Spellbound in His Arms by Angel Sefer Page A

deck of
the cargo freighter as the powerful storm tossed the ship around like a piece
of driftwood. He could see the faint outline
of the dock at Corfu but the howling winds were preventing the vessel from
reaching port.
    He stood there, holding onto the railing, running
through his mind what he knew about Jackie Alexander and Nancy Felini, and
planning his next move. That’s what had kept him alive all these years—being
prepared, being prepared for everything . He left nothing to chance.
Every assignment he undertook, he examined all the possibilities and all
possible outcomes.
    That was the reason he’d chosen to travel on a derelict
ship and put up with the weather and the hours of delay, instead of taking a
plane and reaching Corfu hours ago. Airport security was very tight and there
would be a record of his arrival. Who would look for him on a floating wreck?
    ***
    Jackie was still trying to get over the initial shock. Michael’s
statement that he was the owner of the mansion had left her speechless. But she
could tell there was no point trying to discuss the matter with him any
further, so she decided to wait until next morning. The attorney would set him
straight and he would be out of her life once and for all.
    But what about now? What about tonight? It was obvious this gorgeous man with the captivating eyes, the
sensuous lips, and the hard to resist body would have to spend the night there.
The mere thought of spending the night in the same house with him sent goose bumps
all over her body. Based on the way she reacted to him, she wasn’t sure she
could handle the proximity. But where could he go at that late hour and in this
kind of weather?
    She couldn’t believe how things had turned out. And what
on earth did he mean he was the owner of the house? That was crazy. She had to talk
to the attorney and her uncle as well. If the phone wasn’t disconnected or out
of service due to the storm, she could call. She felt so frustrated that her
cell phone wasn’t working either.
    Feeling trapped in a dangerous situation, she clenched
her fists and her lips pressed into a thin line. Wild thoughts whirled around
in her mind, trying to find a way to do what she had come here for and be on
her way as soon as possible. With Michael around though, it would be difficult
to examine the files. She would have to wait until he was gone. In the
meantime, she had to be very careful not to let him guess the real purpose she
was here, and, at the same time, not let him discern the influence he had on
her.
    Seeing an irresistible smile on his face, she averted
her eyes and let out a deep breath. He was obviously aware of the battle going
on inside her, and the fact that he seemed amused by it, infuriated her. She
would just have to deal with him the best way she could and pray she could get
out of this situation without jeopardizing her assignment, and, above all,
without jeopardizing her heart.
    Suddenly, she remembered the open entrance to the
underground secret room and the folders on the desk in the study and gave
Michael a worried look. What if he walked back there? She needed to find a
chance to lock everything up in the secret room until after he was gone. In the
meantime, she had to lure him away from the study, one way or another….
    ***
    Michael didn’t miss her look. He knew she was up to
something again. What’s going through that pretty little head now ? This
woman would keep him on his toes. Being around her, he realized, was going to
be very challenging. But he knew how to handle demanding situations. He had
spent some of the best years of his life training and serving in the Special
Forces.
    He watched her as she turned on her heel and walked
towards the kitchen.
    “Do you want something to eat?” she asked over her
shoulder, obviously trying to lure him into the kitchen for some reason.
    Her sudden change of mood didn’t fool Michael, not even
for a second. But he followed her into the kitchen, having decided