“You have options.”
“I’ve done what you asked me. It’s time for me to go home.”
“Troy will follow you because he’s convinced you need watching until we have everything neatly tied up.”
A thrill shot through her before she could steel herself, an unstoppable excitement over the thought of seeing him again after all. “He’s free to go where he chooses.”
“Or you could go with him to someplace…different.”
Confusion cleared, like the mist rolling away to reveal the line of private jets beyond the colonel’s. “He’s in one of those planes, isn’t he? Is it his personal aircraft or is he waiting inside yours?”
“You’re a quick one. Good. Troy needs someone sharp to keep up with him.” He nodded toward the row of silver planes nestled in the morning mist. “Mine’s next in line, and yes, the one closest is Troy’s private aircraft.”
“You expect me to just hitch a ride with him? Don’t I need to check in or something?”
“I’ve okayed everything with the pilot. You have your luggage with you.” He smiled for the first time. “Admit it. You’re tempted to spend time with him. So why not go away with him for a week?”
She bristled at his confidence. “You’re awfully sure of yourself.”
“Just hedging my bets,” he said so matter-of-factly that they could have been discussing breakfast—not the idea of her hopping on a near stranger’s plane to go God only knew where.
“You have an answer for everything.”
“I study people and make calculated decisions based on how I believe they will react.” He straightened his already-impeccable red tie.
“And you’re calling me predictable.” How could he when she didn’t even have a clue what to do next?
“I just bargained on you doing the right thing for Troy.”
“The right thing for Troy?” That brought her up short. “What are you talking about?”
“I gave you credit for being smarter than this.”
She leveled a steady gaze at him and wished she could wield something a little harsher. She was at the end of her patience here, exhaustion and emotional turmoil having worn her out. “You’re not a very nice man.”
“But I’m effective.”
“Please, get to your point,” she snapped. “Or I am leaving.”
“I have to agree with Troy that life would be easier and less complicated for all of us if the two of you took a remote vacation. Running around D.C. is too obvious a place for you to be when there is a rich and powerful individual still at large who has reason to be quite unhappy with you and Troy. And if Troy follows you straight to your home, anyone who might be upset over this sting will be able to find Troy, too…. Do I need to keep spelling out all the extremely uncomfortable scenarios for you?”
Her skin went cold. She’d been worried about her future—as in her freedom—but she’d never considered that white-collar criminals might resort to force. “You’re not playing fair. And what did you plan to do with me once I ID’d the guy? Did you have a plan to keep me safe?”
“I had hoped we would have the man in custody, and when he got away, I assumed you would be leaving with Troy, based on seeing the two of you together.”
The attraction was that obvious to others? “Well, you guessed wrong, and now you’re telling me I’m responsible for Troy’s safety? That’s your job, isn’t it?”
“I’m doing my job right now. I’m saying what has to be said, for both of your sakes. Get on his plane. By letting him think he’s protecting you, you’ll be protecting him.”
She hesitated.
His eyes flickered with the first signs of something other than calculation or cool disdain. He looked like he actually…cared. “Ms. Wright, please, be the first person in Troy’s life to put his interests ahead of your own.”
His words sucker punched the air right out of her.
Whether or not his words were genuine or calculated, he’d found a means of coercion so much stronger than force. For whatever reason, she had a connection to Troy, a man she’d only known for a day. He had an influence over her emotions that she couldn’t explain.
Maybe it was because she understood what it was like not to have anyone put her first in their lives. Or maybe it was the memory of all he’d told her about his time in school. Or maybe it was that she wanted more kisses.
Whatever the reason, she was climbing on board that airplane.
* * *
Dropping his hat on his head, Troy slid from the limo outside his aircraft just as the colonel boarded his Learjet. Ironic. Apparently everyone was getting the hell out of Dodge.
He tugged out his briefcase and jogged through the light rain to the stairs. Once he made it inside, he would need to confer with the pilot about changing their flight plan, rerouting for D.C.
Even with the delay, at least he could work since his plane was a fully outfitted office and completely familiar. He’d built a pod he could move from the hold of any aircraft to another, with an office, a small kitchenette and sleeping quarters. Some seemed surprised at the lack of luxury, but he didn’t need the trappings. He had what was important to him: his own portable technological nirvana.
He ducked through the hatch inside and stopped short.
Hillary. Here. On his private jet.
She lounged at his desk, her iPad open in front of her. Early-morning sunrise streamed through a window and outlined her in an amber glow.
Amber glow?
Good God, this woman was turning him into some kind of a poet.
She spun the chair to face him. “I assume that was an open invitation to go with you, but don’t gloat. It’s not an attractive trait.”
He placed his briefcase on the white leather sofa and pulled his hat off. “Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to do anything that would make me unappealing to you.”
“Good. We’re on the same page then.” She returned to her iPad and started typing.
“Everything okay?” He resisted the urge to offer her one of the tablets he had on board, prototypes beyond anything the public had seen yet.
“I’m sending a couple of emails to rearrange things at work so I can take an emergency vacation for personal reasons.” She looked up. “I’m not comfortable with a convenient ‘my mom is sick’ lie.”
“Fair enough.” He placed his hat on his desk in front of her.