by Unknown
Colin felt a tingle of apprehension, a mere gut reaction to giving Tyler Riordan the code to the new security system. He looked across the room into Mike’s dark eyes and saw the same wariness. He had known Mike long enough to know when Mike didn’t like something even though there wasn’t the slightest change in his facial expression.
“We’ve been taking turns tailing Colin,” Mike said.
“You won’t have to now that we’re here,” Peter said. “That’s why there are two of us. We’ll take over watching him.” He turned to look at Colin. “You’ve set yourself up as bait.”
As Colin nodded, Mike said, “It’s way beyond time we catch this guy.”
“If we need one of you to help, we’ll call,” Peter said, “but for the next few days, we’ll tail Colin. We need a map of your ranch, Boone.”
“I’ve already got maps of all our places,” Mike said, handing a folder to Peter.
They absorbed all the information given to them, made plans and broke up.
Isabella dressed in a short, simple black dress that had cap sleeves and a cowl neckline that was cut high in front and low in back. She wore her hair piled on her head and diamond stud earrings. “Why are you doing this?” she kept asking herself. She had promised herself to keep her distance with Colin, yet here she was going on a date with him. Going too eagerly, she knew.
She hummed as she slipped on high-heeled black pumps. She picked up a black purse, tucked it under her arm and went to find her date. Since meeting Brett Hamilton, she had never seen the man again. She suspected he was never far away, but she hadn’t spotted him in town or on the ranch, yet it reassured her to know he was here.
She left her room and walked down the hall to the family room, which was empty, but saw Colin’s reflection in the big mirror as he stood in the kitchen. Her pulse skipped at the sight of him. She entered the kitchen where Colin gazed out the window. He was wearing a charcoal suit and he looked incredibly appealing. Yet even in a suit, he had that aura of danger about him.
He turned and frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over her. “You look beautiful, Isabella.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling because of his compliment and the warm look in his eyes. “Don’t tell me that suit was rolled up in your backpack.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a faint grin. “No. I managed to buy this in San Antonio yesterday and had alterations done immediately. Still certain you want to go out with me? It may be dangerous.”
“It’s definitely dangerous,” she said in a silky voice.
He inhaled swiftly. “I’m talking about a life-or-death danger,” he drawled wryly.
“That kind! I’ll be enormously safe with you and with Brett Hamilton hovering somewhere and one of your cronies following us. We’ll move in an entire entourage of guards.”
“Not really. You’ll be beside me and I may be a prime target. Those guys can only do so much and Peter told your brother and the others to back off. Either Peter or Tyler will be my tail. They don’t know about Brett.” Colin frowned. “I’ll tell you, I’m having second thoughts about taking you out.”
“You’re not weaseling out of this date! I’m not afraid. Besides, you told me you thought you would be safe enough for a few more days. The killer has to get to Texas and get his plan in order.”
Colin crossed the room and rested his hands on her shoulders. “It’s not a game, Isabella. The double agent may already be here.”
“I know the danger is real—remember, I grew up around Boone. But life has to go on and the chances of something happening tonight—I repeat, you said yourself—are not too likely.”
“That’s a guess, and I’m having a lot of second thoughts about this and about taking you out and putting you at risk.”
“Stop fretting. The guys who are tailing you will protect us.” She linked her arm in his. “Come on, Mr. Worrier. I have my pistol and I’ll guard you.”
He gave her a level look and she realized her lightness was only serving to increase his concern. She made a solemn face. “All right. I’ll worry, too. And I’ll keep a sharp lookout. Which would you prefer, that I drive or that you drive?”
He thought it over. “I’ll drive,” he said, picking up the keys from the kitchen counter.
They went outside and passed through the dogs and across the yard. Colin’s gaze searched the premises, but he couldn’t see anything amiss. He held the car door for Isabella and was distracted briefly by the sight of her shapely legs when she climbed inside.
Closing the door, he strode around the car to slide behind the wheel and start the engine. “I checked the car this afternoon.”
“Checked it for what?”
“A bomb. It’s not likely, but not impossible even in bright daylight. I don’t like taking chances.”
She leaned closer to Colin, straining against her seat belt to touch his arm. “Stop worrying. Do you see anything suspicious?”
He inhaled and freed his arm from her grasp. She felt rejected as she sat back, watching him. His jaw was so set he looked hard and angry and she wondered if she should have just agreed to forget the dinner date. They would have still been together at home, and he wouldn’t be in such a grump. If he was angry with her and so uptight, how could they possibly have a good time?
“Colin, if it makes you feel better, turn around and go back home,” she said solemnly.
He shot her a quick glance that was more of a scowl. “I may be wrong, Isabella, but I’ve got a gut feeling that we’re in danger.”
“How often do you get these ‘gut feelings’?” she asked.
“Occasionally, and I have one now. I don’t know whether it’s from being followed or from worrying about you being with me. I’d like to see your brother following me right now.”
“How’ll you know whether it’s Brett or one of the other men?”
“I won’t. Just keep your eyes open.”
