sensation started in the pit of Kyra’s stomach, making her feel uneasy.
She remembered questioning his motives. Why would an outsider stay in a room full of klutzy women he didn’t know? It didn’t make sense when he made the offer, and now it was starting to make her feel sick.
Her thoughts shifted to her emotional melt-down in the garden restaurant when he’d asked her whether she was staying or leaving the party. She’d thought that his question was prompted by good manners and concern. Maybe it wasn’t about arranging a lift home for her. Then only moments later, he went on to proclaim himself a black knight, who’d had a history of relationship hemorrhages.
A spy and a black knight sounded like kindred brothers. The strength was starting to drain out of her body as she recalled the direct questions she’d asked him. Why was he shadowing her? He’d said she was the only one who could change the outcome of the party. Why did he care about the consequences of the hen party? Why was Elin on his mind?
I dare you to ride out the storm at the party with me, he’d said. She didn’t need any more evidence—Joe had a motivation for arriving and staying at Elin’s party.
The ring of truth in Maddy’s claim vibrated through Kyra’s head with a devastating roar. “Denise, I think you’re right about Joe being a spy.” Her limbs turned weak and floppy to the point of collapse. “I feel queasy. I have to sit down.”
“Susie, get Kyra a drink, she’s fallen hard and fast for TDH,” Denise said.
The redhead nodded and scouted off to flag down the waiter at the bar.
Kyra headed for the table where she’d left her handbag and slumped down on the seat. Joe, the masterful spy, had taken her for a bimbo he could manipulate to fulfill his agenda. While he was glued to her side, he’d snooped around the lounge to find out what was going on at the party so he could report back to Marco.
Denise sat down in the opposite chair. “So where’s the mole?”
Kyra rubbed her hands over her stomach. “He’s left the Ainslie.”
“Are you sure he’s not coming back?” Denise folded her arms on the table and leant forward. “Maddy put the party on hold while we waited to see if our tart dramas had shocked him enough into leaving.”
Kyra sat back against the wooden seat to brace her spine. “He flew into Perth earlier this evening. He must have driven from the airport straight to the Ainslie. He told him me he was leaving to check into his city accommodation.” And wait for me to join him. She rearranged the folds of her dress over her thighs and dug her fingers into the chiffon until her skin pinched into points of pain. He would be waiting for the end of the world to arrive before Kyra went to bed with him now.
“There you go, champ. Enjoy.” Susie placed the rum cocktail on the table in front of Kyra. Then Susie sat down beside Denise.
“Maddy will be pleased that her game plan worked,” Denise said. “She was relying on you to keep the mole’s attention away from Elin, and at the same time trying to help you get over your man problems.”
A strange, garbled sound left Kyra’s throat at the revelation that Maddy had deliberately set out to couple her with Joe. She’d succeeded with incredible results.
Denise slid the glass closer to Kyra. “You did a fab job getting rid of him. Drink up, sister. Get the color back in your cheeks.”
Kyra took a large swig of alcohol to wash down the bitter lemon taste in her mouth. “Did Maddy dish out the tart tips and undo the top of my dress to use me as a piece of meat to snag Joe’s interest?” Kyra’s voice was a quivery shambles.
A guilty look passed across Susie’s face. “We all used you, but hey, Elin was our excuse. Maddy said you’d understand someone attractive had to bait the fetching mole and lure him away, or the party was over.”
Kyra’s hand shook as she reached for her glass again. “I don’t understand how she could
She remembered questioning his motives. Why would an outsider stay in a room full of klutzy women he didn’t know? It didn’t make sense when he made the offer, and now it was starting to make her feel sick.
Her thoughts shifted to her emotional melt-down in the garden restaurant when he’d asked her whether she was staying or leaving the party. She’d thought that his question was prompted by good manners and concern. Maybe it wasn’t about arranging a lift home for her. Then only moments later, he went on to proclaim himself a black knight, who’d had a history of relationship hemorrhages.
A spy and a black knight sounded like kindred brothers. The strength was starting to drain out of her body as she recalled the direct questions she’d asked him. Why was he shadowing her? He’d said she was the only one who could change the outcome of the party. Why did he care about the consequences of the hen party? Why was Elin on his mind?
I dare you to ride out the storm at the party with me, he’d said. She didn’t need any more evidence—Joe had a motivation for arriving and staying at Elin’s party.
The ring of truth in Maddy’s claim vibrated through Kyra’s head with a devastating roar. “Denise, I think you’re right about Joe being a spy.” Her limbs turned weak and floppy to the point of collapse. “I feel queasy. I have to sit down.”
“Susie, get Kyra a drink, she’s fallen hard and fast for TDH,” Denise said.
The redhead nodded and scouted off to flag down the waiter at the bar.
Kyra headed for the table where she’d left her handbag and slumped down on the seat. Joe, the masterful spy, had taken her for a bimbo he could manipulate to fulfill his agenda. While he was glued to her side, he’d snooped around the lounge to find out what was going on at the party so he could report back to Marco.
Denise sat down in the opposite chair. “So where’s the mole?”
Kyra rubbed her hands over her stomach. “He’s left the Ainslie.”
“Are you sure he’s not coming back?” Denise folded her arms on the table and leant forward. “Maddy put the party on hold while we waited to see if our tart dramas had shocked him enough into leaving.”
Kyra sat back against the wooden seat to brace her spine. “He flew into Perth earlier this evening. He must have driven from the airport straight to the Ainslie. He told him me he was leaving to check into his city accommodation.” And wait for me to join him. She rearranged the folds of her dress over her thighs and dug her fingers into the chiffon until her skin pinched into points of pain. He would be waiting for the end of the world to arrive before Kyra went to bed with him now.
“There you go, champ. Enjoy.” Susie placed the rum cocktail on the table in front of Kyra. Then Susie sat down beside Denise.
“Maddy will be pleased that her game plan worked,” Denise said. “She was relying on you to keep the mole’s attention away from Elin, and at the same time trying to help you get over your man problems.”
A strange, garbled sound left Kyra’s throat at the revelation that Maddy had deliberately set out to couple her with Joe. She’d succeeded with incredible results.
Denise slid the glass closer to Kyra. “You did a fab job getting rid of him. Drink up, sister. Get the color back in your cheeks.”
Kyra took a large swig of alcohol to wash down the bitter lemon taste in her mouth. “Did Maddy dish out the tart tips and undo the top of my dress to use me as a piece of meat to snag Joe’s interest?” Kyra’s voice was a quivery shambles.
A guilty look passed across Susie’s face. “We all used you, but hey, Elin was our excuse. Maddy said you’d understand someone attractive had to bait the fetching mole and lure him away, or the party was over.”
Kyra’s hand shook as she reached for her glass again. “I don’t understand how she could
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