Justine Davis - Romancing the Crown - Kate & Lucas

She batted impatiently at a bee that veered toward her soda. This was getting intolerable. An entire week had passed, and still the security at the airport and the ferries was as tight as ever. Didn’t these Montebellans have anything better to do? Why were they persecuting her?

That was the story of her life, though, wasn’t it? She never got a break. She’d had to fight for everything she had, only to have success snatched away through no fault of hers.

If that stupid kid had shown up with his boat when he was supposed to, she would have been free and clear by now. But no, he’d had to wreck his boat, the idiot. It was a good thing she’d been watching from the bluff and had seen the thing tip over or she might have wasted all night waiting for him.

A stocky, bearded figure moved through the gates. Ursula scrutinized him until the man was close enough to be seen clearly. As soon as she recognized the dark hair and fleshy features, she hitched her purse over her shoulder and wove her way through the tables to the cobblestone square. It was about time. She’d been nursing that soda for an hour waiting for him to finish his shift or watch or whatever it is that palace guards called their work schedule.

“Edwardo,” she called.

Edwardo Scarpa lifted his head and looked around.

“Over here.” Ursula paused near the entrance of a shadowed alley and beckoned him toward her with a flick of her fingers.

He smoothed his hair, curling his lips into a smile as he moved closer. “Well, hello, lovely lady. What can I do for you?”

He didn’t recognize her, Ursula realized. It had been a smart move to trim her trademark blond hair to chin length and dye it black. The hat and sunglasses were serving her well, too, especially with men who didn’t notice anything above her cleavage. And there had never been anything subtle about Edwardo. He’d been easy to manipulate before when she’d needed him. A bit of money, a bit of feminine coaxing and the man had been eager to accommodate her. She took off her sunglasses and tucked them into her shoulder bag. “Edwardo, it’s me.”

He lost his smile, his jaw going slack. “You! What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you, lover.” She smiled and stepped closer, sliding her palm up his chest. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”

He grasped her wrist and dragged her deeper into the alley until they were concealed from the square by the dangling ladder of a fire escape. He gave a quick look around before he spoke. “Don’t you know that everyone’s looking for you?”

Did he take her for an idiot? Why else would she be disguised? She pushed her lips into a pout. “It’s just a big misunderstanding.”

“You’re wanted for murder. I heard the whole royal family wants your head.”

She placed her hand above her breasts, spreading her fingers in a way that would draw attention to her curves. “I know. It’s horrible. That’s why I have to get home. You can help me, can’t you?”

“What? Help you?”

“I need to get out of Montebello. I’m sure that an important man like you could find me a boat.”

“No way. I’m not risking—”

“Please, Edwardo.” She slid her fingers up his chest again. This time she grasped his shirt to make sure he couldn’t get rid of her so easily. “We have something very special between us. I’ve always felt it, haven’t you?”

He glanced over his shoulder, obviously nervous.

Ursula dropped her other hand to his belt, slipping her fingers into the waistband of his pants. Without money to bribe him, she had only one option. “Let’s go somewhere private where we can be more… comfortable, hmm?”

For a moment he wavered, his eyes losing their focus. But then he frowned and shook his head. “I can’t help you, Ursula. If anyone found out, I’d lose my job, maybe go to prison.”

“Nothing will happen to you. All I’m asking is that you find me a boat.” She wiggled her fingers. “I’ll make you glad you did.”

Roughly he yanked away from her touch. “No. I’m sorry. I can’t help you.”

“You did before.”

“That was different.”

“You helped me get into the palace. You were risking your job then, too.” She narrowed her eyes. “You know, if anyone found out about the bribe I gave you, that could get you in a lot of trouble.”

“You wouldn’t tell anyone. You’re wanted for murder. I know you killed the king’s nephew. You saw him that day.”

“And who was it that let me into Desmond’s quarters, Edwardo?”

“I didn’t know you were going to kill him.”

“It doesn’t matter what you thought. If I get arrested for murder, you’ll be arrested as my accomplice.”

“You wouldn’t—”

“If I go down, you go down, Mr. Palace Guard Scarpa.” She watched the realization of his predicament spread across his face. Good. She wouldn’t have to seduce him, after all. Blackmailing him into helping her was better. Actually, it was even more exciting to exert control over a man this way. She preened, enjoying the sensation of power. “So tell me, Edwardo.” She smiled and took his arm. “How soon will you get me that boat?”

Chapter 7

“Two fishing boats and a seventy-foot yacht,” Sam said as he climbed to the sloop’s deck from the cabin. “Sector C is getting busy.”

“Do we have enough personnel to track them?” Kate asked.

“Yeah, no problem. We’ve got four vessels in the area. They’ll keep us posted.”

She hovered beside the wheel, her hand lifting to the gold chain she wore around her neck. “With so much activity in that sector, we should send a spotter plane for backup.”

“Already done.”

“Sam, do you think this is working?”

“What? You mean the search?”

“Yes. Maybe we would have been better off trying to put together a conventional patrol. It’s been nine days now.”

He noted the way she rubbed a fingertip over the tiny charm that hung from the chain. Even if he hadn’t heard the tension in her voice, the gesture would have given it away. She often fiddled with her necklace when she was agitated. “We already ruled that out,” he said. “We didn’t have access to enough Navy vessels to provide the coverage we need, and we didn’t want to scare Chambers into going underground. Give it a chance, Kate. Our strategy is sound.”

“Sure, but—”

“But our visit to the palace made the mission more personal, right?”

“Yes, it did. I wish we’d met the king in his offices instead of being part of that family celebration.”

“They’re nice people for a bunch of blue bloods. I think it was beneficial to be reminded of why we’re doing this.”

She dropped her hand and sighed. “I know what you mean. I can’t forget the expression on Lucas’s face.”

Neither could Sam. Even though Lucas was rich beyond most people’s dreams and was destined to rule this prosperous, picturesque island, anyone could see the man wasn’t happy.

That was the problem with love, Sam thought. When you gave your heart to a woman, you were left completely vulnerable.

He took the wheel from Kate and watched as she made her way toward the bow. She moved lithely, her body shifting effortlessly to compensate for the roll of the deck. It was a warm day, so she had dressed in loose, pleated shorts and a modestly cut tank top. Sam knew her garb was in keeping with their guise of vacationing tourists, that this was all in the line of duty, but he was having a hard time keeping his gaze off her legs.

She’d always had fabulous legs, long, tanned and firm, but it seemed as if they were more appealing than ever. Maybe it was because of all the running she did. Or maybe it was because he was slowly going crazy being able to look but not touch.