They rode in silence and as they sped across the old concrete bridge across Badger Creek, Isabella looked at the woods surrounding the creek. “Anyone could hide in the shadows of the woods and no one would know.” She inhaled, some of her enthusiasm for the evening cooling.
“Should we go back home?” she asked.
He thought it over and the extent of time it took him to answer her made her realize how concerned he was. “We’ll go. I can’t hole up on the ranch all the time, but I don’t like having you out in harm’s way. I may call Boone to take you home.”
She had no intention of riding home with her brother, but she didn’t tell Colin that. They could get into that argument later.
“Right now, it’s broad daylight in early evening and nothing unusual is going on. There’s little traffic so far,” she said.
“You’re right.” He glanced at her. “Good thing this isn’t a real date. I’d be a washout.”
“Now there is a leading line if I ever heard one. First, it’s a real date to me, Colin Garrick! Second, a washout—my friend you can never possibly be a flop.”
“Careful, Isabella. You’re asking for trouble again.”
She smiled. “I’ll take my chances.”
“I’ve got to keep my eyes on the road, so you wait and flirt over dinner tonight.”
“And you promise to flirt back?”
When he laughed, her heart turned over. Why did she have this compulsion to try to pull smiles and laughter from him?
“I’ll give it a try. How’s that? I’ve never had anyone ask me to promise to flirt over dinner.”
“Well, I’m different from anyone else you’ve ever known,” she replied with saucy assurance.
He chuckled. “That’s rather an understatement. Boone should have warned me.”
“About what? Me?”
“About you, Isabella. You’re dangerous in too many ways to count.”
She wriggled with pleasure. “I like that! I don’t think I’ve ever had a man consider me dangerous. Now you, I’ll bet every female you meet sees a streak of dang
er in you.”
“I wouldn’t hurt a woman. You should know that.”
“I didn’t mean danger in that sense. You’re a threat to a woman’s heart.”
“I’m a threat to your heart?” he repeated, glancing at her. “Don’t even answer me now. We’ll take it up later when I won’t be likely to wreck the car with one of your straight-shooting answers.”
She laughed and turned to look out the back window.
“Turn around and use a mirror and it’ll be a little more subtle if we’re being followed,” he instructed with amusement in his voice.
“You’re lightening up, Colin. Watch out or you’ll thaw into a warm-blooded male.”
“You’re at it again.”
She smiled and looked out at the side-view mirror on the passenger side of the car. There were cars strung out in the distance behind them, but nothing unusual. She couldn’t guess whether anyone followed them or not. They rode in silence for a few minutes.
“You don’t look as worried now,” she said. “Have you relaxed a little?”
“Sure. I’m relaxed.”
She didn’t believe him, but he did look less forbidding. When they drove into Stallion Pass, Colin circled blocks and she realized he was checking for a tail. She watched the side mirror, but she couldn’t see anything suspicious or anyone who was clearly following them.
Finally he turned a corner and drove into the parking lot of the restaurant, pulling up to the door for valet parking. He stepped out and she climbed out when a uniformed valet held the door for her. Colin came around to take her arm and whisk her into the restaurant.
The moment they entered the foyer, he moved to a window to look outside. After a minute he took her arm and led her inside the dimly lit dining area where he talked a moment to the maître d’ who seated them at a table in a secluded corner. Colin sat with his back to the wall where he could watch the door, leaving Isabella wondering if she would have his attention for any part of the evening until they were back home.
The linen-covered tables held candles and tiny bouquets of fresh lilies of the valley and pink rosebuds. Beside the dance floor a piano player sang a ballad as he played. She looked around the restaurant she had eaten at before, but knew this would be the night she would always remember.
In the flickering candlelight, Colin looked dashing. Was he still grieving as much over his ex-fiancée? Isabella knew a few days probably would make little change in his feelings, yet he really did seem to be thawing; he seemed less brooding and cold.
He was not a mission for her to save, she reminded herself.
“Want a glass of wine, Isabella?”
“That would be lovely,” she answered, smiling at him. To her surprise, he smiled in return. She wondered how much he still saw her as Boone’s kid sister. She knew he didn’t when he kissed her.
When the waiter came, Colin ordered two glasses of white wine.
As soon as the wine had been poured and they were alone once again, Colin raised his glass in a toast. “Here’s to a spectacular evening. So far, we’re safe.”
“I’ll drink to that,” she replied, touching his glass lightly with hers. “And I hope that sometime during the evening you can stop watching the doorway and everyone who enters long enough to look at your date.”
His gaze shifted back to her and a dark eyebrow arched. “I’ve noticed you. I told you that you look beautiful.”
“And I thanked you, but I’m not sure you’re very conscious of my existence right now.”
“You’re mistaken, I’m very aware of you,” he murmured, giving her a heated look that curled her toes.
“If you catch the enemy agent while you’re here, will you stay and work for Mike?” she asked, trying to ignore the sensation. And trying to change the subject.
“I don’t have any idea what I’ll do. With my new fortune, I have more options.”
