“Wouldn’t I? Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do.” She moved toward the door. “You finish that soup. I’m going to talk to Galen. I hope to hell his phone calls have come up with zilch.”
Galen was leaning against a tree a few yards from the porch. He switched off his phone as she came out of the house. “I was expecting you.”
“Why?”
“You’re not one to sit around when you’re not happy about something.”
“How do you know?”
“My impeccable intuition. Which at the moment is telling me that you want to grill me about my progress.”
“Consider yourself grilled.”
“Promising. If Travis can come up with the cash. A million dollars is not to be sneezed at.”
“For the Wind Dancer?”
“No way. For the privilege of spending four hours in privacy with the statue.”
“A million dollars for that short a time? He’ll never go for it.”
“You hope.”
“It wouldn’t help Cassie.”
“Shock value?”
“It wouldn’t help.” Her hands clenched into fists. “And I don’t want it happening. Don’t give Travis the proposal.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I don’t know what he’s paying you, but I’ll pay you more.”
“You have that kind of money?”
“My parents left a comfortable inheritance. I have a trust fund.”
“And you’d use it to bribe me?”
“I’ll pay you anything if you’ll forget about the Wind Dancer. If I don’t have enough money, I’ll find it.”
He shook his head.
“If you don’t want money, name your price. I’ll do anything you want.”
He tilted his head. “Are you offering me sexual favors?”
“I would if I thought it would do any good. But you’re not attracted to me. We’re too much alike.”
“Are we?”
“Yes. You must have sensed it too. It would be like making love to your sister.”
He laughed. “And I’m definitely not into incest.”
She tried to keep desperation out of her voice. “Tell me what you want and I’ll do it. I’m not dumb and I have terrific motivation. That can get most things done.”
His smile faded. “If we’re so much alike, then you should know I wouldn’t betray a friend. I have old-fashioned principles.”
She had known the chances were slim, but she’d had to try. “I mean it. I’ll do anything. Think about it. There must be something you want done that no one else is willing to do. It’s not often you get an offer like that.”
“It’s hard not thinking about it.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “I can see I’m going to have to keep my eye on you. You’re entirely too single-minded on this issue. You just might decide to make a call to Andreas.”
Jesus, he was sharp. “If you’ve talked to Travis, you know that’s not an option.”
“I’m not so sure. . . .” He shrugged. “Go back inside. I don’t want to take the chance of anyone seeing you. People remember good-looking women. I have to check with my guys in the woods.”
She smothered her despair as she watched him walk away. It had been a long shot, but she had been willing to try it. Okay, so it hadn’t worked. She would just have to think of something else before Travis got back.
If he came back. The impression she had gotten was that Travis’s “business” was not safe. His life had never been safe, and there was no reason to expect it to change now. It was possible he wouldn’t come back. He could be killed or sent on the run. All her worry might be for nothing. He might abandon them if his life was on the line.
He wouldn’t abandon them. As much as she resented and feared him, she knew he would keep his promise to Jessica. Christ, how she wished he wouldn’t do it. The dominoes were falling faster, and she couldn’t seem to stop them.
Stay away, Travis. Don’t come back.
Please, don’t come back.
“At last.” Jan van der Beck gave Travis a bear hug. “It’s about time you came and took over the reins. I’m too old for this.”
Travis laughed as he returned the hug and then stepped back. “You weren’t too old to chase after that pretty little Italian countess six months ago. Is she going with you on your cruise?”
“There’s a possibility. She has a daughter, in case you’re interested. I understand the woman even has a modicum of brains. Though I never understood why you make that a requisite. Stupidity is so much more relaxing.” He started toward the playground a short distance away. “Where are the goods?”