The Calypso Ring Read online

  Minutes later, they lay beside each other, Saul’s arm around her. “I think I like going with the flow.”

  He raised his head and looked down at her, giving her that sexy smile that started her hormones pumping once more. “And you do it so well.”

  Dropping his head back on the pillow, he drew her closer. She ran her hand down over the sheet that covered them and stroked her fingers along his hip. “Does it give you a lot of pain?”

  “No. I got lucky.”

  “You tensed up earlier.”

  “Gets me sometimes when I twist awkwardly. It’s no big deal.”

  “I’m sure it is. You were shot. You shrug it off too easily.”

  “I’m alive. Too many guys got it a whole lot worse than me.”

  “Why on earth do you want to go back?”

  She felt him shrug. “It’s what I do. People need to know what’s happening.”

  It was hard to let herself think of him in a situation where he could be hurt again, or worse. It didn’t seem to matter that she hardly knew him, that they’d only met a few days ago. Already she was starting to care about him, care about what happened to him.

  One way or another he was going to wheedle himself under her skin, or worse, into her heart. She’d do well to remember this was only a temporary thing between them, and that soon he’d go back to his real life and she could get on with hers. All she had to do in the meantime was make sure she didn’t fall for him.

  She sat, drawing the sheet up around her breasts. “I need to call home.”

  He ran his fingers lightly down her back. “Why don’t you have your own place?”

  “I like it where I am.”

  “You don’t find it awkward living with your family? How does it work when you want a guy to stay the night?”

  Seeing that she’d never once invited a man back to stay the night, his words made her feel defensive. Like she had to explain herself. “My family considers that my business.”

  He held up his hands. “Hey, no offense meant.”

  She took a breath. “I don’t see what the big deal is that I live with my family, that’s all.”

  “No big deal.” He ran his fingers down her back again. “I’m just being selfish and hoping we’ll be doing this again and you might want to take me back to your place next time.”

  “We haven’t talked about a next time.” Although she wanted it, desperately.

  “Then maybe we should. Why don’t you come back here and let me apologize for being a jerk?”

  “There’s nothing to apologize for.”

  When she let him ease her back down, he moved over her. “I’m pretty certain I’ll do something soon enough. Why don’t you let me get some credits in the bank?”

  She laughed, amazed how quickly he charmed his way back into her arms.

  Oh yes, she thought as his kiss melted her defenses. She most definitely needed to make sure she didn’t fall for the smooth-talking and very sexy Saul O’Donnell.

  Chapter Eight

  “Damn the man. If he thinks he can screw me around he’ll be bloody sorry.”

  Worried for her niece, Sylvia Wood clasped and unclasped her fingers as her brother paced his office floor a few days later. Unable to contact Armstrong by phone, and desperate to know the outcome of his meeting with Roger Colcannon, she’d cut short a lunch with friends and arrived at the teaching hospital in the hope of catching him between lectures.

  “He’s playing games,” Sylvia offered. “Trying to keep you on your back foot.”

  “Apparently, he has an emergency. Some crisis or other, which means he can’t deign to see me until six this evening. I’ll have to get someone to cover my lectures, which he damn well knows.”

  “He knows you’ll worry more if he keeps you on a string. Knows you’ll probably cave and do his bidding. I’m hoping this will die down now anyway. Mia hasn’t received any more notes.”

  “That’s not what Colcannon thinks.” Armstrong grabbed a note from the desk. “He left this for me. I didn’t want to worry you with it, but I don’t know what to do. “

  Sylvia took the paper. She could see from the expression on his face that the whole business was wearing on him and her heart ached for her strong and capable younger brother.

  She read the note, then read it again. “Mia didn’t mention a ring.”

  “Well, Colcannon’s pretty sure she received it.” He paced to the window and stood looking over the grounds. “Has she told you anything more about this reporter?”

  “No. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the reason for her late nights. She didn’t get home until after one again this morning.”

