The Deception (7 page)

The crowd receded. A fresh wave of nervousness surged through her. What would she do if he recognized her? How would she explain she wasn’t a prostitute, but was actually a well-respected journalist? How would she explain it to Pete? He’d be as upset as Lucy had been that she’d put herself in so much danger. Her dilemma resolved itself when Will offered to go to the bar for fresh drinks.

“Savannah, can I get you something?”

She forced herself to look up at him. His gaze challenged hers.

“A beer? A glass of champagne? An orgasm?”

Her face flamed, despite the fact she was sure he was merely referring to a popular Kahlua-and-Baileys-based cocktail.

“No, no, I’m fine, thanks.”
Just go
. She needed to get away from him so she could breathe properly.

“How about you, Pete? Declan? Chloe? Are you guys right for drinks?”

Just say yes
!
Just say yes
! The thought reverberated inside Savannah’s head. She didn’t want Will Rutledge to have a reason to come back to their party. Surely, a man of his social stature would know plenty of people in the room? There must have been nearly a thousand of Sydney’s wealthy and influential there. What were the odds she’d run into him again? She refused to even consider that he might be sharing their table.

“Yeah, another beer would be great, thanks,” Pete replied. “And I guess you’d better get Lucy a glass of orange juice.” He turned to Chloe and Declan. “What are you two drinking?”

“I’ll have a beer, too,” Declan replied and then looked at Chloe. “How about you, sweetheart?”

Declan gazed at his wife with tender adoration and Savannah’s heart clenched. She swallowed a sigh and forced away another flash of jealousy. How would it feel to have a man look at her like that? Like she was the most important person in the world? Jonathan had never looked at her like that, not even after they became engaged.

“No thanks, I’m good,” Chloe replied. “Why don’t you guys go ahead? I’ll stay here and keep Savannah company.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Pete agreed. “That way Lucy will be able to find you when she comes out of the bathroom.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing you want, Savannah?” Will murmured.

He’d moved closer. His voice glided over her, low and intimate and her belly clenched with remembered desire. She cleared her throat.

“Actually, I-I might have a glass of champagne, thank you.” If there was even the slightest possibility she was going to share a table with him, she sure as hell needed something to take the edge off her panic.

He eyed her boldly. “Coming right up,” he murmured.

Her cheeks flamed at the double
entendre
. Once again, his gaze slid down her body, leaving a trail of fire. She held her breath and turned her face away, refusing to acknowledge his comment. He moved even closer. So close, if she leaned in just a little, she could touch him.

A hot blush stole across her face and spread lower to her neck. Every part of her burned. Unable to help it, she breathed in the fresh, woodsy aroma of his expensive cologne. Memories of their encounter in the brothel assailed her. Her pulse accelerated. He was
way
too close.

A knowing smile turned up his sensuous lips. The same lips she remembered driving her crazy. As if he could see the pulse that beat frantically against her neck, a glint of pure male satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. Moments later, he turned and shouldered his way toward the bar, Pete and Declan following in his wake.

She took a deep breath and worked on trying to relax, glad that the man who’d haunted her thoughts since Saturday night had finally moved away. Chloe sidled up beside her, a shrewd look in her eyes.

“What was that all about?”

Savannah blushed again and averted her gaze, deciding to play it cool. “What was what all about?”

Her friend grinned and nudged Savannah with her elbow. “Don’t play coy with me, Savannah O’Neill. I know you too well. I can’t believe you haven’t told me about Will Rutledge. He’s
gorgeous
! And here you were not more than five minutes ago trying to get me to believe you were still heartbroken.”

Savannah shook her head. “No, no, you have it all wrong. I might not still be suffering from a broken heart, but that doesn’t mean I’m looking for a replacement. I-I don’t even know the man. We-we only just met. Just now. Like…a minute ago. Right before you showed up.”

“
Mm
, no wonder you haven’t mentioned him. I’m sure I’ll be hearing a lot more about him in the future, though. I saw the way he looked at you. He couldn’t drag his eyes away.”

Savannah’s heart thumped. Excitement mixed with more than a little nervousness flooded her veins. Maybe she’d overreacted? After all, nothing had been said about Will recognizing her. Apart from his parting comment—and that could have been simply a quip from a man who found a woman attractive—his behavior had been nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe she was worrying about nothing?

