Addison Fox - The Paris Assignment

As covers went, he could hardly complain. He was sharing the evening with a beautiful woman. What troubled him was his inability to keep his mind on the task at hand.

Instead, his thoughts filled with her.

Abby, her long legs stretched out in the limo and visible through the thigh-high slit in her dress, so close to the tips of his fingers.

Abby, her lush mouth drawn up into a smile as she talked to the CEO of a key telecom company.

Abby, stripped from the long column of her gold-sequined gown, naked and willing in his arms.

Although he hadn’t technically observed that last one, the image was crystal clear in his mind’s eye all the same.

Conversation swirled around him, voices high and happy in the glow of expensive liquor when his gaze alighted on a man about ten yards away. Although the man stood in a group, his gaze was steady on Abby.

The intrusion was immediate.

“Champagne, sweetie?” Campbell leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek, whispering in her ear, “Who’s the man at your three o’clock?”

Her eyes widened but it was the only evidence she was alarmed. Instead, she shot him a gentle smile and nodded. “Yes, I’d love some.”

Campbell waved a waiter over and used the motion to cover her as she turned to look at the stranger. When the champagne arrived, she gave him a slight head shake as she reached for a fresh glass.

“I think I see an old college buddy. Would you excuse me for a moment?”

The CEO and his wife were well into the champagne and sent him off with jovial smiles as Abby resumed a story about her last analyst meeting. As the husky, cultured tones of her voice faded behind him, Campbell moved around the perimeter of the room, blending with the guests as he assessed the potential threat.

While he knew every man with a pulse had given Abby a once-over since they’d arrived, the man’s continued focus had Campbell’s hackles up.

Which was the only excuse he had for missing the cloud of perfume and the voice accented with the heavy notes of Italy as two long arms snaked around his waist. “Campbell, darling. You’re here yet you don’t come find me.”

A heavy pout pushed Carlotta Luchino’s rich red lips into a tight line before she leaned forward and pressed them to his cheek. “You wound me, darling.”

“Carlotta.” Campbell fought to keep his gaze on his quarry but the opera diva’s hands were too busy with holding his face still.

“I’ve called you.”

“More than once.”

“And now you’ve come to see me. Tonight. Clearly you have just been playing games with me.”

“No games, Carlotta. I promise.” He set his champagne glass onto a small tray with a heavy thud and was grateful the stem didn’t break. With quick moves, he reached for the hands that cupped his neck and face, not surprised at the tight, determined grip.

“Yes, games. Always games with you. You think I didn’t know how you wanted me? How you longed for me?”

Campbell fought the urge to roll his eyes as he tried to shift their bodies. Although he wasn’t a short man by any means, her tall frame was augmented by five-inch designer heels and a dark cloud of hair atop her head. The combination of all three conspired to obscure his vision of the possible threat to Abby.

What couldn’t be obscured was the cool, collected voice that resonated over his shoulder.

“Darling. Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Chapter 3

Abby fought the urge to clench her fists and wondered how she ended up agreeing with Campbell Steele’s harebrained scheme to be fake lovers. What had seemed like a good idea at the time suddenly felt petty and childish in light of the barracuda wrapped around him.

As Campbell worked to remove himself from the diva’s arms, Abby amended the mental reference to octopus. She was also more than a little surprised to feel a spear of jealousy tunneling its way through the center of her heart. Since the emotion was as unwelcome as it was unexpected, she pasted on a smile as she turned toward Campbell and the opera singer.

“Abby. Let me introduce you to the evening’s entertainment, Carlotta Luchino.”

Campbell wasn’t kidding on the entertainment, but Abby forced every ounce of good breeding into her voice as she extended her hand to the singer. “It’s lovely to meet you, Ms. Luchino. Your performance this evening was beautiful.”

The woman preened slightly under the compliment and did release her grip on Campbell as he made quick introductions. Abby could practically see the question on the singer’s expressive face as the woman’s eyes narrowed. “You own McBane Communications?”

When Abby confirmed she was both owner and CEO, the transformation was nearly instantaneous. A broad smile covered the diva’s face and she barely gave Campbell another glance.

Whatever else she was, Carlotta Luchino was a businesswoman and she knew the success of the evening depended on the generosity of its patrons. The hand she’d left on Campbell’s arm fell as she smiled broadly and gestured to the room at large. “You are enjoying the evening, no?”

“Absolutely.”

The lie tripped off her tongue as Campbell’s freedom from the woman’s clutches gave him the opportunity to resume his perusal of the guests. Although she hadn’t paid any attention to her surroundings until Campbell had pointed out the man, it was all she could do to stay still and not go after him herself and find out what he wanted from her.

And why he was watching her.

When Campbell’s scan of the room turned up nothing—evidenced by a slight shake of his head—he reached for her hand. “Carlotta, while it was lovely to see you again, I’m afraid we’re going to need to get going.”

Carlotta sighed, but Abby didn’t miss the narrow-eyed gaze the woman had already bestowed on an aging widower standing at the edge of a nearby conversation circle.

“That was interesting.”

“To say the least.” Campbell tugged on the collar of his shirt and it brought a quick smile to Abby’s face. While she knew it wasn’t all that broad-minded of her, she couldn’t quite shake the small stab of glee that he’d spent those last few minutes with Carlotta as uncomfortable as she.

And then he went still, his discomfort vanishing as if it had never been.

“What is it?”

“Your friend is back.”

Abby fought the urge to turn around and instead, reached for Campbell’s arm and forced an adoring tone into her voice. “Walk me toward the door? I’m in need of some fresh air.”

He clasped his hand over hers where it rested on his forearm and she followed his guidance as they walked through the throng of partygoers. Her heels were high, but she couldn’t quite see over the people milling around and she’d do far better to simply allow Campbell to lead her where they needed to go.

“Do you see him?”

“Yep. He’s near the far side of the theater and heading for the stairs.”

She felt the impatience in his large body and pressed a hand to his lower back. “Go. Don’t let me hold you up.”

“Stay here among all these people. You’ll be a lot safer here.”

“What if this guy’s capable of real harm?”

“An even better reason you should stay. In fact, why don’t you find security and suggest they head for the parking garages. I’m pretty sure that’s where he’s going.”

The urge to argue was strong; the urge to follow him even stronger.

And stay or follow, it was more than a little unnerving to find herself left behind as he took off through the crowd.

She gave herself the briefest moment to watch him depart, his height ensuring she could see his head as he threaded his way through the crowd.

How the heck did I end up with a bodyguard?