Mission: Impossible to Protect (The Impossible Mission Romantic Suspense Series Book 6), стр. 37
She liked the way Lars flinched at “honey cakes.” She purposefully did it to avoid giving Lars’s name. Despite her shock at first seeing Douglas, she was back on game.
“You’re married?” Douglas’s voice pitched high and loud. “How come no one knows about it?”
Anyone meaning anyone with money or lineage.
“I’m sure anyone who is important to us knows.” Lars shrugged.
Douglas dumbstruck was almost worth the fake marriage. And maybe she did feel a bit of satisfaction that Douglas would report back to Jax that she was married and married to a man in an expensive suit who radiated pure confidence that he could handle anything and anyone, including a jackass like Douglas. That would make up for her own current appearance.
“Let’s get to our room; I can’t wait much longer,” Lars whispered in her ear but loud enough for Douglas to hear.
“Douglas, it’s great to see you. Please give my best to Jax.”
Lars placed his hand on Danni’s back, his big hand spread wide, radiating heat.
The always self-possessed Douglas stared impolitely, as her mother would have pointed out, while Danni and Lars waited for the elevator door to close. Danni gave a little wave before Lars pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard, his mouth possessively moving over hers. Desperation and hunger. Danni knew the demanding kiss was to keep their cover story, but she couldn’t stop herself from responding, wanting to believe for a few seconds the blistering kiss was real.
Chapter Eighteen
With Ryder leading the way, Lars took the flank as they escorted Danni down the quiet hallway to their suite. Despite the very private and exclusive setting, Lars and Ryder followed protocol for entering the space.
Was it overly cautious for the Carlyle Hotel? Maybe. But getting too comfortable could lead to mistakes. Lars needed no reminder that Miro was looking for Danni, but surprisingly, Danni did. She had just blown her cover.
Lars opened the heavy black door to the premier suite, then stepped back to allow Ryder to sweep the space. The suite was the size of an apartment with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a full kitchen. Danni and Lars stood in stiff silence at the entrance, staring at the panoramic view of the city’s skyline.
“Were you ever planning to tell me about your husband?” He had sworn that he would say nothing, not allowing her any glimpse of his pain. Overhearing the pretentious asswipe say that Jax still wanted Danni back was as sharp and sudden as a KA-BAR stab.
Danni glared at him. Her lips were swollen from his demanding kiss. He would have to apologize for trying to lick her tonsils. He could lie to himself that the kiss was all about keeping up their cover, but a good operator continually makes self-checks…honest assessments on performance.
The kiss was more than cover. It was about raw need. And anger.
Grinning widely, Ryder approached. “All clear, boss.”
Nick’s marine buddies were amused to call Nick’s younger brother “boss” since they saw him still as a kid. Ignoring gibes was always the best choice—a lesson well-learned from having four brothers. Despite the age difference, Lars had street creds with the men as a Hoorah marine. He could take basic shit from these guys knowing they had his back and would die protecting him and Danni.
“Can you give us a minute?” Lars raised his eyebrows and rolled his eyes at Ryder, gesturing toward the door.
Ryder smirked. The big fella might have been facing forward in the elevator, but it didn’t take a genius to know what was happening behind him.
Ignoring the men, Danni limped into the French-styled, elegant living room. She hadn’t been limping when they entered the hotel. And why hadn’t he noticed that she was uncomfortable? Because he was too busy being a class A male asshole who was pissed off and needed to prove that their night together was real. Except she omitted one glaring detail when Lars was inside her giving her multiple orgasms—she had a husband waiting in the wings.
No wonder she didn’t want to come to New York. God, he hated the games women played. He thought he’d never make the Carmen mistake again. It was evident when it came to Danni, he had reverted to kindergarten level. He was just another dumbass idiot being led by his dick.
“When did your ankle start bothering you?” He tried to normalize his tone to hide the boiling rage and hurt.
They had ditched the cane so that Danni wouldn’t stand out.
“The long flight caused some swelling. No big deal; I’m fine.” She kept her back to him, walking toward the bank of windows, and pulled her wig off, her golden hair cascading down her back. She threw her glasses and wig on the gray couch. The room was all muted colors that would have felt restful if his heart weren’t pounding against his chest as if he had climbed to the top of the Empire State Building.
“You should have told me that you were married…” Before we made passionate, crazy love. “Before I built your cover around being my wife.”
For him, last night had been more than grinding hot sex. He was well versed in mutual physical release. Their night together was more than just physical. They shared what felt like something real. The joke was on him. His brain returned to the “Carmen circuit” as he tagged it, looping into an endless circle of betrayal, hurt, and self-loathing as he repeatedly asked himself, “How could I be so stupid…again?”
“Well, maybe if you had consulted me, I might have told you.” She stood staring out the window, her silhouette lit by the bright sun, giving her an otherworldly glow.
“What bullshit. Your life is at risk, and you’re withholding vital information that could jeopardize your safety. You could jeopardize all of our lives. This isn’t some fucking game you’re playing… Use Lars, my bodyguard, to make my husband jealous…”
She pivoted and marched toward him. It would have been more effective if