LITMIR.BIZ

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didn’t even flinch. “Neither do I.”

      Gabriel kept checking the noisy highway above them and the streets surrounding them. “They could be watching right now.”

      “I’m aware of that, too.”

      “What do you want to do next?”

      “Right now I want to go home and have a private fit.”

      He smiled in spite of his jangled nerve endings. “What exactly happens when you have a private fit?”

      She shook her head, gave him a defiant glare. “I mostly pace and throw pillows. If I actually throw plates or vases, someone will come running. I wish just once I could throw a whole set of china and not have anyone be concerned about it.”

      He turned serious again. “Are you going to be all right for now?”

      She got serious right back. “Do I have a choice?”

      Sirens wailed down the ramp. “The cavalry has arrived,” Gabriel said. “Let the paramedics give you a good examination, Lara.”

      “Of course.” But that defiant chin challenged the notion.

      “I’m serious.” He did another scan of her face and her clothes. She looked as lovely as ever in her pastel flared dress and pearls. “How do you do it?”

      Eyeing the EMTs, she asked, “Do what?”

      “Stay so calm.”

      “I’m not that calm,” she said on a catchy breath. “I’m so practiced in staying calm, always holding up my head, that my heart has forgotten how to feel anything, I think.”

      Her eyes turned a rich blue-green. The glance she gave him was washed in regret and longing, in anticipation and apprehension. She sure was feeling something right now.

      And Gabriel felt it right back. An awareness, a stirring, a need to...hold tight.

      He let her go. Now was not the time to explore these odd and fascinating tingles and jangles moving throughout his system. Now was not the time to remind himself that this woman was so over his pay grade.

      But someone, somehow, had to make the princess see that she was in danger.

      Gabriel had seen enough death and destruction to know all the signs. Someone wanted the princess out of New Orleans.

      Or worse...dead.

      * * *

      “Another quiet night at home.”

      Lara turned from the Benoit to give Gabriel an elegant frown. “Hello, Gabriel. I’m sorry about the accident yesterday, but I hope you got some rest last night.”

      “I did all right. How about you?”

      “I didn’t sleep very well, but I’m a light sleeper on a good day. I’m a bit sore, but I’ll be okay.” She did a shoulder roll to hide her nervousness. “You had to come to my rescue yet again. I don’t think that’s what you signed on for, and I’d rather you didn’t put all this nastiness in the photo essay.”

      “I don’t mind helping out, and I don’t mind leaving all of this out of my story,” Gabriel replied. “But I do mind that you refuse to cancel your upcoming public appearances and the big event coming up.”

      “We’ve been over this,” Lara said, exhaustion tugging at her from every direction. “I’ve been planning this event for close to a year now. I can’t cancel the gala. I have dignitaries coming from the state and the city, and some coming from Washington and Europe, too. I’ve made a pledge to give the ticket money to the Kincade House foundation. I can’t go back on my word now, and I need you to cover the affair to reassure your readers that I’m doing what my husband wanted to do.”

      He got up off the couch and came to stand next to her. “Even if someone is trying to kill you?”

      Lara ignored the shivers hitting her skin like needles. “We don’t have proof of that.”

      “Yet,” he added. “But I’m going to find that proof. I didn’t come here for this, but I won’t stand by and watch you get hurt or worse.”

      He sounded confident and dangerous, but Lara refused to let him put himself in any more danger. She’d started this, so she’d be the one to finish it. “That’s not your job.”

      “It is now.”

      Lara tried to ignore the way his eyes washed over her with a dark concern. She was terrified that he might be right about the odd happenings around here, but she’d learned a long time ago to hide her fears. She’d also learned she couldn’t trust people. She’d been naive once but not anymore. “I have people looking into this, Gabriel. Malcolm and the police are going over the SUV to see what could have happened.”

      “And I don’t trust those people or the police, either, right now. In spite of the tight security around you, someone has breached your home twice and managed to damage one of the tires on your vehicle, too.”

      Lara came up with excuses to convince herself. “We don’t have proof that someone tampered with the tire. That’s why Malcolm is investigating the accident.”

      “But earlier, you agreed that we didn’t think this was an accident.”

      She nodded, played with her pearls. “Yes. But I want to wait for Malcolm’s report before I give in to that conclusion.”

      His frown darkened. “Why are you so stubborn?”

      She continued to play with her necklace. “Why are you so suspicious?”

      “Can’t you see what’s happening right in front of your eyes?”

      “I can see plenty,” she retorted, her arms pressing against the linen of her dress. “But I can’t let them see that I’m afraid. I’ve been through this before, many times. For some reason, if you have money and a title, some people seem to resent everything you do. So they make threats and try to frighten you away. I’m not that easily frightened. I came here with a purpose and I intend to see that purpose to fruition. As long as my detail team stays alert, I should be safe.”

      Gabriel touched his hands to her arms. “But what if your team can’t stay on top of this?”

      “They will.”

      “I don’t believe that. Something new happens every day, and this is only the first week I’ve been with you.”

      She gave him a direct stare. “You’re on Malcolm’s watch list, you know. This did start when you arrived.”

      “Are you serious?”

      “Of course. Don’t disregard my team, Gabriel.”

      “Don’t disregard my warnings, Princess.”

      Lara couldn’t deny he had a point, but she had her reasons for refusing to cancel the gala. “What do you think I should do? Run away? I was taught to never give up, to never quit.”

      “You wouldn’t be giving up, Lara. You’d just have to adjust your plans.”

      She gave him a long, intrigued stare. “What do you mean?”

      “They must have your schedule or eyes on you so they can find out your schedule. I suggest you rearrange everything, starting today, without telling anyone, including Deidre, what your next move is going to be. That way, you can take care of business, but they won’t be one step ahead of you. We need to throw them off.” He shrugged, glanced toward the open pocket doors to the entryway. “Unless, of course, you have a mole on your team.”

      “Are we back to that?”

      “I never left that. You need to consider every possibility.”

      Hoping to distract him, she turned and grabbed her briefcase. She didn’t want him to see the doubt in her eyes. Or the deception.

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