To Russia With Love (Countermeasure Series) (10 page)

Resigned, George sighed. “I hate keeping anything from her, but I understand. So…did you get the email I sent?”

Cassandra opened it as it appeared in the queue. “Yes, it’s here.” Her eyes lifted to the camera again. “Hey, don’t forget to send the transcripts Jennifer translated. Oh! And the source phone numbers.”

“Okay, guys. Gotta run. Trev, I’ll get the taps on the phones and digital communications set up.”

Trevor leaned into Cassandra so George could see him. “Perfect, George. Keep us posted.”

George turned his gaze in Cassandra’s direction. “Don’t forget to get back to me if you change your mind.”

“We will. I promise.”

“And Trev, I haven’t forgotten about my payment.”

Trevor laughed and shook his head at his eagerness. “Such a goner, mate. Yeah we’ll work on it.” George grinned widely.

When the call terminated, Cassandra and Trevor burst out laughing. “I like seeing him that goofy about Jen. It’s about time,” Trevor commented as he watched her pull up the transcripts.

Cassandra turned her face toward Trevor and flashed him a cocky grin. “You were worse than him, if I recall correctly.”

“Goofy? Me? Nah. I was hoping my puppy-dog eyes would melt your icy heart. Look at that! Here you are. With me. It worked,” he boasted jokingly.

Cassandra slapped Trevor’s arm, feigning hurt feelings. “Icy heart?”

“You have to agree that I had to work my butt off to win your heart. I deserve a reward, not a head butt.” He rubbed the sore spot on his forehead where she had hit him earlier.

“How about I kiss it better? Would that count as a reward?”

“Great offer! I’ll take it in the shower. We still haven’t had one.”

She closed the distance between them, their faces so close she could feel the flutter of his breath. He nipped at her lower lip and kissed it softly. “We really should take this to the shower.”

“Hmm…” Cassandra cupped the back of his head and sucked on his lower lip before releasing him. “I take it we can now explore that road you were talking about earlier?” She beamed a saucy smile at him. “I seem to recall something about licking me dry….”

Trevor’s eyes grew heated as she grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. She laughed as she pulled her shirt up over her head. Before he could reach for her she backed away, beckoning him with the crook of her finger. “Come on! Move your ass! We have to be at the airport in a few hours to pick up Jessica.”

Touch Down

C
ASSIE! STOP! PATIENCE, GRASSHOPPER! I'M almost at customs.
Jessica shook her head. Cassandra had been texting her non-stop since she had announced her landing.

Just hurry!

Yes, boss!
Jessica chuckled just as her luggage rounded the carousel. “Hold it! Damn it!” Jessica struggled with shoving her phone in her pocket at the same time she leapt for her bag, which had moved past her.

A tall dark-haired man brushed her aside. “Allow me.”

Jessica looked up into his moss-green eyes with a relieved smile. “Thank you. My friend would have killed me if I took any longer to get out of here!”

“Hope you friend is a lass,” he grinned with a flirtatious glint in his eyes.

“She
is
a lass, and she’s an impatient one at that.”

His hand grabbed his chest above his heart and his eyes rolled to the ceiling. “Sweet Mary, thank you for bringing the woman of my dreams into my life.”

Jessica cocked a hip and tipped her chin back to look up into his face. “Damn. Does that line ever work?”

“There’s always a first,” he chuckled in an Irish drawl that reminded her of Cassandra’s Trevor. “So, did it work? Have you fallen for my wit and charm?” At the shake of her head and soft laugh, he extended his hand. “The name is Sean. And you are?”

His hand was firm and warm as she took it in hers. “Jessica.”

“Well, Jessica. Have pity on a lad and have a drink with me sometime.”

Momentarily taken aback, Jessica studied Sean as she retrieved the luggage from his hand. “I wish I could, but I’m fairly certain my friends have plans!”

“Tell you what.” He reached his hand into his pocket. “Here’s my card. Call me if you change your mind. I would enjoy showing you the hidden delights of Dublin.”

