daring. It had become a deliberate flirtation with exposure
and
death.
His conversation with Harry washed over him: “
Don’t worry, Blackwell, I’ll send her back just like she arrived—safe and beautiful. I suppose we can call it even after this one is over?
”
“I don’t think so, Sterling. Get my niece’s son back
and I’ll owe
you.
I’ll make the arrangements for their departure
. Adios, amigo,
and
buena suerte.”
“
Good-bye and good luck to you, too
,” he’d whispered to the dial tone.
He needed more than luck. Eve’s ex-husband was a Delgado-Quintero, and that meant he was a member of one of the most influential families in the country. It was no wonder Eve couldn’t get the American or Mexican governments to cooperate with her. Not even her uncle’s influence reached that far.
Closing his eyes, he planned what needed to be done to accomplish his missions—both of them. Somewhere between the time when most of the lights dimmed over the city and when the sky brightened beyond the mountains in the distance, Matt slept. His thoughts were untroubled. He had mapped out everything necessary to give Harry and Eve what they wanted. Not once did he ever think of what he wanted.
Whenever he accepted an assignment from Harry Blackwell he never thought of himself. To do so would make him subjective and vulnerable. Becoming too involved meant he could lose his life, and he had lived on the fringes too many times to brazenly or openly tempt fate. He wasn’t ready to die—
not yet
.
Chapter 6
E ve stirred on the bed and shifted her prone position as ribbons of sunlight seeped through the shuttered windows, threading their way across her neck, cheek, and forehead. The heat penetrated her body through layers of silk, bringing with it a wave of moisture.
Her lips parted as she struggled to open her eyes. Another surge of heat and an oppressive weight held her captive, not permitting her to move or escape.
“No,” she groaned, struggling to free herself from whatever was holding her prisoner.
“It’s all right,” crooned a soft, masculine voice.
Eve came awake immediately, her senses stimulated by the warmth of the hard male body, the subtle yet sensual fragrance of aftershave, and the firm grip of Matt’s hands on her shoulders.
Rolling over onto her back and peering up at him,she frowned, discerning the brightness of the morning sun through the shutters.
“What time is it?” Her voice was low and husky from sleep.
“It’s nearly eleven,” he replied.
She tried scrambling from the bed, but he tightened his hold on her arm. “Why did you let me sleep so late?”
“You needed the sleep.” Shifting her effortlessly, Matt pulled her across his lap, cradling her cheek to his shoulder. “I can assure you that once we share a bed you won’t have to worry about oversleeping,” he teased.
Her head came up quickly and her fathomless dark eyes widened in surprise. Then, his mocking statement forgotten, Eve stared numbly at him. If it hadn’t been for his startling, hazel-colored eyes and the drawling Southwestern cadence in his speech she would not have recognized him.
His hair had been cut so that thick, black strands lay close to his scalp, barely grazing his forehead. The thick mustache was also gone, revealing a strong, sensual mouth. His top lip was firm, while the lower was fuller, and drooped with enough petulance to make it hypnotically attractive.
“Is there something wrong?” he asked, his lids lowering slowly over his brilliant eyes.
Eve lowered her chin, smiling. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Matt ran a hand over his head. “I thought I’d affect a different look for our official engagement photo session.”
Her head snapped up again. “What photo session?”
“The photograph we’ll send to all of the daily and weekly newspapers announcing our upcoming marriage,” he explained, gently easing her off his lap. Hestood up, walked over to the windows, and
and
death.
His conversation with Harry washed over him: “
Don’t worry, Blackwell, I’ll send her back just like she arrived—safe and beautiful. I suppose we can call it even after this one is over?
”
“I don’t think so, Sterling. Get my niece’s son back
and I’ll owe
you.
I’ll make the arrangements for their departure
. Adios, amigo,
and
buena suerte.”
“
Good-bye and good luck to you, too
,” he’d whispered to the dial tone.
He needed more than luck. Eve’s ex-husband was a Delgado-Quintero, and that meant he was a member of one of the most influential families in the country. It was no wonder Eve couldn’t get the American or Mexican governments to cooperate with her. Not even her uncle’s influence reached that far.
Closing his eyes, he planned what needed to be done to accomplish his missions—both of them. Somewhere between the time when most of the lights dimmed over the city and when the sky brightened beyond the mountains in the distance, Matt slept. His thoughts were untroubled. He had mapped out everything necessary to give Harry and Eve what they wanted. Not once did he ever think of what he wanted.
Whenever he accepted an assignment from Harry Blackwell he never thought of himself. To do so would make him subjective and vulnerable. Becoming too involved meant he could lose his life, and he had lived on the fringes too many times to brazenly or openly tempt fate. He wasn’t ready to die—
not yet
.
Chapter 6
E ve stirred on the bed and shifted her prone position as ribbons of sunlight seeped through the shuttered windows, threading their way across her neck, cheek, and forehead. The heat penetrated her body through layers of silk, bringing with it a wave of moisture.
Her lips parted as she struggled to open her eyes. Another surge of heat and an oppressive weight held her captive, not permitting her to move or escape.
“No,” she groaned, struggling to free herself from whatever was holding her prisoner.
“It’s all right,” crooned a soft, masculine voice.
Eve came awake immediately, her senses stimulated by the warmth of the hard male body, the subtle yet sensual fragrance of aftershave, and the firm grip of Matt’s hands on her shoulders.
Rolling over onto her back and peering up at him,she frowned, discerning the brightness of the morning sun through the shutters.
“What time is it?” Her voice was low and husky from sleep.
“It’s nearly eleven,” he replied.
She tried scrambling from the bed, but he tightened his hold on her arm. “Why did you let me sleep so late?”
“You needed the sleep.” Shifting her effortlessly, Matt pulled her across his lap, cradling her cheek to his shoulder. “I can assure you that once we share a bed you won’t have to worry about oversleeping,” he teased.
Her head came up quickly and her fathomless dark eyes widened in surprise. Then, his mocking statement forgotten, Eve stared numbly at him. If it hadn’t been for his startling, hazel-colored eyes and the drawling Southwestern cadence in his speech she would not have recognized him.
His hair had been cut so that thick, black strands lay close to his scalp, barely grazing his forehead. The thick mustache was also gone, revealing a strong, sensual mouth. His top lip was firm, while the lower was fuller, and drooped with enough petulance to make it hypnotically attractive.
“Is there something wrong?” he asked, his lids lowering slowly over his brilliant eyes.
Eve lowered her chin, smiling. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Matt ran a hand over his head. “I thought I’d affect a different look for our official engagement photo session.”
Her head snapped up again. “What photo session?”
“The photograph we’ll send to all of the daily and weekly newspapers announcing our upcoming marriage,” he explained, gently easing her off his lap. Hestood up, walked over to the windows, and
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