He reminded her of Tris.
‘This is the Teys’ driver?’ she whispered to Nick. ‘I’m guessing that’s not all he is.’
‘No,’ agreed the driver in a soft, cultured voice as he shut the trunk and opened the car door for her. ‘I also cook.’
Great. Just what they needed. High-end security with supernatural hearing and a penchant for kitchen knives. Lucky for Nick she’d had years of experience when it came to outwitting suspicious, eagle-eyed men whose mission in life was to serve and protect. At least this one wasn’t related to her. ‘Pleased to meet you,’ she said cheerfully.
‘And you, Mrs Cooper.’
Mrs Cooper. Oh, hell. This was it.
For the next five days she was Mrs Nicholas Cooper.
The drive to the Tey residence was a silent one. The driver drove, Nick brooded and Hallie grew wide-eyed again as they entered the neon lit tunnel that would take them beneath Victoria Harbour and across to Hong Kong Island. Awe at the tunnel added to her anxiety about meeting the Teys and set her stomach to churning. Funny, but she’d never actually thought posing as Nick’s wife was going to be hard.
Until now.
Finally, they shot out of the tunnel into real light again, skirted Hong Kong Island’s central business district, and started weaving their way up a long, steep slope, towering apartment blocks giving way to luxury villas that grew bigger and grander the higher they climbed.
‘How do I look?’ she asked as the Mercedes pulled into a paved driveway and swept through no-nonsense wrought-iron security gates that closed behind them.
‘Beautiful.’ Nick took her hand in his and, with a reassuring smile, brushed her knuckles with his lips. ‘You look beautiful.’
‘Not helping,’ she warned, rapidly withdrawing her fingers from his grasp.
‘Beddable,’ he said next, which earned him a glare.
They were as ready as they were going to get.
Jasmine Tey was a tiny Asian butterfly with big eyes for Nick. She met them at the door, exquisite in a jewel-coloured sundress, her waist-length black hair held away from her face with a bamboo clasp in a style both youthful and inspired because it drew attention to both face and hair and both were stunning.
‘Nick! Welcome,’ said Jasmine. ‘My father wanted to be here to greet you, but he’s been delayed.’ She pressed against Nick for a kiss that promised much yet still managed to be just this side of proper.
Hallie grinned and cleared her throat.
‘Jasmine.’ Nick gently but firmly set her aside. ‘I’d like you to meet my wife, Hallie.’
‘Hello.’ Jasmine’s greeting was considerably more subdued than the one she’d bestowed on Nick, but she offered up a small smile nonetheless. ‘Nick did not mention you until the end of his last visit. Sadly I thought him available and made a fool of myself.’ Her frankness was disarming; the adoring gaze she bestowed on Nick was not.
A few quietly spoken words in Cantonese, uttered by the driver who had come up behind them with their luggage, made Jasmine blush and drop her gaze. ‘Kai seems to think I’m still being foolish.’
‘Oh, I think you’re doing just fine,’ said Hallie, glancing speculatively at Kai-the-driver-who-also-cooked before turning back to Jasmine. ‘Trust me, the first time I met Nick I almost forgot which way was up. And this woman on the flight today…’ Hallie rolled her eyes. ‘Why, she practically fell over her feet trying to get his attention. You can imagine.’
A tiny smile tilted Jasmine’s lips. It seemed she could.
‘I don’t blame him,’ Hallie continued, warming to her theme. ‘He can’t help the effect he has on us. Of course, he doesn’t have to enjoy it quite as much as he does.’
‘But, darling—’
‘Don’t you darling me, Nicholas Cooper!’ He’d wanted possessive, requested jealousy. Hallie had no problem whatsoever delivering both. ‘I’ve had quite enough of women falling over you for one day!’ And with a smile for Jasmine, ‘I try so hard not to get jealous, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. What can I do?’
‘You could always try trusting me.’ Nick’s voice was dry, very dry, as he bent his head and touched his lips to hers in the merest whisper of a kiss.
They were in a public place. They were making a point for Jasmine’s benefit. Role playing, that was all. But the quiet intensity in his gaze made her heart race and her body want for more. Had she really been married to this man she’d want him in her bedroom now. So he could show her with his body and with his eyes just how much he loved her. Not the pretty little flirt on the flight today, not any one of the women who’d tried to engage his interest, but her. She was hot, she was sticky, she was well and truly aroused, and dammit she was blushing. ‘Um, I don’t suppose there’s somewhere I can freshen up?’ she asked.