As Jessica reached for the card, Sean intercepted her hand, pulled it palm up to his lips, and placed a soft kiss in the center. Replacing his lips with the card, he folded her fingers over it. “Be sure you don’t lose that.”

Jessica swallowed deeply and sighed. “Are all Irishman like you?” she asked, all the while hoping she would receive the same reception when she connected with
him
again.

“No, lassie. I am a rare find.” His smile was contagious.

The vibration of the cell in her pocket jerked her back to reality. “I have to scoot. My friend will storm the doors down if I’m not out there soon.” She pocketed the card. “Thanks again!” she called over her shoulder as she hurried in the direction of customs. Shooting a look behind her, Jessica saw the disappointment written on his handsome face as he watched her hasty retreat.
What’s the matter with me? He was right up my alley! Definitely phone-number worthy!

Twenty minutes later, Jessica exited customs, straight into Cassandra’s waiting arms. “Finally! You’re here!” Cassandra whooped, squeezing her tight.

Jessica held onto her just as tightly. “Duh! Texted you from the plane. I can see you still haven’t learned patience in these past months.” She looked around Cassandra’s shoulder and spotted Trevor watching their exchange with an indulgent soft smile. “Okay, okay! Step away from the friend. Can’t…breathe!” Jessica made an exaggerated gasp for air.

Cassandra burst out laughing and released her. Trevor stepped up, pulled her into his arms in a bear hug, and kissed her cheek. “Welcome to Ireland, Jessica. It’s good to see you again.”

Jessica hugged and kissed him back. “Thank you, Irish.” Looking up at him she winked, “Did you bring me one of you as a welcome gift?”

Trevor gazed down at her and his expression turned serious. “We caught one. Cassie tackled him and I hogtied him. Didn’t you see him inside?”

A vision of Sean flashed through her mind. “You are joking, right? Because there was this man—” The twinkle in his eye and Cassandra’s giggle snapped her to attention. Jessica shook her head and punched his arm. “Damn. You’re such a comedian. You almost had me there.”

“I know, eh?”

Cassandra rolled her eyes and hooked arms with them. “Let’s go. I’m starved. We’ll stop at home so we can drop off your bags and you can freshen up. Plans are to hit our favorite pub for dinner.” She glanced at Jessica with concern. “That is, if you are up to it.”

“Bring it on. I’m starved, too.”

*****

The pub was crawling with patrons. Downtown workers, early night crawlers, and the usual tourist crowd made their way through the walls of the Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Dublin. Music played in the background and made the place feel even more magical than it was. Almost a thousand years of history covered the walls. Each picture or item on display took you back in time to when storytelling in pubs was the main form of socializing. Spontaneous bursts of energy resulting in song and dance were commonplace, and that night it wasn’t any different.

Stephan absorbed the full impact of the place the minute he walked into the packed room. He loved the Brazen Head and was a frequent patron. Almost every night the pub had something fun going on. The fever pitch was contagious. He smiled widely at the lyrics of the song being performed live. Even the air felt charged with a current of energy.

He followed the movement of the crowd to the back of the room. As he approached, he caught sight of Trevor sitting on the bench against the wall with an arm wrapped around Cassandra, a Guinness in his hand. He changed direction and made a beeline for them, the final stretch to their seating a slow process as he maneuvered through the crowd. He’d never seen the place teeming like that before.
It must be spring in the air,
he thought.

“Trevor! Cassandra! Glad to see you two here! This place is crazy tonight.”

Stephan grinned as Trevor disengaged himself from his wife and stood to shake his hand. “Stephan! Good to see you, mate.”

Cassandra leaned her elbows on the table and smiled. “No kidding. This place is packed tighter than a sardine can,” she snorted. “Glad you came out for air before you got all moldy and stuffy!”

Stephan laughed out loud and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Cassandra. Always a pleasure.”

Trevor took his seat, tucked Cassandra against his side, and pointed to the chair across from him with a tip of his pint. “Join us.”

