A MAN CALLED BLUE Read Free Page A

Rolls-Royce long enough to span the English Channel.
    Blue watched as a young man loaded their luggage, meticulously stowing Simone's three perfectly matched cases as though they were crates of Faberge eggs. When he picked up Blue's mangy duffel, he glanced around, seeming confused, then with a shrug, and the care reserved for shredder fodder, tossed it in and closed the trunk. As metaphors for himself and the Doucet woman, the luggage thing worked. Blue smiled thinly.
    "If you get so much enjoyment watching baggage stowed, Blue, you must think the carousel is a riot," Simone said, her tone dry. She'd come up behind him.
    He turned to look down at her. They'd not spoken to each other since lunch, two continents and one ocean ago. "A joke, Miss Doucet? Or a poison-tipped arrow?" And what the hell was that lethal scent she was wearing?
    "An opening line, nothing more or less, and call me Simone. We'll be working closely together. I don't want people to think you're a recently promoted bank clerk."
    "What do you want them to think?"
    "That we're close."
    "How close?"
    She gave him an arch look. "Close enough. I'll need an escort while I'm here. I think the agenda makes that plain—or should I draw you a picture."
    Blue's grin widened. Simone Doucet, one of the wealthiest women on five continents, needed an employee escort. No doubt Nolan was exactly the kind of escort she preferred, charming, urbane—and safe. Blue could, if he worked at it, hit two out of three.
    "We can be as close as you like, but I draw the line at pictures. I'm not really into that kind of thing."
    "I know what you're into, Blue. You're a friend of Nolan's. That's why you're standing on firm English ground instead of doing the butterfly across the Atlantic."
    Damn she was good! It could be fun getting under this woman's skin. Hide, Bludell, this woman has hide.
    Before he could answer, Nance called from the curb.
    "Ready, Miss Doucet?"
    "Ready, Nance. Thanks." She stepped briskly toward the Rolls. When Blue didn't follow, she turned. "Aren't you coming?"
    He gave her a bland look. "You mean I get to ride... inside... with you? You're sure you don't want me to just hang on to the tailpipe?"
    Her lips nearly curved to a smile. Nearly. "Get in, Blue. I don't have the stamina for more repartee."
    He got in. The interior of the Rolls was the same deep burgundy as the jet. He settled in directly across from Simone and stretched out his legs. One thing about wealth, it guaranteed leg room. Not that Simone needed it. When she'd stood beside him on the curb, he'd realized how tiny she was. Measuring against his six feet, he put her at five one, five two, tops. Physically she looked soft, delicate. At first he'd thought the cover didn't represent the book, now he wasn't so sure.
    Silence dominated the early part of the trip, with Blue looking out the window on one side and Simone looking out the other. When they neared London's center, she spoke.
    "Did you read the Hallam notes?"
    "Uh-huh."
    She waited—about a half a second. "Well," she said, a slight frown creasing her forehead.
    "Well what?"
    She gave him an impatient look, as if he were schoolboy hiding behind his desk in the back row. "What did you think? Or do you ever involve yourself in that strenuous an activity?"
    "Occasionally, when the mood strikes," he drawled.
    He watched her draw in a breath, briefly close her eyes. When she opened them, she pinned him with her gaze, and her tone was huskily direct. "Well then, I'd like your professional opinion—if it isn't too much trouble, of course."
    "So." He nodded his head. "You approve of my underwear?"
    She looked stunned. "Excuse me?"
    "I checked out. I don't have to swim home?"
    He sensed she was just short of grinding her teeth. "Yes," she finally said. "You checked out. Harvard MBA, top of your class. Last position, president of Allmonde International, followed by an extensive contract as a special consultant to a consortium of companies wanting to