by Taylor Lee
Ruby frowned. “Of course not. All three of us need as many ops as you can throw our way. Especially since we all plan to take extended leaves of absence.”
“Hmm. Well I hope that the least you’ll do is stagger your wedding/honeymoon dates so that I’m not left entirely without agents.”
Diamond knew she sounded petulant. But dammit all, how was she supposed to act? Her three top agents had essentially ditched her when her company was just beginning to thrive. To make matters worse, it had been impossible for her to find agents as qualified as the three women who were sitting at the restaurant table with her. Now she was faced with a situation that she never could have imagined. Thanks to Ian Ross, she was going to be MIA for three, possibly four weeks. Try explaining that to the inquisitive women all staring at her in interest.
Sapphire picked up on her rather annoyed response to Ruby.
“I hope you know, Diamond, that we are all aware that our upcoming weddings were the last thing you expected when you hired us. Frankly the three of us are as surprised as you were. But you need to know that we will do our best to make sure that you have back up. I know LOTN is just beginning to take off, and I appreciate that it’s important that you can count on us.”
Diamond huffed an annoyed sigh.
“That’s all well and good for you to say that, Sapphire. But let’s face it. In a million billion trillion years I would never have believed that not one, not two, but all three of my top agents would decide en masse that they are going to ride off into the sunset with their handsome princes. Tell me, have all three princes acquired fine Arab chargers so that your exodus can be even more spectacular?”
Diamond had intended to make her outlandish statement humorous but from the concerned looks on their faces, none of her agents had been fooled. And how could they be? If she stamped her foot and beat on the table with her fists, her face turning bright beet red, she couldn’t have made it clearer that she was angry—and, let’s face it, a little scared.
Naturally it was the quieter, more solemn Topaz who stepped in. She reached across the table and took hold of Diamond’s hand, simply tightening her grip when Diamond tried to pull back. Topaz’s voice was soft, her expression serious.
“Diamond, you know that Sapphire is right. We all were as surprised as you are at what’s happening. I think the only people who are more shocked are the three handsome princes who are marrying us.”
Ruby broke in with a laugh.
“Trust me! You aren’t Whistling Dixie on that one! You know damn well those hapless guys of ours never dreamed that they would take themselves off the market. The top shelf of the market, at that. They expected that they would be the most sought after hunks in the infamous stud market for years to come. I can’t decide who is more surprised. The three of them who have to be shocked that they each actually made a commitment to a single woman or the army of distraught females who are in deep mourning over the loss of our bad-assed men.”
Sapphire giggled. “Damn straight, Ruby. I know that Jase Malone for one thought he would be on the make for the rest of his life—or at least ’til 75 or so. And so did the multiple women who are still calling him…”
“I am sooo glad to hear you say that, girlfriend! Thank God. I thought Noah was the only one who hasn’t been able to shake off his leech ladies.” Ruby added with a sneer. “Although I’m doing them a favor calling them ‘ladies.’ I’m serious, if I get one more call asking if “TDH” is available, I’m going to destroy both Noah’s and my cell phone and get us untraceable burner phones from now on.”
Topaz squeezed Diamond’s hand.
“Please know that you can count on us. We absolutely will make sure that at least one of us is available to you at all times. And please don’t think that we don’t know we’ve all disrupted your life, Diamond. The only thing I can say is that none of us dreamed that this would happen.”
Ruby chimed in. “Topaz is sooo right, Diamond. Good grief, the only thing that would be more surprising is if Ian Ross up and announced that he was going to take off his running shoes and settle down with one woman. Now that would be truly earthshaking. I mean ‘magnitude 10 on the Richter scale’ earthshaking!”
Topaz smiled. “Ruby is right. But I don’t think we have to worry about Ian—or you, Diamond, for that matter. For sure, as far as my uncle is concerned there is no danger that one woman will ever capture him. He has made it clear in every way that he can that the only thing more delightful than one beautiful, exotic woman is two or, if possible, three exotic women She added smiling, her cheeks slightly flushed, “Not that he wants them all at one time. Although if the gossips are accurate my accomplished uncle isn’t above a ménage a’trois or even a ‘quartage’ if there is such a word.”
