Chapter Ten
Cash
“WHY HAVEN’T YOU CHECKED IN today, love?” Ivy scolded me over the speakerphone.
I looked in the cabin’s bathroom mirror while I buttoned my shirt and noticed the gray strands in my hair were more prominent than I was used to. Most assignments required me to dye my hair, but for Sabrina I wanted to be as real as possible, even if she accused me of being fake by trying to date her. “I’ve been busy.”
“Oh, do tell. I take it things went well last night with your little honey trap.”
I wished. They went the exact opposite of well. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call Sabrina that?”
“I can’t give you an exact number, but just plan on telling me several more times,” she trilled.
Irritated with her and this conversation, I smoothed out my dress shirt.
“So, give me all the details,” Ivy sang. “I could do with some spice in my life.”
“You know I don’t kiss and tell, but even if I did, there’s nothing to report on that front. Other than that, Sabrina is much more observant than I gave her credit for. She’s picked up on the fact that Izan isn’t Norwegian nor as young as he’s portraying himself to be.”
“She’s a regular Sherlock Holmes,” Ivy quipped. “Just keep her under control. I don’t have all day and night to keep deleting her photos and interrupting her cell service. Do you know what a pain in the arse that is?”
“It’s your job. Besides, can’t you just let her keep one picture?”
“Absolutely not. If she ever posted the photo, who knows what hands it might fall into? And we can’t compromise our best agent, now can we?”
I’m not sure Ivy believed I was the best in our agency, but she had a valid point. One little photo in an obscure small-town paper had led to us finding Izan. I’d questioned how Izan had gotten so careless, but after observing him and Lexi for the better part of today, it was apparent she’d somehow managed to wrap the man around her finger. Not sure how that would play out.
“I suppose not,” I agreed with Ivy. “But it’s making her more than suspicious. She’s coming up with wild theories, like a radioactive spider has bitten me.”
Ivy laughed uncontrollably. “Oh, that’s rich. I hope she doesn’t think you’re a superhero.”
“I’ve done some pretty heroic things,” I defended myself. Not to say I thought I was a superhero, but society at large can sleep better at night because of people like me. That had to count for something.
“Yes, yes you have, darling. I didn’t realize your ego was so fragile today. Tell me, why are you so down?” She offered some fake pity. “Is Sabrina not falling for your charming self? Would you like some relationship tips?”
“No thank you,” I grumbled. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t think I need to use the romantic angle anyway. Sabrina’s mother seems happy enough to involve me in their family activities. I’m actually on my way to a wedding cake tasting that Sabrina and her cousin are putting on.” According to Callie, it was unexpected. I had a feeling Sabrina had taken my advice about keeping your enemies close. She was smart and resourceful. And gorgeous—too gorgeous.
“How quaint. So, if you haven’t been with your lady love, what have you been doing all day?” Ivy sounded more than accusatory.
“My job.” I pulled no punches.
“So you’ve found the diamonds.”
“Not yet, but I’m working on it. I tailed Izan and his fiancée all day, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. He plays the part of the doting fiancé well. He’s obviously sold several of the diamonds, judging by the amount of cash he throws around.” Today I watched him allow Lexi to order over $200,000 of luxury furniture for their new house on Emerald Isle.
“The more diamonds he sells, the more of a target he’s going to become. I don’t think he has any idea the kinds of ties organized crime rings have. Does he realize the target he’s painting on his back and the backs of Lexi’s family?” Ivy asked rhetorically.
Perhaps Izan wasn’t aware, but I knew very well the danger he’d placed them all in. All it took was one miscalculation on his part and Lexi, and even her family, could find themselves in witness protection if they were lucky, or at the bottom of a river if Izan angered the wrong person. The thought made me shudder, which was why I was determined to find the diamonds and Izan’s contacts. I would annihilate any threat to Sabrina, even if it was the last thing I did.
“The better question would be, does he care?” I replied. “We all know what happened to his first wife. I can’t imagine he’s grown a heart in the last couple of years. But he plays the part well.”
