by Nina Bruhns
He had thought making her vulnerable would drive her irrevocably into his arms. He was wrong. It only made her see the truth—that despite her love for him, he'd only used her. And badly.
Never again would she make the mistake of putting her trust in a man like Michael. Never.
She liked Beau, more than liked him. But when it came to his cousin, she knew he'd betray her in a hot minute. So why was she feeling as though she was the one doing the betraying?
When she got to the hotel lobby, she looked at her watch. It was already five after nine. Quickly, she left the hotel and hurried toward the marina, but got stuck at a traffic light within sight of the Pelican.
Impatiently, she tapped her foot. How had she gotten to this point? Feeling guilty about merely doing her job. This was not a choice, it was a no-brainer.
She didn't want Beau's help—or his kisses either, for that matter. All she wanted from him was the necklace. She would have found Remi on her own, tracked him here as she had to Las Vegas. She was a good investigator. The best. And if she had to take down one of Beau's precious family members to prove it and to keep her job, she would.
The light changed and she stepped out onto the street. Suddenly a car screamed toward her. She jumped back, tottering in her heels, barely making it to safety in time. Darn teenagers.
Getting her heartbeat back under control, she told herself to concentrate on what she was doing and entered the Pelican.
"Mr. Beaulieux called to let you know he'd be just a few minutes late. I'll show you to his table."
Great. And she'd practically killed herself getting here. She ordered a white wine and sat down to wait.
A few minutes later a glass appeared on the table in front of her. "Your wine, I believe."
She turned. "Beau!"
"I'm afraid not. Remi Beaulieux, at your service."
"Oh!" She tried not to stare, but couldn't help cataloging the uncanny resemblance between the cousins. But by the time Remi had deposited his own glass on the table and taken the seat across from her, she'd found more differences than similarities. Beau was tall, but Remi was taller, rangier. His hair was the same midnight black, but longer, wilder, pulled back in a ponytail. Beau's sensual lips were echoed in Remi's, but Remi's were given a sinister cast by a small, curving scar over the left corner of his mouth.
The hair rose on the back of Kit's neck. How could she possibly have mistaken this renegade for Beau? From the diamond stud in his earlobe to the lizard-skin cowboy boots on his feet, this man looked nothing less than an outlaw.
Good grief, she had to get hold of herself. She'd never get him to trust her if she didn't lose this irrational terror at his mere image.
"Nice to meet you, Remi." She extended her hand. "I'm Kit Colfax."
He paused on the verge of taking her hand, incredulous. "Kit Colfax?"
"Something wrong?"
Recovering his manners, he shook her hand. "It's just—" he gave her a searching look "—isn't Kit usually a man's name?"
She shrugged. "About even."
He seemed to change gears and relax. "Well, I see you managed to give cousin Beau the slip."
She smiled, glancing at the door. "For the moment."
"Here's hoping it's a very long moment."
When he raised his glass toward her, she met it with her own and drank, her heart quavering. She felt like a traitor.
"So, how did you and Beau meet?"
Grateful for the neutral opening, she made herself relax. "He took me to the cleaner's in Vegas. I lost a valuable sapphire necklace and a designer dress to him, all in the same hand."
Remi grinned. "A dress? Were you in it?"
"Not for long."
He gave out a roar of laughter. "Don't tell me. He let you win it back the next morning."
She glanced at him from under her lashes, growing more comfortable in her role. "Something like that."
"The blackguard."
"Not at all. He is very much a gentleman."
"Indeed." Remi gave a little bow of concession. "That's my cousin. But what about the sapphires? Has he let you win those back?"
Her heartbeat kicked up. "As a matter of fact, he's being a bit stubborn about the necklace. I'm still working on him."
He regarded her boldly. "I'll just bet you are."
She leaned forward, "Maybe you could help me out."
His gaze swept across the low neckline of her dress. "I doubt I could compete with your enticements."
"But I could distract him while you…" She shrugged.
"I am shocked. You want me to steal from my own cousin?"
