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She bowed her head, snuggling into the high collar of the black cashmere coat she wore. Idiot, she chastised herself. That brief acquaintance was over and done with. What else could it have been?
Distance wasn’t the only deciding factor there, either. She was sick of involvements that dissolved because of a weak heart. She smiled unamused and wondered what had done more damage to her heart—her illness or the amount of times her heart had been broken. She felt hands squeeze her arms and masked her disappointment when she saw Winton at her side.
“We’re all set. You got everything?”
Kianti risked another glance around the spacious lobby and then nodded. “Let’s go home,” she said.
“Ruby? Ruby, calm down. For the third time, I didn’t call to fire you.”
“Sorry, Therin. Sorry,” Ruby Loro blubbered, sniffled and gasped over the phone. “I shouldn’t have done it—keeping my past a secret like that. I just—just felt like I didn’t have a choice. Stupid!” she called herself and hiccupped on a few more sobs. “I thought…the movies were the easiest choice—quickest path to success, or so I thought. God…” she moaned and broke into another stretch of tears. “I’m sorry…”
“Ruby. Calm yourself.” Therin’s voice was patience personified.
“I’ll resign.” Ruby hiccupped the words. “I’ll resign my post. The last thing I want is to cast a shadow over all the good you’re doing.”
“And you know me well enough to know I don’t want a resignation any more than I want to fire you.” Leaning forward on the sofa, Therin braced elbows to his knees. “What I want is for you to think. Did anyone approach you about this? Who knew Ruby Loro was once Spanish Heat?”
“Jesus,” Ruby hissed at the sound of the name she’d filmed under. “No one knew my real name. Not even the movie people.” She laughed shortly. “They really didn’t care about background checks, or whether I knew English for that matter. Knowing lines wasn’t a big issue, you see?”
“Right…” His hand flexed around the slim cordless. “I’m sorry, Ruby, for making you remember this crap.”
“I don’t have any family or friends except for the ones I’ve made while living and working in Canada.”
“Does that mean you could handle this coming out?” Silence met Therin’s question. “I don’t intend on bending over for these fools.”
“And I’m tired of hiding. You can rip them a new one for all I care.”
“Don’t you have vacation time you’ve been hoarding?”
“Almost a month,” Ruby boasted.
“Take it and longer if you need it.” Therin left the sofa and went to look out over the Spokane view. “I’m about to call the bluff on these jackasses. I don’t need you caught up in it yet if it’s not necessary.”
“Thank you, Therin. Thanks for believing in me. Most…” She sniffled lightly. “Most would have judged and not given another thought to firing me.”
“Well, I happen to know, like and respect Ruby Loro too much to lose her.” He turned his back on the view then. “You get lost and I’ll be in touch when the coast is halfway clear.”
“Right. Oh! Therin? You had a call come in from a Shepard Yale. Is he—?”
“Yeah…one and the same.” Therin confirmed Ruby’s suspicions on the caller’s identity while wondering what the retired general wanted with him. He didn’t realize he’d spoken aloud.
“The general was a military liaison toward the end of his career. He smoothed more ruffled feathers and thwarted more potential uprisings than anyone who held the post before or since.” Ruby sighed after giving the rundown. “Maybe something’s about to go down and he wants to consult with you.”
“Maybe…” Therin tapped his cleft chin and considered the words briefly before turning his focus back to Ruby. “You go pack. We’ll talk soon, all right?”
“All right, and Therin? Thanks.”
Vaughn came to the living area just as the call ended. “How’d she take it?”
“Not well.”
Vaughn nodded. “Did she have any idea who could’ve leaked this about her past?”
Therin tossed the phone to the sofa. “Not one. Folks she knew back then weren’t really interested in her past, but what she could do for ’em in front of the camera, you know?”
“Right…” Vaughn’s mouth tightened.
“Ruby said a call came in from Shep Yale.”
“The general?” Vaughn dropped to the sofa and listened as Therin shared Ruby’s idea about the man wanting a consult on something about to pop off. “Could be,” he agreed, realizing the only way to know anything for sure would be to meet with the revered general.
“Hell, V, the man’s been retired for how long?”
“And someone with that kind of power never fully retires. Those connections, all that knowledge—it’s always relevant.”
Silence fell while the two contemplated. Suddenly, Therin’s curse was filling the room.
Kianti flashed through his mind. “What’s the time?” he asked even as he checked the Swiss timepiece around his wrist. “Hell…”
“What?” Vaughn stood.
Therin was already halfway out the door.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Ambassador.” Nenda Watts apologized for the third time since Therin arrived at the front desk. She’d just told him he’d missed Kianti, who had left for the airport ten minutes earlier with her entourage.
