Dangerous Deception

He reached across the table and grasped her hand. “I usually steer clear of married women, but in your case, I could make an exception. Of course, I wouldn’t want your husband or perhaps a jealous boyfriend to—”

“My husband is in Chattanooga,” she said. “We—we’re sort of separated. And there is no jealous boyfriend.”

So, Audrey hadn’t run off with Bobby Jack Cash or if she had, she’d dumped him somewhere along the way. Her being alone should make things easier. After dinner, he’d suggest a stroll along the beach and then he’d tell her who he was and ask her to return to Chattanooga with him tonight. If she refused, the best he could do was either persuade her to call her father to set his mind at ease or call the old man himself.

Of course, there was a third option. He could simply throw her over his shoulder, shove her into his car and take her to the airport. Maybe an evening drive might be a better idea than a walk along the beach. He could wait until she realized he’d driven her to the airport before confessing he was a hired gun. If she refused to go with him, he could carry her aboard the Dundee jet and strap her into a seat before she realized what had hit her.

But technically that would be kidnapping. Then again, it would be her word against his.

“You’re awfully quiet,” she said. “Is something wrong?”

He squeezed her hand. “I was just thinking about how I’d like this evening to end.”

She jerked her hand away. “No expectations. You promised.”

He held up both hands in an I surrender gesture. “A guy can dream, can’t he?”

“All I agreed to was dinner.”

“What about a ride around town after dinner? I’ve heard there are some hot clubs—”

“I’m not into hot clubs.”

“Then how about a walk on the beach?”

She sighed. “Maybe.”

Her reply was good enough for him. She wasn’t the only expert at playing games. He had sweet talked his way into more than one woman’s silk panties over the years.

Yeah, but he wasn’t trying to get into Audrey Bedell Perkins’s panties. His assignment was to track her down and take her home. Home to her worried father.

Home to her husband.

But if the lady didn’t want to go home…

CHAPTER THREE

DOM EXCUSED HIMSELF BEFORE dessert arrived and headed for the men’s room. Instead of going inside, he found a dimly lit corner and, using his cell phone, dialed the Bedell residence. He needed to speak to the old man himself and find out how to proceed with this investigation.

Surprisingly enough, Edward Bedell answered the call. “Have you found my daughter?”

“Yes, sir, I have.”

Silence.

“She seems quite well and happy,” Dom said. Beautiful, desirable, intriguing.

“Are you sure it’s Audrey?”

“Yes, sir. Reasonably sure. She claims to be Audrey Perkins, is registered at the hotel under that name and is using your daughter’s credit cards.”

“And you’ve compared her to the photograph I gave you of my daughter?”

“Yes, sir, I have.”

“And?”

“Mr. Bedell, do you have any reason to believe that this young woman isn’t your daughter?”

“No, no, of course not. It’s just that since she disappeared the way she did, I’ve had all kinds of horrible thoughts about her being kidnapped, murdered. I suppose for just a few seconds there, I let my imagination run wild.”

“Yes, sir, I understand.”

“Where is she?”

“She’s staying at the Classico Hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida.”

“Is she with that man?”

“Bobby Jack Cash? No, sir. Ms. Perkins appears to be traveling alone.”

“Thank God.”

“Mr. Bedell, how do you want me to handle this situation? Do you want me to bring your daughter back to Chattanooga? If so, since she’s an adult, that will require her—”

“No, there’s no need to bring her home. Apparently she had her reasons for leaving. My guess is her bad marriage. She and Gray haven’t had a real marriage in years.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m grateful that you found her so quickly. She’s always been a strong-willed person, even as a child. She’ll do whatever she wants to do and to hell with…” Bedell paused. “Please tell her that if she needs anything, wants anything…” His voice trailed off, ending on a deep sigh.

“Would you like for me to ask Ms. Perkins to call you?”

“Yes, certainly. But it doesn’t have to be tonight. Just whenever she’s ready to talk.”

“All right.” Was that it? Goal accomplished. Assignment completed. “Once I deliver your message to your daughter, am I to consider this job finished?”

“Yes, yes. And it was a job well done, Mr. Shea. Thank you. You can return to Atlanta tonight if you wish.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dom closed his cell phone and clipped it to his belt. This had to have been the quickest, easiest job he’d ever done for Dundee’s. In less than twelve hours, he’d found the missing heiress and set her family’s minds at ease. So, why was it that he felt something wasn’t quite right, that there was more to this situation than met the eye?

What difference does it make? he asked himself. He’d done the job he’d been hired to do. The client was satisfied. Dundee’s would get a hefty check and Sawyer McNamara would be pleased that Edward Bedell was pleased.

On his way back to the table where Audrey Perkins waited, Dom considered his own options. If he was a smart man, he’d eat dessert and escort Ms. Perkins to her suite, say goodnight and goodbye. On the other hand, now that he wasn’t on the job, he was free to pursue his personal interest in the lady. And God help him, he was interested. But he would be a fool to become involved with a married woman, a woman known for her extra marital affairs.

Would a one-night-stand be considered becoming involved?