by Regan Black
“Looks that way.” Felicity offered her a tight smile. “I’d better get started on my day.” She nodded at Dario. “Nice to see you again.” She heard the note of forced cheer in her voice, but couldn’t muster the energy to care. She’d made it very clear last night that she had no interest in seeing Dario Ortega in any kind of social capacity. If he couldn’t take a hint, that wasn’t her fault.
“Always a pleasure, Ms. Grant.” His voice was deep and sonorous, and Felicity clenched her jaw as goose bumps stippled her arms. Her body was responding as if he’d touched her rather than simply spoken a few words.
Enough of that, she told her traitorous flesh. She nodded once, then turned and marched down the hall to her office.
She tried to ignore the world on the other side of her desk, but no matter how hard she focused on booting up her computer and stowing her coat and purse, she heard every word coming out of Adeline’s office.
“I won’t keep you any longer,” Dario said. “It was nice talking with you.”
“Likewise,” Adeline said, genuine warmth in her voice. “You know you’re always welcome here.”
“I appreciate that. You’ll definitely be at Emiliano’s wedding, right? Jeremy didn’t schedule any work functions that conflict with the nuptials, I hope.”
Adeline laughed. “No, I made sure our schedules are clear. We’ll be there—we’re both looking forward to it.”
“Excellent.” Dario sounded pleased. “See if you can talk Felicity into coming as well, will you?”
Felicity rolled her eyes and shook her head. Would the man ever stop?
“I’ll see what I can do,” Adeline replied. “That’s nice of you to want to include her.” There was a speculative note in her voice, and Felicity knew her friend was probing for information.
Dario didn’t miss a beat. “Just don’t want to see anyone left out. I know my family would agree.”
Oh, he was slick. Felicity could almost admire his easy confidence and suave determination. She’d never met anyone with such an abundance of charm, and Dario knew exactly how to wield that particular weapon. She imagined he had women eating out of his hand everywhere he went.
All the more reason for her to bolster her resolve. She had no desire to be Dario Ortega’s girl of the moment. And it was likely her very refusal to succumb to his flirtations that made him so determined to get through to her. It was the thrill of the chase that motivated him now, not any genuine interest in getting to know her.
Felicity pushed thoughts of Dario aside and turned to her computer. She needed to focus on her case, not worry about the actions of Shadow Creek’s local playboy.
Adeline had assigned her the Colton, Incorporated, computer hacking case, and Felicity’s main priority was tracking down Sulla, the infamous leader of the Cohort, which was the group that had claimed responsibility for the hack. It was a high-profile case; the FBI was leading the criminal investigation, but the Colton family had hired Adeline’s agency to conduct their own investigation, in the hopes of bringing the matter to a swift end. It was a measure of Adeline’s faith in Felicity that she’d turned over the reins of the investigation once she had joined her agency.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Adeline rapped on the open door of Felicity’s office. “Got a minute?”
“Of course.”
Adeline stepped inside and sat, then steepled her fingers in front of her chin. “What do you know about Dario Ortega?”
“I know he won’t take no for an answer,” Felicity muttered before she could think better of it. She shook her head. “Sorry. I know he’s your friend.”
Adeline tilted her head to the side. “Oh, I wouldn’t necessarily say that. We’re friendly, but he’s not someone I consider a friend like you.” She dropped her hands and leaned forward. “I take it he’s been hitting on you?”
“And how.” Felicity smiled ruefully. “He’s very determined.”
“That sounds like Dario,” Adeline confirmed. “He’s got a bit of a reputation for being footloose and fancy-free. But I must say, I’ve never heard talk that any of his relationships end badly. I think he’s careful to make sure the women he dates know the score before they get involved.”
“How kind of him,” Felicity said drily.
Adeline shrugged. “I’m just saying, if you’re looking to have a little fun, he’s a good choice. I know it’s probably been a while since you’ve had any romantic involvement.”
Felicity’s shoulders stiffened. “What makes you say that?” It was true, but did she wear the evidence of her dry spell like a shirt for everyone to see?
“I thought the Marines had rules about fraternization. Or are you telling me you ignored them?” Adeline’s tone was equal parts teasing and hopeful, as if she had her fingers crossed that Felicity had flouted regulations in the interest of love.
Or lust, as it were.
Felicity shook her head. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I did not break the rules.”
Adeline sighed. “I figured as much. You always were so proper.”
“It’s served me well so far.”
“I know. But I worry about you. It might be good for you to let your hair down and have a little fun.”
Felicity considered the idea for a split second, then shook her head. “I have no interest in being the next notch on Dario’s bedpost.”
Adeline leaned back. “Fair enough. But I think you’re looking at this the wrong way.” She smiled wickedly. “He’d make a great notch on yours.”
“Adeline!”
Her friend laughed. “Couldn’t resist. Teasing you is too much fun. But that’s not why I actually came in here.”
“Oh?”
“Believe it or not, Dario is a top-notch computer expert. He’s a genius with all things cyber related.”
