Sweet Silken Bondage (21 page)

This wasn't like being on the stagecoach, wearing
her nun's habit, being on guard every minute. She
had faced her father's hired predator without the
benefit of a disguise, and he hadn't known who she
was. Her plan had worked out just as she'd hoped it
would. Everything was going fine. Clay Cordell
would take a look around, decide Reina Alvarez
wasn't there and head back to California to tell her father.

Reina wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry as
relief flooded through her. The heavy weight of the
worry that she'd be found and dragged back home
against her will was suddenly lifted from her shoulders. At last, she was truly safe. She had gotten
away from Nathan Marlow, and she intended to
stay away.

Reina drew a steadying breath and then broke
into a wide smile. Now, she could really enjoy the
evening. She had something to celebrate. Feeling
once more fully in control of her destiny, she descended lightly to the bottom of the staircase to join
Emilie and Rose just inside the ballroom doorway.

"Did you see him, Isabel?" Emilie asked excitedly.

"I don't think so, which one is he?"

"Over there," Rose pointed to where Clay was
handing Mirabelle a cup of punch and laughing
easily at something she said.

Some uncomfortable emotion tugged at Reina as
she watched Clay flirting with the pretty, young
woman, but she gave what appeared to be a disinterested shrug. "Oh, him..."

Reina knew she should look away for fear that
Clay might glance up and catch her looking at him,
but for some perverse reason she couldn't. It was
almost as if she was mesmerized by his overwhelmingly masculine presence. It was hard for Reina to
believe that the hard-riding gunslinger who'd saved
her life a few weeks before was standing before her
now, transformed into an aristocratic, debonair
southern gentleman. She found herself wondering
about Clay and trying to figure out how he'd managed to ingratiate himself so quickly into Louisiana
society.

"`Oh, him,' she says," Emilie mocked lightly to
Rose. "Yes, him!"

"Well, he is very attractive," Reina responded,
seeming unconcerned, "but he's not my type."

"What do you mean `he's not your type'?" Emilie
gave her an exasperated look. "He's handsome, and
he's obviously single or Mirabelle wouldn't be flirting with him. How could he not be your type or
my type or Rose's type?"

Reina was tempted to blurt out the truth, but she
restrained herself. This was no time to confide in
anybody. She was here in the middle of a ball, and
things were fine. Why risk it? The fewer people
who knew, the better.

"You know I'm not really interested in men right
now, Emilie. Besides, he looks far too intense for
me." She shivered at her own words as she thought
again of just how determined a man he really was,
and grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing
servant's tray.

"All right, Reina, I believe you, but are you sure
you don't even want an introduction?"

That was the very last thing Reina wanted. She
knew it would be far, far better not to tempt fate.
Glad to see Lucien and David heading her way, she
smiled benignly. "Maybe later." She downed the
heady champagne quickly and wished for another.

Within minutes, Reina was once again surrounded by her group of admirers, and she was
glad for the distraction.

"I guess with all those admirers, she really doesn't
need to worry about one more," Emilie told Rose
with a wry grin as they moved off to visit with
some other friends.

Reina, meanwhile, was chatting vivaciously with
the men around her. All she had to do, she realized, was get through the next few hours without
arousing any undue suspicions in Cordell. If she
managed that, everything would work out perfectly.

The very idea that she'd faced her worst nightmare and won left Reina feeling ebullient, and as
she sipped more of the bubbling wine, she felt
almost cocky. Her suitors flowered her with compliments and vied for her attention, and she responded brightly, laughing and flirting outrageously
with them all. She felt unthreatened and happy for
the first time in weeks.

Clay bided his time, continuing to make conversation with Mirabelle, as he watched and waited for
Reina to come into the ballroom. He knew if she
didn't show up soon, he was gong to have to go
looking for her, and that was something he hadn't
wanted to do here tonight.

Clay was greatly pleased and enormously relieved
when a few minutes later Reina did enter the room.
His ploy had worked! She was convinced that he
hadn't recognized her! Clay wanted to laugh out
loud as a feeling of power surged through him.
He'd turned the tables on her. Now, he was the one
holding the upper hand. Now, he was in control.

