Kelly Hunter - Single Girl Abroad - Untameable Rogue

‘No, but she did say what she wanted of Jake. She seems to want him back in Ji’s life. Says it’s for Ji’s protection.’ Luke studied her intently. ‘How many months after you bought the vase did William die?’

‘A year or so,’ said Madeline, blinking at the rapid change of topic. ‘What is it with you and William’s funeral vase? I assure you, the funeral and the cremation—everything happened as it should. It’s not as if I torched him.’

‘Never mind,’ said Luke with a shake of his head as he took to his beer and drank deeply. ‘It’s nothing. I’m over it.’ Mostly. Could Madeline really have it in her to arrange her husband’s demise? He thought not. Definitely not. Probably just a coincidence, her purchase of a funeral vase …

Curators like Arthur sold antique funeral vases to wealthy collectors all the time.

And delivered them empty.

Tapas, champagne, and Luke Bennett’s company made for an easy combination, and Madeline let herself relax into the evening and bask in the warmth of those gleaming tiger eyes. He’d surprised Madeline tonight with his ability to move comfortably through Bruce Yi’s world of high finance and high-priced art but there was no mistaking that he was more at home here. So was she, truth being told. She’d never courted high society, for all that she’d experienced her fair share of it at William’s side. She’d never returned to it after his death.

An orphan’s sensitivity for knowing she would find little welcome there.

A woman’s dislike of moving through such a world unprotected.

She hadn’t been unprotected tonight. Bruce Yi, in the making of important introductions and staying on to guide the conversation, had extended his protection and made sure others noticed it.

And Luke, with his watchful warrior presence, had offered his.

It was enough to send a sensible woman’s thoughts tripping down roads they really shouldn’t go. A short-term light-hearted relationship was the only way to travel when it came to dealing with this man. To consider even that much was risky.

‘Tell me,’ she said lightly. ‘If you had a family of your own one day—a wife and children—would you still disarm weapons for a living?’

‘It’s what I do,’ he said. ‘What else would I do?’

‘I don’t know. Ship salvage work? Return to your deep-diving roots? Something safer.’

‘Neither of the occupations you just suggested are particularly safe, Maddy.’

‘Maybe not, but I really can’t see you in an office. I was extrapolating backwards just a step or two.’

‘Thanks,’ he said dryly. ‘The salvage work I could do. It just wouldn’t have quite the bite of what I do now.’

‘What do your siblings think about your choice of career and the dangers involved?’

‘You mean the brother who pilots air-sea rescue Seahawks or the one who runs black ops for Interpol? Or are you asking me what Jake thinks?’

Madeline wasn’t sure she wanted to know what any of them thought. ‘What does your sister think?’

‘She thinks we’re all guts and glory. She retaliated by marrying a computer whiz with brains instead.’ Luke’s grin came wide and wicked. ‘He does a little creative programming for Interpol on the side these days.’

‘Bet that went down a bomb.’

‘You have no idea,’ said Luke with a shudder. ‘Carnage.’

‘Are your other brothers married?’

Luke nodded. ‘And before you ask, Tris removed himself voluntarily from fieldwork and took a desk job once he got married but Pete still flies air-sea rescue missions. Pete had a habit of not phoning Serena the minute he set foot back on land. Serena broke that particular habit by getting her own helicopter licence so she could have better access to remote photographic locations. She accidentally lost radio contact one day when she went up alone. She was in a dead zone and she knew it, but she stuck around for a twilight shot and didn’t get home until well after dark.’

‘Simple yet effective,’ said Madeline. ‘I like it.’

‘Absolutely ruthless,’ said Luke. ‘The man was a wreck.’

‘And what do you do when the woman you’re with has trouble accepting your work?’ she asked.

‘Move on.’ His eyes grew shuttered. ‘Nothing else I can do.’

Except give up the work. A concept he clearly had trouble with. ‘Don’t you ever get sick of living so close to the edge of death?’ she asked quietly. ‘Don’t you ever look at a situation sometimes and wish you could just walk away and leave it to someone else?’

‘No,’ he said, but the shadows in his eyes told a deeper, darker story. ‘Not if I’m the best person for the job. I’m not in the phone book, Maddy. My name is on half a dozen lists worldwide. When someone contacts me it means that they need my particular skill set and they need it fast.

There’s no defence against that. I can’t just say, “Sorry, I don’t feel like working today.” I can’t.’

A warrior’s honour, soul deep and absolute. Duty-bound, forsaking all else.

Hard not to admire such a man.

Madness to love him.

He looked at her in silent enquiry. ‘Another drink?’

‘No, I’m driving.’

‘Ready to head home?’

‘I think I am,’ she said solemnly. ‘I can drop you on the way.’

But he shook his head. ‘That’s not how it works, Maddy. Not with me. I’ll see you home. I’ll see you to your door. And then I’ll find my own way back to Jake’s.’

Chivalry. Cousin to honour. She should have guessed he’d have his share of that too.

The trip home was largely silent after that, as if Luke sensed her withdrawal or her conflict, or both. They made it to the apartment car park and headed for the lift.

Last time in this lift, Luke had been the one to hold back.

This time she hoped to God she would be the one to walk away. They entered the lift and she stared at the ground. If she didn’t look at him, didn’t touch him, and didn’t talk to him, she’d probably be just fine.

The lift rose quickly and then slid to a halt. The doors slid open.

Time to end this madness.

Some sort of farewell comment seemed in order. ‘Goodbye, Luke. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you.’ She hoped she’d made it sound final enough.

‘You forgot something,’ he said.

‘No.’ She risked a glance and cursed her foolishness as warmth suffused her body. ‘No, I haven’t.’

‘Your diamonds,’ he said as he unbuttoned his jacket. ‘Unless you’d like me to send Po round with them tomorrow? Probably not a good idea, though.’

Oh. Right. The diamonds. The ones in his inside coat pocket. Madeline hesitated. Luke shook his head, his eyes dark and knowing. He shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her whole. ‘I know you’ve decided not to see me again, Maddy. I can see it in your eyes. It’s okay. I’m used to it.’

‘All that honour,’ she said raggedly as she battled with the recalcitrant button and buttonhole. ‘Where did you get it?’

He shrugged and his lips tilted towards a wry smile. ‘Beats me.’

‘We wouldn’t be any good together, you and me.’ The button was stuck. The pocket stayed closed. Where was Po when you needed him? ‘We’re too different.’

‘Who are you trying to convince, Maddy? Me? Or yourself?’

She gave up on the button. ‘I mean, look at you.’ She made the mistake of doing just that and the need inside her soared. ‘You need a woman whose honour can equal your own. A woman with strength enough to let you go when you have to go and do what you need to do. I can’t even manage honour, let alone the strength I’d need to love you.’

‘Tell me something, Maddy,’ he said in that quiet, deadly voice. ‘Tonight, when you and Bruce Yi stopped to talk, just before you reached his business partners. What did you say to him?’