Chapter 2
R egan’s apartment at four-thirty in the afternoon
She finished spraying her thick, wavy hair, which she’d rolled into a sleek chignon.
Taking the diamond studs she’d bought herself with her first paycheck as an Army Ranger, she placed them in her ears.
Her makeup was stylish, with slightly smoky eyes and pale pink lip gloss.
Gazing into the full-length mirror in her bedroom, she turned to see her back.
The red, backless dress was made of a clingy material that sparkled like it was covered with tiny diamonds.
The garment hit her leg a couple of inches above the knee and was perfect.
It showed off the muscles she’d worked so long to make strong but not bulging.
The dress moved with her, so if she had to fight, she could do so easily.
Her doorbell sounded.
He was early, as she’d expected. She slipped on the black patent three-inch heels and walked out of the bedroom. Pasting on a smile, she opened the front door.
Cole’s jaw dropped.
He’d clearly not been expecting to see her like this. She thought he might have been expecting some boring black velvet dress with a bow on the back above her butt.
“Regan.”
“Cole. Would you like to come in? Can I fix you a cocktail or get you a glass of wine or perhaps a beer?” She turned and walked into the room.
Then she turned to face him. His scent, a mixture of sandalwood, amber and musk, walked with her, surrounded her, yet it wasn’t overpowering.
It reminded her of power and was perfect for the man before her.
He entered, blinked several times, and cleared his throat before finding his voice. “You look very nice.”
She almost laughed at the look on his face. “Thank you. So do you.”
“I think I will take that drink. Scotch and soda, if you have it.”
“I do. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll just be a minute.” She walked into the kitchen, which, since it was a one-bedroom apartment, was clearly visible from the living room.
Cole sat in the only chair. A Queen Anne chair covered in cream-colored satin with pink roses. It was a gift from her late grandmother and went everywhere with her.
Her apartment was devoid of pictures. She never knew how long she would be anywhere, so she rented furnished apartments on a month-to-month basis.
This one came with a sofa, coffee table and bedroom suite.
The soft material was cream-colored and, by lucky happenstance, matched her grandmother’s chair.
The sofa was so comfortable, she’d been known to sleep on it all night.
The rental came with a television mounted on the wall.
The sofa faced the television, but since she never watched it, she’d put her grandmother’s chair in front of the TV facing the couch, so it formed a conversation area.
She prepared his drink and poured herself a small glass of sparkling water. Then she sat on the sofa, leaned back, and slowly crossed her legs.
His gaze followed her every movement, which pleased her.
“Have you seen the movie of Wicked ?” She took a sip of her water.
“No, have you?”
“I have. It was wonderful. The music is fantastic. I’m eager to see the stage version that the movie was based on.”
“I’m glad to take you.” He looked down at her shoes. “Will you be able to fight or run in those things?”
She laughed. “They come off rather easily. I’ll be fine. Can you fight in that jacket?”
“Quite well, as a matter of fact. I was wearing something similar this morning and did fine.”
“That’s true. What time do you want to leave? Depending on traffic, the trip to the theater will take at least thirty minutes.”
“We should leave now, then.” He set his drink on the table next to his chair and stood.
After setting her water glass on the end table.
She grabbed her small, black satin evening bag from the tall table by the door.
Inside she had her keys, lip gloss, credit card and a my Walther PPK 380 caliber handgun.
The gun was the smallest she had and so far, except for target practice, she’d never had to use it.
She hoped that would still be the case tonight.
After locking her door, she took his offered arm, settling her left hand in the crook of his right elbow. She lived on the seventh floor of an eight-story apartment building on the southeast side of Lakewood, so they took the elevator to the ground floor.
She walked with him through the lobby and out the door to the waiting limousine. All along the way, and even when they reached the limo, she kept her gaze moving, ready for anything that might be a threat.
The driver held the back door open.
Regan glanced in and then stood to the side so Cole could get in. Then she slid onto the soft leather seat behind the driver and buckled her seat belt.
Once they were strapped in, Cole tapped on the window between the passenger compartment and the driver.
The car pulled out and headed toward the theater.
