now,
anyway, and we have more important things to think about.”
“Sure.” She opened the door for him, refusing to look up.
He went out, let her move past him and then turned off the lights and locked the door. Later, he'd
have a talk with the manager about his brief absence, to make sure the man knew that he was only
leaving temporarily. He'd pay the rent up in advance, too, just in case. With any luck, Erikson was
going to be a bad memory in the near future.
Kirry held his clothes bag while he unlocked the apartment next to hers and opened the door. It
was smaller than hers, but not much. It had a better view than hers did of the Alamo, and it looked as
though it had just been decorated. It was done in greens and browns, and somehow it suited Lang.
“Yes, I like this,” he remarked as he looked around. He glanced back at her. “We live close
enough to share kitchen duty. You could cook one night and I could cook the next.”
“That would be nice,” she said.
“But you can't sleep over,” he added sternly. ”No use begging, it won't work. I don't allow
women into the bedroom. It's too hard to get them out."
She smiled faintly. “I'll bet it is.”
His eyebrow jerked. “Want to find out why?” he asked sensually.
“I have a pretty good idea,” she replied, dropping her eyes. “You're a hard act to follow.”
He turned back toward her with his hands deep in his pockets. “So are you,” he replied honestly.
Her eyes scanned his broad face and she had to bite down hard to keep from begging him to kiss
her. That way lay disaster, she reminded herself. She knew better than to encourage Lang.
She turned. “Well, I'll let you get settled. I'm tired and I want to go to bed.”
He followed her to the door and opened it for her. “I've already checked out this place,” he said.
“The bedroom where you sleep is on the other side of the wall of mine. If you rap on the wall, I'll
hear you. I don't sleep heavily, ever.”
“Thanks. That's nice to know.”
“Wear a gown, will you?” he asked on a groan. “I have to keep you under surveillance for your
own protection. Don't make it any harder on me than you have to.”
She glared at him. “I'll wear body armor, in fact,” she said with a curt nod of her head. “Good
night, Lang.”
“Sleep well.”
“I want a nice hot bath and…” She hesitated, her eyes shooting to his.
He sighed with resignation. “Okay, I'll cut the camera off when I hear water running, will that
do?”
“You don't need a camera in the bathroom!” she exclaimed.
“That's odd, the last man we protected said the same thing,” he told her frankly. “We got some
very interesting pictures of him and his lady…”
“How is it that you're still alive?” she asked, exasperated. “Not for lack of effort by irate
taxpayers, that's for sure,” he said with twinkling eyes. “Sleep well, little one. I'll be as close as a shout
if you need me.” [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]