“I’ve been thinking about how to handle the search.”
Disappointment surged briefly, but she shook it away and forced interest into her expression. At least he was sharing his plans, treating her more like a partner. If she couldn’t have his heart, at least she’d have a working relationship. “How?”
Jack took her arm, and they wandered in the direction of their accommodation. He leaned close and murmured his plans. To anyone else he appeared as if he was whispering sweet nothings. Her heart lurched and used up so many beats she gasped and furtively massaged her chest. With his warm breath bathing her ear and his proximity she had to concentrate to make sense of his plan.
“We’ll go back to our room. If our voyeurs are at their post already, we’re screwed. If they’re not, we’ll stuff the bed with pillows so it looks as though I’m in bed.”
“One problem with that,” Emma said. “They must have some system of lighting. I mean we don’t always make love with the lights on.”
“I know. I’ve thought of that. The only thing I could think of was distraction.”
Emma stopped walking. “A diversion?”
“Yeah. You and your vibrator.”
“They’ll film me!” She didn’t have to pretend horror. It thumped her over the head like a sudden winter cyclone and left her anxious, her legs wobbly.
“Yes,” he agreed. “The decision is yours.”
Emma was still thinking about her vibrator when Jack unlocked their room and slipped inside.
“Wait there.” It was an order.
Emma’s breath came out in a hiss, his bossy nature going some way to shore up her bravery. He was impossible and as for expecting her to do a solo performance for the benefit of the camera… She waited for all of two seconds before darting after him.
“All clear,” he said. “No one there yet.”
“How do you know?”
“My hearing is excellent.”
Was it her imagination or had his whole persona undergone a swift change. He looked awfully grumpy, and his dark eyes flashed with an emotion she had difficulty deciphering. Definitely not the time to argue.
“We’d better sort out the bed. I think there are extra pillows in the wardrobe.” Emma jerked open the door as she spoke and grabbed two pillows plus a blanket. Jack tugged back the covers on the left hand side of the bed.
“That’s my side of the bed.”
“It’s farther from the two-way mirror.” His mouth tightened. “Housekeeping has been busy while we’ve been out this afternoon. We have two cameras. There and there.” He pointed before accepting the pillows from Emma.
Cameras.
Anger built inside until she resonated like a volcano ready to blow. They were not going to get away with this while she had breath in her body. One glance at Jack confirmed his fury.
“How are the cameras activated? Not by movement?” Emma glared in the direction Jack had indicated. She couldn’t see obvious signs, but since he was an experienced operative, she believed him. “Are we being filmed now?”
“I don’t think so. If movement activates the cameras, they’d film housekeeping and anyone who entered. They’d waste film. My guess is they record once they see action. They’d estimate from the timing of the dinners and special events which hours their guests would return to their rooms.”
“But they must have had cameras all the time. That’s what they implied when I heard them talking.”
Jack scowled. “Going for different angles for their film, I’d say. But I think these are new. I haven’t noticed them before.”
A blush suffused her face. It seeped lower to heat her breasts. Surely, the way they made love wasn’t that different. Not memorable enough to warrant more cameras.
Jack finished arranging the pillows and dragged the covers back into place. “How does that look?”
Emma tilted her head to study his handiwork. “Like two pillows and a blanket designed to resemble a person.”
Jack’s scowl grew darker. “Cut out the smart-ass remarks.”
“I wasn’t—”
“Showtime,” he whispered. “I’d better go. Turn off the main light. Quick. Once I’m gone, you can turn on the bedside lamp on your side, but see if you can adjust the lamp so it shines away from the bed.”
Emma nodded and followed him to the door. “Take care.”
He grabbed her in a hug and squeezed her before kissing her hard. Then he slid out the door leaving her alone with the voyeurs.
Keep them busy.
The words echoed through her head—taunting and a touch repulsive. The idea of knowingly putting on a show for these creeps…