Little White Lies (12 page)

“Hello.” Her moan escaped as the guy stared back at her from the corner of the room.

“That isn’t one of the guys Candie described,” James said.

The room, decorated from top to bottom in red, reminded Charley of the inside of a mouth. A wide bed draped in satin of the same red took center stage, flanked by two couches on either side, with little to no leg room.
Someone has bad design skills.

“Am I in the right room?” She added a deliberate purr to her voice.

The man before her nodded; his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down once, hard. He waved her toward the bed. “They … uh … they’ll be here in a moment.” He clenched his hands together and licked his lips.

Charley ambled to the bed, sat in its center. She crossed one leg over the other, leaned back on her hands and turned to give James and Lily a complete picture.

“The red might have been a better choice,” Lily said.

Voices grew louder outside the room.

“That them?” She leaned forward to adjust what little she could and raised her hands to fluff her curls.

He shrugged.

“Remember the goal, Charley,” James said.

“I’m in the back, bay four,” Cael said. His voice came through her earpiece and the wall.

“The walls are thin in here, aren’t they?” Charley said for Cael’s benefit.

Two beads of sweat adorned the silent man’s forehead.

“Nervous?” she asked. “Here to watch or participate?”

He shook his head.

The clip of heels, her trill ‘hello’ and a giggle told Charley that Kate joined Cael.

“What is taking so long?” Wyatt asked.

“No idea,” James said.

“What’s your name, big boy?” Charley asked through puckered lips. She crossed and uncrossed her legs a la Sharon Stone.

He shook his head again.

“I don’t like the feel of this,” James said.

Through the walls, Kate and Cael laughed.
What had he said to her?

The man checked his watch, pulled on his tie, and crossed his ankles as he leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets.

“Married?” Charley caught sight of his wedding band. “That’s okay by me. Should we start without them?”

He ignored her.

“Wyatt, you need to—” James began.

Charley tuned him out as the quiet steps of rubber against tile made their way in quick succession and stopped at her door.

She adjusted to a more casual position, recrossed her legs and dangled her foot.

“What took you so lon—” She stopped, tensed.

“Hello, Candie.” One walked through the door, followed by a second.

They stood, shoulder to shoulder. Unmistakable. Their suits shone with the silk that infused the weave, shirts half buttoned, ties askew and smiles derisive.

“Oh my god.” Lily’s words echoed Charley’s thoughts.

“What?” Wyatt’s whisper hissed.

“Get them to the hotel, Charley,” James said. “Wyatt, get over here.”

“Not until I know she’s safe!”

“Do it now, Wyatt. She won’t have any problem convincing them,” James said. “Cael, wrap it up with that girl.”

“Hi again.” Charley plastered a shy smile on her face.

With one finger, she motioned them forward. The one on the right did as she expected. His cologne permeated the room, the very same fragrance he’d worn so long ago.

He approached unabated. She stood and met him halfway.

“Don’t do it, Charley,” James said.

With one hand, she grabbed his lapel and pulled him forward, let him put his hands behind her back and lean over her. His mouth crushed hers before she could speak.

“Damn. She did it,” James said.

“Did what?” Wyatt asked. “What the fuck did she do?”

“Get over here, Wyatt!” James said.

Charley let their contact savor, let him feel, let him touch, so he’d know. When he broke their lip-lock, she pointed to the silent man still in the corner.

“An associate,” he said. “Scram.”

The man scurried like a rat from a cage.

“I have a better place if you buy me for the night.” She kept her eyes fixed on his.

His eyebrow raised. “Oh yeah?”

She nodded.

“Buy her for the night, Kevin.” The second man disappeared through the door.

“Small world.” Charley straightened.

“What are you doing, Charley?” Wyatt hissed through the earpiece.

13

“What the fuck is going on!” Wyatt checked for cars as he ran across the street to the hotel.

“You’ll see,” James said.

“I want to know now.” He slowed his pace as he entered the lobby, not bothering to rein in his outward signs of fury.

