The Ruthless Knight by Jeana E. Mann

Author:Jeana E. Mann [Mann, Jeana E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781943938490
Publisher: Ishkadiddle Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-02-16T18:30:00+00:00

Twelve

Calliope

For the next hour, Nicky holds me in his arms. The strength of his embrace makes it easy to pretend that we’re a normal couple and not Valentina’s captives. We chat about mundane things like music and art. He’s easy to talk to and listens with interest. No man has ever cared about my opinions, not since Cash. Thinking about my ex-boyfriend and former employer stirs up emotions I don’t care to deal with right now. Hours later, our conversation drifts into silence broken only by his measured breathing, and we sleep.

Pablo arrives with a breakfast tray and announces that we’re free to roam the property today. Knowing Valentina will be absent eases a bit of the tension in my gut. I need time to formulate a plan and prepare myself for her return. The last few hours have cemented my resolve. She will not break me. Buoyed with hope, I crawl out of Nicky’s arms and into the shower.

“Mind if I join you?” He steps into the steamy spray of water without waiting for my answer.

“Suit yourself,” I reply, moving aside to give him room beneath the dual waterfall showerheads. As much as I like him, I can’t allow myself to feel anything but fondness. However, sometime during the past twenty-four hours, he’s moved from enemy to friend.

In the bright light of day, I feel shy in front of him about my tummy bulge, the heaviness of my breasts. He seems oblivious to my self-consciousness. Through lowered lashes, I watch as he drizzles soap on a loofah and begins scrubbing. This whole situation is beyond surreal. We’re virtual strangers—enemies—held captive in a tropical paradise. Yet, I can’t help admiring the ripple of water over his lean body. His casual demeanor suggests he’s done this with more than one woman. A sliver of jealousy arises at the idea. Which is ridiculous. If I’m going to survive this ordeal, I can’t fall for him. So, I turn my back to finish washing and get dressed.

“Where are you going?” he asks. Damp strands of hair cling to his temples as he pushes his arms into his shirt and adjusts the collar. The contrast between the buttoned-up man at the bar and this casual, tousle-haired guy makes me do a doubletake.

“I need to know what I’m working with.” Now that the shock of being kidnapped has faded, my old persona—the one I had fought so hard to extinguish—comes back to life with a vengeance. “I want to see the security system, check out the perimeter wall, and look for vulnerabilities.” His eyebrow lifts. I ignore his questioning gaze. “If working with Cash taught me anything, it’s that every fortress has a weak spot.”

“Not this one.”

“People said that about Bellingham Manor, but I was able to find a way in there.” Although I’d been forced to do that job, the success of our mission still gave me pride.

“That was a fluke. You caught us at a bad time. I can assure you that will never happen again.

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