  Armstrong was silent a moment, slipping his hands into his trouser pockets. “I’m having him checked. I don’t much like the timing. This starts happening and he suddenly shows up from nowhere? It’s too damn convenient for my liking. Apparently she went on some sort of stakeout with him earlier this week.”

  “How do you know that?” Sylvia stared at her brother’s back, until realization dawned. “You’re having her followed?”

  He swung around from the window, his eyes gleaming with irritation. “I won’t apologize for protecting my daughter.”

  “I understand that. But she won’t appreciate you interfering in her private life, Armstrong.”

  “She won’t know if I can help it. My man’s discreet and professional.”

  “I can’t say I’m not at least a little bit relieved. Not that I approve of you having her tailed, but at least we know she’s okay.” Sylvia relaxed back into her chair. “I really don’t understand with his contacts, why Colcannon can’t put a stop to this himself.”

  “Don’t think he won’t have tried.”

  “After all these years, Armstrong. I can’t believe it’s happening.”

  “Nothing we can do about it now, except make sure Mia is protected. If the shit hits the proverbial fan I don’t give a damn what happens to that conniving bastard, but I’ll move heaven and hell to make sure the fallout doesn’t affect my girl.”

  Sylvia looked at her brother. He would do anything to protect his daughter. And perhaps that was the most frightening thing about this whole affair. A chill raced down her spine and a prayer left her lips that it wouldn’t come to him having to prove it.

  ****

  A little before six Armstrong arrived at the Longmead Men’s Club for his meeting with Colcannon. While he didn’t frequent the prestigious establishment much these days, he was still a member, He signed in, exchanged pleasantries with a couple of acquaintances, then headed to the first floor meeting rooms. He turned left along the corridor and stood in front of the assigned room. He batted down the growing anger, tempted to simply walk in unannounced. To knock the egotistical smile off the face of the man who had once been a major player during the most difficult time of Armstrong’s life. Now, it seemed, history might well be about to repeat itself.

  Giving in to protocol, Armstrong tapped the door sharply and was rewarded with a terse. “Come.”

  He sucked in a breath, gritted his teeth and walked in.

  Colcannon sat upright in the chair at the head of the long table. He wore a suit, the tie still securely fastened around the collar of a pristine white shirt. His dark brown hair was slicked back in the manner that suggested used car salesman to Armstrong, but the brown eyes were too sharp, too calculated to be anything other than a player on the field of power.

  Colcannon rose, straightening his jacket. “Armstrong. I’d offer my hand, but we both know we’re beyond that.”

  Since he wanted to tell him he’d rather cut off said hand than shake it, Armstrong simply narrowed his eyes. “Let’s get straight down to it, Colcannon.”

  “Of course. But we can at least be civilized. Allow me to offer you a drink.” He sat, his finger hovering over the telephone pad. “Whisky, if I remember correctly?”

  He thought he might choke on it, especially when offered by such a treacherous bastard as the man
who faced him. But considering what they were here to discuss, Armstrong thought it best to keep things as equable as possible.

  He nodded and Colcannon placed the order.

  When he’d replaced the receiver, Colcannon sat back in the leather chair, which creaked a little under his solid weight. While not a tall man, he had always been wide of girth, and, in the intervening years since Armstrong had last met him face to face, had expanded considerably.

  “First things first, Colcannon.” Despite the anger that hadn’t even begun to subside, Armstrong made himself sit back in his chair diagonally across from the politician. “As I told you on the phone, if you ever put Mia in danger again, so help me I’ll make public everything I know.”

  Colcannon’s laugh was cold. “Idle threats aren’t the way to go. Even you must see that. I’ll do whatever I need to do to protect my interests. It’s for you to protect yours.”

  “That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

  “Then you need to tell her to leave it alone.”