“Shit.” Therin brought a fist down to the glossy maple front desk while grinding the muscle in his jaw. Turning slowly, he stared absently past the windows lining the bright, elegantly designed hotel lobby.
Was it worth it? he asked himself, wondering if he should chalk up the chance encounter as a brief interlude in the chaos that was his life. After all, what could come from an involvement between a busy pianist and a controversial ex-ambassador?
He smiled at the combination. It was a mix best left alone. Smirking then, he turned back to the front desk.
“Where was Ms. Lawrence’s flight headed?”
Chapter 4
Pacifica, California
Scottie’s Supper Club prided its location for the bulk of its success. With a view to marvel over, the jazz establishment catered to patrons practically round the clock. Visitors to the club could enjoy a spectacular day or evening view and music from some of the most noted performers in the country.
Kianti had the pleasure of enjoying the club as a patron as well as a performer. She often dropped in to surprise Scott Sanders with an impromptu jam session with his in-house band, led by vocalist Eli Waverly and drummer Shelton Innes. Still, the fact that Scottie’s was located less than ten minutes from her home, was Kianti’s favorite thing about the club.
Having a close friendship with the drummer was a plus as well. Shelton Innes recognized her as part of the audience one evening shortly after Kianti had started attending the group’s performances several years earlier. He kept the spotlight on her until she had accepted his offer to join them on stage. The set was one of her fondest memories, and she and Shelton had been the best of friends ever since. It was Shelton who pulled Kianti onboard in the collaboration for the school that several other musicians hoped to open for musically gifted kids.
Kianti often made a point of stopping in to chat with the group after she’d been out of town performing. She waited a few nights to make an appearance there following her return from Washington. She’d come prepared to perform and the group didn’t hesitate to demand her presence on stage shortly after she arrived at Scottie’s that evening.
The group was in the midst of a mellow albeit affecting session when Therin arrived at the club. It wasn’t hard finding her address. He’d arrived only to find her on her way out. Thankfully, it hadn’t been too difficult to follow her to the club that was only a short distance away. Now what? he asked himself while claiming a seat at the bar in hopes of keeping himself somewhat shielded from her line of sight. He took a seat near the end of the bar figuring Kianti wouldn’t notice him there. He wondered whether she’d even notice him at all. They really hadn’t had all that much time together. Thinking on that, he couldn’t ignore the question that had been plaguing him since he headed south instead of north to Canada upon leaving Washington State. Exactly what was he doing there?
He decided it was best not to seek an answer on that yet. Therin only knew that Kianti Lawrence had him curious and he wanted to find out more.
Bringing fist to chin, he settled in to observe her behind the glossy black piano. The animated look on her rich cinnamon-toned face, as she talked with the members of the group, brought a smile to Therin’s face. No doubt she was a lovely thing to look at. He wondered how much of that played into her success, though no one could argue against her talent.
Therin recalled their breakfast conversation then and the relaxing mood he’d sensed surrounding her. He remembered the feel of her small foot when he’d held it and grinned on the memory. He’d never enjoyed breakfast or a conversation more.
The set was nearing its end, tugging Therin from his reverie as he once again observed her with the band—especially the drummer. It was clear that they were close, which had him smiling but not in a completely amused way. He thought back to her entourage—the four men who’d given him the distinct impression that they’d lay down their lives for her. How could they not feel that way? he queried silently as the muscle twitched along his jawbone when her drummer friend pulled her in for a hug.
Get the hell out of here, Therin, he warned himself. He should go before she had any idea he was near. An involvement like this would never work. He lived in Canada, for Pete’s sake! Watching her near the stage and chatting away, Therin’s grim expression vanished and a smile emerged.
“Could I bring you anything, sir?”
Therin looked up at the young woman who’d approached the table. She held a pen poised over the small round tray she carried.
“I’d like to have a drink sent over to the pianist.” He nodded slowly toward the stage.
The waitress smiled while jotting down the instruction. “Shall I tell Ms. Lawrence who’s being so generous?”
“I’ll remain anonymous.” Therin’s bright gaze was still focused on Kianti.
“Not a problem.” The waitress cast one last lingering and blatantly flattering gaze at her mysterious customer.
Therin stood and dropped a few bills to the woman’s tray and then graced her with a sly wink before turning to make his way out of the club.
Dammit, Key, get over it!
Kianti smacked the soapy loofah pad against her thigh while issuing herself the order. She was acting like some love-struck girl whose family was moving away and taking her from a boy she’d known all of two seconds. Granted, she’d known the sexy ex-ambassador for a little longer. Still, nothing had happened that meant anything meaningful or otherwise would come from it.
Otherwise. She let the word linger in her head and felt a heat that had nothing to do with the shower spray hitting her skin. She would have enjoyed experiencing otherwise with Therin Rucker.
