Mountain Retreat by Cassie Miles

Author:Cassie Miles
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

With all of Special Agent Hawthorne’s fussing about preparations, Sidney felt as if the helicopter should have arrived with more fanfare, maybe a brass band or a heavenly choir.

“Nice transportation,” she said.

“Butler set it up. They were flown into Lackland Air Force Base.”

“That doesn’t look like a military chopper.”

“I’m guessing it’s a little something from the CIA.”

Hawthorne appeared on the porch wearing one of her trademark black suits, but her blouse was teal silk and her dark brown hair hung in loose curls to her shoulders. Her cheeks flushed pink, and her lips were glossed to a high sheen. She looked like a robot trying to transform into a Kewpie doll.

She motioned to Curtis, who popped open an umbrella and followed her to the chopper.

Hurtado, make that President Hurtado, emerged first. He wore the same kind of uniform as when Sidney met him three years ago: a khaki-colored jacket with a matching belt and a blue ascot. There appeared to be even more medals on his chest.

A tall man in his late forties, he wasn’t bad-looking with his high forehead and narrow, patrician nose. He had a great tan, and his fingernails were manicured and buffed. This was a guy who knew how to take care of himself.

All the buffing and fluffing in the world couldn’t draw the attention to him when Elena stepped out of the helicopter. Her long black hair cascaded past her shoulders. Dramatic eyes stared out from a flawless complexion. Her royal blue designer dress hugged her curves, and a patterned shawl added an aura of feminine mystery.

Sidney heaved a sigh. “She’s as beautiful as I remember.”

“Not my type,” Nick said.

“Oh, pul-eeze, she’s every man’s type.”

“Not for me,” he repeated. “I like straight blond hair, long legs and attitude.”

“And here I am. What a coincidence!”

The two bodyguards wore beige uniforms and blue berets. They carried automatic repeating rifles.

As she watched them approach, she was hit with a memory. Still mindful of the bugs, she whispered to Nick, “Three years ago. I was in Tiquanna. We were out on Hurtado’s yacht. Rico Suarez was with us. He was trying to get my boss to invest a half million dollars in a resort hotel that could turn the beachfront into a tourist’s dream location. He mentioned Underwood Oil.”

“What did he say?”

“Underwood Oil was making investments in their country, providing for their needs. I asked if he was referring to building schools or providing medical aid, but that wasn’t it. Then I lost my train of thought.” She chuckled. “Hurtado was wearing a Speedo.”

“And you got distracted.”

“But not in a good way.”

“That’s actually a helpful memory. I can check records and see what they were investing in.”

Nick had pasted a smile on his face as they waited for the group from Tiquanna to approach. When Sidney looked up at him, she saw an example of perfect diplomacy. But she felt tension in his arm. Anger glimmered in his golden eyes. It was obvious to her that Nick viewed Hurtado as the enemy.

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