“Speaking of gossips, I have some interesting news about your uncle, Topaz.” Ruby intoned, her eyes lighting with undisguised glee.
Topaz looked surprised and frowned at her friend. “About Ian? Hmm, that’s surprising. Ian is so private and careful about his business and private life that I can’t imagine news about him that he didn’t reveal himself. Or frankly that he didn’t tell me.”
Ruby’s smile widened and she shook her head. “I don’t know, Topaz. My source is none other than Noah’s mother. Believe me, I’m discovering if anyone knows what is going on in Washington D.C. it is Francis Walker.”
At that moment the waiter approached to take their orders. Diamond tried to concentrate on the menu and was grateful when each of the other women gave their orders before her. She couldn’t help but be concerned about Ruby’s ‘gossip’ about Ian. She hoped it didn’t have anything to do with Senator Walker. But seeing Ruby’s eyes dancing with anticipation, Diamond had a sinking feeling that Ruby’s news was likely on a personal level. She reminded herself that Ian Ross’s personal life was none of her concern but even as she said that to herself she knew that wasn’t true.
When Diamond finally decided on a fresh beet and kale salad, and the waiter left to prepare their food, Sapphire brought the conversation back to Ian.
“C’mon, Ruby. This better be good, and from that anticipation on your face, it darn well better be real gossip, not just what Saudi prince is Ian’s latest client. However I tend to agree with Topaz. According to Jase, Ian Ross is a mystery man if there ever was one. All anyone knows about his private life is what Topaz said, and that’s that he’s never without a beautiful woman on his arm and it’s never the same one two nights in a row.”
Ruby squealed in delight. “If that is true then Francis really does have some good gossip. “Apparently…” Ruby paused for effect and then said, “The big news in D.C., which by the way is the gossip capital of the free world…I couldn’t believe how fast the news traveled about Noah and me. I swear you would have thought that we hired a Goodyear blimp with a 100-foot tail to fly over the capital with our news—that’s how quickly it spread.”
Topaz waved her hands impatiently.
“Please, Ruby. Enough suspense. What are all the busybodies saying about my uncle?”
“Okay fine. Here goes. And remember this is Noah’s mother’s gossip, not mine.”
She paused again and then at Topaz’s frown hurried on. “I don’t know if any of you have heard of Marjorie Chapman. I’d never heard of her but apparently she is the social arbiter of everything remotely social in D. C. According to Francis Walker, there isn’t an important social event that takes place in our nation’s capital that Marjorie doesn’t have her fingers in. Either as a sponsor, the main hostess etc., etc. Her pedigree goes back to the Mayflower. Her family on her mother’s side is part of the Rockefeller legacy and her father is one of the Boston Brahmin families. Suffice it to say, Ms. Chapman doesn’t have to worry where her pin money is coming from. Oh and naturally, besides being beyond wealthy, she’s also beautiful.”
Ruby paused again and then said in a stage whisper, “AND, Francis Walker says she has it on the highest authority that Ms. Marjorie Chapman and none other than ou
r Ian Ross are the thing in D.C. Society.”
“What does that mean?” Topaz asked, sounding exasperated.
“Again, I can only tell you what Francis told me and that is that your uncle and the doyenne of D.C. society are likely to be making an important announcement soon. At least that is according to Marjorie, who told Francis as much.”
Topaz shook her head. “Sorry Ruby, but that doesn’t add up. I simply do not believe that my uncle could be seriously involved with a woman whose name he has never so much as mentioned to me. I think this Marjorie person may be doing what so many other women have done in the past. And that is to build castles in the air that are nothing more than a figment of their hopeful but misguided imagination.”
Diamond tried to tune out the conversation between the two agents when her phone buzzed. Glancing at the incoming text, she saw it was from Ian. It read: Sorry for the late notice. We need to leave for D.C. tomorrow a.m. Can you stop by around 5 p.m. for last minute instructions? Ian.
