Free The Spy Is Cast by Diane Henders Page B

glanced up to catch him observing me with amusement. I
grinned back. “I’m beginning to feel compensated for my suffering,”
I joked softly.
    I turned back to my
plate to give the roast lamb and vegetable mousse the attention it
deserved, and made a valiant effort to stay engaged in the
conversation, privately wishing everybody would just shut up and
let me enjoy the meal. A delectable cheese course came and went,
and while the hazelnut crème brulée and coffee were being served,
Harchman began the software presentation.
    I listened with half
an ear. Most of the technology and jargon went over my head, so I
occupied myself instead by surreptitiously people-watching.
Harchman was an uninspired speaker, but his presentation was
mercifully short. After a question period, the tables were cleared
off, and we were invited to the salon for after-dinner drinks.
    The salon proved to be
a slightly smaller version of the cavernous dining room, and guests
circulated comfortably around yet another bar. After a while, I
manoeuvred Kane into a corner and leaned close, slipping my arm
around him. It seemed the network was being broadcast throughout
the entire house, because once again I ducked in and then quickly
out.
    Grateful for the
string quartet sawing away next to us, I didn’t even try to
suppress my involuntary cry of distress when I re-entered the real
world. When the punishing pain receded, I realized Kane held me
crushed against him with one arm. His other hand supported my head
while he trailed hungry kisses over my throat. I regained my
balance with difficulty, slipping my arms around his neck. His grip
loosened and we gazed into each other’s eyes from close range.
    “You sure give a girl
mixed messages,” I joked.
    I felt the strain
leave his shoulders as he smiled down at me. “You went down like a
ton of bricks that time,” he muttered against my neck. “Took me by
surprise. Are you all right?”
    “Just the usual,” I
whispered back. “It hurts a little more each time, when I go in and
out frequently like this.”
    He drew back to look
into my eyes. “You need to stop, then. I won’t be able to cover if
it gets any worse.”
    “Okay, I’ll give it a
break.”
    He released me and I
stepped back. As I did, the two black-clad men interposed
themselves between us and greeted Kane pleasantly. Kane caught my
eye and I turned to stroll away, responding to his almost
imperceptible signal.
    I jerked back when I
came chest to face with Harchman. Judging by his fixed stare, he
had no complaint.
    “Lawrence,” I gushed.
“Your presentation was fascinating. You’re such a masterful
speaker.” I suffered a momentary pang of apprehension that a bolt
of lightning would strike me dead, but nothing happened. Maybe the
gods thought it was all for a good cause.
    His puny chest puffed
up. God save me from man boobs.
    He moistly clutched my
hand. “Thank you, my dear. And now I’d like to give you that tour I
promised.”
    I gave him my best
dazzling smile. “That would be wonderful. I’ll get John.” I turned
and beckoned to Kane, who was still involved in conversation. He
made a move toward me, but one of the men grasped his arm. He
frowned and the man let go, but as Kane stepped forward, both men
blocked his path again.
    Harchman watched the
interchange with a smirk. “I took the liberty of making sure your
husband would be occupied. I’m sure we’ll enjoy our tour much more
without him.”
    A cold, slow trickle
of apprehension oozed down my spine. “Oh, but he’ll be so
disappointed if he doesn’t get to see your beautiful home,” I
argued lightly. “Architecture is one of his greatest hobbies.”
    Harchman shrugged.
“Beautiful women are one of my greatest hobbies. And I find
husbands hamper my enjoyment of that hobby.” He took my elbow,
sliding his hand intimately up my arm and grazing my breast. “Come,
my dear.”
    Trying to hide my
fear, I glanced over at Kane again. Both men were blocking