Everlasting

Everlasting by Iris Johansen

Book: Everlasting by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online
Authors: Iris Johansen
Ads: Link
restrictions and strengthened the complement of border guards? The Tamrovian factories are all pitifully undermanned because workers are leaving Tamrovia for Germany and Switzerland. Who can blame them?”
    A curious smile touched Zack's face. “You seem very well informed for a ‘scatterbrained madcap.’”
    Her glance slid away from his. “It's common knowledge. I just don't bury my head in the sand the way Stefan does.”
    “Perhaps.” He unfastened his seat belt as the Learjet came to a rolling stop before a hangar in the private sector of the airport. “You didn't answer my question. Why are you in such good spirits all of a sudden?”
    She still didn't look at him. “Why shouldn't I be happy? You've promised to free Marna and that's very important to me.”
    His hand reached out and fastened on her arm. She could feel the warmth and strength of it through the linen blazer. His eyes met hers with searching gravity. “No games. Truth.”
    She opened her lips to make another evasive answer and then closed them again. She didn't wantto evade him, even if it meant exposing her vulnerability. “I don't know,” she said simply. “I'm just happy. I think it has something to do with you, Zack.”
    His hand tightened on her arm for the briefest instant. “Dear Lord, I hope so.” Then his hand was releasing her and he was rising to his feet. “Come on. Let's get this show on the road. The sooner we can get Marna out, the sooner we can move on to more important things.”
    She raised an inquiring brow. “For instance?”
    His eyes twinkled. “Why, the
mondava
, of course.”
    She cast him an exasperated glance. “Now who's playing games? If you won't let me in on the big secret, it's not very kind of you to tease me with it.”
    “Sorry, you're right. I'm not being fair.” His voice lowered to velvet softness. “I think I went a little giddy for a moment. You see, I find I'm very happy too. Strange, isn't it?”
    She was having trouble tearing her gaze away from his. She was sure his eyes spoke of many fascinating things if only she could understand. Shestood and picked up her handbag. “We haven't decided what story we're going to tell Stefan about our relationship. Hadn't we better put our heads together?”
    “Not exactly the portions of our anatomies I was interested in joining,” he murmured. “But if you insist…” His brow gathered in a thoughtful frown. “Where were you six months ago?”
    “Sedikhan.”
    “Then that's where we met. I was really in seclusion in Switzerland, putting together a pharmaceutical combine, but only a few people know that. It wouldn't have been unheard of for me to fly to Marasef for a conference with Alex Ben Raschid and run into you there. I took one look at you and—
voilà
—instant passion.”
    She frowned. “I'm not the kind of woman who inspires instant insanity in men, Zack. Do you think anyone will believe it?”
    He slowly shook his head. “What am I going to do with you? In case you didn't notice, only this morning I gave an extemporaneous demonstration of how insane you're capable of driving aman.” His finger gently touched the hollow of her cheek. “I promise to be very convincing. Okay?”
    “Okay,” she said softly. Happiness bubbled up in her like a clear, golden stream. She turned away as the door of the Learjet opened and stairs were rolled up to the entrance. “If you don't think Stefan will think something is fishy.”
    “Let me take care of it. I've probably handled more difficult customers than your brother Stefan. Corporate types are far more ruthless than diplomats.”
    “I just might do that. I haven't had any great degree of luck in influencing Stefan up to the present.”
    “I've noticed,” he said dryly as he took her elbow and urged her toward the door. “I'm surprised that Marna didn't just put a spell on him instead of your unfortunate suitors.”
    “She couldn't. It would have been a gesture of disloyalty to the royal

Similar Books

A Will To Murder

Hilary Thomson

Duke and His Duchess

Grace Burrowes

Hourglass

Claudia Gray

Silencing Eve

Iris Johansen

Honored Vow

Mary Calmes

The Last Supper

Charles McCarry

Princes of Arkwright

Daniel Trafford

The Blue Mile

Kim Kelly