  “Don’t think I haven’t tried,” Armstrong snapped. “But what the hell do you expect her to do? She isn’t stupid.” He took a steadying breath and lowered his voice. “The damn notes were bad enough, but now this bloody ring.”

  “Have you brought it with you?”

  “No. I’m not sure how you expect me to get it back to you. What good would it do? She knows about it now, and is unlikely to give up without at least trying to find out who sent it.”

  “Then tell her you sent it.”

  “She wouldn’t believe me. I’ve always been so against her collecting the damn jewelry she’d know I was lying. Besides which, it wouldn’t explain the notes. Like I said, Mia isn’t stupid.”

  The two men were silent for a moment, but their gazes never left each other.

  Armstrong thought back to his conversation earlier that day with his sister. “With all your contacts, why in God’s name can’t you find out who’s doing it and put a stop to it at the source?”

  Colcannon didn’t respond immediately, but pursed his lips as he swiveled in his chair. Those devious eyes never left Armstrong. “Shall we just say, some people can surprise you. Make you realize they weren’t as weak and stupid as they would have you believe.”

  Armstrong’s hands moved into tight fists. The bastard was trying to provoke him. Even after all these years, Colcannon knew just where to hit. “Maybe they had no choice.”

  “This is not the time to harp on the past. What you need to do is make sure that daughter of yours keeps her pretty little nose out of things that don’t concern her.”

  Armstrong leaned forward, half out of his chair as he loomed over the desk. “You put her at risk again and I’ll spill every damn thing I know, even if it hurts Mia. She’ll deal with it, and she’ll have me there to help her deal with it. Whereas you? You’ll be where you should have been all along. In the dirt.”

  Colcannon’s smirk morphed into a smile at the tap on the door. The waiter entered with a silver tray on which sat two crystal tumblers containing whisky. Armstrong sat back, loosening his tight fingers and stretching his hands out along his thighs.

  After the man left, Colcannon sipped his drink. “I doubt you’ll be prepared to carry through with your threats, Freeman. You’re a lot of things, but you’re not an imbecile.”

  “Hurt her in any way and you’ll find out just how far I’m prepared to go.”

  Colcannon held his gaze for several long seconds, then he pointed his finger at Armstrong’s chest. “Do what needs to be done. Forbid her to carry on delving into things, if you have to. For God’s sake, I’m sure you can handle the whims of a mere woman.” His dark eyes cut to slits. “Or maybe I overestimate you. Again. Perhaps you need me to step in once more and guide things where they need to go.”

  Armstrong glared at the man. “You really are a cold-hearted bastard.”

  Still that narrow-eyed stare. “Events…and people…create who we are.”

  “We make our own choices. At least those of us with the balls to act like men.”

  If possible, his eyes narrowed even more. “Take care, my friend.”

  “Your threats don’t scare me, Colcannon.” After taking a long, fortifying swig of whisky, Armstrong stood. “For Mia’s sake, I’ll do whatever I can to make sure she stays away from this. You just do what you can to stop her from receiving any more bloody notes or gifts.”

  Armstrong went to the door, but turned as he reached for the handle. “And tell your man to stay away from her.”

  “An unfortunate misunderstanding. I merely asked that she be relieved of the pendant. If my messenger got a little carried away with the task, I can only apologize for any distress caused to your daughter.”

  Armstrong wasn’t fooled for a moment by the charm that oozed from his adversary. “I’m sure you regret the incident,” he offered with equal falsity, even as his body tightened with rage toward the man who had mugged his daughter. “But I refer to the other messenger tasked to do your dirty work.”

  “It seems you overestimate my capability in that respect.”

  Since the man was adept at deception, Armstrong ignored his statement. “This American you’ve got doing your bidding. Call him off.”

  “Her knight in shining armor is, alas, not on my payroll.”

  “And yet you know of his existence.” Armstrong narrowed his eyes. “What, I wonder, would your constituents make of a man who stoops to such levels?”

