Face of Deception

by Ana Leigh

  Mike glanced at the couple on the dance floor. They had remained on the dance floor from the moment the band had started to play. What had gotten into him? He was acting like a child. Throughout the meal he had purposely listened to every word said between them. Invaded their conversation uninvited. But she had driven him to it with her defiance of his orders tonight. God! He’d like to walk away from the whole damn mess. Let what ever might happen happen.

  What a crock! He could never walk away. Not now. He was in too deep. And his gut instinct told him that bastard with her was, too. But not for the same reason.

  He swung his gaze back to them. They were doing one of those sexy Latin dances that made Dirty Dancing look like a Disney movie. Mike clenched his hands into fists. If the creep lowered his hand another inch, he was going to end up toast.

  The music ended and the band took a break. Ann and DeVilles came back to the table.

  “Curfew time,” Mike said. He picked up her shawl and put it around her shoulders.

  “I’m not ready to leave, Bishop,” Ann declared. “I’m enjoying myself.”

  “That’s unfortunate because it’s time to go.”

  “Feel free to leave, Mr. Bishop. Ann will be safe in my hands,” DeVilles said.

  “I saw how safe she was in your hands, DeVilles. Aren’t you a little too old to be groping women half your age on the dance floor, pal?”

  “How dare you!” Ann said. “Ricardo, I apologize for the man’s rudeness.”

  “I understand, my dear. And since he has rejected my offer to take you home, I suggest you leave with him before he makes a greater scene.”

  “I’m so sorry, Ricardo. Thank you for dinner.”

  Mike took her by the elbow and literally forced her to the door. She shrugged out of his grasp when they entered the elevator and didn’t say one word in the cab back to the hotel, but he knew she was steaming.

  The other three agents arrived in a cab behind them. She ignored them as well in the elevator. Mike unlocked the door and stepped aside for her to enter. Ann walked in, went directly to her room and slammed the door.

  Once inside, they all turned and looked at Mike.

  “What happened?” Dave said.

  Mike shrugged. “She wanted to stay longer.” Mike took off his suit jacket and tossed it aside.

  “What did you say that made her so angry?” Kurt asked. “She looked like she was ready to blow her top.”

  “So maybe I was out of line. I was tired. I needed to get out of there.” Mike pulled off his tie and loosened the top buttons of his shirt. “Besides, didn’t you see how the guy was practically doing her on the dance floor.”

  “Give it up, Mike,” Dave said. “They were dancing.”

  “And they were good at it, too,” Don added.

  “It didn’t look like that to me.” Mike picked up his jacket and tie. “Fraser, aren’t you due out in that hallway?”

  The men moved away. Mike was disgusted with himself. He had to get a grip on himself. Get his emotions out of the mix and do the job expected of him.

  He tapped on Ann’s door and walked in. She was in the process of undressing and was stripped down to a black bra and half slip. The sight of her rocked him on his heels, and his groin knotted. It took every bit of his reserve to keep his mind on what he’d come in there for.

  “Get out of here,” she declared, and snatched up a robe from the foot of the bed.

  “Ann, I have to talk to you.”

  “You said more than enough,” she said, belting the robe firmly. “I’m not interested in any more you have to say.”

  “Okay, I was out of line. I admit it.”

  “That may excuse it in your eyes, Bishop, but not in mine. I can’t abide another moment of this chest-pounding machismo of yours. I have no doubt such qualities work in combat, but they or you do not belong in a civilized society. Your conduct tonight proves it. Who do you think you are that you can insult my friends, Bishop? Ricardo DeVilles is a gentleman and you—”

  “Ann, I don’t trust the man.”

  “I don’t care,” she lashed out. “I want you out of my life, Mike. I don’t want anymore of your protection. Either you leave tomorrow or I do. Now get out of here.”

  “Don’t you think I’d like nothing better?” he said.

  “Then do us both a favor and leave me alone.”

  “I would, if I wasn’t dealing with an ostrich with its head stuck in the sand.”