"I need that necklace. It's worth a lot of money and—" She bit her lip. "I have to get it back. We could make a deal."
"What kind of a deal?"
She gathered her courage. "I hear you collect jewelry."
He gave her a level look. "Go on."
"I might be able to get you information. Where to find things you are interested in … obtaining."
"I see. And you would give me this information in exchange for your necklace, if I can get it?"
"Yes."
His gaze drifted to a spot over her shoulder as he considered. "And what if I am not interested in jewelry, but something else?"
Her mouth went dry. Oh, no. Two days ago this turn of conversation would not have sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Remi was not a bad-looking man. Actually, he was quite handsome in a menacing sort of way. But he wasn't Beau. Even the thought—no, she simply couldn't.
She swallowed. "Something else?"
He squeezed a slice of lime into his tequila, slowly and deliberately, then looked up. "You. What if I wanted you? Would you leave Beau?"
She could feel the blood drain from her face. What should she do? If she said no, she might ruin her only chance with Remi.
With a shaking hand she picked up her glass and took a fortifying sip of wine. "Are you always this direct?"
"I find it gets me what I want that much faster."
"Well, not this time." The words slipped out before she could stop them. "I'm not part of the deal, Remi."
Lord, what had she gone and done? She'd surely blown it now, and all because of a man she barely knew. She waited for the boom to fall. When it did, it came as a low drawl from right behind her.
"I'm glad to hear that, darlin'." She spun around to find Beau staring down at her with an expression carved from polar ice. "I see you've met cousin Remi."
* * *
Chapter 5
« ^ »
Beau leaned down and gave Kit a stiff kiss on the temple. He didn't trust himself to get near her lips. He was too angry. He'd be tempted to go ahead and prove to her just how much she wanted him, and not his reprobate cousin.
But that would never do. Not his style at all. Cool and imperturbable, that was Simon Beaulieux. He gathered himself together and shook Remi's hand when his cousin rose to offer it.
"Good to see you, Beau. It's been too long."
It took all he had not to blast the man right on the spot. "Remi. You're looking disreputable as ever."
Remi chuckled. "Wouldn't do for the family's black sheep not to look the part, would it now, my golden-boy cousin?" He gestured to a chair. "Kit and I have been having a very interesting conversation."
Beau eased down into the seat, taking her hand as he did so. Glaring at her, he kissed it. "So I heard."
"Beau, I—" she stammered, staring at her captured hand.
He had rattled her with his untimely arrival. Or rather, his very timely arrival. Good. Thank goodness for the cop instincts that had made him suspicious enough to follow her to this cozy little rendezvous.
"Next time, wait for me, chère."
Remi broke in. "Now don't go getting your feathers all ruffled, Beau. You know you can trust me."
The man had a hell of a nerve, under the circumstances.
"Yeah. About as far as I can spit," he said with a cool smile. He told himself his anger was over K
it giving him the slip so easily, but deep down he knew the reason was much more personal.
"What was this deal you two were cooking up?" he asked to distract himself from that line of thinking.
Kit bristled. "It's none of your business."
"Oh, but it is." He caressed her fingers with his thumb. "When I find my woman alone with another man, the topic of conversation is very much my business."
Her mouth parted, then snapped shut. "If you must know, the subject was how you and I met," she said, yanking her hand from his.
Remi watched their byplay as he curled a stick of gum into his mouth. Beau grimaced at the disgusting combination of tequila and Juicy Fruit. Remi always did have peculiar tastes.
"I'm quitting smoking," Remi drawled with a shrug. "So, Kit was telling me how you won her necklace, and how much she wants it back." His cousin wagged a finger at him in mock censure. "It really is too mean of you to keep it."
Kit's eyes widened to saucers and Beau's anger inflated even further. She hadn't wasted any time. Even when she didn't have the necklace she used it as bait. The only thing that puzzled him was why Remi had let him know.