Cole turned toward her. “I noticed you didn’t relax until we were safely in the car. If you’re posing as my date, you’ll need to appear more relaxed with me and other people. Can you do that?”
One side of her mouth quirked up. You’re on Mr. Kincaid. I’ll be the best fake girlfriend you’ve ever had. “Of course, I can. I am an excellent actress. You’ll see.” She reached over and patted his knee. “It will all be fine.”
“I hope so, otherwise I’ll be the laughingstock of my group of friends.”
“Who are your friends? I need their names both the male and the female.” She had an eidetic memory, so she would remember anything he said to her. In that regard, she was just like Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory television show.
He laid his arm across the top of the seat. “Mostly my brothers and my sister, but I have a few college buddies that I still see.”
“Their names, please.”
“You don’t have anything to write their names on. You’ll have to wait.” He turned away and looked out the window.
A sure sign that he’s holding something back.
“Are you purposely withholding information from me. If I’m to do my duties correctly, I need the information. I need the names of your friends, male and female. I have an eidetic memory. I remember everything, so tell me, please.”
He sighed and started to run his hand through his hair. He was seconds away when he seemed to remember where they were going and that he needed to appear professional.
“I’m ready when you are.”
“Very well. They are Jeremy Johnson, Dean Swenson, and Isabell Groves.”
“Is Miss Groves more than a friend? I will remain outside her home, if you need to visit her privately.”
“What? No!” He ran a hand around the back of his neck.
“She’s not that kind of friend. Her husband was a dear friend of mine.
He was killed in a car accident last year.
I do what I can, as much as she’ll let me do, to help her with whatever she needs and to give her little boys a male figure in their lives. ”
“That’s very kind of you,” she said softly. “How old are the boys?”
“They are two, five and six.” He smiled. “They are pistols, no doubt about that, but they’re good boys. They just need some direction sometimes. A little more than their mother can provide.”
“I’m sure she appreciates it. Handling all the details that need to be taken care of when a spouse dies, takes a lot of stamina. It’s very hard to separate from his things. And then to have young children to provide for and to parent alone…I can only imagine.”
He tilted his head and watched her.
She turned away, but she didn’t move her body from pointing at him.
“You speak from experience.” It was not a question, but a statement of fact.
Regan worried her hands, folding them over and over on her lap.
“My husband was also a Ranger. We were sent into Bolivia on a covert mission to capture a drug lord. The whole thing blew up in our faces. His men were prepared and attacked before we even reached his stronghold. Kip was killed and I barely escaped with my life. When I finally got back to the states, I grieved for about a year and then resigned my commission about a year ago. Mason offered me this job, and it sounded right up my alley.” She looked up and locked her gaze with his.
“Cole, I’m good at what I do as long as you cooperate with me. ”
He took her hand and squeezed. “I’ll do my best to make your job easy.
But I can’t guarantee that it will be. I have received threats from an environmental group ever since the accidental oil spill in the gulf.
We will be traveling there next week. We’ll be flying to Houston and taking a helo out to the platform.
I intend to find out what went wrong and who did it. ”
“I’ll be ready for whenever you wish to leave.” She pulled her hand from his. Her traitorous body tingled at his touch. She couldn’t have that. Being attracted to her employer was not acceptable.
“We’ll be leaving on Monday. I have some work to do on the plane. I suggest you bring reading material.”
“I always have a book in my go bag.”
“Good.”
The rest of the ride was quiet. Regan would have to run checks on the friends he listed. The incidents of friends turning traitors, though not numerous, still existed. She would know all there was to know about his friends before she was done.
Arriving at the Buell, the driver let them out, and they walked down the covered courtyard to the theater. The walkway itself was amazing. The ceiling was lit up with thousands of lights that could change color, depending on pre-programmed computer instructions.
Inside the Buell, the bars were open and champagne was carried by servers on trays among the guests.
Cole grabbed two glasses and handed one to Regan. He greeted a few people. “Let’s take the elevator to the third floor and my box seats. They are part of the balcony high along the sides of the theater.”
She carried her drink but did not imbibe. She needed to remain sharp, and any alcohol would impair her reactions.