AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her eyes widened in belated realization of his plans, and she let out a soft gasp, but it was too late.
Taking advantage of the moment, he brought his lips down on hers in a swift kiss. He swept his tongue inside her sweet mouth, teasing her while tormenting himself with a taste of something deliciously forbidden and undeniably needed. He ended the contact, pulling away before he got lost in her.
“That settles it, then,” Rolf said, the slightest trace of doubt woven into his tone despite his beaming expression. “We have a wedding to plan.”
Chapter Five
Lips still tingling, Ruby clicked the sturdy door to her old bedroom shut behind her and leaned against it. She’d been gone a year and yet nothing had changed in her room—except for the addition of the man who’d turned her world upside down. All brooding bulk and testosterone, Lucas looked out of place in such a frilly room with its soft pastel colors, ruffled pillows, and yellow beechwood furniture. However, here he was with her father’s approval since they were, as he put it, getting married in a few days.
Before he’d gone all caveman on her downstairs with that showy kiss that had delivered more punch than expected, she was confident she had the upper hand. Now, with him prowling around her room, she wasn’t so sure—and they weren’t even through the worst of it yet. Dinner would bring its own complications. She needed to keep her head clear and forget about that kiss if they were going to make it out of what was sure to be a clusterfuck without blowing their cover story.
“We’ll have to change for dinner.” She strode to the large armoire and opened the doors. As expected, someone had brought their suitcases from the plane and unpacked them. No doubt they’d done a thorough search before hanging a single item.
“You look fine to me,” Lucas said, but he wasn’t even looking at her.
His attention was focused on a cell phone with one of those thick battery cases as he circled the room. She’d never had trouble getting a cell signal in the room before and was about to offer him her phone when the truth hit her. He was sweeping the room for listening devices. She wasn’t sure if she was more pissed at her father for possibly bugging the room or at herself for not thinking of it first.
He circled the king-size bed with its sky-blue duvet and the two cream chairs set in front of the fireplace, then moved on to the oversize armoir
e and uncluttered vanity table while the device let out a series of quiet beeps. Finally, he slid the phone into his inside jacket pocket and turned to glower at her.
“Are you completely fucking insane?” he asked in a harsh whisper.
The answer to that depended on who was answering, but she didn’t think he really wanted a response to his question. “I guess that means the room is clean of bugs.”
He wasn’t going to be put off though, judging by the way he stalked over to her, predatory intention clear in every step that brought him closer. Her pulse shot up, and every instinct warned her to run, but she stood her ground as he bore down on her. He stopped less than an arm’s reach away, frustration dipped in desire pouring off him in waves that set off an answering, delicious shiver up her spine.
“Asking me to bring Jasper here.” He shoved his long fingers through his dark hair, ruffling its perfect order. “You know that isn’t possible.”
“We both know it is possible—anyway, it’s smart for you. It lets you flash a little of that Luc Svendsen magic that has Rolf all hot and bothered.” She snorted at his surprised look. Men always were ready to believe anything about her, except that she could add two plus two and get four. “Oh yes, I know that despite what your written plan stated, I was just your invitation to Fare Island. The really big bait you’re dangling so he’ll let you in close, is the possibility of learning all the secrets you have about the influential people he wants to control.”
“I don’t need Jasper here to prove that I’m valuable.”
“No, you need him here to prove that you’re willing to make sacrifices for the organization. He knows it will cost you valuable favors to get Jasper here. If you don’t think he has some inkling that my brother is in custody, then you vastly underestimate him.” Too many people had tried to influence her father by currying favor with his family. However, neither her mother, brother, nor she had a direct line to her father’s heart. “That’s what he really cares about. Until you can prove your value to the organization, you’re an interesting distraction.”
She was right. He’d have to be an imbecile not to realize it, and Lucas Bendtsen was no idiot. Like her, he stayed focused on obtaining the goal at all costs, no one who wasn’t that way would have said yes to her stepfather’s asinine idea to get married right away. They didn’t have much in common, but they had that, even if their goals were at opposing ends.
“And the fact that having Jasper here will make it that much easier for you two to go AWOL didn’t factor into your decision at all?”
Of course it did, but she didn’t need to confirm it for him to know that. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her sharp question softened by her teasing tone. “You think you can’t beat me at the game you created and made all the rules for?”
His answering smirk made her pulse hop. “That’s not even up for debate.”
Had they started flirting? Because it totally felt like they’d moved from fighting to flirting considering the way her lungs had shrunk and her nipples had peaked. Did Mr. By The Book even know how to flirt? His eyes darkened before he dropped his gaze to her parted mouth, then ever so slowly brought his attention back up. Breathing became difficult.
Yes. Yes, he definitely did know how to flirt.
“Good, then you’ll get Jasper here and everyone wins,” she said, unable to hide the slight, breathy tremble in her voice as she reached over and yanked the first dress she happened upon off the hanger sight unseen.
He glanced down at the dress in her hands and mumbled something that sounded a lot like bloody hell before looking back up at her. There was enough heat in his eyes to melt her on the spot. She held on to the silky material as if it were her last lifeline to sanity. “Now turn around. I have to change.”
He didn’t move. She couldn’t move. The air sparked around them. Just when the scales started to lean along with her body toward him, he turned away. For a second all she could do was blink in shock as she stared at his ramrod-straight back and his hands clasped behind him.
Smooth move, Ruby. You’re one tough chick all right.
She tossed the dress over the open armoire door and then unzipped the side closure of her skirt and let it fall down to the floor.
Let’s try not to orgasm next time he makes eye contact, okay?
