Blackwell. She’s keeping me
occupied
while I’m on holiday?’ “ He noted her downcast gaze.
She glanced up at him from lowered lids. “I thought I wouldn’t be involved when you began your search for my son, that’s all. My uncle told me you usually work alone.”
“I do,” he confessed. “But Alejandro Delgado is a former high-profile government official and a member of Mexico’s privileged social elite. I’m certain we’ll receive more than our share of invitations to these soirées so that everyone can catch a glimpse of Delgado’s ex-wife and her new husband, once the word gets out that we’ve married.”
He didn’t tell her of his need for a cover once he began his assignment for Harry Blackwell. Eve would be the perfect foil, because it would be the first time he had ever operated within his mother’s native country.
He would be above suspicion whenever he visited friends and relatives if accompanied by a beautiful American wife. He would be permitted one, and only one, opportunity to execute and complete his mission; to not complete it meant not only failure, but death.
Eve watched numerous expressions cross the lean, dark face. Matt didn’t appear to be pleased with the idea of marrying her. Well, it wasn’t as if she wanted it any more than he did. Being married to Alex had given her her fill of being some man’s wife, and she did not look forward to repeating vows with another one—even if it was temporary.
“Can’t we pretend to be married?” she questioned.
A frown settled between Matt’s eyes. “No,” he retorted. “Any pretense would very easily be discovered with a single telephone call from Delgado.”Propping his elbows on the table and lacing his fingers together, he glared at her. “No marriage, no deal.”
Running a slender finger down the side of the icy goblet, Eve shrugged her shoulders in resignation. “It looks as if I’m not allowed any options, am I? You’re saying that if I don’t marry you or pretend I’m your wife, then Alex will be alerted as to why I’m here. Or better yet, he will wonder about your association with me, and perhaps make
another
telephone call to initiate an investigation of exactly who Mateo Sterling de Arroyo is.”
Her delicate jaw tightened, and she tilted her chin as her dark eyes filled with determination. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Mr. Sterling. Or should I say Señor Arroyo?”
Chapter 3
M att raised his glass in a half-salute. He wasn’t going to pat himself on the back for achieving a quick victory in convincing Eve to marry him. Instinctively, he knew she would agree to anything to get her son back. Harry Blackwell had underestimated his niece.
“If we’re to be married you’d better get used to calling me Matt or Mateo, and forget the formalities.”
Eve swallowed her rising apprehension. The enormity of what she had agreed to rendered her speechless. How was she to pull off the farce that she and Matt were in love enough to marry? She wondered how many other times he had done something like this.
“How many other women have you married to complete an assignment?” she questioned, finding her voice.
The hooded lids and the thick, black mustache concealedthe amusement in Matt’s eyes and the smile curving his mouth. “You’re the first, Eve. I’ve never been married before.” Turning the full force of his golden gaze on her surprised features, he stared at the lushness of her parted lips.
A slight frown creased her smooth forehead. “If you don’t want any money, then what is it you’re hoping to get out of this?”
“I owe Harry Blackwell, and this will be my way of repaying him,” he explained softly, his Southern drawl more pronounced than before.
He did not disclose the sum of money her uncle had offered him on behalf of the United States government. The payment he would earn from this assignment and the proceeds from the expected sale of El Moro would afford him financial independence for
occupied
while I’m on holiday?’ “ He noted her downcast gaze.
She glanced up at him from lowered lids. “I thought I wouldn’t be involved when you began your search for my son, that’s all. My uncle told me you usually work alone.”
“I do,” he confessed. “But Alejandro Delgado is a former high-profile government official and a member of Mexico’s privileged social elite. I’m certain we’ll receive more than our share of invitations to these soirées so that everyone can catch a glimpse of Delgado’s ex-wife and her new husband, once the word gets out that we’ve married.”
He didn’t tell her of his need for a cover once he began his assignment for Harry Blackwell. Eve would be the perfect foil, because it would be the first time he had ever operated within his mother’s native country.
He would be above suspicion whenever he visited friends and relatives if accompanied by a beautiful American wife. He would be permitted one, and only one, opportunity to execute and complete his mission; to not complete it meant not only failure, but death.
Eve watched numerous expressions cross the lean, dark face. Matt didn’t appear to be pleased with the idea of marrying her. Well, it wasn’t as if she wanted it any more than he did. Being married to Alex had given her her fill of being some man’s wife, and she did not look forward to repeating vows with another one—even if it was temporary.
“Can’t we pretend to be married?” she questioned.
A frown settled between Matt’s eyes. “No,” he retorted. “Any pretense would very easily be discovered with a single telephone call from Delgado.”Propping his elbows on the table and lacing his fingers together, he glared at her. “No marriage, no deal.”
Running a slender finger down the side of the icy goblet, Eve shrugged her shoulders in resignation. “It looks as if I’m not allowed any options, am I? You’re saying that if I don’t marry you or pretend I’m your wife, then Alex will be alerted as to why I’m here. Or better yet, he will wonder about your association with me, and perhaps make
another
telephone call to initiate an investigation of exactly who Mateo Sterling de Arroyo is.”
Her delicate jaw tightened, and she tilted her chin as her dark eyes filled with determination. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Mr. Sterling. Or should I say Señor Arroyo?”
Chapter 3
M att raised his glass in a half-salute. He wasn’t going to pat himself on the back for achieving a quick victory in convincing Eve to marry him. Instinctively, he knew she would agree to anything to get her son back. Harry Blackwell had underestimated his niece.
“If we’re to be married you’d better get used to calling me Matt or Mateo, and forget the formalities.”
Eve swallowed her rising apprehension. The enormity of what she had agreed to rendered her speechless. How was she to pull off the farce that she and Matt were in love enough to marry? She wondered how many other times he had done something like this.
“How many other women have you married to complete an assignment?” she questioned, finding her voice.
The hooded lids and the thick, black mustache concealedthe amusement in Matt’s eyes and the smile curving his mouth. “You’re the first, Eve. I’ve never been married before.” Turning the full force of his golden gaze on her surprised features, he stared at the lushness of her parted lips.
A slight frown creased her smooth forehead. “If you don’t want any money, then what is it you’re hoping to get out of this?”
“I owe Harry Blackwell, and this will be my way of repaying him,” he explained softly, his Southern drawl more pronounced than before.
He did not disclose the sum of money her uncle had offered him on behalf of the United States government. The payment he would earn from this assignment and the proceeds from the expected sale of El Moro would afford him financial independence for