Clay covertly watched as Reina trifled with the
men around her. He could easily understand why
the men flocked to her, for outwardly, she was a
very beautiful woman. In reality though, he knew
she was nothing but a loose-moraled, heartless chameleon of a woman, changing her personality at
will to fit in any situation. His acceptance of her
duplicity filled him with a terrible, bitter resolve,
and it took all of his considerable will-power not to
throw caution to the wind and stalk across the
room, grab Reina and head straight back to California.

The longer Clay kept watch over his elusive runaway the more furious he became. She might con sider herself a good enough actress to alter everyone
else's perception of her, but he was wise to her now.
She would never fool him again. He knew exactly
what kind of woman she was.

A sneer of disgust curved Clay's mouth. For just
a split second, Clay's tight control on his emotions
weakened, and all the cold, raw anger he was feeling reflected in his eyes.

Mirabelle just happened to look up at him in that
moment, and the flicker of emotion she saw there
frightened her. "Clay? Are you sure there's not
something troubling you?"

At her words, Clay realized what he was doing,
and he brought himself back under rigid control.
Luckily, the music started up again, and he was
given a reprieve from further conversation.

"No, nothing wrong. Would you like to dance?"
he invited quickly, wanting to forestall any other
questions. At her acceptance, he guided her out
onto the dance floor.

Even as Clay squired Mirabelle around the ballroom, his thoughts were on Reina. Soon, it would
all be over. Soon he would deliver her to her father,
and Dev would be freed.

Clay had the return trip to California all
planned. He'd figured out the fastest, safest route
back on his long, lonely trek to Louisiana. The only
complication he had now was finding a way to get
Reina alone. Once he'd accomplished that, it would
be a simple matter to spirit her away without raising any immediate suspicions. However, getting her
away from everybody else might prove tricky, especially if she suspected he might be setting a trap for
her.

Clay knew he had to join the group of idiots who
were drooling all over themselves vying for a kind
word from Reina and then sweep her off her feet with his charm and good looks. Simple enough, he
thought, but in the back of his mind the niggling
fear troubled him that he wouldn't be able to get
her undivided attention.

Clay didn't like the idea of having to do it, but
he realized he had no other choice. He had to act
and act fast, and he had to be totally convincing.
He would play the ardent lover until he could
maneuver Reina alone. Then once he had her in
his grasp, he would head for California.

Clay knew it wasn't going to be easy for him to
play the lovesick fool when all he felt for the woman
was contempt, but since nothing about this job had
been easy so far, so why should anything change?
At least this time, he was no longer just chasing
sifter blind leads. He had her now. It was just a
matter of time.

As soon as he was able without appearing rushed,
Clay excused himself from a very disappointed Mirabelle and headed for the study. He was ready to
begin his calculated pursuit, but he was in great
need of one more stiff bourbon before he began.
The study was relatively crowded with card players
and onlookers when he entered: Clay didn't notice
that his father was among them as he made his way
to the liquor cabinet to help himself to the powerful
liquor.

"Clay?" Philip saw his son enter the room and
knew something was wrong. "What is it? Have you
found her?" There was a note of hope in Philip's
voice.

Clay had been lost so deep in thought that he
was a bit startled to find his father suddenly there
beside him.

"Yes, I've found her," he snarled as he took a
deep drink of his bourbon.

Philip was taken aback by his vile mood. He'd expected him to be jubilant. Instead, he could feel
the hostility emanating from him.

"Clay?" Philip worried.

He looked up, his icy, determined gaze meeting
his father's questioning one. "I've got a job to do,
and I'm going to do it."

"Can I help you in any way?"

"No. This is something I have to do alone" At
his father's troubled expression, he added, "Well
talk later."

Philip watched in silence as Clay downed the rest
of his drink, then refilled the glass and took it with
him as he strode purposefully from the room.