"I have plans for the necklace," Beau stated, keeping his voice suitably noncommittal. "So, y'all were talking about—" he looked at Kit, pinning her beneath his gaze like a firefly under glass "—jewels?"
His emphasis on the last word was slight, but enough to make her blanch.
"I—" She stood abruptly. "You two have family matters to discuss. If you don't mind, I'll head back to the hotel."
Beau reached out, restraining her. "I've got a better idea. Why don't you go powder your nose for a few minutes while Remi and I talk. Then we can walk back together."
She balked. "I'd rather go now."
"Why?"
She sat back down on the edge of her chair and looked at him from under her lashes. "Let me have the key, Beau. When you get back, I'll have a nice surprise waiting."
Yeah, he bet she would. Her shadow, no doubt. "Like what?"
"How's this?"
She leaned over and gave him a lingering kiss, right on the mouth. If he weren't aware of her partiality to mischief, he might have been taken in by the warm caress of her lips, by the taste of her tongue sliding along the bottom edge of his teeth.
But he knew better. The kiss was a ploy to get the key—so she could collect her things and disappear.
He caught her hand as it crept into his jacket pocket, and fished out the key card himself. "How can I refuse an offer like that?" He pressed it into her palm, but didn't let go.
When she started to move away, he cradled the back of her head and pulled her lips back to his. "The necklace is not there," he said softly. "But you'd better be. Do not even think of sneaking off. We aren't finished with this conversation. Not by a long shot."
Gratified, he watched her hasty retreat toward the door. When she disappeared through it, he turned his attention to Remi.
Remi chuckled. "Hang on to that spitfire, cousin. She's sure to liven things up at Terrebeau."
"No doubt she would," Beau said evenly. "But thanks to you, things are lively enough at home." He shot his cousin a narrowed gaze. "How could you do it?"
Remi's cheerful expression faltered briefly, then returned. "I don't know what you mean, old man."
"Don't play coy with me, Remi." Beau's restrained fury simmered dangerously. "If you sit there and deny taking Grandmère's jewels, I won't be responsible for what I do."
Remi shrugged. "Then I guess I better not deny it. I'd hate to be thrown out of here for brawling before I've finished my drink." He hoisted his tequila in salute.
The reality of Remi's perfidy cut like a knife in the gut. Up until this very moment Beau had refused to believe the impossible about the man he loved like a brother. He had used every possible argument to convince himself Remi would have a good explanation for this betrayal of their family and heritage.
"Why?" he asked, his soul tearing in pieces. "Why didn't you come to me? I'd have done anything—hocked Terrebeau, given you my right arm. Why did you take them, Remi?"
Remi sat unmoving, his glass still raised, staring at him from under coal-black brows, and for a moment Beau thought he'd say something. Something to make it right, so they could laugh again and have a drink together and go back to the way it was before they grew up and the world intruded on their friendship.
But the moment passed and Remi threw back his tequila. With a sweeping gesture he said, "I am a jewel thief. A thief needs no reason to steal. He simply does."
Beau leaped to his feet, his anger finally boiling over. "What is wrong with you? How can you hurt Grandmère this way? She is dying! You would send her to her grave broken-hearted?"
A muscle twitched in Remi's cheek. "Dying? She never— I didn't know."
Beau stabbed a hand through his hair, reining in his temper with an iron grip. "Dieu, Remi, bring the jewels back before Grandmère finds out they're gone."
Remi's expression became shuttered. "I'm sorry. I can't do that, old man. Go home to Terrebeau and forget about the jewels. Forget about me."
"I'm sorry, too, Remi. But I won't forget. And I don't believe you will, either. Whatever the reason you're doing this, it's not worth it. Bring them back. Please, before it's too late. For everyone."
* * *
Kit marched into the bedroom and stared at her suitcase on the bed, packed and ready to go. Every instinct she possessed told her she should grab it and flee. At the Pelican, when Beau had given her the key to the room, her only thought had been to get away. From him—and from the hurt that had shadowed his eyes when he'd found her there with Remi.