She looked at Chloe and smiled. She’d been gifted a few hours with a friend she hadn’t seen since she’d moved to Sydney. It might have only been six months ago, but when they’d been used to catching up every few days, it felt like a lifetime.

She recalled her earlier vow to let her hair down and enjoy herself. There was no reason it couldn’t still happen. Having Chloe along for company was an added bonus. Will looked good enough to eat in his tuxedo and he was obviously not immune to her.

What could it hurt if she flirted with him?
He didn’t know anything about her and after tonight, she was unlikely to see him again. It wasn’t as though they ran in the same social circles. He was clearly known to the Duncans and yet she’d never crossed paths with him before.

She frowned and wondered why Lucy had never mentioned him. Perhaps he was married? She couldn’t recall reading anywhere about a wife, but it wasn’t like Lucy to pass over an opportunity for matchmaking. Speaking of Lucy, where
was
she?

* * *

The queue at the bar extended at least three men deep. Will breathed a surreptitious sigh of relief. It meant he’d have a decent length of time before he had to return to Savannah and keep up the façade that he hadn’t recognized her, a chore he was finding more and more difficult.

She looked breathtaking in the long black gown that clung to her curves like a second skin. Her hair fell in a mass of auburn ringlets, loose and unfettered down her back. He wanted nothing more than to bury his hands in it and breathe in her exotic scent.

But he couldn’t do any of that. To do so, would mean he would have to acknowledge he’d already met her—in a brothel, no less. She was a friend of Pete and his wife. There was no way Will was going to be the one to make them aware of her occupation. He could only assume they didn’t know—after all, it wasn’t something one would necessarily choose to advertise.

The fact that Savannah hadn’t recognized
him
caused a moment’s consternation. It wasn’t as if he’d been in disguise. In fact, he’d been dressed just as formally then as he was tonight, minus the bow tie.

Then again, it had been dark and she’d been taken unawares. It was possible she truly didn’t realize he was the man she’d encountered in the brothel. Either way, there was no denying his body had reacted to her as strongly tonight as it had the first time they’d met and he was having a hard time keeping his interest under wraps. Not that she seemed to mind over much. He was sure he hadn’t mistaken the way her chest rose and fell just a little bit faster after his quip about the drinks.

“So, Declan, how’s it going down in Canberra?”

Pete’s question interrupted Will’s reverie and he forced himself to concentrate on the men who stood beside him.

“It’s been a good move, Pete. You can’t beat the weather down south in the summer and as much as I enjoyed working as a state copper, there’s nothing like doing it for the Feds.”

Pete snorted. “It sounds like you’ve gone all snotty on us, Declan. Don’t tell me you’re going to turn into one of those Feds who look down their nose at lowly state coppers like Will and I?”

Declan encompassed Will with his smile. “Not at all. Some of my fondest memories are of the times we nailed drug-dealing crime bosses up and down the coast.”

“Yeah, well, there are still plenty of them left,” Will stated. “In fact, we’re in the middle of a complex investigation right now.”

Declan sobered. “Who is it?”

Will’s voice turned grim. “Vince Maranoa.”

“That’s a familiar name.”

“Yeah, it’s amazing the number of investigations his name’s cropped up in over the years,” Pete answered. “We’ve never had enough evidence to pin anything substantial on him, despite the rumors. About four years ago, he bought the Black Opal and the gossip mill went into overdrive. Will’s been hanging out there undercover for the last few weeks.”

Declan grinned at Will and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “How’s that been working out for you?”

Will grinned back at him, liking Declan more and more. “It’s been tough on occasions. I’m glad I haven’t had to explain myself to a wife or girlfriend after a night out there. I usually come home reeking of cigar smoke and cheap perfume.” He shrugged. “It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.”

“Ah, but are you making any progress?” Declan chuckled. “That’s the real question.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Will agreed, his mirth slowly receding. “A taskforce conducted a raid late last year, but they came up empty handed. That asshole knew they were coming. There’s no other explanation.” Will shook his head. “They didn’t find so much as an ounce of evidence and yet anyone in Sydney can tell you he’s a big-time dealer.”

