wig, and ran the straw-like material between her fingers. “So that’s why the disguise.”
They were wasting their time. “Eleni, I’m starving.” The apple had only served to whet his appetite.
“We’ll see you at the warehouse.” Eleni gave her cousin another quick squeeze.
“I’ll be there.”
To Alec, the words sounded hollow, but Eleni seemed comforted.
Outside, Alec guided Eleni to the main street. “It’s dark. I don’t feel safe retracing the way we came. With your get-up, no one will recognize you.”
“My cousin’s quite beautiful, isn’t she?” Eleni sounded wistful, as if she thought she couldn’t measure up.
No, Eleni wasn’t like her cousin. She didn’t care about exclusive hotel rooms or wearing the latest designer fashions or owning expensive jewelry. Here she was dressed about as frumpy as he could imagine, trying to attain justice for her murdered friends. “Your cousin’s okay.”
But that wasn’t quite true. Charissa was a strikingly beautiful woman. Then why wasn’t he at all attracted to Eleni’s cousin in any way, shape, or form?
And, after all Eleni had put him through, why did he care if she felt hurt?
Because, you moron, Eleni’s been telling the truth all along, hasn’t she? At least the truth as she understands it. She has “facts” to back up everything she’s claimed.
Alec stared at Eleni’s profile. He’d been so wrong about her. When they got back to the motel tonight, he’d tell her, prove to her how sorry he was. He’d make love to her in such a way, she’d realize she should never feel weak for wanting him.
He took Eleni’s hand and spoke in as neutral voice as he could manage. “You’re far more attractive than Charissa could ever hope to be.”
Relief seeped through Eleni at Alec’s words. She knew Charissa well enough to know she’d been flirting with him. Seriously flirting. She’d wanted to take her cousin by the shoulders and shake her, make her understand that this was not the time to try and steal her man.
Heart pounding in slow heavy thumps against her chest, Eleni realized that’s exactly how she thought of Alec, not just as the key to their mission.
Her throat constricted, and she had to swallow several times to dislodge the uncomfortable knot. Somewhere along the way, she’d started to consider him as hers.
They were about a block from the motel when a lanky man no more than nineteen or twenty with short, multi-colored hair rounded the corner from a side street.
Alec tensed, and the tiny pores along his arms prickled to life. The youth stepped to the center of the uneven sidewalk, blocking their path.
Alec scanned the area. They were on their own.
The young man’s gaze traveled up and down the length of Eleni’s body, his mouth widening into a cocky grin as he nodded his approval.
Eleni’s face went white. She tugged the edges of her sweater tighter and took a step backward.
Alec’s pulse spiked at the obvious intimidation. But he couldn’t afford an altercation. They didn’t need anymore unwanted attention.
He took Eleni firmly by the hand and started past the punk. They weren’t in some dark alley in the inner city. The street was well lit. Surely he wouldn’t try anything here. The kid darted to the side, brushing Alec’s upper back in his attempt to get by. As he slid past, Alec spotted a sort of sling bag hooked over one of the kid’s shoulders.
His heart slammed against his chest in slow steady thumps. A weapon? As much as he hated to flee, he had Eleni to worry about. Alec did an abrupt about face and, shielding Eleni with his body, crossed the street, not glancing back to see if the young man followed. As they neared the edge of a parking area about a block from their motel, Alec’s heart sank. The lot was empty. They were truly on their own.
Footsteps sounded on the asphalt behind them. Alec’s heartbeat quickened. This was no chance encounter. Punk probably had a routine. Lie in wait for
They were wasting their time. “Eleni, I’m starving.” The apple had only served to whet his appetite.
“We’ll see you at the warehouse.” Eleni gave her cousin another quick squeeze.
“I’ll be there.”
To Alec, the words sounded hollow, but Eleni seemed comforted.
Outside, Alec guided Eleni to the main street. “It’s dark. I don’t feel safe retracing the way we came. With your get-up, no one will recognize you.”
“My cousin’s quite beautiful, isn’t she?” Eleni sounded wistful, as if she thought she couldn’t measure up.
No, Eleni wasn’t like her cousin. She didn’t care about exclusive hotel rooms or wearing the latest designer fashions or owning expensive jewelry. Here she was dressed about as frumpy as he could imagine, trying to attain justice for her murdered friends. “Your cousin’s okay.”
But that wasn’t quite true. Charissa was a strikingly beautiful woman. Then why wasn’t he at all attracted to Eleni’s cousin in any way, shape, or form?
And, after all Eleni had put him through, why did he care if she felt hurt?
Because, you moron, Eleni’s been telling the truth all along, hasn’t she? At least the truth as she understands it. She has “facts” to back up everything she’s claimed.
Alec stared at Eleni’s profile. He’d been so wrong about her. When they got back to the motel tonight, he’d tell her, prove to her how sorry he was. He’d make love to her in such a way, she’d realize she should never feel weak for wanting him.
He took Eleni’s hand and spoke in as neutral voice as he could manage. “You’re far more attractive than Charissa could ever hope to be.”
Relief seeped through Eleni at Alec’s words. She knew Charissa well enough to know she’d been flirting with him. Seriously flirting. She’d wanted to take her cousin by the shoulders and shake her, make her understand that this was not the time to try and steal her man.
Heart pounding in slow heavy thumps against her chest, Eleni realized that’s exactly how she thought of Alec, not just as the key to their mission.
Her throat constricted, and she had to swallow several times to dislodge the uncomfortable knot. Somewhere along the way, she’d started to consider him as hers.
They were about a block from the motel when a lanky man no more than nineteen or twenty with short, multi-colored hair rounded the corner from a side street.
Alec tensed, and the tiny pores along his arms prickled to life. The youth stepped to the center of the uneven sidewalk, blocking their path.
Alec scanned the area. They were on their own.
The young man’s gaze traveled up and down the length of Eleni’s body, his mouth widening into a cocky grin as he nodded his approval.
Eleni’s face went white. She tugged the edges of her sweater tighter and took a step backward.
Alec’s pulse spiked at the obvious intimidation. But he couldn’t afford an altercation. They didn’t need anymore unwanted attention.
He took Eleni firmly by the hand and started past the punk. They weren’t in some dark alley in the inner city. The street was well lit. Surely he wouldn’t try anything here. The kid darted to the side, brushing Alec’s upper back in his attempt to get by. As he slid past, Alec spotted a sort of sling bag hooked over one of the kid’s shoulders.
His heart slammed against his chest in slow steady thumps. A weapon? As much as he hated to flee, he had Eleni to worry about. Alec did an abrupt about face and, shielding Eleni with his body, crossed the street, not glancing back to see if the young man followed. As they neared the edge of a parking area about a block from their motel, Alec’s heart sank. The lot was empty. They were truly on their own.
Footsteps sounded on the asphalt behind them. Alec’s heartbeat quickened. This was no chance encounter. Punk probably had a routine. Lie in wait for
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