Warrior Rogue (The Drift Lords Series) (3 page)

Her forehead scrunched as she listened. “You’re kidding. The producer loved the take? I don’t believe it.” A pause. “Hmm, good question. I’ll get back to you on that one.”

While she spoke, Paz stared at the jumble of tall buildings that went by in a blur as their driver shot through an intersection, barely missing a bicyclist.

Jen hung up and stuffed the phone back in her handbag. Her narrowed gaze swung toward him. “Okay, who are you?”

“I told you. My name is Paz Hadar.”

“That’s not what I meant. Keith still isn’t there, and Sandi says the actor sent by the casting office arrived shortly after we left the studio. So if you’re not the man they sent, who the hell are you?”

He liked the way her dark brown eyes blazed when she was angry. How would they change when she got aroused?

Get that idea out of your head. She’s not your type.

Just look at her expensive diamond earrings and manicured nails, at her fashionable clothing and confident posture. She oozed wealth and sophistication. He steered clear of women like Jennifer Dyhr for the same reason he’d left home.

“I am a Drift Lord on a mission.” He didn’t see any reason to lie.

“A Drift Lord? What’s that?”

“If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.” He grinned at the moue of displeasure on her face.

“Please don’t joke with me. I’m trying to help you.”

“Very well. I am a warrior sent to banish the horde back to where they belong.” He watched for her reaction and was gratified when she stared at him as though he’d sprouted wings.

“The horde? Okay, fella. Maybe you are some kind of agent on a mission, and you ran afoul of the bad guys. You know what? I’ll drop you off at the nearest consulate. They can help you get home, or complete your job. Whatever.”

“You are correct. It was the bad guys, as you call them, who did this to me.”

He sank back in his seat and closed his eyes, memories flooding him. Along with them rode a sense of pain. His team had been captured by the enemy. One of their own had betrayed them. Paz had no way of knowing the final outcome of the battle because he’d been pushed into the pit, presumably left for dead.

“May I borrow your communication device? I wish to call my colleagues to let them know I’m all right.” And to find out if any of them survived.

“You mean my cell phone?” Jen fished it from her purse and handed it to him. “Maybe you should ask them to arrange for your return home.”

“Indeed, I shall.” But when he dialed their emergency number, no one answered. Even if his mates were on board the
Protector
rather than planet-side, they should receive the transmission. The fact that even Zohar, their captain and crown prince of the Star Empire, did not respond made Paz’s jaw tighten.

In silence, he handed Jen back her phone. It was up to him now to complete their assignment. Failure would mean the destruction not only of this world but thousands of others.

His duty was clear. He would send the Trolleks back where they belonged, or he’d die trying.

****

Jen ordered the driver to head for the American Embassy. She’d drop Paz off there where hopefully he could reconnect with his friends. He’d gone quiet, staring out the window, his profile frozen in consternation. Aware of his hulking presence beside her, she inched away on the seat. His magnetism tended to draw her closer, but they’d only just met and caution prevailed.

He looked a wreck, his jaw unshaven, and his hair askew. Maybe he
had
been attacked. A mugging would account for his confusion and injuries. In that case, the man was lucky he hadn’t been hurt worse. But shouldn’t he have recovered his senses by now? All this talk of Drift Lords and secret missions made her wonder about his sanity.

He seemed to be a decent guy otherwise. Growing up in Palm Beach had taught her to discern between men who were sincere in their admiration and men who wanted something from her. She yearned to find a guy who had enough cash and clout that he wouldn’t need hers. A prominent businessman might fit the bill, but she had yet to meet a magnate who lit her fire. Her dream of marrying a partner with whom to share her successes and start a family seemed to grow ever distant.

She sneaked a glance sideways at her companion. He’d be fabulous in the role of a vengeful Norse god if he really knew how to act. Actually, with his powerful physique, he’d make a striking model for her upcoming Spring line. Maybe he’d consider a change in careers? He didn’t have to be sane. Just looking like a hunk would work well enough.

“Tell me, are you an actor at all, or do you have another job?”

He gave her an oblique glance. “When I am not employed in my current position, I work in telecom.”