“Is that right?” Felicity couldn’t keep a note of skepticism out of her voice. The handsome playboy actually had practical skills?
Adeline nodded. “Yeah. I know it’s hard to believe, but he has an impeccable professional reputation. He’s even more skilled than Emiliano in some respects.”
“Wow.” That was impressive. Emiliano was a respected agent on the FBI’s National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force. The men and women on that team were experts in every aspect of computers, so Adeline’s words were high praise indeed.
“Dario came to visit me this morning because he’s currently between cases, and he offered to assist in the Colton, Incorporated, hacking investigation while he’s in town.”
“What did you tell him?”
Adeline shrugged. “I thanked him for his offer and said we’d consider it. I didn’t want to bring him on board until I’d talked to you.”
“I appreciate that,” Felicity said, touched at her friend’s thoughtfulness. Adeline ran the PI agency, so as her boss, she had every right to accept help from whomever she chose. But it was nice of her to ask for Felicity’s input first.
“This is your case, Felicity. I’m not going to tell you how to run it. But I do think it would be a mistake to turn down Dario’s offer. His help might be just what you need to break this thing wide open. And for what it’s worth, I think he’d be professional about it.”
Felicity nodded slowly. “Can I take some time to think things over?”
“Of course.” Adeline stood and smiled. “Like I said, this is your case and I trust your judgment. I know whatever you decide, you’ll get the job done.”
“Thanks, Addy,” Felicity said. “I appreciate it.”
Adeline made it to the door, but then stopped and turned back. “Oh, I almost forgot! You were saying something about an accident when you walked into my office this morning. Are you okay?” Her blue-gray eyes searched Felicity’s face and her brows drew together in concern.
Felicity waved
her off. “I’m fine.” She didn’t want to get into her earlier scare. Adeline was her friend, but Felicity still felt a little embarrassed over her reaction. She knew Mr. Perkins was right and that her jumpiness would fade with time, but until it did, she didn’t want people to think she’d come back from the war broken. “I just dropped my coffee on the walk in.”
“Bummer,” Adeline said. “I put on a pot when I arrived this morning. It should still be pretty fresh.”
“I’ll grab some in a minute,” Felicity said. “Thanks.”
Adeline left and Felicity turned back to her computer, her mind whirring. The Colton hacking case was proving to be difficult, and she was under a lot of pressure to discover the identity of Sulla. Zane Colton, the head of security for Colton, Incorporated, had emailed her practically every day over the past two weeks asking for updates, and she’d even gotten messages from T. C. Colton, the executive vice president, and Fowler Colton, the president of the company. The corporate bigwigs were very interested in the case, and they were likely feeling a little paranoid since one of their own had recently been surrounded by scandal. Hugh Barrington, the family attorney, had schemed to take control of Colton, Inc., and he’d very nearly been successful. The cyberattack couldn’t have come at a worse time for the company.
Felicity had worked as an intelligence specialist in the Corps, so she was used to compiling and sifting through data, looking for patterns or other nuggets of information that she could piece together to form a bigger picture. She knew her way around a computer, but she recognized her skills were nowhere near Emiliano’s level.
Or Dario’s, apparently.
If the talk about his talent was true, it would be nice to have someone of Dario’s caliber join the investigation. Curious, Felicity did a quick internet search, looking for independent confirmation of Dario’s computer prowess.
A few minutes later, she sat back, satisfied he was probably as good as he said. Could they really work together, though? Would he be willing to cool his flirtations and focus on the case?
Even if Dario agreed to stay on his best behavior, he would still be a distraction. Felicity would have to muster every scrap of self-discipline to ignore the temptation of his mouth and the knowing glint in his hazel eyes. Just the thought of being on guard all the time made her feel mentally and emotionally exhausted.
But did she have another choice?
A quiet chime sounded, and she glanced at her monitor to see the email icon blinking. She clicked on it, and a message from Zane Colton popped up: Any progress?
“If that isn’t a sign from the universe, I don’t know what is,” she muttered to herself.
With a reluctant sigh, Felicity dug Dario’s card out of her purse. She’d slipped it in the bag last night when she hadn’t been able to find a trash can. She’d never intended to actually use it, but now she was glad she hadn’t managed to throw it away.
She stared at the numbers he’d scrawled on the back, imagining all too easily his triumphant smile when he answered the phone and realized she’d called him. Under any other circumstances, her pride would have kept her from asking for his help. But this was no ordinary case, and if she had to dance with the devil to make progress on it, then that was what she’d do.
She picked up the phone and began to dial, before she changed her mind.
Chapter 3
Dario leaned back in his chair, trying to look casual. He didn’t want Felicity to see how pleased he was to be meeting her. Something told him if she thought he was gloating, she’d turn around and walk out of the restaurant before he even got the chance to say a word. So he forced himself to relax and managed to keep a grin off his face while he waited for her.
Inside, though, he practically fizzed with anticipation.
