Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

It took almost two hours to drive back into the city, and by then Max was starting to get a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He hadn't liked the calculating look that had come into Vassin's eyes just before he'd left, and he knew without a doubt Vassin would be thinking of a way he could double-cross Max. Again.

His phone vibrated against the passenger seat, and he picked it up, expecting to hear Jade's voice on the other end of the line.

"I've got a confirmation from the SEAL team," Atticus said. "The girl has been spotted at Vassin's California residence, but we're going to wait to coordinate the rescue with your next meeting. We don't want to take the chance of them killing her."

"He's got less than four hours until the first delivery has to be made, but my gut isn't feeling all that great about the transaction. He's going to try to screw me over."

"Have him make the first drop in a public place. The casino should work nicely for what you have in mind, and the rest of us can spread out to watch for any tricks. We'll already be in place long before he contacts you."

Max's anxiety eased some after he hung up the phone. The ball was in his hands, and it was his show to run. He only wished that one small nagging piece of doubt wasn't eating away at him.

Jade took the mountain pass instead of the desert road that Max had to take so she was back to the hotel long before he was. She changed out of her dusty clothes and got in the shower, scrubbing away the sweat and grime of the afternoon. That hadn't been an easy shot to make, and the conditions up in the mountain where she'd set up had been less than ideal.

She finished showering and dried off quickly, and then she walked with a towel wrapped around her into the bedroom. She still wasn't used to the clothes that had been selected for the trip, and she stood staring into the closet, wondering what she should wear and why the dresses couldn't leave any room for her weapons.

"Wear the red one," Max said from behind her.

She gasped and reached for her weapon out of habit, and then let out a breath of relief when she saw him lounging against the doorframe.

"You're playing a dangerous game," she said, putting her weapon down on the bed.

"I'm definitely willing to play whatever hand you're dealing," he said, arching a brow.

Jade rolled her eyes and then pulled the red strapless dress from the hanger. It had enough elastic in it so she wouldn't have to pull it up every five seconds, but there wasn't a lot of room for error if she bent or sat the wrong way. And there was no way she would be able to wear a bra.

"With that kind of talk I'm going to let you buy me a steak dinner." Her hair was mostly dry and she combed it down with her fingers so it wasn't sticking up every which way, and she slipped on a pair of flat gold sandals.

He'd already dressed for dinner while she'd been in the shower. He'd changed so much since his injury. The suave and debonair playboy was still there somewhere. You could see it in the way he wore the expensive slacks and shirt, the way his demeanor became almost haughty the more expensive the clothes he wore. But there was a roughness to him now—a wildness that wasn't easily contained—and she wondered if he'd have been the same kind of lover two years ago as he was now.

She was caught up by the sight of him. He was so handsome. So strong and steady. And she loved him. The realization caught her off balance and she had to steady herself. And then the pang to her heart came at what could never be.

"Max," she said. "I want you to know that whatever happens I don't regret anything." She saw his lips tighten and knew she wasn't getting the words out right. That she was messing it up. "I just mean that I'm glad it was you. And that you wanted me."

He came up to where she stood and held out his hand, waiting for her to take it. "I want you like I want to breathe. Never doubt that for a second."

For as long as it lasted, she thought to herself.