Jen gripped her seat as their driver jammed on the brakes. A trio of motorcyclists zoomed past a yellow light. Outside, solemn-faced workers scurried down the street while tourists craned their necks to regard the billboards. A popular department store loomed ahead.

The car jerked forward after the traffic signal changed.

“How would you like to do something different?” Jen smiled encouragingly. “You’d make a great model for my designs. I could teach you what you need to know if you came to Manhattan. You’d make a lot more money than you do repairing telephone equipment.”

She assumed that’s what he did, based on his vague reply that he worked in telecom. That’s like a garbage man saying he worked in sanitation.

Paz’s gaze seared into her. Did he believe her offer to be sincere, or did he think she was proposing he become her next boy toy? A restless feeling washed over her at the notion. Hot and cold impulses raced up her spine as the image of him naked popped into her mind. His scent drifted into her nostrils, reminiscent of a sunny day at the beach. She crossed her legs and then uncrossed them.

Her cell phone’s strident ring shattered the moment. Jen retrieved her unit, wondering what was wrong with her. The man was a total stranger, for heaven’s sake. She should never have gotten involved with him. Sandi was probably calling to see what was taking her so long in returning.

“Hey, hon, it’s Dad.”

Jen’s stomach lurched. Getting a call from her father during business hours on a Wednesday sent up a red flag.

“What’s the matter? Is everything all right?”

“No, it’s not,” he replied in a terse tone. “The Board of Trustees has called an emergency meeting to vote on the merger. You need to be here to convince them to hold out. I need more time to talk to Yeager Capital Investments.”

Jen cursed under her breath. She’d inherited her aunt’s shares in the family business empire, and with it came a Board position. Her cousin Clifford, Aunt Alba’s son, had contested the will but hadn’t won. Now he’d changed tactics to try for a hostile takeover instead.

“Can’t you stall until I’m home? I have a flight booked on Friday. We’re almost finished filming.”

“Cliff has come up with a new challenge, Jen. It concerns you personally. I’ve hired a business jet. It’ll be waiting for you on the tarmac.”

Jen sighed. She supposed Sandi could pack her things and send them along later. Meanwhile, her assistant could handle the rest of the details with Mr. Nakamura. “Okay. I’m in the car now. I’ll go straight to the airport.”

“I knew I could count on you, pumpkin. Let me know your ETA. I’ll send a car to pick you up when you arrive.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ll get a cab when I reach Palm Beach. Bye, Dad.”

Severing the connection, she pursed her lips. The family business served more as an anchor around her neck than an asset. The management skills she’d learned from her father, though, had helped when she formed her own design company.

Sitting beside her on the backseat, Paz patted her hand. “I couldn’t help overhearing, and I’m sorry if you received troubling news.”

“I have to go home. It’s a family business matter.” Jen’s voice hardened.

“Don’t you have any siblings who can step in?”

“Nope, it’s just me and my parents.”

“Is it true you will be flying to Florida?”

“Yes, my father chartered a private jet.”

They’d probably have to make a few refueling stops along the way. Guess she wouldn’t be headed back to Manhattan just yet. Hopefully she could conclude the business at home before Fashion Week, because she still had a ton of work to do in preparation for their show even though her staff was fully capable.

Awareness crept into her that Paz’s hand still covered hers. His large palm conveyed reassurance and warmth and sent tingles of pleasure along her nerves.

“I’m heading straight for the airport.” She slipped her hand away. “We need to drop you off first. I’ll give you the address of my showroom in New York. If you’re really interested in modeling, meet me there.”

When he didn’t respond, Jen gave him a sharp glance. His gaze fixated on her left wrist where she wore the watch Mom had given her on her sixteenth birthday. Silence stretched between them, until he raised his eyes to meet hers.

“I accept your offer of employment.” His grin dispelled the gloom she’d felt only moments before. “I’ll accompany you on your aircraft.”

“Pardon me, but who invited you?”

Maybe she’d been too hasty in offering him a job. She knew nothing about him except that he’d lied about being Keith’s stand-in. Then again, he hadn’t actually claimed to be the actor’s replacement. They’d all just assumed he was the guy.