  “Thank you for that analogy, Bishop, and all because I don’t believe there’s an assailant behind every tree. That I can’t accept your instinct about Ricardo DeVilles, a man I’ve known and respected for four years. And for the record, Agent Bishop, I intend to go out to lunch with Ricardo tomorrow—without you.”

  Until then he’d done a credible job of holding on to his temper, but she’d rather defy him than use common sense. “Why can’t you understand why I don’t want you to see that man again?”

  “Oh, I understand, Mike. You’re the one who’s confused.”

  He grabbed her arm. “Your point being?”

  She glancedat his fingers clutched around her flesh then back up at him. For a long moment their gazes locked and held, then her mouth curved into a triumphant smirk when he released her.

  “Careful, Mike, you’re beginning to act more and more like a jealous husband.”

  Her jibe hit home. She’d voiced the emotion he’d been denying to himself. He’d begun to think of her as his. The nearness of her, the scent of her, the tension between them—so much deeper than the conflict they were arguing about—and the need to have her became too overwhelming to fight. His control shattered from the hunger of his need.

  Pulling her into his arms, he covered the scornful smile on her lips with the hardness of his own mouth. The passion of anger quickly changed into that of desire—a desire that had been churning within him for weeks.

  Her long-suppressed ardor ignited to match his, and the kiss deepened until they were forced to break apart. They stared, breathless and startled, into each other’s eyes.

  The choice was his to make, and he knew it. If there was to be any hope for keeping her alive through this nightmare, he had to get out of that room now.

  He reached for the doorknob.

  Chapter 17

  There was no sign of Mike at breakfast the next morning. When Kurt accompanied her and Cassidy to the shoot instead of Mike, Dave told her Mike had revised the schedules.

  So he was avoiding her. It was just as well as far as Ann was concerned. The farther they distanced themselves from each other, the easier it would be for both of them to rationalize their relationship.

  Last night’s kiss had certainly stirred the smoldering embers between them into flames.

  Mike wasn’t the only one on her mind that morning, though. She’d thought a great deal about Ricardo last night while she lay in bed. Mike’s suspicion about Ricardo having a personal interest in her appeared to be correct. The way he held her while they danced last night was extremely intimate, and went beyond the bounds of platonic friendship.

  She’d been very naive about Ricardo. He was Clayton’s close friend, and she had never considered him in a romantic way, any more than she had Clayton.

  Fortunately, this was the wrap-up of the shoot so she was kept busy all morning. It wasn’t until Ricardo showed up to take her to lunch that the problem pressed upon her again.

  “And where is your Mr. Bishop today?” Ricardo asked when they were seated at the restaurant.

  Since he had not met the other squad members, Ricardo was unaware of Kurt Bolen at a nearby table. Nothing would be gained by pointing him out to Ricardo, so she merely shrugged.

  “I have no idea, Ricardo. We quarreled last night over his rudeness to you, and I haven’t seen him since.”

  “Are you saying your watchdog has run away?”

  She smiled. “I really don’t know. It just feels good not to have him breathing down my neck when I’m trying to eat.�
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  “You should have thrown him a bone, my dear.”

  You have no idea what size bone I threw him when I returned his kiss, Ricardo. Mike and I will probably be chewing on last night’s kiss for a long time.

  Ricardo reached across the table and clasped her hand. “I’m glad he isn’t around, Ann, because there’s something very important I wish to discuss with you.”

  Ann began to feel uncomfortable. She knew it would be something of a personal nature, and she had hoped she wouldn’t have to deal with that issue right now. There were too many other problems on her mind at the moment.

  “Will you marry me, Ann?”

  Why hadn’t she seen this coming? Even though she had come to suspect Ricardo had deeper feelings for her than she once believed, she didn’t expect this sudden proposal. She felt distraught. She cared for him and did not want to hurt him, but she could never marry for any reason except love.

  “Ricardo, I care for you so much and I’m flattered by your proposal, but I can’t marry you. I’m not in love with you.”