She didn't like leaving this way. He deserved better. She sighed and sat heavily on the bed. The fact was, as much as she hated to admit it, she didn't like the thought of leaving him at all.
There. She'd acknowledged it. The impossible had happened. For the first time since leaving Michael, she had let a man get under her skin. And what a choice. Another powerful, controlling man. One who had the power to snatch her future from her with a single word. A man who could take her willpower in his strong hands and crush it to powder.
She had been so determined not to make that mistake again. How had it happened? And in such a short time?
Because Beau was unlike anyone she'd ever met. Despite suspecting the worst of her, he had been nothing but a gentleman. Even at the Pelican, when confronted with irrefutable evidence of her determination to put his cousin in jail. He'd been angry, but he hadn't called her on her deceit, or sabotaged her mission.
His loyalty astounded her. He deserved to know why she had to lock his cousin away. Even at the cost of her own heart.
She lugged her suitcase into the hallway, next to the door. Best to be ready to vacate the premises as soon as she told him she had no choice, her very job depended on having Remi arrested.
Sliding the hall-closet doors open, she checked to make sure she hadn't left anything. Beau's clothes hung neatly on one side. The other side was empty, a yawning, unbalanced space that seemed to call to her to unpack her own clothes and fill it.
She reached out and ran her hand over his jackets and pants, closing her eyes to better feel the rough texture of the wool and the smooth coolness of the linen. She pulled a sleeve to her nose and inhaled Beau's masculine, spicy sandalwood scent.
Her senses whirled in unbearable longing.
Oh, how she wanted him!
But it was impossible. How could she even think of giving in to these dangerous, irrational feelings?
She had no illusions she could ever have a harmless affair with Simon Beaulieux. If she let herself fall for him, she would be heading for a world of hurt. And how well she knew it.
But she couldn't help herself. She'd been a fool for the man from the first moment she'd laid eyes on him. The truth was, she wanted to know what it felt like to be wrapped in his muscular arms, to feel his hard, athletic body rock into hers, to hear his sweet Southern drawl whispe
ring erotically in her ear.
At the image she melted against the wall.
A sharp rapping sound jerked her from her thoughts.
"Open up, Kit. It's me."
Her heart stalled. She was not ready to face him. She stole a glance in the mirrored closet door and nervously smoothed her hair. Too late for escape now. She had to pull herself together so he wouldn't see the turmoil raging in her heart.
"Sometime this year, Kit."
She straightened her spine and swung open the door. Beau blew past her into the living room, then turned on a heel and glared at her suitcase sitting on the floor.
"Going somewhere?"
She looked from him to the suitcase. "I, um…"
"To the Trinket, maybe?"
Shock broadsided her. "No! Of course n—"
Holding up his hands, he spun and stalked across the room, slamming open the balcony doors. "Never mind. I don't want to know. I wash my hands of the pair of you." He paced back and forth in front of the opening, silhouetted against the glittering lights of the harbor, framed by billowing curtains.
"Beau, there's—"
"I don't know why I even bother. The two of you deserve each other. Just go ahead and arrest the bastard and I'll be rid of you both." He ripped off his jacket and threw it on a chair.
Her breath caught in her throat. He was magnificent in his fury. The muscles shown off by his undershirt tensed into definition, his fists curling and uncurling as he resumed pacing.
She forced herself to refocus. "I know I hurt—"
"What were you going to do, anyway? Have him steal the necklace from me so you could have him arrested?"
She bit her lip guiltily.
He threw up his arms in a gesture of exasperation. "You are unbelievable." He came to a halt in front of her and folded his arms across his broad chest. The slashing angles of his cheekbones grew sharper. His full lips pressed into a thin line as he glowered down at her. "How could you involve me like this? My own cousin, for crying out loud!"
She opened her mouth, but no sound would come out. He literally rendered her incapable of speech. She couldn't concentrate. All she could think of was how much she wanted to let her body sway against his, to touch him and be touched.