She smacked herself again with the loofah pad. All that would have gotten her was a trip to the hospital. If her heart struggled to withstand exertion from a piano performance, how would it withstand a sexual encounter?
Smirking then, she told herself that it might withstand just fine. Therin Rucker came across as quite the gentleman. If that persona carried over into the bedroom, perhaps there wouldn’t be much exertion required.
Kianti applied more gel to the pad and considered the idea. Something told her the dashing politician left his manners at the door when pleasure was at stake. She sensed a fire, something unrelenting at rest beneath that polished exterior. Yes, there was a side to the man that, if unleashed sexually, could require much…exertion on the part of its recipient.
She pressed a hand to her belly and moaned. She’d gone so long without indulging in that very enjoyable pastime. Only to herself would she admit that given another couple of days in Therin Rucker’s presence, she would’ve had him in her bed and exerting herself to the fullest.
The loofah smacked her thigh a third time. “Get over it,” she growled.
Somewhere a phone rang. Kianti leaned out of the shower to grab the wall mount next to the stall.
“Ms. Lawrence…Casey O’Dell down here at the gate. You’ve got a guest here. Mr. Therin Rucker.”
Her hand returned to her belly and then to her mouth where she tapped her fingers to her lips.
“Ms. Lawrence?”
Kianti took stock of her appearance in the mirror across from the shower. “Send him up.”
Therin inhaled the second he stepped from the elevator that deposited him in the middle of a room that whispered serenity and expansive comfort. Softly lit, the living room’s mellow appeal was evident not only by the cream-on-gold furnishings but also by the long window overlooking the ocean from the home’s rocky perch. He smiled then, further eased by the sound of her voice.
“Mr. Ambassador.”
Therin turned and any ease he was experiencing was quickly replaced by need. Somewhere—somehow he was able to latch on to restraint.
“I’m sorry…” He bowed his head while uttering the apology. “I, um… Your guard didn’t tell me you…”
Kianti tossed back her head. “It’s okay. I told him to send you on up.”
“I promised to say goodbye.” He spouted the first thing that came to his mind.
She bit her lip on a smile. “Well, I hope you’re not about to do that.”
Therin rolled his eyes. To hell with it. It’d serve her right for greeting him in a towel with that gorgeous mane of hair piled atop her head and bubbles still clinging to her cinnamon skin. With that in mind, he bounded over, snagged the front of the towel and drew her close.
Kianti was an eager and immediate participant in the thorough kiss. Her moans raised an instant after his tongue began its enthusiastic duel with hers. Wavering and shamefully erotic, the sounds came from the back of her throat. She stood on her toes and her fingers curled tight into the tails of the burgundy shirt hanging outside the black carpenter’s jeans he wore.
Therin needed to cast off the heat about to consume him but he was already caressing the seductive swells of her breasts. His sleek ebony brows drew closer and he deepened the kiss. Any second, and her towel would be on the floor.
He pulled away then. “You need to get dressed.” His tone was gruff and he turned away. One of them had to exercise a cool head. Why? He had no idea, but the thought had managed to give him pause regardless.
“I didn’t ask you to stop,” she sweetly reminded him.
“Unfortunately,” he winced and realized he’d spoken aloud, before massaging the bridge of his nose. “Get dressed.” His tone was almost pleading then. While he intended to have her—all of her—it was far too soon to indulge in the many things he wanted to do with her. “Kianti…”
She waved toward the living room. “Have a seat, I’ll be right back.” She watched him stroll toward the window instead. Yes, manners left at the door when pleasure was at stake, she silently confirmed on her way out of the room.
“Is this better?” she asked minutes later.
Therin tried not to stare. Her gray lounge dress had its wrist-hugging sleeves and was made of a clingy cotton material. While covering every inch of her skin, it emphasized every dip and curve she possessed. The only thing on his mind then, was whether or not she was nude beneath it.
He waited on her to choose a seat. Kianti noted that he seemed pleased that she didn’t select the sofa but curled up on one of the overstuffed chairs flanking it.
“May I get you anything?” she asked once he’d settled on the chair before her.
“I’m good.” His light, deep-set eyes scanned the room in one continuous take. “Some place you’ve got here.”
“Isn’t it?” She propped a fist against her thick hair trussed up in a flouncy ponytail and smiled. “Got it from an elderly scientist I met after a concert. The lower level where you came in used to be his lab. I converted it into a private studio.”
“Impressive.”
“Very. That elevator was once the only access—comes right up through the cliffs the house sits on.”
Therin whistled.
Kianti shrugged. “The guys forbid me to take it. But if it gets stuck, the top panels open and there’s a ladder that leads up to the house.”
“Good to know.” He laughed.
“They had me have the top-level access constructed.” She smoothed her hands over the dress’s long snug sleeves. “If you’d come past the other houses, I could’ve greeted you personally.”