  “I understand that, Ann, but we’re compatible. We have many interests in common. And I can offer you financial security. You wouldn’t have to work another day of your life. We could have a very contented existence together.”

  Contented existence? She wanted more from a marriage than financial security. Contentment to her would be working out the problems and building the marriage together, having children, squabbling with your husband, then making up afterward. She wanted to feel needed—and wanted to need someone in return. And she wanted the Roman candles going off when he kissed her and that sudden surge of love and excitement when he entered a room or simply touched her in passing.

  That was contentment—and she would never consider anything less.

  “Come back to Brazil with me, Ann,” Ricardo pleaded.

  “I can’t, Ricardo. It would be so tempting to say yes, but it wouldn’t be fair to you.”

  “If it’s the danger you’re in, I can make certain you will be safe there.”

  “It’s much more than that, Ricardo. There’s Brandon to think about and—”

  “It’s that agent, isn’t it?” he suddenly lashed out. “You would reject everything I am offering you for that uncouth, foul-mouthed Bishop. I gave you credit for better taste, Ann.”

  “Agent Bishop has nothing to do with it. I’ve explained my reason for refusing your proposal, Ricardo.”

  “The vulgar pawing of some muscular womanizer is a poor substitute for what I can offer you. You’re making a big mistake, Ann. Greater than you think.”

  Ann stood up. “I think you’re overwrought right now, Ricardo. Thank you for lunch. It’s not necessary that you see me back to work. Goodby

  She just wanted out of there. She couldn’t cope with another scene with any man. She wanted them all out of her life—and them to stay out. If a woman rejected their wishes, she was at fault. Lord forbid if any one of them could be wrong! Well, this was the last straw. She didn’t owe Mike or Ricardo anything. From now on she intended to do exactly what she thought was best for her and Brandon.

  Kurt followed her into the cab.

  “Can’t I have five minutes of freedom from you men?”

  “Sorry, Ann. I’m only following orders.”

  “I noticed you at the next table. I suppose you heard the conversation.”

  “Most of it,” he said.

  “I thought so.” Ann sighed and looked out the window. Men!

  After both a physical and mentally exhausting day, Ann had just gotten back to her room when Mike knocked on the door.

  “Ann, may I come in?”

  That was a new twist on his part—the almighty Mike Bishop asking to come in.

  “No,” she snapped with satisfaction.

  He opened the door and came in.

  “What part of no don’t you understand, Bishop?”

  “I don’t have time to quibble over words.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I understand DeVilles threatened you at lunch today.”

  “Yeah, right,” she said. “He told me I had to pay for my own meal.”

  “This is serious, Hamilton. Kurt said his closing remarks to you were threatening.”

  “Will you give it up, Mike? It wasn’t a threat to do me bodily harm. He meant that I was giving up a life of milk and honey by turning down his proposal of marriage for… I believe such expressions as uncouth, foul-mouthed and womanizer entered the conversation.”

  “To whom was he referring?”

  “If I recall, your name did enter the conversation.”

  “Like it’s gonna keep me awake nights. I figure more than ever that I’m right about the schmuck.”

  “Mike, why would Ricardo ask me to marry him if he intended to kill me?”

  “Yeah, like husbands don’t murder their wives, Hamilton. It would be a perfect setup. Marry you, get us out of the way and you down there to South America. Then one day you have a fatal accident.”

  “I may have seen a streak in Ricardo today that I didn’t like, but nothing that would make me think he intended to kill me. Let’s face it, Bishop, I’ve seen worse examples in you, and you claim you’re trying to keep me alive. Now will you please get out of here so I can change my clothes.”

  He paused with his hand on the doorknob. “Ah, Ann, I’m sorry about last night. It was my fault. I totally lost it. I think the best solution is to keep my distance.”

  “Yes, I think you’re right, Mike. There’s a lot of tension between us, and we’re really getting on each other’s nerves.”