Stephan froze when he turned to take the seat Trevor pointed at and his eyes collided with the biggest, bluest eyes that had haunted his dreams and stirred his blood these last months.
Jessica
. Suddenly bereft of speech, he found himself standing and staring like a schoolboy faced with his biggest crush.

She wore a similar expression of stupefaction on her lovely face. A face that had haunted his dreams and brought to the surface his deepest hopes and wishes. And a reminder he could never take what was once offered.

“Is anybody joining you? I think we can squeeze in if needed.” Trevor’s comment cleared the haze covering his brain.

Stephan cleared his throat. “Uh…no. Nobody’s joining me. I came in for a pint. I’m on my way home. Driving. Alone.”
Hell. Where did that stupid line come from?
“I mean…I shouldn’t stay long. I just dropped in for a pint before heading home.”

What power did she have to make him feel so out of sorts? Apparently all of them—and then some. He hadn’t stumbled over his words since his first time with a woman. And considering his age, he should have been long past the point of being made to feel uncomfortable by a woman’s presence. Yet she did just that. She brought forward a duality of feelings inside him—the most primal need to take her as his, and the denial, the reluctance to do so knowing the toll that it would take on her. On him.

Stephan could feel Trevor and Cassandra’s scrutiny at their exchange, their eyes ping-ponging between him and Jessica.

“You two remember each other, right?” Cassandra peeped in the background.

“Sure do. Hi, Stephan. How have you been?” The surprise that had shined earlier from Jessica’s face been replaced by a soft, bordering on devious, in his opinion, smile. Her voice was silken oak and as sweet as he remembered.

“Not bad. And yourself?”

“Hanging in there.” Jessica held his eyes in a confident silent exchange.

His throat tightened and he resisted the urge to pull at his collar.

“What’s your poison?” Trevor asked as Stephan took the chair next to Jessica’s. “It’s all on me tonight. We are celebrating!”

Stephan, finally able to break the hold Jessica seemed to have on him, turned his attention to Trevor and met his mischievous gaze. “Just a pint.”

He watched as Trevor called the waitress’s attention and ordered his beer. He still had that inquisitive quality to him that reminded Stephan of his good friend Conor. They were so much alike. A pang of wistfulness speared through him. Just as Trevor did, he too needed closure regarding the disappearance of his best friend. “What’s the occasion?”

“Jessica’s move to Dublin!” Cassandra’s eyes twinkled and her voice took a higher pitch, excitement spilling over.

Then the meaning of the words took hold of his mind and brought his heart almost to a full stop. “Moving? Here? Oh, right! The job offer.” He couldn’t sound more pathetic if he tried.

Jessica’s smile dimmed. Her eyes took on a sharper quality and pierced the distance between them. “Yeah. That and, as a friend told me, the hidden delights of Dublin.”

“I can’t wait to get back to the old days.”

Jessica’s eyes diverted from him to Cassandra and immediately filled with warmth. “I can’t wait either, Cassie! It’ll be fun!” When she caught Trevor’s scowl, she added, “Well…as much fun as work permits.”

“You are no fun, Trev,” Cassandra teased.

“I’m sure you’ll find ways to drive me bonkers with your girlie talk.”

“Hey! You and George drive me bonkers with your geek talk.”

“I thought that drove you crazy in a good way.” Trevor raised his eyebrow and a mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes.

Stephan chuckled at their exchange. Trevor and Cassandra’s banter was so fluid and natural. It filled their lives with laughter and made their union unique in the eyes of others. It also made the lack of that sort of connection a sore spot for Stephan. “Come on, you two.”

The waitress reached over his shoulder and set his pint of Guinness in front of him, breaking the conversation. The night rolled smoothly after that, aside from the heavy and uncomfortable tension brewing between him and Jessica. He had a pit in his stomach during the entire hour he sat beside her, participating in the conversation without quite knowing what the subject was about, totally focused on and in tune with her own anxiety. He wondered if his was as palpable and if the others were picking up on it, like he was on Jessica’s.