Free More Than Paradise by Jennifer Fulton Page B

was no way she would want to stop and the truth would be out.
    Gloomily she resigned herself to doing the right thing. If she intended to continue their acquaintanceship beyond this taxi ride, she would have to come clean and accept the consequences. The thought of trading the tingle of mutual awareness they now had for an evening of polite companionship was unappealing. And there would be no chance of making out in an elevator, let alone anything more satisfying. But that was the only real option she had. It was a lose/lose.
    They pulled up outside of the hotel and Charlotte started thanking her some more.
    Ash made her decision and politely cut her off. “There’s something I should tell you.”
    “Oh?” Her mouth parted like she was about to lick her lips. Ash got the chills.
    “I’m not Mr. Evans.”
    Eyes the periwinkle hue of storybook mountains met hers.
    Charlotte’s expression was mildly puzzled, then something seemed to dawn on her and she said, “I’m sure half the people I’m going to meet here are going by different identities. You don’t owe me any explanations.”
    There was a tease underlying her tone, the faintest suggestion of ß irtation in the downward sweep of her eyelashes. Ash decided immediately to delay the plunge into candor and instead explain the situation over dinner, assuming Charlotte would accept an invitation.
    Meantime, she wanted to know if what she’d just heard was Charlotte’s way of letting her off the hook, and that she had Þ nally guessed. She thought again about the mystery woman she’d heard in Dani’s bedroom
    • 60 •

    MORE THAN PARADISE
    that night. She seemed to be a lesbian. If Charlotte was that woman, then Ash was in luck. But there was only one way to Þ nd out.
    She paid the driver and quickly bailed out of the cab so she could open the other door. Because Charlotte was a lady and clearly accustomed to being treated like one, she accepted the small courtesy with grace. Ash appreciated that. There was nothing worse than trying to get a door only to Þ nd the woman on the other side pushing it open in her face.
    She walked Charlotte into the lobby and was immediately conscious of her own appearance. Thanks to the weather, her last assignment, and the bar, she reeked of sweat, alcohol, and other people’s cigarettes. Her clothes were Þ lthy and one leg of her pants had a tear ß apping at the knee. Her Gucci loafers belonged in the trash and she needed a shower two days ago. Oh yeah, any desirable woman would leap at the chance to have dinner with her. Ash cursed beneath her breath and decided it wasn’t ß irtatiousness she’d detected back in the cab. Charlotte’s sidelong glances were probably signs of embarrassment.
    The guard near the elevators gave her a long, hard look as they approached. Ash met his gaze unß inchingly. “Personal security,” she said. “Rough day.”
    His eyes prowled her body for the telltale evidence of hired muscle.
    Concealed weapons, deep tan, expensive footwear. He gave her a nod.
    Ash drew Charlotte toward some potted palms. “Listen, there’s something else I wanted to ask you.” She felt bashful, which had not occurred in living memory.
    Charlotte gave her an understanding smile. “I didn’t intend for you to pay for the cab.” She started unbuttoning her shirt at the waist, reaching for the conspicuous money belt.
    “No.” Ash caught her wrist. Embarrassed, she instantly let go.
    “I don’t need your money. And you should never open that belt in public.”
    She stared at their warped reß ections in a brass panel that capped a nearby pillar. The brief burn of Charlotte’s skin against her own was like a maddening crumb thrown to a beggar. How could this be happening to her? Was she Þ nally losing it before her next big assignment? Was it time to punch out and spend the rest of her days converting her property holdings into a real estate fortune? She knew guys who’d made a killing in Somalia or Iraq and