“Uh, no,” James said.

“Tell me, or you’re fired.”

James laughed.

The elevators wouldn’t come fast enough. He continued to listen for more from Charley and the two men she’d so easily convinced to buy her.

“Go to the left room,” James said. “Lily and I have moved everything over with the real Candie.”

When the doors opened, he rushed inside, pressed his floor button half a dozen times as if that would help.

James snickered. “Coulda taken the stairs.”

“Fuck off,” Wyatt said.

Charley held a one-way conversation which told Wyatt nothing about who she’d met—only that she’d meet them at the gentleman’s entrance in five minutes. Wyatt could only assume they had separated.

“What’s going on, Charley?”

He got no response.

When the doors opened again, he stepped onto the floor. Cael stopped him with one hand outstretched.

“How’d you get over here so fast?”

“Took the stairs,” Cael said.

James chuckled. “Told ya.”

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, but you gotta calm down. Charley knows what she’s doing, and if she went in for the kill that early, she knows a lot more than we do.”

“Weren’t you there? Right there? Couldn’t you hear anything?” Wyatt’s voice turned into a plea. He poked Cael in the chest.

“Not with that girl giggling in my ear and the music pumping like it was.” Cael removed Wyatt’s finger. “Trust her, man.”

Trust a woman he barely knew on an op that could mean his career? He knew his Director had lost his mind the moment he’d told him to hire Charley and her team, but he didn’t realize the extent of the senility until that moment.

Cael turned and led the way to their room.

While Wyatt paced, Cael, Lily and James busied themselves with prep work. The plan had moved far faster than expected.

Wyatt stood at the window and waited—lost in thought.
How had she convinced him so quickly? Did she know him? Did he know her? Who did he know, Candie or Charley—and how could that be?
The questions raced through his head, one after the other.

The girls said their goodbyes as Candie announced she had yet another private off-site. She called out her thanks and ‘see yas’ to them. A door opened and closed before her, ‘Hey boys’ registered.
She must have met them outside the club
. The click of her heels came before the three forms began their walk across the street.

She moves like a graceful tank
. Two men flanked her, their long jackets floating behind them, eyes covered by shades despite the darkness of the hour. Charley’s face tilted up at the second floor.
Does she see me?

Wyatt leaned back on the ledge, crossed his arms and tapped his toes with a nervous energy that flowed through his body.

“Relax, Wyatt,” Lily said. “Keep your eye on the monitors.”

Though the men remained silent, Charley kept them apprised. Lobby. Elevator. Hallway.

“Ready boys?” she asked with suggestive undertones as the key engaged the lock and the door swung open in front of her.

Wyatt trained his gaze on the monitor.

James moved outside to reprogram the lock so there’d be no unexpected entry or exit.

Wyatt continued to watch via video monitor as Charley brought them farther inside, offered them a drink, and let her jacket drop to the floor. The silver and blue outline of her attire covered very little.

Both men accepted a Scotch from the minibar, their faces in shadow.

Charley’s hip swayed right, her hands in her hair. She slipped to the left, reaching for the ties to her ensemble. One of the two excused himself to the bathroom.

“Show time, take two,” James said.

“Let me help you with your tie.” Charley crooned to the man seated on the bed. She moved close enough for his face to fill the screen.

“Holy shit.” Cael came up behind Wyatt.

Wyatt’s lips firmed into a tight grimace as he looked upon a face he knew all too well, yet not at all.
How do they know him
?

• • •

A crash, an ‘oomph’, and silence emanated from the bathroom.

Lily’s concoction works with magical timing.

The man on the bed looked up at Charley and mouthed all-too-familiar words. “Keep—my—cover.”

“I will,” she mouthed and closed her eyes. She added, “Keep mine,” but he’d already fallen backward to the bed.

When Wyatt stormed the room, Charley turned toward him from where she’d knelt. Her body shook as if she’d been chilled by the wind, yet the room hovered at a warm seventy-two degrees.

“How does he know you?” Wyatt asked. “How does my best friend from high school know it’s you?”