“Who knows—maybe he’s fallen in love. I mean, even you know what that’s like.” Ivy got in her jab.
“Enough.”
“So touchy lately. Well, have fun at your little cake tasting. Keep in touch, and please, for the love, stay out of any photos.”
“I’ll do my best. If not, I’m sure you’ll take care of it. Just like the background check you promised me.” I hoped providing that to Sabrina would give me another opportunity to talk to her. Last night’s conversation bothered me more than I cared to confess. I’d said things that I’d never admitted to anyone, including myself. It was true—I’d never wanted to have a family until I met Sabrina. And truer, I had zero clue how to be an integral part of a family, nor did I have any right to think about it. After all, what did I know about that life, other than fathers beat the hell out of their kids and leave them? My mother wasn’t much better.
Hell, I’d already left Sabrina once and was planning on doing it again. Yet I couldn’t stay away from her. From the way she’d spoken last night of our time together in Bordeaux, she’d given me some hope that I could be more than an unfeeling jerk. She was right—I hadn’t been playing a part. It was the most real I’d ever felt, and I wanted to feel that way again, if only for a few days. Part of me craved to know what it was like to be human again. Except humans had emotions, and in the game I played, emotions were dangerous, even deadly.
“I’m working on it, okay?” Ivy snapped. “I know you think all I have to do is push a few buttons and forge some documents, but what I do is an art, love. It takes time. So go play kissy kissy while I work my magic. Toodles.”
I clicked “End,” happy to be done speaking to her. She loved pushing my buttons.
I stared long and hard at Cash Denton in the mirror. I’d used so many aliases over the years, I’d almost forgotten my real name and who that man was. Foolishly, I wondered if the man buried deep inside me could have been husband and father material under the right circumstances. Could Sabrina love him? I let out a deep breath. “You need to stop thinking like this,” I berated myself out loud. “You’re here to keep Sabrina safe. End of story.”
With that in mind, I secured my surveillance equipment and the arsenal of weapons in the false drawers our technical team had provided. They were geniuses—no one would guess the dresser had become a weapons cache.
I walked out the door and locked the cabin, wondering how upset Sabrina was going to be when I showed up tonight. Her mother seemed to think she was just playing hard to get because she was afraid of settling down. I don’t think her mother knew Sabrina very well. The Sabrina I knew in France played no games. She’d been all in, and I should have never let her get that far. It had just been so easy to get caught up in her, and she’d taken me on a ride like none other.
It didn’t take long for me to walk to the lodge. The sun was just setting, turning the sky ablaze in orange and pink. It was easy to see why Sabrina loved this place so much. There was just something so tranquil about it. I breathed in the fall evening with hints of smoked cedar wood chips in the air. It made me want to steal Sabrina away for a moonlit picnic for two in front of a roaring fire.
I had to shake off those thoughts before entering the busy lodge. Guests of the resort and people from the surrounding towns all came to dine at the lodge’s world-class restaurant, where I headed for the cake tasting. The patrons had no idea they would be in the company of a diamond smuggler—one could even say murderer, for how he’d left his wife to die. Sometimes I wished I had the luxury of not knowing. If people knew how often they came in contact with danger, no one would ever leave their houses.
I followed the delicious smells of bergamot and baked bread, eager to taste Sabrina’s confections. The woman had a gift. The restaurant took up a good portion of the main floor, and several patrons sat in the lobby, waiting for a table. As I approached the hostess, Callie saw me and waved me in. “Come on back.”
I weaved in and out of several tables until I reached a smiling Callie. It was easy to see where Sabrina had inherited her beauty and grace.
Callie strung her arm through mine. “We are in a private room.” She patted my bicep and maybe even dug her fingers in a little. Apparently Sabrina came from a long line of handsy women. “How are you enjoying your stay?”
“It’s as beautiful here as Sabrina told me it was.” I couldn’t exactly tell her about my stay, considering I’d spent most of the day surveilling her daughter and Izan. Lexi appeared to be the most handsy of all the women in Sabrina’s family. I was a little queasy thinking of some things I’d witnessed that day—things I was sure Callie Belle would not approve of.
