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He shook his head and laughed as he charged up the stairs and pinned her against the wall, leaning down to kiss her neck and whisper, “You can’t have it both ways, darlin’.”
“Well, we know what those two are going to be doing the rest of the day,” Henri said, loud enough for them to hear.
“You should change and join us,” Odell said. “Don’t worry, I have enough steaks for everyone.”
Landry didn’t like what he heard in the man’s invitation. Odell sounded upset. Because he was jealous? Or because the last thing Odell wanted was anyone in Willa’s room tonight?
* * *
WILLA WAS TRYING desperately to ignore Landry. It was more than difficult given that he was nibbling on her neck and sending tingles through her body. She tried to shove him away, but he was much stronger and he seemed to be enjoying what he was doing. Unfortunately her body was reacting. She felt her nipples harden.
Landry pulled back to look down at her chest then grinned as he met her eyes. “Glad to see you’re getting into your role.”
She would have hit him if he hadn’t had her pinned against the wall with his body. “You really are despicable,” she hissed so only he could hear.
His grin broadened. He bent again to tease her throat with kisses and suddenly froze. She turned her head in the direction he was looking and saw Alma Garcia. The woman stood as if poleaxed, staring in horror at Landry just feet from them.
She said something in Spanish, then quickly crossed herself.
Willa gripped Landry’s arm, frightened by the crazed look in the older woman’s eyes. Willa could feel Odell and Henri watching the scene from below, as if spellbound.
Landry said something to Alma also in Spanish. The woman drew back, her hand going to her throat, tears welling in her eyes and spilling down her cheeks. Then she turned and practically ran, her antique gown rustling as she disappeared through the arch at the end of the walk.
“What was that about?” Willa whispered on an expelled breath.
“Welcome to the looney bin,” Odell called up.
“Wow, that was scary,” Henri said. “What did she say to you?”
“Mistaken identity,” Landry said with a laugh and drew Willa down the walkway to the door of the apartment, keeping his hand firmly on her arm.
She fumbled out the key and the moment the door opened, Landry pushed her inside and closed the door after them.
“What the hell was that?” he whispered, even though no one could hear them.
“You tell me.”
He looked pale and she felt a tremor go through him as he held on to her arm.
“She called me her amour, her love, then asked me what I was doing back here. Did you see the look in her eyes?”
Willa nodded. “Don’t ever do that again.”
He stared at her. “What?”
“That,” she snapped, pointing back toward the balcony.
His eyes narrowed. “I thought I made it clear. Whoever is trying to kill you needs to believe we’re lovers.”
“Bull. Wouldn’t it be more effective to tell them you’re my brother the cop? Or even better, the FBI?”
He smiled. “We should have thought of that before we told them we were lovers.”
She daggered a look at him, wondering if she could hate him any more.
“That old woman—she lives here?” he asked, obviously more shaken by that than any look Willa could fire at him.
“Her name is Alma Garcia. She used to be the nanny here.” Willa shivered from her wet clothing. She sighed and told him a shortened version of the story that Odell had told her. “I think Odell is writing a book about the disappearance of the family. But I also found a recent newspaper about…us. Complete with photos.” She went to the table and picked up the newspaper and handed it to him, watching him as he stared at his photograph.
