Forbidden Fantasies Bundle(108)

The last time he’d seen her in that alley in Bogotá, she hadn’t been wearing the glasses and her hair had been tied back. But her profile was the same, and it would be forever imprinted on his mind. The alley had been illuminated only by a spill of light from a streetlamp. But there had been enough so that he’d seen her silhouetted when she’d turned her head. She’d had her fingers pressed against the pulse in his neck. She’d known that he wasn’t dead, not yet at least, and she’d turned to talk to someone else, someone he couldn’t see—the marksman who’d pulled the trigger? Was she going to ask for another shot? Her face in profile was the last thing he’d seen before he’d mercifully blacked out.

Jed’s mind raced. What was she doing here? He dismissed the coincidence of her just happening to be at the Blue Pepper. Had she followed Gage or had she somehow discovered they were meeting here? And how many people had she brought with her?

The vibration of his cell phone interrupted Jed’s thoughts. He reached for it and put it against his ear.

“Change of plans,” Gage said.

Thanks to Ryder, Jed knew his cell phone was as secure as technology currently allowed, and he could be pretty sure about Gage’s. Obviously, Gage had considered it necessary to risk using this means of communication. For a few seconds, he reviewed his options. A meeting with Gage was out. Bailey knew Gage and she might be watching him. Finally, he said, “Let’s try some sleight of hand.”

“Listening.”

“Put my name on what you brought, pass it to the bartender, and tell him to make sure that it’s delivered to Zoë McNamara along with a complimentary bottle of wine. He’ll know who she is.”

“Okey-dokey,” Gage said and disconnected.

Jed continued to hold the cell phone to his ear. One of the things he’d liked most about working with Gage in the past was that he was a man of few words—there’d been no questions, no suggestions. It had been the same on the two missions that they’d worked on together. A man couldn’t wish for a better partner than Gage Sinclair. On top of that, Gage had very good eyes. He must have spotted Bailey the moment he’d walked in the door.

But Jed should have spotted Bailey Montgomery himself. All he’d done was feel Zoë’s eyes on him. And now he’d drawn her into the picture. Gage’s information would be safe with her, and Jed had no doubt that she would get it to him as soon as she could. The problem was would she be safe as long as it was in her possession?

And how long would he have to wait for it? A ripple of frustration moved through him. Keeping his back to the bar, he took another sip of his martini. He waited ten full minutes before he glanced toward the bar again. Gage was glancing at his watch. He’d leave soon. Then it would be Bailey’s move. She was still talking to the young man she was standing next to. Would she follow Gage when he left or would she have someone else tail him?

For one long moment, Jed was tempted to walk right up to her and ask her why she’d “killed” him. But this wasn’t the time to be impulsive. He’d save that plan for another day.

Tonight, he would enjoy a dinner at the Blue Pepper and wait her out. Before he walked up to Bailey Montgomery, he wanted to know what was in her files.



“A GENTLEMAN AT THE BAR sends this to Zoë McNamara with his compliments.” Rad set a bottle of wine on the table and began to distribute glasses.

Zoë stared at the bottle.

“Zoë has a secret admirer,” Natalie said. “I’m betting it’s Mr. Sexy Glasses.”

“Way to go, Zoë,” Rory said. Then she leaned closer and whispered. “Sexy underwear will work its magic every time.”

“What did he look like?” Zoë asked Rad and then bit her lip. She wanted Natalie to be right. She wanted it to be the stranger at that table. And that was ridiculous.

“Every lady’s dream come true,” Rad replied as he poured wine into her glass. “Tall, dark, handsome—”

“Sure sounds like him, Zoë,” Natalie commented.

Zoë’s heart skipped a little beat, and she could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. What in the world was wrong with her? She didn’t want a perfect stranger to be sending her a bottle of wine, especially not that stranger. Not after the way he’d made her feel.

But she couldn’t deny that she’d been ogling the man—which was ridiculous. She had let Sierra talk her into a girls’ night out with the idea of getting Jed Calhoun out of her mind. Now she couldn’t get Mr. Elegant out of her mind. His image had engraved itself on her imagination, that lean body, the strong features. She could recall every detail of his face in profile—the strong chin, straight nose, the warrior’s cheekbones. And the glasses.