Mission: Impossible to Protect (The Impossible Mission Romantic Suspense Series Book 6), стр. 44
His shock didn’t last long before he returned her demanding kiss with a knee-shaking one of his own. “Let’s go back to the bedroom. We never fight there.”
Sten cleared his throat. “Bro, you’re making all of these marines blush!”
Ryder guffawed. “Oh, right. We’re really embarrassed.”
She could hear the silent and a little scary Grayson chuckle.
She had just revealed their relationship without talking with Lars. Like the men and Sten and Izzy didn’t know. At this point, she didn’t care what anyone thought. And she didn’t care that her girlfriends had all texted her last night wanting to discuss whether it was wise to rush into anything. The unspoken question was after Jax’s inability to commit, was Lars the right choice? And the answer was a resounding “yes.”
“It will be great to get a massage after the travel.” She adjusted his shirt collar that had gotten crushed in her ferocious hug.
Although his face didn’t change expression, she knew he was silently replaying his arguments. “I’ll be back before you’re finished at the spa. And remember—”
She touched her finger to his lips. “Don’t say anything.”
During the last half hour in their bedroom, when she wouldn’t back down, Lars had repeated every safety precaution that she needed to take—where the cameras were in the spa lobby and if she saw anything or anyone suspicious that she was to return immediately to Sten.
Reeves had vetted all the women working at the spa before they made their appointment. Lars wouldn’t be reassured by the fact that the Carlyle routinely hosted presidents, and the staff had passed the Secret Service security clearance.
Lars gently bussed her lips. “I’ll miss you.”
“Me too.”
And he was gone. RJ Phillips, successful writer, was off to discuss possible film deals that he had been working toward. The room suddenly felt very empty without him, but she wouldn’t allow him to miss this important opportunity. Not because he had to play bodyguard.
“We probably should head out too. Our appointments are in five minutes,” Izzy said.
“You’re right. I’m ready.”
Danni and Izzy were both having massages and manicures. Danni didn’t want anyone to touch her face or her feet but having color on her fingernails would definitely help the aggravation of being in a cast. The idea that she had to wear a wig for a massage felt like they were overdoing the precautions, but she had promised Lars.
Izzy’s appearance was serendipitous. Over lunch, Danni planned to elicit Izzy’s help in finding the stalker. Izzy was a brilliant hacker who also had two functioning typing hands. The FBI and DEA were most likely tearing apart the Chinese woman’s financial records looking for evidence of the money laundering. Danni hoped that Izzy would have access to the files and could find the person who ordered the t-shirt. Danni had to trust the FBI and DEA to do their jobs, but it didn’t mean that Danni couldn’t continue her work. She always honored her commitments.
“I’m heading down.” Grayson was on lobby duty while Ryder was covering the outside periphery of the hotel. Sten would be guarding the entrances to the spa, which was on the third floor. Dylan was accompanying Lars. There had been a heated discussion with Lars protesting he didn’t need protection and insisting everyone should be guarding her. Dylan would accompany him to make sure Lars didn’t have a tail coming to and from the hotel—just in case Miro had made the connection between RJ Phillips and Lars Jenkins. No one mentioned that the easiest way to get to Danni was to take out Lars.
* * *
A blond, svelte woman with high cheekbones and large botoxed lips met them at the spa door. Dressed in a short black dress and high heels, she greeted them with a heavy Eastern European accent.
She nodded to the women, but at the sight of Sten, the attendant’s body language shifted from perfunctory to welcoming—chest thrust forward, her fingers playing in the curtain of hair around her face. Danni poked Izzy as the woman delivered a slow and seductive smile for Sten. In his fitted black suit, like all the Jenkins men, Sten cleaned up pretty nice. Would the woman go screaming out of the spa if she knew that Sten had a gun hidden under his jacket?
“Let me show you where you can change into our robes. There is a selection of chilled sparkling wines, mineral water, and an assortment of snacks. If there is anything you’d prefer, I’m happy to get it for you. Please follow me this way.”
With her white-blonde hair hanging down her back, she walked to a painted black door with heavy gold hardware. She was dressed to match the spa’s very French black-and-white scheme. A hanging crystal chandelier cast soft white light into the dark spa with painted black walls. The white molding and touches of white in the décor, including an enormous centerpiece of white roses and hydrangeas in a black vase, gave the small space a dramatic and sophisticated flair.
Sten moved closer to the Izzy and Danni and out of earshot of the woman who now waited at the door.
“I’ll be waiting right here if you need me.” He pointed to the entrance that provided a full view down the hallway. He then kissed Izzy lightly on the lips. “Have a great massage.”
Danni placed her hand on Sten’s arm. “Thank you. I know Lars would never have gone to his lunch if you weren’t here. I’m sure I won’t need you but thank you.” Then Danni linked arms with Izzy. “Let’s go get us some bubbly.”
Danni and Izzy had barely sipped their champagne after donning the lush robes when the blonde woman announced that their masseuses were ready for them. Danni and Izzy followed the woman down the hallway. With the soothing sound of the flute music, she