“I just keep thinking of how fortuitous it is that you booked your stay at the same time Sabrina is here.”
“I don’t think she would agree with your assessment.”
“Oh, she’ll come around. Don’t give up quite yet,” Callie begged.
I smiled uneasily, torn between wanting a few more stolen moments with Sabrina and knowing it would be best to keep my distance.
We entered the private room filled with several people, including Lexi’s bridal party, and Sabrina and I immediately locked eyes. She was adorable in her white apron with flour on her cheek. It looked as if she’d been baking all day. As lovely as she was, her glare told me she’d rather have been stabbing me with the cake knife she was holding.
I waved, and she curled her pouty lip. Dang, I’d love to kiss her again.
Callie directed me toward a table near the station where Sabrina and Mia were cutting and plating several types of cake. Mercer and a woman I had never met, but recognized immediately, were sitting there. The woman was Genevieve, Sabrina’s mentor.
“Cash, you met Mercer yesterday.” She pointed to her husband and then at Genevieve. “This is Genevieve, our head chef. She’s the reason for the packed house tonight.”
Genevieve stood, eyeing me carefully with her wise gray eyes. She stood barely over five feet with her long silvery-white hair in a braid.
I held out my hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you. Sabrina spoke fondly of you often while we were in Bordeaux.”
Genevieve took my hand, studying me intensely. “So, this is the man who is driving my Sabrina crazy,” she said with a hint of a French accent. According to Sabrina, Genevieve had lived in the States for many years now.
“Guilty,” I admitted.
“Hmm. I can see why. You are quite handsome, but a cad too. Yes?”
“Guilty once again,” I said uncomfortably, especially considering the company I was in.
Genevieve dropped my hand. “I like your honesty. Perhaps this leopard can change his spots.”
I feared it was impossible.
“Please, have a seat,” Mercer directed me. He studied me carefully as well, no doubt wondering if I was a good man and what my intentions with Sabrina were.
I wished I could tell him I was worthy of his daughter. “Thank you.” I took a seat between Callie and Genevieve. It gave me the best vantage point to observe Izan and Lexi, who sat at the table next to us with a few of Lexi’s bridesmaids. She had ten in total. Izan grimaced at my presence. I smiled pleasantly at him, which made him turn away and kiss Lexi’s cheek. It made me wonder if he had any genuine feelings for his bride-to-be or if he was just an excellent actor.
“I think we’re ready,” Sabrina announced. She sounded exhausted. “I know this was last minute, but I wanted to give my baby sister the full wedding cake experience. Wedding cake tastings are some of Mia’s and my favorite things to do for our clients.”
“Very nice,” Callie complimented her oldest daughter. If only she knew why Sabrina was doing this. Sabrina was quite clever.
“The apprentice has now become the master,” Genevieve commented to our table. “Her creations today have far exceeded anything I have ever done.”
Sabrina certainly could make magic in the kitchen. I’d do anything for another baking lesson with her.
“Today we are presenting five cakes.” Mia beamed at the Black gentleman dressed in cowboy garb at a table in the back all by himself. Drew Charleston only had eyes for Mia.
“Sultry chocolate, blueberry burst, strawberry champagne, spiked red velvet, and salted caramel.” Sabrina smiled at the bride and groom. “I know you requested sultry chocolate already for the top layer you’ll cut into, but I wanted to give you options for the other layers, just in case you want some variety.”
“Okay,” Lexi whined, as if this put her out. “But I have to fit into my wedding dress in a week, so bite-size pieces.”
In my estimation, Lexi was a spoiled brat, but I kept that to myself. However, judging by how Mercer’s jaw tightened, he agreed with my assessment.
“Of course, Lexi,” an overly gracious Sabrina said.
I had a feeling she was laying it on thick, trying to figure out why Izan didn’t sit well with her. She had no idea how dangerous this game was that she was playing, which was why I would make sure she never found out on her own who the man really was. Hopefully Izan would be in custody before the Belle family found out what a bullet they had dodged.