Clay's whole manner transformed as he crossed
the hall to the ballroom. The anger that was driving
him was carefully hidden beneath an outward veneer of cool sophistication. Trying to find David so
he could exact the introduction to Isabel he'd been
promised, he made his way smoothly through the
party-goers, smiling and exchanging greetings.
Eventually, Clay spotted David dancing with Reina
and Lucien standing alone on the sidelines looking
very annoyed. Clay smiled cynically to himself.
Reina Alvarez hadn't been satisfied with just capturing Lucien's heart, now she had to have David's,
too.

"I take it that's the irresistible Isabel Nunez dancing with David?" Clay asked Lucien as he came to
stand beside him.

"You take it right," Lucien confirmed a bit
brusquely.

"She's one lovely woman" he told him. "How did
David manage to get her away from you? I thought
she was the only one for you."

"We were dancing, and he cut in," Lucien complained. "Some friend.. .he thinks to steal her
from me."

"Was Isabel ever yours to steal?"

"I was working on it," Lucien replied with a quick
grin.

"How long is she going to be staying?"

"She didn't say, but I would imagine shell be here
for some time yet. She only arrived this week."

Lucien's words gave final confirmation to Clay's
suspicions, and he smiled sharkishly, eager to be
about his game. "Good. That gives me plenty of
time..."

Lucien stifled a groan of irritation at the thought
of Clay single-mindedly pursuing her. While he'd
been away, Lucien had had little real competition
for the ladies, but now that he'd returned, things
didn't look too promising. Cordell was one of the
wealthiest men around. Beating him out for Isabel's
hand would not be easy.

When the dance finally ended, David led Reina
to where Lucien and Clay stood. David enjoyed
aggravating the cocksure ladies' man Lucien, and he
thought this would be the perfect time to introduce
Isabel to Clay.

Reina had enjoyed her dance with David. She
found him a delightful, easy-going companion. She
was so caught up in their animated conversation
that she didn't notice right away that he was escorting her to Clay.

"Isabel, there's someone here I'd like you to
meet," David began as they drew near.

"Oh?" she questioned, looking up just then to find
Clay with Lucien and both men watching her approach. Heat flushed through Reina, and then she
was filled with an icy dread. Only by pure strength
of will did she keep her uneasiness hidden. To the
world, she appeared the alluring temptress, enchantingly gorgeous with her ebony tresses done up high
on her head and the tops of her creamy breasts swelling oh-so-temptingly above the decolletage of
her gown.

Much to Clay's annoyance, as Reina drew near, a
flare of unbidden hot desire pulsed through him. It
disturbed him to find that he could be attracted to
Reina physically while despising her for what she
was.

Clay's eyes met hers, and her gaze revealed nothing. He'd expected to see some flicker of emotion
there, and he was surprised by her calm. Her
consummate acting abilities amazed him. Knowing
how good a liar she really was, hardened his resolve
all the more. He knew he would never trust anything she said or did again.

"Yes, Isabel, this is Clay Cordell. He's an old
family friend. Clay, this is Isabel Nunez," David
made the introductions easily, completely unaware
of Reina's quiet desperation.

"Miss Nunez, it's a pleasure to finally make your
acquaintance," Clay returned, bowing slightly in acknowledgment. No one realized just how much he
really meant those words.

His deep voice, so well remembered, sent shivers
down her spine, and Reina fought to dismiss her
reaction, attributing it to her fear.

"Finally, Mr. Cordell?" Reina gave him her most
beguiling smile as her eyes met his. When she saw
no spark of recognition in the depths of his gaze, a
dizzying sense of relief filled her. He didn't even
know her up close! Her identity really was safe.

Clay's pulse quickened at her smile, but he ignored it. "Clay, please, Miss Nunez, and, yes, finally. I've been admiring you from afar for some
time," he told her, smirking inwardly in satisfaction
at the double meaning of his words.

"I'm flattered, Clay," Reina answered easily, "and
please, call me Isabel."

"I'd be honored, Isabel," Clay said her name
slowly as if savoring the sound of it.

"You know, David introduced you as an old family friend, but you don't look very old," she told him
archly. "Have you known each other for a long
time?" Reina was curious about his connections here
in Louisiana. It was one thing for her father to
send the bounty hunter after her. It was another for
him to fit right into plantation society as if he'd
been born to it.