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Chapter Eleven
Charli and Kayla followed the security cop dressed like a pilot through a long hallway and into the regular terminal. The hectic Fort Lauderdale airport pulsed with a multitude of busy people from all walks of life.
“From now on kid, we can’t screw up. I’m Charli Steele, and you’re my fifteen-year-old stepsister, Kayla Steele. Got it?” They’d been practicing while on the plane, but Alicia didn’t take to role-playing easily and kept slipping. “Our lives could depend on us paying attention to details, right?”
“Right. I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“Good. Let the show begin.”
She felt Kayla take her hand, and she gave the girl’s fingers a squeeze.
On her guard, Special Agent Carolina, now an ordinary book editor on vacation, Charli Steele, looked for anything out of place. She picked out the two cops on surveillance without any trouble.
Trained to make those calls, she ignored both the short-haired, muscle-type nonchalantly reading the paper, and the pretty red-headed woman at the coffee dispenser with the bulge under her jacket.
According to Chief Prowler, they were to be met by an old friend of his brother’s, a Blake Sebastian, Major with the Fort Lauderdale police. He would deliver them to their new residence and set up his parameters for the witness protection their local office would be providing.
Having the FLPD assistance in the case made Charli breathe a hell of a lot easier. What she didn’t quite like was the fact that they’d made up a pseudo-engagement that had lasted a short time between her and Blake while they’d been in college. He would be meeting them as an old flame, her and her younger sister.
She scanned the airport lounge for a tall man, an intimidating police Major. From the photo they’d added to her package, he’d looked lean with reddish-blonde hair, longish and styled, and glowing green eyes that must get him a lot of dates.
Since they’d made a side note about his single status and abundance of girlfriends, she didn’t know if it was meant as a warning to keep him at arm’s length or as an incentive for her to be glad she’d taken the case.
Lost in her thoughts, Charli didn’t see the man approaching on her right. Suddenly, arms wrapped around her and lifted her in the air. Green stunners, skimming her face and her recently-dyed blonde hair, brightened with interest. “Charli, sweetheart, how are you?”
Quick as a wink, Charli readied herself to retaliate and remembering the scenario just in time, she stopped. Rather than karate chop his neck, she used her raised hand to slap at his shoulder in a seemingly playful way. “Hey, Romeo, how’s life?”
Lowering her stiff body, Blake rotated his arm as if to shake off pain. “Life is phenomenal now that you’re back in it. You look good, honey, real good.” Was he playing with her on purpose? Who knew for sure? But his profuse boldness pushed a lot of her buttons. And when his eyes toured her body like she was a flea-market bargain, she just wanted to slap him again… harder.
Instead, she shared a tight smile, playing her role. “You, too, Sweetykins. Put on a little weight since I saw you last? I almost didn’t recognize you.”
He grinned, his too-handsome-to-live-outside-of-Hollywood smile flashed. When he lifted his hand, he enjoyed her determination not to flinch and pull away. Instead, he laughed when the light in her marble-gray eyes flashed a warning. “I see by these ringlets, you got yourself one of those perm things. I always loved your hair without all these… ahh coils.” He let go of the curl he’d pulled and watched it rewind to nestle on her shoulder.
Since hercoilswere natural, she twisted her head to the side, the warning obvious. “Don’t you remember my hair straightener? And the times I’d keep you waiting?”
“Sure, now that you mention it. Just so you know, you were always worth those extra hours, baby.”
Hours?
Bastard!
Kayla moved in closer to support Charli and caught Blake’s attention. Charli held her breath, waiting to see if he would step out of line with her charge.
He said nothing, just held out his hand.
Kayla took it and said, “I’m Charli’s stepsister, Kayla.” Nerves in the teen’s voice were apparent to Charli, but she had no doubt they would skim over Romeo’s thick head of hair.
“I know. Charli sent me your picture. But it didn’t do you justice, Kayla. You’re even prettier than I expected.” His smooth male voice, husky with admiration, must be a real turn-on to the ladies he supposedly has lined up.
“Thank you,” Kayla simpered.
Charli just rolled her eyes and shared her sneer when her reaction caught his attention. It brought an even bigger grin, and she sensed he was enjoying her response.
“Blak-ie, were you coming to meet my plane, baby?” A playboy bunny look-alike sidled up to Blake, wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged. Then she arched her head so she could kiss his mouth, a kiss he certainly didn’t try to dodge. On the contrary, he engaged in the by-play with obvious enjoyment, his hand lowering to her backside and squeezing.
That action lifted her mini skirt above the decency level and Charli watched men walk into others, trip over their bags and get glares from their women when the plump bottom was revealed for their pleasure.
Oh, for God’s sake!Not impressed whatsoever, Charli decided enough was enough. She turned her glare away from the sight in time to see the red-headed undercover cop shrug with resignation. Charli could have sworn the girl looked wishful, even envious before she got back on the job of watching for any disturbances.
