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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?
When Dom sat down across from Audrey, she smiled. “I’ve been dying to dive into this cheesecake, but I waited for you so we can savor every bite together.”
They had ordered one slice of cheesecake to share. Audrey had bemoaned the fact that if she ate the entire slice herself, she’d put on a couple of pounds overnight.
Dom picked up his fork, sliced into the rich, luscious dessert, and instead of taking the delectable morsel to his mouth, he reached across and aimed it at Audrey’s mouth. Her eyes widened, then she opened her mouth. When Dom inserted the bite, she nipped it off his fork, rolled it around over her tongue and sighed.
“Sheer heaven,” she said.
“Are all your appetites that easily appeased?” he asked.
Her big green eyes widened even more, her expression one of amused surprise.
“Are you propositioning me, Mr. Shea?”
“Could be.”
She laughed, the sound mellow and soft, and somewhat tentative, as if she didn’t laugh all that often.
“What about our agreement?” She glanced down at the cheesecake. “Let’s eat dessert and take that stroll on the beach, then see what happens.”
Smiling, Dom sliced off another bite and once again fed her. He watched the way her mouth opened, the soft fullness of her lips, the curve of her small, pink tongue.
He was getting hard just watching her eat.
Ten minutes later, dessert plate wiped clean and the check paid, Dom escorted Audrey through the restaurant, into the hotel lobby and toward the front entrance. Once outside, they headed straight for the adjacent beach. The Classico Hotel faced the Atlantic Ocean. Lights from the nearby buildings illuminated the path to the beach. Overhead a three-quarter moon and countless stars brightened the black sky.
Dom eased his arm around her waist as they neared the long stretch of sand.
“Want to take off your heels?” he asked.
She nodded, then clamped her left hand on his shoulder as she used her right hand to remove first one high heel and then the other. Dom took the sleek little bronze leather sandals from her and slipped the straps onto his index finger.
“Are you chilly?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“If you are, I can take off my jacket and—”
“You play the gentleman quite well,” she told him.
“It’s not an act. I actually can be a gentleman when the occasion—or the woman—calls for it.”
“A charming gentleman.” Audrey turned and took several steps away from him.
He followed her, draped his arm around her shoulders and fell into step alongside her. They walked together in silence for quite some time, occasionally glancing at each other and smiling. Dom couldn’t remember the last time he’d wanted a woman so much.
“MR . SHEA HAS FOUND Audrey,” Edward Bedell said to those congregated in his study.
“When?” Cara asked.
“Where is she?” Patrice Bedell glared at her husband.
“Is she with him?” Tears misted Grayson Perkins’s eyes.
“Not a one of you asked if she’s all right.” Edward clenched his teeth. Damn the whole bunch of them. They didn’t love Audrey, didn’t care if she was dead or alive. No one loved Audrey the way he did, no one understood her the way he did. Emotion welled up inside him, threatening his composure. He took several deep breaths.
“Of course she’s all right,” Patrice said. “I knew she’d just run off somewhere with Bobby Jack.”
“She’s not with that vile man,” Edward said. “Mr. Shea says that she is quite alone, that she seems well and…happy.”
“Why shouldn’t she be happy? She’s spending your money and living the high life.” When Patrice’s gaze connected with Edward’s, she shrank away from him, as if she feared he might hit her again.
“Where is she?” Cara repeated her original question.
“West Palm Beach.” Edward rose from his leather chair behind the massive desk. “I asked Mr. Shea to tell her to call me, to let me hear her voice.”
“How did he find her so quickly?” Grayson asked.
“The Dundee agency was able to track her through her credit card use,” Edward said.
“What hotel? I want to fly down there immediately and bring her home.” Grayson confronted his father-in law, a determined expression on his handsome face.
“No, Gray, don’t run after her,” Cara pleaded. “Not again. Not this time.”
“Cara’s right.” Edward clutched Grayson’s shoulder tightly. “None of us are going to chase her down this time. We’ve all jumped through hoops for that girl. It’s high time we step back and let her do whatever she wants to do.”
Cara couldn’t believe her ears, couldn’t believe that her father was actually going to allow Audrey the freedom to live her own life. If only Gray would do the same, if only he would let Audrey go. How could he love a woman who had treated him so badly, a woman who had wanted a divorce for years?
“But Audrey needs—” Grayson said.
“Listen to Daddy.” Cara interrupted him mid-sentence as she held out her hands to him in a beseeching manner. “Don’t go to Palm Beach. Don’t chase after her. It’s time for you to accept the fact that Audrey doesn’t want to be your wife.”
But I do, Cara thought. Stop loving my sister. She’s never been worthy of you. Just once, look my way and see what’s right before you—a woman who worships the ground you walk on.
“I LIKE THIS ,” Audrey said, the evening breeze gently caressing her face and tousling her hair.
“You like what?” Dom asked as he stopped walking, turned her in his arms and gazed down into her eyes.
Tilting her chin, she looked up at him. “Everything. The beach, the starry sky, the ocean waves, the feel of the sand under my feet.” She stood on tiptoe and wound her arms around his neck. “Strolling along the beach, just the two of us, not talking, just…being.”
He pulled her closer. “You know what, Audrey Perkins, you’re an enigma to me. I can’t figure you out.”
She sighed heavily. “I’m not all that complicated.”
He chuckled. “The hell you’re not. Honey, you’ve got to be the most complicated woman I’ve ever met.”
“How can you say that when you just met me? We don’t really know anything about each other, do we?”
“I know that your father is one of the richest men in America, that you’re a married woman, that for some reason you’re here in Palm Beach all alone.”
