“I’d heard you left London with one Seth Caleb.” His smile faded. “That stirred me to action. I didn’t like it.”
“Who told you? We didn’t exactly publish it.”
He shrugged. “I’ve a few friends who have been keeping an eye on you.”
“What? You, too?” Almost the same answer Caleb had given her, and it struck a nerve.
“Oh, I knew that Caleb had you in his sights. But it was okay as long as he kept his distance. But I had to know where he was taking you, so I checked the flight plan he filed. Then contacted some people I know in this area to make sure you were okay.”
“And to find out what I was doing?”
“Well, that, too.”
“And you found out that I’d been shot.”
He nodded. “And I jumped on the next plane.”
“And now you can jump on the next one and fly back to Paris.”
“I’m not living in Paris any longer. I’m in Barcelona.”
“Wherever.” She had never been sure where Trevor would be at any given time. He’d flown in to see her several times a year and usually from a different home base. His restlessness had caused him to become a jack of all trades. He’d dabbled in gambling, smuggling of precious artifacts, and a dozen other professions, both legal and slightly illegal. Not that he needed the money now. Whatever he touched turned golden.
And he had made her think for a while that their relationship was golden, too.
“I don’t need you. Go back to Barcelona.”
He shook his head. “I’ve been asking questions. They haven’t found the man who shot you.”
“Joe is working on it.” She paused. “It’s a mess, Trevor. I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t think it’s about me at all. Eve has disappeared. She’s been kidnapped, and we don’t know—I have to find her.”
“Eve.” He gave a low whistle. “Not good. But not exactly surprising. She deals with some pretty macabre types.”
“Thanks,” she said sarcastically. “That’s really going to make me feel better.”
“You don’t want me to coddle you,” he said quietly. “We’ve gone way past that in our relationship. You’d sock me if I weren’t dead honest with you.”
He was right. She had been grateful that she could always be open and expect the same from him. “I’m just scared,” she said wearily. “Eve deals with serial killers, child abusers, and scum of the Earth. You just put it into words. I guess I didn’t want to hear it.”
“We’ll find her. We’ll keep away all the bad guys.” He reached down and took her hand. “She’s smart, she’ll survive until we can get her back.”
She felt a sudden rush of warmth as she looked down at their joined hands. Comfort. Tenderness. Not passion. Not sex. So much more important in this moment than any other response. “This isn’t your battle, Trevor. Joe and I will find her.”
“You’re closing me out again.” His lips tightened. “When I get too near to that core that shelters who and what you are, you spin away.” His hand tightened on her own. “But I’m following this time, Jane. I’m following and searching, and you’re never going to get away from me again.”
“I don’t want to hear this, Trevor. I’m searching, too, and it’s only for Eve,” she said shakily. “You picked the wrong time and the wrong woman to—”
“My, my, do we have a visitor?” Caleb was standing in the doorway, his gaze on their joined hands. “You didn’t tell me, Jane. Introduce me.”
There was no expression on Caleb’s face, but she could feel the tension.
No, anger, searing, possessive anger.
She instinctively tried to pull away from Trevor, then stopped. Why should she give in to this subtle intimidation? “He was a surprise guest. Seth Caleb, Mark Trevor.”
“Delighted.” Caleb came toward him with hand outstretched. “I’ve been thinking that I should meet you. I just didn’t think it would be this soon. Let me guess, you heard Jane was wounded and decided to come and see if you could help.”
“That about covers it.” He took Caleb’s hand and shook it. “On the surface level.”
“Oh, yes, I imagine there was much more to explore since you haven’t seen each other for a while.” He smiled. “But I’m sure she told you that you’re not needed here.”
“Yes, but I’m not discouraged. Jane knows that I’m a valuable man to have around in an emergency. This couldn’t be more of an emergency for her. Eve is everything to her. Jane won’t refuse my help once I’m in a position to offer it.”