I assure you, my work with the FBI is very real. He returned the wallet to his pocket, making a dramatic effort to show her that he wasnt going anywhere near his gun. What Im about to tell you cant go beyond this apartment, Miss McCormick.
Oh God. That sounded serious. Dangerous. His warning, articulated with just the barest indication of a foreign accent, sounded like a line right out of a James Bond movie.
Interesting.
The aftershocks of emotion inside her gained momentum.
You mean its a secret?
Top secret.
Despite her distrust of Agent Maddox or Chief Maddox or whoever the hell this distracting hulk of male animal was, the right side of her brain kicked in, pushing logic and protestations aside. He was about to share a government secret with her. Caitlin breathed in deeply, giving her brain plenty of oxygen to fuel her imagination. She was about to become privy to some real cloak-and-dagger information.
Is Cassie in trouble with the FBI? she asked.
No. But she was going to help me with a time-sensitive case. A mutual friend gave me her name. She was going to provide my cover this weekend while I conducted an undercover investigation. He paused to read Caitlins reaction, then continued without comment. Since shes unavailable, Im asking you to take her place. I need you to be my mistress so I can gain access to an exclusive couples-only resort.
This man was asking her to take part in an investigation? To travel? To serve her country? To assume a secret role? To be a mans mistress?
Her father would have a cow.
Me?
You.
She glanced down at her brother Traviss USMC T-shirt and the cutoff jeans she wore. She glanced at the vacuum nozzle she still held like a defensive weapon between them.
When she lifted her gaze back to his, his calm green eyes revealed nothing but the fact that his offer was serious. You want me to be your mistress this weekend?
He swiped a hand across his jaw and raised his eyes to the ceiling. Caitlin could only guess what this show of patience was costing him.
When he nailed her with those amazingly green eyesno blue or gray to corrupt their mossy hueshe saw he was all-business again. I need you to pretend to be my mistress. Pretend, he emphasized. Pleasure Cove Island is a haven for rich and powerful couples to get away for the weekend without any public scrutiny. No press. No phone lines. The Bureau has given me a fake background. As a Bureau chief, I have the clout to warrant an invitation. But I cant very well go to a couples-only resort by myself without raising suspicion, and thats the last thing I want to do. I need to find answers, and I need to find them quickly.
Answers to what?
Dammit, lady, I dont have time to answer all your questions. His patience snapped and he stalked down the hall to the front door. He had it open and was halfway out when he braced his hand against the open frame and stopped. His broad back rippled with a powerful shrug, and Caitlin realized the width and strength of him was all-man, and not due to the cut of the sport coat.
She held her own breath as she listened to his lungs fill and empty with cleansing breaths of air. When he finally turned around to face her, the anger was gone. But he still wasnt smiling.
I cant give you all the details, he explained. Suffice it to say two former guests of Pleasure Cove Island have met withunfortunate circumstances. One just resigned at the peak of a public career. The other is dead.
Dead? Could the man sound any more detached from his feelings? Caitlin scooped her hair back from her temples. The more Sean Maddox talked, the more convincing his story became. She was already physically attracted to him. He gave the beast of her sexual fantasies a compelling, if not quite handsome, face.
His request for her help played into every escapist fantasy shed ever had while trying to spice up her humdrum life. But now he was sounding as if this assignment was real. That the need for her help was real.
What should she do? What would her father do? Hed take action. If there was a problem, hed do something about it, and deal with the consequences later. Her brothers had the same take-charge mindset. But all three would tell her to stay home. To stay safe. Think of your health. Think of your reputation. Theyd tell her to take care of herself, while they tackled the problem for her.
But her father and brothers couldnt help Agent Maddox with this problem. They werent women. They werent available.
They werent here. Now.
A small spark of determination lit inside her. Like a fuse traveling toward its explosive destination, it fired along her nerve endings, heating her blood and giving strength to an idea.
Would this weekend be dangerous? She hugged the vacuum hose to her chest, half-afraid of giving in to the burning desire that was slowly consuming her. You said someone died.
Not on the island itself. He was murdered in his hotel room after returning from the island. This is strictly an information-gathering mission. Otherwise, the Bureau wouldnt consider civilian involvement. There may be some risk involved, I supposethe movers and shakers of the world dont like to be deceived.
No one does. Her terse reply was both an agreement and a challenge for him to be completely honest.
Sean released his grip on the door and stepped back inside. Even though it brought him only a few inches closer Caitlin felt the power of his vow reaching out and touching her as he said, I promise, if things do turn dangerous, Ill give you all the protection I can. And Ill get you out of there as soon as humanly possible.
Caitlin imagined that his protection would be a serious force to be reckoned with. The idea that this Terminator would put his life on the line for hers was at once reassuring andstimulating. Her father and brothers served their country and protected its citizens with equal fervor. Why couldnt she?
And pretending to be his mistress? Lets see. What was the downside of having an extraordinarily powerful and sexy man acting like her lover? If the other guests could buy the fact that Sean Maddox wanted to be with her, it wouldnt be the worst way to spend a weekend.
Sexy man.
Vacation resort.
Serving her country.
Living out a lifelong fantasy.
Hmm. Downside?
She was back to her father having that cow.
But he was still on his boat in Chesapeake Bay. Ethan was in Washington, D.C., Travis in North Carolina. They couldnt fret or dictate when they didnt know something was going on.
You said this was top secret. Does that mean I cant tell anyone where Im going or what Im doing? Not even my family?
Not a soul.
Dad and Ethan and Travis would never know what sweet little Caitlin was up to.
Caitlin was tempted. Oh, Lordy, she was tempted. But how could she be sure this wasnt really just some sick way to pick up women? Could she trust Cassies judgment about the man? Her roommate had been willing to go. Until a better offer came along.
But this was likely to be the bestmost excitingoffer Caitlin was ever going to get.
Listen, I know you dont know if you can trust me. But youve got about two seconds to make a decision. Maine is a long way from here. Sean shifted uncomfortably on his feet, the first real sign of any emotion beyond anger and impatience. I dont ask for favors from many people, Miss McCormick, because I dont like to be disappointed. But Im asking you to help me now. For your country.