Her call had been unexpected. When he’d offered his services to Adeline this morning, he hadn’t known she’d assigned the case to Felicity. As soon as he’d learned that, he’d figured there was no chance Felicity would want to work with him. She was so very determined to keep him at arm’s length, and he found her reluctance intriguing. Usually, he had no problem getting a woman to go out with him. Why was Felicity playing so hard to get? The question had dominated his thoughts ever since he’d met her, and maybe now he would get an opportunity to learn the answer.
The door opened with a gust of cold air, and Felicity stepped inside, her hand clutching the lapels of her coat tight against the frigid wind. He waved to get her attention, and she nodded in acknowledgment.
Dario stood as she approached the table. She eyed him warily and began to shed her coat and scarf, draping them both over the back of her chair. Once she sat, he did the same.
“I’m glad you called,” he said.
“Before we get started, I want to make one thing inescapably clear.” Felicity placed her hands on the table and leaned forward, holding his gaze. Her green eyes glinted with challenge, as if she was daring him to argue with what she was about to say. “I called you because of your reputation as a cyber expert. You offered to help investigate the Colton hacker case, and I’m willing to give you a chance to do that. But this is not personal in any way, shape or form. Our interactions will be limited to the professional, nothing more. No flirting, no teasing, no accidental touches. Treat me like you would your brother’s fiancée.”
Where’s the fun in that? Dario merely nodded, though, knowing that if he did otherwise, Felicity would leave without a backward glance.
In truth, he was glad to be consulting on her case. It gave him something to do while he was in Shadow Creek, and it would help keep his skills sharp. The fact that he was going to spend more time with Felicity was simply the icing on the cake. She talked tough now, but he was confident that eventually she’d relax her guard and let him get to know her better.
Apparently satisfied with his response, Felicity relaxed into her chair. “Okay. Great.”
The waitress chose that moment to saunter up to the table. “What can I get you, hon?”
“Uh...” Felicity hastily glanced at the menu, scanning the options with a slight frown.
“I can come back,” the woman offered.
“No, it’s fine,” Felicity said quickly. “I’d like a cup of the tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Water for the drink, please.”
The waitress nodded, scribbling on her pad. “And you?” She turned to Dario with an expectant look.
“Cheeseburger and fries for me. Iced tea to drink.”
“Coming right up.” The woman collected their menus and left.
Dario studied Felicity a moment as she unwrapped her silverware and placed the napkin in her lap. “Have you eaten here before?”
She shook her head. “No. But I did like to come here back when it was a pizza parlor.” She glanced around at the café’s cozy tables and soft green walls. “It looks a bit different now.”
“If it’s any consolation, the food is good. Emiliano and I ate here last week after I got back into town.”
Felicity nodded but didn’t otherwise respond.
Dario searched for something to say to break the ice between them. “I imagine a lot of things changed in the years you’ve been gone,” he offered.
She lifted one shoulder in a shrug that was strangely elegant. “I suppose.”
The waitress returned with their drinks, and Felicity offered her a smile of thanks. After the woman left again, she leaned forward. “Can you tell me what you already know about the case? I don’t want to waste time.”
He nodded. “Emiliano filled me in on the basic facts. Colton, Incorporated, was hacked by a group calling itself the Cohort, and the personal information of the company’s employees was released to the general public. Emiliano posed as a digital freedom fighter and tried to infiltrate the group, but things unraveled before he really gained entry into the Cohort.�
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Felicity nodded. “That’s one way of putting it,” she said, referring to the shocking betrayal by Finn Townsend, one of Emiliano’s FBI colleagues, who had secretly been working for the Cohort. “I heard he was shot.”
Dario nodded. “But don’t feel too bad for him. He did get a fiancée out of the deal.”
Felicity shook her head, but smiled faintly at his joke. “Did the FBI get any useful intelligence out of Emiliano’s former partner?”
“Not that I know of,” Dario replied. “To be honest, I’m not sure the man knows that much to begin with. I get the impression he was only told what he needed to know to play his part. I don’t think he was privy to any of the bigger-picture stuff.”
“Figures,” she muttered.
“Adeline told me you’re tasked with tracking down Sulla, the Cohort’s leader.”
“That’s right.” Her lips pressed together in a thin line, and he got the distinct impression she didn’t want to say more. After a second, she sighed. “I hate to say it, but I haven’t made as much progress on unmasking Sulla as I’d hoped.”
Dario recognized how much the admission had cost her, so he said nothing. It was obvious Felicity was a proud woman and took her job seriously. Her failure to make headway on the case had to be frustrating, and it probably pained her to admit it out loud, especially to him.
It was a sentiment he understood all too well. He was a perfectionist, and he set very high standards for himself, especially in the professional realm. It wasn’t uncommon for him to spend days working on a project, often to the exclusion of other aspects of his life. He saw that same drive in Felicity and knew that while she had currently hit a wall in her investigation, it wouldn’t be long before she found a way around it.
“Let’s go back to the beginning,” he suggested. “What do we actually know about Sulla?” Maybe it would help her to talk over the evidence one more time, and his fresh perspective certainly couldn’t hurt.