Determination tightened in Will’s gut. He stared at Declan. “We’re going to nail the shithead this time, once and for all.”

Declan held Will’s gaze. After a moment or two, he nodded, as if satisfied with what he saw. “I wish you all the best with it, Will. Drug dealers of Maranoa’s caliber are some of the most cunning operators in the system; they know exactly what to do to fly under the radar and always have a patsy or two to sacrifice if the heat gets too much.

“But, that’s what makes them the most satisfying to put away. Every single member of the local law enforcement knows how hard you’ve worked to get them there.”

Will nodded, relieved that Declan got it. It’s what came from swapping shop talk with a fellow DEA officer, even if the man had turned traitor and transferred to the Feds.

A moment later, Declan spied another former colleague a little distance away. After putting in a request with Pete for a beer, he excused himself and turned and headed toward his friend. The line at the bar moved forward and Will and Pete finally got close enough to lean against the bar while they waited for service.

Pete shot Will a quizzical look. “What was
with that comment you made to Savannah about being in advertising? I didn’t realize you were so picky about who you told about your occupation in law enforcement.”

Will cast around for a suitable response. “Yeah, um…sorry about that. I just…” He shrugged and looked away.

He should just come right out and tell Pete the woman was a prostitute.
But he couldn’t. The words kept getting stuck in his throat.

Pete’s eyebrows rose. Feeling the pressure, Will latched onto the first explanation that fell into his mind.

“The thing is, I really like her, but she’s just not into coppers.” He kept his eyes lowered and prayed Pete would leave it at that. He should have known better.

“Since when? I’ve known Savannah for years. I’ve never heard her say anything remotely like that. In fact, I’m sure she went out with a bloke from the Fraud Squad a few years ago.” His gaze narrowed on Will’s face. “I didn’t realize you’d met her before.”

Will fidgeted and prayed for the bartender to appear. He schooled his expression into one of mild curiosity. “I’ve only met her once, about a week ago. It was late. We were at a club. I doubt she’d remember me.” He gave him a quick grin. “But I’d appreciate it if you can keep the cop thing quiet. I’d like to give it the best shot that I can.”

Pete’s face relaxed. “Yeah, well, I guess so. It doesn’t matter to me what you call yourself. Just don’t go breaking her heart, will you?” he warned. “You’ve said yourself how much you hate commitment. Savannah’s like a kid sister to me.”

Will choked, hiding his surprise behind a bout of coughing.

Thank Christ he’d kept his mouth shut.
He
so
didn’t want to be around when his boss discovered what the redhead beauty with the pair of very fine green eyes did for a living.

Thankfully, Pete didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. He glanced over his shoulder and peered through the crowd to where the women were waiting. “It looks like Lucy’s made it back.”

Will breathed a surreptitious sigh of relief and clutched at the opportunity to bring an end to the questions.

“Why don’t you head back and keep the ladies company?” Will nodded down the length of the bar. “From the line-up around here, it looks like we’re going to be waiting awhile longer. I’ll bring the drinks as soon as I can.”

“Yeah, thanks. I might do that,” Pete replied. A moment later, he disappeared into the crowd.

CHAPTER 6

From out of the throng of people, Lucy appeared, looking radiant in a satin evening dress of deep crimson, her pregnancy belly well pronounced against the stretchy fabric.

“Savannah! Hi, you’re here. I
finally
got out of the bathroom. I hope I don’t have to go back there in a hurry. It took me
forever
to reach the front of the queue. What is it with women and the bathroom? I know I should have gone before we left home, but you know, we were running late and the taxi was waiting and…” She shrugged her shoulders and grinned.

“Don’t you mean
you
were running late?” Pete materialized behind her. “I was ready
hours
before. I don’t know why it takes you women so long to get prepared.”

“Well, aren’t you happy with the results? If you want me to look like
this
, you have to expect it’s going to take some time.” She twirled around a little awkwardly in front of him, the long narrow skirt shifting slightly with the movement. The sleeveless bodice complemented her light tan and emphasized her pregnancy-inspired cleavage. Three-inch heels in matching crimson patent leather helped to elevate her five-foot nothing frame.