  “They would appreciate that I’m protecting my interests.” Colcannon stood and walked out from behind the table to join Armstrong at the door. “Now, allow me to walk you out.”

  “I can find my own way.”

  “No doubt, but I have something for you that I’m sure you’ll find of interest.”

  ****

  From behind the wheel of his hired car outside the Longmead Men’s Club, Saul shifted to dislodge the cramp that had taken up residence in his hip. All this sitting around on stakeout shit was taking its toll. But then last night’s excesses with a certain hot blonde hadn’t helped. Well, it might not have helped his hip, but it sure hiked up his happiness quota. Smiling, he thought of Mia stretched out on his bed; of Mia dressing hastily when she realized it was after midnight again and she hadn’t called home; of Mia chastising him as he tried to steal yet another erotic kiss in the cab outside her house.

  Hell, he’d barely been able to get the woman out of his head all week. Too bad she had a series of tutorials that would keep her busy well into the evening, but at least he’d been able to talk her into meeting him for a late drink. But only for a drink, she’d been categorical in that. No sex. Apparently, she needed to spend time this weekend marking assignments and catching up on her research.

  Like hell. Not if he had any say in it, she wouldn’t.

  He shifted again, propping one foot on the console and trying to ease the ache in his lower back. He’d followed Colcannon to the Men’s Club late that afternoon but since then nothing. Nada. Zilch. What the hell did the man do in the damn club anyway?

  Absently, he saw yet another group of middle-aged men in business suits enter the club through the heavy oak revolving door. Didn’t they have homes to go to on a Friday evening?

  Colcannon walked out onto the stone steps. Saul sat up and grabbed his camera from the passenger seat. He snapped a few shots as Colcannon talked with another man. A tall, distinguished guy whose commanding presence seemed to dominate the politician. Saul searched his memory banks for some idea of who the man might be, but came up empty.

  He raised the camera and took a few more shots. From the way the two men held themselves—rigid and uncompromising—this was no friendly get-together at the end of a working week.

  Surreptitiously, Colcannon slipped the man an envelope before disappearing back into the club. The other man looked at the envelope then stuffed it unceremoniously into his pocket before moving down the steps. Along the street, he hailed a cab. Saul made a mental note to ch
eck him out amongst his Brit colleagues.

  Seconds later the cab disappeared and Saul resigned himself to another sojourn in stakeout land.

  Chapter Nine

  Mia walked into the staff cloakroom feeling just a little too pleased that the tutorials were over. Normally she was happy to see students on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, but now she was eager to be with Saul.

  She wanted to question the wisdom of staying late at his apartment every night that week, but truthfully she hadn’t needed much persuading. Which was pretty scary. Somewhere along the way she’d managed to ignore her plan to keep the man behind a nice secure barrier. To see their little trysts as a pleasant interlude until he left London in a few weeks’ time. What she needed was time alone to regroup. To pull up the drawbridge and get him safely back where he belonged.

  She placed her bag on the cloakroom counter and pulled out her lip-gloss. Applying it, she resolved to stick with her plan to have that drink with him as arranged, but then leave before he persuaded her otherwise. Her work had been piling up, and many items on the to-do list still awaited her attention. Plus, her father had been short-tempered this past week, and she worried that her extremely late nights were feeding into his tetchy mood.

  Each morning at breakfast he acted disapproving and sullen. She’d tried to ignore it, but it hurt that they seemed to be at loggerheads and she had no real idea why. Any attempts at discovering the reason, met with a stock reply that she should be focusing on her career right then, making sure that she made the most of the opportunities that were coming her way. She hadn’t thought it prudent to remind him that just a week ago he’d been urging her to get out more, have a life outside work.

  Perhaps Saul had been right and she did need to start thinking about getting her own place. How many thirty-year-old women still lived at home? Not that she’d given it much thought before, she hadn’t felt the need seeing as the arrangement had been working perfectly well for all of them until recently.