“I can explain.” Charley held out her hands as she stood. “I’d like to change out of these clothes first.”

James and Cael entered and split up—one to the bathroom, one to Stuart. They pulled each man from his stupor.

“What is there to explain? How does he know?”

Charley tried to move past Wyatt, but he blocked her way. “Let me by, Wyatt.”

“Let her by, man.” James’s warning came as he sat Kevin in a chair.

Wyatt moved enough to let her by but so that she’d have to rub her entire body against his to do so. Once past, she strode into the room where Lily waited.

“How much do I tell him?”

Lily pointed to her ear.

Damn!

Wyatt walked in, fury burned his eyes. “Tell me how much of what?”

“Everything,” Lily mouthed and moved to the opposite room.

Charley knew they’d listen to every word. She paced as she thought. The size of the room prevented the extension of her full stride as Candie.
What does he really want to know?
She bristled at the lack of space.

“Sit down, Wyatt.” Charley motioned to the bed where Candie slept.

He stood, arms crossed, and didn’t budge.

“Okay.”
He’s not going to make this easy
.

She ran her hands through her hair. When she touched the lens of the hidden camera, she followed its path down the back of her head and detached it.

“Now only I can see you.” She laid it on the table.

“How do you know Stuart?”

“We worked together.”
Not a lie.

“When?”

Too soon after I left you
. “A number of years ago.”

“Why?”

“Same as you. Help. Information.” She shrugged.
To save his life.

“How did he know you aren’t Candie?”

The question lay in front of her like a red-hot branding iron. How much did she risk? How far did she have to go? “I let him kiss me.” She looked down at the floor.

“So a kiss tells someone who you are?” His voice rose. “Is that all it takes? A simple kiss on the lips?” Wyatt stepped toward her.

Charley took a step back, bumped into the table. “Wyatt—”

“Don’t ‘Wyatt’ me.” He threw his arms out like an umpire calling a runner safe. “How does he know, dammit? You said you showed him.” Wyatt’s tone turned venomous as he batted the sides of his head with his palms. “It’s nearly midnight, Charley; I’m tired and frustrated, and this new information isn’t going to help.”

“I told you.” Charley dropped her voice to a whisper.

“Like this?” Wyatt’s lips met hers with a fiery passion.

Her arms hung limp at her sides, like drapes above a window. As Wyatt pressed his lips to hers, memory took hold. She wanted to tear into him; she wanted to cry.

Control your emotions Charley, or he’s going to discover the truth.

Wyatt pushed the kiss farther.

Charley’s hands regained their function, and she dove into him, dug through his suit, and moved her fingers up to his hair, where she pressed as he shifted and adjusted. Their lips sizzled with an intensity she’d known only with one other man—rather, the man he used to be.

She pulled her lips from his but kept a secure hold on him. “I was in South America.”
Though it wasn’t the first time we met or the last
. “We were on an assignment for the Army. Stuart was a private in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Go on.” He pushed but laid his head against her forehead.

“Like this operation, he walked into the middle of it. To save his life I had to reveal a bit of my cover, so to speak.” She took a deep breath. “In the process, we ended up entangled within each others’ arms and walked out unharmed. But—” She moved her hands up to hold on to Wyatt’s lapels. “—I still had work to do, and he might see me again. We needed a signal to ensure if we found ourselves in the same situation, we’d both know.”

“That doesn’t sound so farfetched. Why didn’t you just say something?”

“He’s undercover, Wyatt. He’s not a part of this group you’re searching for. If he’s here, in that role, he’s fighting the same battle. He signaled me, I signaled him. We both knew.”
More than you.

“Who does he work for?”

“That I can’t say.”
Or not exactly—same group as you.

Relief flooded into her as Charley realized Wyatt’s concern lent itself more to their cover than her revelations. He tried to turn, but Charley held him close.

“As far as I know, he’s not on our side. I haven’t seen him since high school, so I really don’t know anything about him.”

“I thought you were best friends?”