Diamond texted her confirmation then turned back to her team and said as nonchalantly as she could, “I just heard from Ian that we are leaving for D. C. in the morning.” She added with a contrived smile, “Perhaps I can run down your to-be-mother-in-law’s inside scoop about the woman in Ian’s life. Who knows, I may even get invited to one of her parties.”
As she walked up the cobblestone driveway to Ian’s extraordinary home, Diamond reminded herself as she had multiple times since she’d left Ian last night that there was nothing between them. At least, nothing more than their business relationship. Each time the memory of him playing with her hair and then pressing against her a shock of electric sparks streaked across her nether regions. Shoving at the unwanted reaction, she vented. Dammit, why had Ian done that? Teased her like that? She had a sinking feeling that he had because he could. He could do anything with any woman that he damn well pleased. Because, after all, he was Ross. Ian Ross.
Startled, she realized that Manuel, Ian’s long term butler, was in the doorway regarding her quizzically. God, how long had she been standing here staring at the door like an idiot?
“I…I’m sorry, Manuel. It’s…it’s been a long day. Is Col. Ross in?”
The dark-skinned officious man nodded and bowed slightly.
“Yes, Col. Davis. He is in his office. He’s expecting you.”
Ian looked up as she entered and gave her a harried smile.
“Good, Diamond. I’m glad you could stop by. Today has been a bitch. I wish like hell it was over.”
He came to the door, took her hand and planted a distracted kiss on the cheek. Leading her over to the conference table, he said, “Sorry to give you such short notice, but Senator Walker sent me a new batch of the emails he’s received and I decided it was imperative that we get to D.C. as quickly as possible. I don’t like where this is going. I especially don’t like keeping Noah in the dark. Our first task is to convince the Senator that his son and wife have a right to know that he is in danger.”
Diamond frowned. “Can I see the emails? I need to understand the full nature of the threat.”
“Yes, you do. I forwarded them to you. I want you to study them this evening and then give me your opinion on the plane tomorrow morning. My hope—although it is a vain one—is that you will find them less ominous than I do. Which is why I want you to see them before we discuss them.”
A slight knock on the door sounded. At Ian’s command, Manuel opened the door and stood in the doorway.
“I apologize for interrupting, Sir. I just wanted you to know that I have chilled the 2007 Gaja Barbaresco.”
Diamond’s heart leapt in her throat. She was shocked and delighted that Ian planned to serve her the extravagant wine they had last night. She managed to take a deep breath and was about to thank him when Manuel continued.
“Where would you like me to put the wine, Sir?”
Ian frowned and looked up from the papers he was shuffling on his desk.
“Where…? Oh, of course. The wine. Put it out in the Gazebo, that’s where I want you to serve dinner.”
Manuel bowed. “When Ms. Simpson arrives would you like me to show her to the Drawing Room?”
Ian shook his head and raised his hands clearly annoyed.
“No. no, that won’t be necessary. Show her out to the Gazebo and see that she has a glass of wine. Col. Davis and I will be finished shortly.”
As she walked back to her car passing the silver Ferrari coup in the driveway, Diamond couldn’t hold back the tears burning her eyelids or the satisfied smile curving her lips.
Ms. Simpson? Apparently Marjorie Chapman, the wealthy, super-connected doyenne of Washington D.C. society, wasn’t sitting as pretty as she thought she was.
Diamond shrugged. She could have told her that.
Chapter 6
“I’m sorry if I’m boring you, Ian.”
Ian glanced up at the aggrieved tone in Marsha Simpson’s voice. He was surprised to see the frown on her face and then acknowledged that he didn’t have the faintest idea what the clearly annoyed woman had been talking about. He wrestled with the notion of pretending that he’d just tuned out but realized that would only prolong an already too long evening.
“Sorry, Marsha. I apologize. I have a lot on my mind tonight. I had unsettling news today about a close friend….”
Clearly not interested in Ian’s excuse, Marsha’s frown deepened before she caught herself and forced a smile onto her face. Her voice was sugary sweet.
“No apologies are necessary, Ian. I forgive you. That is, as long as you open another bottle of that lovely wine.” She added with a simpering smile, “Unless you prefer to wait until we go inside to open more wine?”
