Love You Madly(60)

She already was feeling infinitely more optimistic that she would have her daughter home and in her arms by morning.

After all, she had Travis on her side. And she trusted him.





Chapter Fifteen

An hour later, he’d checked the positioning of Meems’s cameras through his laptop and called her to confirm that she and her assistant, some tech guy who’d freelanced with her before, were already positioned outside the hotel with her surveillance equipment fully operational.

He checked his watch again and paced around the kitchen counter, trying not to fidget with the tightness of the damned tux around his neck. Meredith needed to be there by six and even if they left right now, they’d be pushing it.

He was about to head upstairs and remind her of the time when he heard her heels on the floor outside the kitchen, moments before she swept into the room.

All irritation at having to wait, and the tightness around his neck, disappeared.#p#分页标题#e#

She looked magnificent. A long red satin dress clung to those delectable curves and the neckline plunged to reveal an ample amount of cleavage. Gone was the unkempt, wild hair from the last couple of days; instead, a smooth, silky mane reminded him of an old-time movie star in the way it curved around her cheekbone. Lips touched in the same color as her dress begged to be kissed. But it was the warmth and strength in those brown eyes as she watched him that finally caught his attention.

Meredith, as always, was sin and sex and every computer geek’s walking wet dream.

He tried to find his voice, relieved that Claire wasn’t around to watch him flounder for words. “Were you trying to capture the attention of the whole place in that thing?”

“Honestly? At the time I selected it, I probably was. But now? Is it too much? I can put on something else.” She bit her bottom lip, clearly concerned.

It took a herculean effort not to close the space between them and draw that bottom lip into his mouth, sucking and kissing away all the uncertainty he saw in those eyes. But that would lead to his needing to kiss other parts of that delectable body, and then they’d end up infinitely later than they already were.

Head in the game, Travis.

“Mer, whether you wear that or a damn burlap bag, you’re going to have everyone’s attention tonight. So rather than make us any later than we are, get over here so I can get you wired.” He looked at the formfitting dress in a new light, wondering how he was going to hide the receiver.

“Wired? For what?”

He held up a small diamond brooch. “There’s a small camera and microphone in this that will allow me and Meems to hear any conversations in a twenty-foot radius, if there isn’t too much interference. She’ll be recording everything so if we find anything of use, we can forward it to the police. And this,” he said, holding up a smaller device, “I’m going to place in your ear. This way we can all communicate. I’ll be there with you, Meredith. Even if you don’t see me, I’ll be there. And last…” He held up a small knife, sheathed in leather binding. “This is for your protection. I don’t know what’s going to happen tonight, but I’m not letting you go in there without anything.”

“And, pray tell, where exactly are you going to place that?”

He smiled. “You’ll have to wait and see. You ready?”

“Absolutely.”

He smiled at the determination and fierceness in that one word. Whatever anyone could say about this woman, they couldn’t deny she was a force to be reckoned with.

Still holding his grin, he slipped his fingers down the front of her dress so he could attach the brooch, enjoying the look of shock followed by a shiver as his fingers almost caressed her skin. She was still as responsive as ever.

And then he wasn’t grinning anymore as he suffered his own private torture of touching her body, feeling her respond, and not being able to do a damn thing about it as he put everything in place.

…

The hotel where tonight’s gala was being held was already swarming with attendees when they pulled up in front of the hotel so Travis could drop her off.

“Remember. You’re here only as the hostess. You’re not here to play Veronica Mars, girl investigator. That’s what I’m for. Meems has additional cameras set up inside, so she’ll have a visual on everything. If you see anything out of the ordinary or if anything happens, you’re to find me. Let me follow up on it.”

“Where will you be?” she asked and climbed out of the Rover.

“Close by. Remember, I can hear everything you say,” he said and pointed to his ear where he’d placed the tiny earpiece. “If you need me, say the word.”#p#分页标题#e#