When he met her eyes again, she worried she’d said more than she should know.
He’d said that earlier, hadn’t he? Dammit!

Sadness clouded the green of his iris. “We were. We had a falling out a long time ago.”

“Good friends are hard to come by.” She ran her hands up his chest. Almost eye to eye without the stilettos, she could see deep into his.

He dropped his head and shook it, tried to turn from her but she held tight again.

“Why won’t you let me go?” His expression teased.

She sensed diffused rage. “Why should I?”

Wyatt moved his arms to her waist and pulled her into him again. Their eyes locked, emotion passing from one to the other. Charley withheld her moan as pleasure filled her. Wyatt tilted his head, and with a deliberate and gentle touch, eased his lips to hers again. The kiss burned into her psyche and ignited fires long since dampened.

Wyatt shifted as Charley did. They moved together as if they’d known each other forever. Their tongues teased, breath escaped and bodies pulsed—heartbeats in sync.

Charley closed her eyes as Wyatt relaxed in her arms. Her fingers tickled the back of his neck—a place she’d found he loved before.

He’s the same.

He shivered under her touch.

Recognition?

Charley pulled her lips from his. “There’s more, though.” She kept her gaze on his.
Oh, so much more.

“Yeah, I guess since he knows about us, none of our interrogation can be in Kevin’s presence.”

Fear kept truth hidden. “I’m not sure what he knows, but I promised we would keep his cover.” Charley didn’t move away.

“We will, but will he keep ours?”

He always has.

“It’ll help if I’m not Candie when we talk.” Her body trembled. “Wait.” She stopped, confused. “I thought none of them would remember.”

“They won’t if we inject them, but I’m not sure I can do that to a fellow American, or agent, if that’s what he is.”

“Then I will,” Charley said.
And everyone can forget it all.

Wyatt pushed her hair behind her shoulder. His finger caressed the side of her neck. Charley let the sensation run through her—as memorable as if she’d been the eighteen-year-old he’d once known.

“Thank you,” Wyatt said.

“For what?”

“For opening up. For being honest. For telling me stuff you were probably sworn to keep confidential and for trusting me.”

Ouch
. Charley held her smile in place.

Wyatt dropped her hand as she pulled away from him.

“Shall we get your information, then?” She turned to the door as Lily entered. Her sniff and tears sent panic through her. “Lily?” She pushed past Wyatt. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s … Chase …” She sputtered as James and Cael came in behind her. “He’s missing!”

• • •

“Who’s Chase?” Wyatt asked.

Charley didn’t respond. She moved to stand directly in front of James. “What do you mean?” Her entire body shook, hands clenched at her sides as if about to boil.

James leaned down to her as Lily wailed into Cael’s arms.

Who is Chase?

Cael firmed his lips while James’s quivered, but he drew his gaze to Wyatt’s. “Chase is our son.”

A child?
Wyatt’s expressions must have been clear as shock ran through him.
Whose? Charley’s? With James?
His mind ran through the gamut of questions.

“Where is he?” As Candie, she stood toe to toe with him. Her fingers gripped his forearms. “Where is he?” Her voice broke.

“They don’t know.”

Unsure of his role but still aware of her impact on him moments before, Wyatt opted to leave logic behind. He put his hands on Charley’s shoulders.

She sucked in a breath. “What about Sophie?”

“Sophie is missing, too,” James said.

Charley shook her head, turned to Wyatt, grabbed his jacket and leaned her forehead against him. She breathed in deep again and released air. Lily’s sniffles continued.

“Tell me he ran away. This is a joke. Some stupid ploy.” Charley whispered with a pain so clear the hair on Wyatt’s arms stood on end.

Memories of long ago—the one time in his life he’d had the same emotion—a time he’d buried and ensured he’d never go through again.

James shook his head.

“This cannot be happening.” Her voice hitched, and she pulled at her hair. “Sophie was there to take care of him.” She whipped a hand out.

“They don’t know anything, Charley.” Even James struggled with the words, his voice cracking with each answer.