“Everyone has a card in front of them to rate the flavor of cakes. Of course, the bride and groom have final say,” Mia added. “So, let’s eat cake.”
Everyone in the room clapped, including me.
I watched as Sabrina and Mia passed out the first flavor, spiked red velvet.
While Sabrina served Lexi and Izan, she laid on the charm. “This cake has layers of rich red velvet and cream cheese frosting that we laced with a decadent amaretto. Not enough to get anyone tipsy, but just enough to give it a little kick.”
Oohs and aahs were heard from several in the room.
I observed the way Izan responded to Sabrina. He appeared less suspicious than the day before, yet based on his pinched brow, he still had questions.
Sabrina, noting she had her work cut out for her, addressed Izan directly. “If the amaretto is too much for you, we could use apple wine, which I know is popular in Norway.”
Taken aback by Sabrina’s kindness, Izan’s defenses momentarily dropped. “How very kind of you. But I will let my bride choose the cake.”
“Good idea.” Sabrina grinned. “I hope, though, that you plan on wearing a bunad to the wedding to honor your heritage.”
Izan looked confused for a moment before he laughed. “No, no. Once again, I’ve left that decision to my bride.”
“What is a bunad?” Lexi asked while shoving a large bite of cake into her mouth. Apparently she didn’t really care about the calories.
“I’m sure Soren will be happy to fill you in.” Sabrina moved on to our table with a look that said, Check, as if she were playing chess. Her tenacity was going to get her in trouble, although I admired her spunk.
I watched as Izan shoved a piece of cake in his mouth and pulled out his phone. No doubt he had to look up what a bunad was. It was traditional Norwegian wedding clothing, which he should have easily known about if he were from Norway and not Spain.
“Speaking of wedding clothing”—Callie obviously knew exactly what Sabrina was talking about—“I was hoping that we could convince you to be in the wedding party. Poor Soren was just told today that his two groomsmen from Norway can’t make it because of a family emergency, and, as luck would have it, his best man has come down with pneumonia.”
That sounded quite unlucky. “What a shame.” I did my best to commiserate.
Meanwhile, Sabrina dropped the cake she was serving to her father on the floor and said, “Cash will absolutely not be in the wedding.”
“Why ever not?” Callie asked.
Sabrina gripped the back of Mercer’s chair, trying to maintain her composure while shooting darts at me with her gorgeous eyes. “Because I’m sure Lexi and Soren don’t want a stranger in their wedding party.”
“Let’s ask them,” Callie said reasonably. “Lexi, dear,” Callie called.
Lexi turned with frosting on her lip.
Callie pointed at her own lip to let her daughter know about the frosting.
Izan took care of the frosting situation by kissing it off her. The man played his part well.
“Honey, I was just thinking,” Callie drawled, “that the receiving line is going to look awfully bare with no groomsmen. But I have a solution.” Callie patted my shoulder, seemingly enjoying herself. “We could have this guy here and Drew in the line, if both are amenable.”
Izan snapped his head my way, a vein throbbing in his neck.
Lexi, on the other hand, gave me a good once-over. “He would look good in the pictures, and we do need at least a couple of groomsmen.”
“It’s settled, then.” Callie smiled, ever so pleased.
Izan gave me a hard stare before plastering on a fake smile for Callie and his bride. “Excellent,” he lied through his teeth.
“Cash never said yes,” Sabrina reminded her mom while her facial expressions told me I’d better damn well say no.
Every eye at the table ping-ponged between us to see how I would answer.
Unfortunately, I was going to have to let Sabrina down again. While I didn’t enjoy disappointing her, I hated the thought even more of not protecting her. And ... perhaps I had some ulterior motives. “Will I be the one to walk Sabrina down the aisle?” It was my one shot to have a wedding experience with her.
Sabrina gripped the chair so hard, her knuckles turned white while she shook her head no, silently begging her mom to do right by her.
Callie paid her no attention. “I think that would be lovely.”
“Sold.”
I hate you, Sabrina mouthed.
I hated myself too, but I couldn’t wait to attend my first—and probably only—wedding.