Page 122 of Eternal Surrender

What I’d done was outrageous.

I saw a flicker in her eyes. And yet, the way she reacted told me she had loved it. Loved the danger of it that made her adrenaline surge.

That familiar suppressed sparkle. “You’re reckless!”

“Actually, that’s the word I keep in reserve for anyone who wanders into the heart of a secret society’s headquarters after being clearly informed of the danger.”

“Nothing happened.”

I gave her the look that deserved. “Yet.”

“They will inform Vanderbilt.”

“I hope they do.” She looked defiant. “You baffle me. Why did you ask me to come here?”

“More Champagne?” I offered.

“Unlike you, I haven’t got all night.”

I shook off her remark. “May I introduce my friend Lucas.”

He stepped out of the shadows, half lit by the tea lights, his striking features bestowing a Middle Eastern descent; a typical woman’s man, thirty-something, tall, dark and ridiculously good looking. “What’s this about a Porsche?” asked Lucas with a glint of amusement.

Ingrid studied him.

“Lucas is a good friend.” I pretended not to notice her reaction. “He’s here. . . for you.”

She rested a hand on her chest as though trying to work out what I’d planned for her.

“I thought it was time you two met,” I teased her, speaking slowly and emphasizing my words to make a point. “Ingrid, you’re ready for this.”

She turned toward me slowly in an accusatory manner.

I motioned to Lucas. “There’s no one quite as skilled as you.”

He lowered his chin and those deep brown irises of his caused Ingrid to freeze. She shook herself out of the trance he had her in and turned back to me, unable to surrender her presumption.

I took her drink from her and glanced over at Lucas. “She wants this.”

Ingrid’s lips parted as though trying to speak but unable to find the words.

“Are you alright?” I feigned concern and wrapped my arm around her waist.

She shook her head. “I’m not sure. . . what this is?”

“Perhaps you should call James and tell him you’ll be late.” I moved away from her.

Her eyes begged me to stay.

“This is about you finding the answers you need,” I whispered.

She was taking small breaths, her anticipation rising with each second that I used the silence against her.

Finally, I said, “Lucas spent his entire life digging around Egyptian burial sites.” I leaned back against the railing next to her. “I promised to arrange a meeting with the professor. Well, here he is.”

Ingrid tried to save the moment. “Well that’s marvelous.”

Of course I wasn’t going to bring up the fact that Lucas was also a vampire. She didn’t need to know that, and by the way she relaxed a little, she didn’t seem to detect it either.