Remembering that the last time Marsha had come over for dinner, they’d spent time in his bedroom, Ian realized that his dinner guest expected an encore. Which was too bad, because the last thing he wanted with this particular woman tonight was an amorous adventure. Damn, what the hell was wrong with him? Here was a beautiful woman, clearly willing to do whatever the hell he chose to do to her and he couldn’t even pretend to rise to the occasion. No, instead he snuck a glance at his watch, deciding that it was better to call off the evening now rather than extend it. Unfortunately Marsha was not on the same page.
With an exaggerated breathy sigh, she reached up and loosened the top button on her already risqué blouse. Thrusting her chest forward she licked her lips and grinned at him. Being a breast man as well as an ass connoisseur, Ian should have enjoyed her practiced striptease. Instead, he found himself becoming more annoyed. Fuck it all, he’d tried to tell her he had a lot on his mind—even mentioned that a friend was in trouble. But she hadn’t so much as acknowledged his concern. Ian gave an imperceptible shake of his head; face it, this whole evening was a disaster.
What he’d really wanted to do was to see if Diamond had read the messages Senator Walker was receiving and then get her take on whether she was as concerned as he was. Instead he’d summarily sent Diamond on her way without so much as walking her to the door. Which he now admitted was rude to say the least. Particularly after he’d teased her unmercifully the night before. He shoved at a grin remembering how annoyed she’d been with him. Unfortunately her pique had just turned him on more.
Ian caught himself startled at the sudden realization that he had been turned on last evening. Something he hadn’t acknowledged until now. Whoa….he cautioned himself. That was something he needed to nip in the bud. He and Diamond had a special relationship. Quite literally theirs was the only relationship he had with a beautiful woman that didn’t have a sexual component to it. Which was doubly remarkable, given that Diamond was quite simply one of the most beautiful women he’d ever known.
But Ian had determined from the first time he met her that the prickly women with the equator sized chip on her shoulder deserved a different kind of attention from him. She’d clearly come to expect that every man she met was first, last and always, interested in her body.
Understandably so. Ian could hardly blame his randy cohorts. Diamond was extraordinarily beautiful with a body that fulfilled everyman’s vision of a centerfold come to life. Tall, slender with long, showgirl legs, a sculpted ass and bodacious bosom that begged for a man’s hands, lips and teeth, Diamond exuded sexuality. Added to that a mane of long blonde hair and dark brown almost black eyes that sparkled with mystery it was no wonder that every man she met was out to seduce her.
As enticing as she was physically, it was her vulnerability that had captured Ian. When she’d stammered out her dream and told him that she wanted him to invest in her—both money and time, he’d determined that was what he would give her. And (for once) not expect anything in return. It had been a mutually beneficial relationship from the beginning. Their purely professional relationship had paid off handsomely. His faith in her had been repaid exponentially. Not only had his take of her fees been substantial but for the first time he had access to a stable of professional female agents that were as stellar as his renowned warriors.
Diamond had correctly assessed the market. Right down to her audacious name for the company and her clever code names, she had an unerring sense of what worked and what didn’t. Her belief that highly trained female special operatives could demand premium prices was more than on target. Even Ian had been surprised at the fees Diamond’s ‘ladies’ commanded. In the beginning he’d insisted that he approve all of her contracts, certain that she would underprice her services. He needn’t have worried. Diamond knew the value of her services and insisted that her clients acknowledge that—or go somewhere else. They didn’t.
The one area where she fell short was her ‘human relations’ skills—or lack of them. As competent as she was in the field, Ian had no trouble understanding why she’d been unable to create a toehold in any of the companies that hired her. Even with him she was opinionated and frankly irascible. In her mind there was one right way to do everything and that way was hers. She didn’t suffer fools gladly or otherwise. Tact was not her strong suit. In fact it was clearly a foreign concept. If she was angry she didn’t couch her anger. In her defense, Ian admitted that some of the best commanders he’d worked with over the years were amazingly similar to Diamond. But, in contrast to how she was received, those commanders had been revered. They were known by their cowed team members as great leaders. But then, unlike Diamond, they were expletive-spouting, egomaniacal men. They weren’t blonde-haired, curvy women.