He lifted an eyebrow. “You need me, whether you know it or not. Tell me, have you ever felt a compulsion to learn about the past?
Your
past?”

Her breath hitched. “What do you mean?” He couldn’t know about her visions. No one knew. Well, Aunt Alba had known when she was alive but Jen had told nobody else. They’d think she was nuts.

Paz surveyed her with a devilish gleam in his eye. “I’ll bet you’ve always been strangely drawn to the Viking age.”

Her stomach somersaulted. Oh, God. He
did
know.

“You…you…how do you know this?”

He grinned, his dimples deepening. “Now that I’ve seen your timepiece, I know a lot about you. Take me along on your journey, and I’ll explain.”

“My timepiece?” She felt like a parrot.

“Are you aware that symbol etched on its face is a rune?”

She ground her teeth together. The man might be loony, but he knew things no one else did. Hadn’t Aunt Alba said the inscription looked like runic lettering?

She’d just warn the pilot to keep the door securely locked to the flight deck while en route to the States.

“What about your passport? You’ll need one to get through Customs.” Huh. Maybe that would stump him.

“I’ll worry about it once we arrive.”

“That’s a bit blasé. You have no ID, no money, and nobody to bail you out. How do you expect to get around, even if Immigration does let you into the States, which is unlikely?”

His shoulder lifted in a shrug. “I’ll improvise. Don’t be concerned. It won’t reflect on you.”

It had better not. I already have the fallout to deal with from your snafu on set. Sandi wants to know who you are, if not the actor’s stand-in sent by the agency.

Sensing that he wouldn’t take no for an answer, Jen issued new orders to the driver, who then crossed lanes and made a turn.

Paz fell silent, his gaze directed at the passing scenery. His forehead creased as though troubles plagued him.

“Are you having second thoughts?” She tapped his arm. “I can still drop you off along the way. Maybe there’s someplace else you need to be?”

His somber gaze swung toward her. “No, I’m just thinking it’s been a while since I─”

“Since you what?”
Shaved? You got that right buddy. You could use a few personal grooming tools.

“Never mind. But it might be a good idea for us to pinch the deal.” He edged closer.

“Don’t you mean cinch the deal?” Why did he act like such a foreigner? Maybe he wasn’t from the U.S. but merely had an American accent.

He leaned nearer, and her perception shrank until it included just the two of them. Surely he didn’t mean to kiss her? The man filled her vision, from the golden highlights in his hair, to his intense blue eyes, to his contoured mouth.

Her blood surged, and despite her wariness, places within her that had lain dormant began to stir.

His eyes sparked as though he knew his presence affected her. He lowered his head and brushed her lips before she could protest.

The touch of his mouth on hers set her nerves aflame. She should be affronted by his actions, but his feathering kiss made her stomach flutter and her limbs turn languid. Molten lava poured through her veins as though a sleeping volcano had just awakened. The edges of her mind receded.

Bracing herself for another vision, she placed a hand on his forearm. A muscle moved beneath his hair-sprinkled skin, and his playful kiss changed to a deeper assault.

No, this is wrong. The man is a complete stranger.

She sprang back, her breath coming in short pants, her body trembling. If this was wrong, why did being with him feel so right?

Paz’s mouth twisted in a wry grin as he took in her flushed face. “I hope I haven’t offended you.”

“No…I mean, yes. Don’t do that again, or I’ll change my mind about taking you along.”

His eyes darkened to indigo. “Don’t worry about me. It is others whom you should fear. Whatever happens, I will protect you.”

What’s with his delusion about protecting people?
He might be the biggest nutcase she’d ever met, but at least he didn’t act dangerous toward her. Well, he was dangerous in one respect. His kiss melted her best intentions.

She’d be wise to keep a professional distance between them.

****

Paz slid over on the seat, widening his distance from this woman who seduced his senses and compromised his will.

Ever since he’d laid eyes on her back at the studio, he was drawn to her like a glitter bug to sunlight. Those creatures on his home planet could bedazzle a mighty beast, and so Jen had the power to beguile him as well.