“So what would you really like to do?”
“At this point in my life, I don’t even know the answer to that one. I haven’t thought that far ahead since everything changed and I decided to stay in Texas.”
The waiter returned and they both ordered the beef tenderloin with orange Bearnaise sauce. As soon as the waiter left them alone, they chatted until he brought crystal plates that held crisp green salads.
Colin and Isabella talked through dinner. Then, as more couples moved onto the dance floor, he gazed at her and finally asked, “Would you like to dance?”
“I didn’t think you were ever going to ask!” she exclaimed, sliding out of the chair and taking his hand. In seconds she was in his arms. The music was a familiar ballad. Colin held her lightly, as if he were dancing with a stranger. He looked over her head at the windows that spilled light onto the terrace. Lights beyond the terrace glowed on the trees, but Colin could see that night had fallen and he wondered what dangers would be prowling the darkness.
Outside in the far end of the restaurant parking lot, in an area where employees parked their cars, a man sat in a large, black sedan. A pistol lay beside him on the front seat. He could see the entrance to the restaurant.
He had seen them go inside, Isabella Devlin dressed in black. Appropriate color for a killing. There he had been—Colin Garrick, the man with the nine lives of a cat. Yet even cats died. And often violently. Tonight would be the night.
Get it over and done with. Eliminate the one big threat to a fabulous future. Kill Garrick. Make it look like an accident if possible. And then get out of Texas. A tall order, but not an impossible one even with all the operatives here and his old buddies from Special Forces. He suspected there was someone nearby from the military, too. It wouldn’t be like them to use Colin as bait and to leave him unprotected at this point.
They were no match and, by now, they should begin to face that fact. He had been slipping past them for years. Years! And in that time, he had amassed a fortune. He knew exactly how he would spend it. In a life of luxury for himself.
He jerked his thoughts back to the present and knew that none of them suspected him. He could walk right past any of them and they wouldn’t have a clue. He knew them all, even Garrick. Fools and more fools! And tonight a dead fool! He wanted to get this over with.
He cared nothing about the woman; the fact that she was with him would be her misfortune. Other than that, she could live because she was no threat to him. But Colin was a growing threat with each day.
The man touched his pistol lightly, feeling the cold metal. On the drive home, he would make his move. It was all lined up, including his escape. They would never know who had been involved. Someone would be following Colin, but it would not save him. It was be a good place for the finger of suspicion to point when Colin died. Only a couple more hours and this one would be out of the way.
He shifted slightly and watched the restaurant door. It was too early for them to come out, but he wanted to be ready. He didn’t want to let Colin live another day. Colin should have stayed out of this and not meddled. He had to die because he was never going to give up and go away.
The door pushed open and a tall, black-haired man wearing a navy suit strode out. There was a tall brunette on his arm and for one fleeting second the man thought he had his quarry in sight. He reached for the key in the ignition. He had this planned to the moment. When they came out to get their car, he would leave ahead of them.
Once out of town and on back roads, he could drive faster than Colin would. He knew the place where he would run Colin into the bridge abutment—either that or run him off the road. There was an old bridge on the road approaching the ranch. It was high over steep banks down to a riverbed that looked as if it had never had a drop of water in it. Nearby, were paths fishermen had made, parking their cars and trucks near the river. Perfect places for him to wait and hide. He could park where he would be at right angles with Colin when he came up on the road.
It was a deserted area and a likely place to get rid of the man and at the same time, have it appear to be an accide
nt.
They would know—all those trying to protect him—that it had been no accident and that they had failed, but that wouldn’t help Colin.
And if one of the men followed him close enough to catch up—The man touched his pistol lightly. So be it. He would take him out, too. That would eliminate the accident theory, but he didn’t really care. Just get rid of Colin and get out of the area.
This was not a night for mistakes. It was a night for dying. A night to stop the chase, to insure his future.
He had a car hidden where he could abandon this one. Then he would be safely on his way.
Dine tonight, Colin Garrick. Wine and dine and dance because it will be your last night. You should have stayed in that dark netherworld where you couldn’t remember the past.
Instead, you had to go out and hunt the past and try to recreate it. Well, that past has caught up with you tonight. You won’t see tomorrow. It would be over. Jubilation coursed through the man. Tonight was the night! He watched the restaurant door swing open again.
Chapter 9
I n the heart of the restaurant Colin and Isabella drifted around the dance floor.
“I haven’t danced in six years,” he said quietly.
“Six years! Then we should dance every dance until the piano player quits for the night.”
“I don’t think I need to catch up for six years in one night,” he replied, smiling at her, and her heart missed a beat. One of those rare, pure-gold smiles that made him more appealing than ever and brought to mind the man he had once been. She knew that man might never be back fully as he was years ago, but she had high hopes that he would approximate the way he used to be.
As they danced, Colin held her close and Isabella was aware of the brush of their thighs, their legs touching, his hand holding hers and his other arm around her waist. They moved together easily, and she loved dancing in his arms.
“For someone who hasn’t danced in such a long time, you do it well,” she said.