  “Let’s hope this mess will be over soon.” He opened the door and departed.

  She suddenly felt overwhelmed with loneliness.

  True to his word, Mike avoided her the rest of the evening.

  She missed him already. She was such a vacillating wimp. No matter how mad she might get, she’d never been able to stay angry with anyone. And despite all she’d told herself about distancing herself from Mike, she was miserable, and regretted the horrible, nasty things she’d said to him. He’d had the decency to apologize, why hadn’t she done the same when she had the chance?

  Ann went to bed that night with a troubled mind. Stay the course, Ann. You’re doing the right thing.

  She would have to live with it, and it shouldn’t hurt as much after a few more days.

  The next day they were doing a shoot on an old vessel in the harbor for a capri pants advertisement that tied in to a popular pirate movie. It helped to raise Ann’s spirits somewhat because she would be working with Amy Heather, one of her favorite models.

  The girl’s career had been on the ascent when Ann had left the agency, and in the past four years Amy had become one of Barney’s top models. In the time they had worked together, Amy had looked upon Ann as a mentor. Always punctual, she had a warm, sweet personality, and was even-tempered. Whatever the hours or length of the shoot, Amy would do it without complaint.

  Things started to go wrong from the start. One of the spotlights blew, and they were delayed waiting for a replacement bulb. They had no sooner resumed shooting than, while waiting for a difficult backdrop, Amy spilled a cup of coffee over herself and had to have a change of wardrobe.

  They were near wrapping up the shoot when Mother Nature got into the act and it started to rain. It was more like a light sprinkle, so rather than cancel the shoot and finish it off the next day, they decided to wait out the rain.

  The only good thing Ann found thus far about the day was that Ricardo did not show up. She half expected he would. Not that she wanted him to. Her initial anger with him had passed, but she was in no mood to deal with their problem. Since she had never asked where he was staying in New York, she would call him at his home in Rio de Janeiro in a couple days.

  The bad thing was that there still was no sign of Mike. She had thought he would show up on the set, but Kurt and Dave had accompanied her.

  “Hope this rain stops soon,
” Amy said, peering out the door of the trailer in which they had taken refuge.

  “I just need a couple more shots,” Ann said. “Do you mind working a little longer today

  “No, it will just be a relief to get rid of this darn wig,” Amy said. She took off the black wig she was wearing and shook out her blond hair. “Oh, does that feel good.”

  “Looks good on you, honey,” Ann said.

  “Yes, but these wigs are so warm. It’s like wearing a wool cap in this heat. Whose idea was it for me to wear the darn thing?”

  “No matter what you wear, Amy, you always look like the all-American girl. Barney thought a black wig would make you appear more swashbuckling. He even wants me to take a few extra shots of you with a bandanna—Gucci, of course—wrapped around your head and a gold loop in your ear.”

  “What, no parrot?” Amy exclaimed.

  It cracked them both up and they broke into laughter.

  By the time it stopped sprinkling the sun had set. Dave and Kurt helped Ann set up the lights and they were finally ready to shoot the final shots on the ship.

  “Thank goodness,” Amy said, waiting for the shot.

  “Get that wig on, Amy,” Ann said.

  “Oh, I forgot and left it in the trailer,” she said.

  “I’ll get it. Barney wants those bandanna shots, too. Wait here, honey, I’ll be right back.”

  Dave and Kurt were standing together in front of the trailer when she hurried up. “Ready to go?” Dave asked.

  “Just a couple more shots and we’re through,” Ann said. She gathered up the wig, bandanna and the gold ear loop. “I’d appreciate your help, though, breaking down those spots later.”

  “Sure thing,” Kurt said. “Ann, has Amy got a steady?”

  “Not really. Why?”

  “The guy’s been drooling over her all day,” Dave said.

  “I noticed you and Amy were rather chummy. You want me to fix you up?” she asked.

  “Just let me know the lay of the land,” Kurt said. “I’ll do my own asking.”

  “Will Mike let you out for the night?” she teased.