seen her cry. She frowned and tried to forget that there had been a time when sheâd believed herself hopelessly in love with him. And that there had been a single moment in time when sheâd practically thrown herself into his arms and heâd remained disappointingly professional.
She couldnât think about that now. That was in the pastâ¦in her youth. She had to focus on the task at hand. She knew her plan was dangerous, knew the people responsible for her fatherâs kidnapping were dangerous. But she would do whatever it took to find her father and put an end to the chaos that reigned in the country she so loved.
Tonight she would put out the word that she was going into seclusion, that the stress of the past three months had finally caught up with her. And tomorrow night she would begin her charade as Bella Wilcox, cousin to Shane Moore and wife of Adam.
She shivered, unsure what had her more anxious, rubbing elbows with dangerous men and women or living a pretend marriage with Adam Sinclair.
Chapter Two
T he interior of the Kingâs Men Tavern was far worse than Adam had imagined. The moment he stepped inside, acrid cigarette smoke assaulted him, scratching the back of his throat and stinging his eyes.
The tension in the air was thick, hinting that an explosion of tempers and passions could be imminent.
From the back of the establishment, the dull whack of billiard balls could be heard, mixing with the clink of glasses and bottles and the raucous shouts of the players.
Adam spied an empty stool at the bar and made his way to it, conscious of the speculative gazes that followed his progress.
Although he didnât actively try to make eye contact with the tough guys in the place, he also didnât avoid it. He knew in a place like this any sign of weakness was an open invitation to confrontation. While he certainly wasnât afraid of anyone in the establishment, he also wasnât looking for trouble.
It was important for him and Isabel to maintain a low profile. He didnât want anyone looking too closely at him or her. Recognition could place them both in immediate danger.
He slid onto the stool, dropped his duffel bag to the floor and motioned to the bartender. The burly man approached wearing the world-weary expression of a man who would rather be anywhere than where he was.
Adam ordered a drink, then swiped a hand across his chin, unaccustomed to the scratchy whiskers along his jaw. In preparing for his role, he hadnât shaved since the day before. Instead of his usual pristine uniform, he was clad in a pair of tight jeans and a black T-shirt.
The bartender slammed his drink down and Adam picked it up and spun around on the stool so he could view the entire room.
Isabel should be arriving within the next fifteen minutes or so. Adam had arrived early so he could get a feel for the place. Heâd never been in here before, although heâd heard many stories of the place.
He didnât like it. He didnât like it at all. The whole place stank of simmering violence and pathetic lies. Heâd bet half the men in the room were felons, and the women didnât look much better. His attention was captured by one particular woman across the room.
She was a burst of flash and color in a room of blacks and grays. Her teased hair was the color of a shiny new penny and her gold sparkly midriff blouse clung to pert, rounded breasts and exposed a flat, well-toned abdomen.
Her short black skirt barely covered her other assets, and cupped her well-shaped bottom. If she bent over too far, there would be no mysteries left, Adam thought. But, he couldnât help but admire the sexy length of legs that disappeared into a pair of red spike high heels.
Obviously a working girl, he thought as he watched her chatting up a man who looked half drunk but managed to leer at her through bleary eyes.
Adam couldnât fault the man for leering. Although Adam couldnât
She couldnât think about that now. That was in the pastâ¦in her youth. She had to focus on the task at hand. She knew her plan was dangerous, knew the people responsible for her fatherâs kidnapping were dangerous. But she would do whatever it took to find her father and put an end to the chaos that reigned in the country she so loved.
Tonight she would put out the word that she was going into seclusion, that the stress of the past three months had finally caught up with her. And tomorrow night she would begin her charade as Bella Wilcox, cousin to Shane Moore and wife of Adam.
She shivered, unsure what had her more anxious, rubbing elbows with dangerous men and women or living a pretend marriage with Adam Sinclair.
Chapter Two
T he interior of the Kingâs Men Tavern was far worse than Adam had imagined. The moment he stepped inside, acrid cigarette smoke assaulted him, scratching the back of his throat and stinging his eyes.
The tension in the air was thick, hinting that an explosion of tempers and passions could be imminent.
From the back of the establishment, the dull whack of billiard balls could be heard, mixing with the clink of glasses and bottles and the raucous shouts of the players.
Adam spied an empty stool at the bar and made his way to it, conscious of the speculative gazes that followed his progress.
Although he didnât actively try to make eye contact with the tough guys in the place, he also didnât avoid it. He knew in a place like this any sign of weakness was an open invitation to confrontation. While he certainly wasnât afraid of anyone in the establishment, he also wasnât looking for trouble.
It was important for him and Isabel to maintain a low profile. He didnât want anyone looking too closely at him or her. Recognition could place them both in immediate danger.
He slid onto the stool, dropped his duffel bag to the floor and motioned to the bartender. The burly man approached wearing the world-weary expression of a man who would rather be anywhere than where he was.
Adam ordered a drink, then swiped a hand across his chin, unaccustomed to the scratchy whiskers along his jaw. In preparing for his role, he hadnât shaved since the day before. Instead of his usual pristine uniform, he was clad in a pair of tight jeans and a black T-shirt.
The bartender slammed his drink down and Adam picked it up and spun around on the stool so he could view the entire room.
Isabel should be arriving within the next fifteen minutes or so. Adam had arrived early so he could get a feel for the place. Heâd never been in here before, although heâd heard many stories of the place.
He didnât like it. He didnât like it at all. The whole place stank of simmering violence and pathetic lies. Heâd bet half the men in the room were felons, and the women didnât look much better. His attention was captured by one particular woman across the room.
She was a burst of flash and color in a room of blacks and grays. Her teased hair was the color of a shiny new penny and her gold sparkly midriff blouse clung to pert, rounded breasts and exposed a flat, well-toned abdomen.
Her short black skirt barely covered her other assets, and cupped her well-shaped bottom. If she bent over too far, there would be no mysteries left, Adam thought. But, he couldnât help but admire the sexy length of legs that disappeared into a pair of red spike high heels.
Obviously a working girl, he thought as he watched her chatting up a man who looked half drunk but managed to leer at her through bleary eyes.
Adam couldnât fault the man for leering. Although Adam couldnât
Similar Books
Red Rose
Mary Balogh
Crying for Help
Casey Watson
Indulge
Megan Duncan
Prince of Legend
Jack Ludlow
Lucky Break
Liliana Rhodes
PrimevalPassion
Cyna Kade
A red tainted Silence
Carolyn Gray
Nighttime at Willow Bay
Kasey Moone
Fencing You In
Cheyenne McCray