Undercover Engagement (9 page)

“
W
here to?” I wrinkled my nose against the highly filtered, but still tainted, air in the lobby. I patted my tresses, unsure how I was going to wash the smell out of them or even if I would need to. Throwing away the beautiful curls seemed like such a waste.

“Well, Lil’ missy,” Jason drawled, “I’d like ter take ya to lunch.” He tipped his hat in my direction.

Heaven help me, my heart skipped a beat – or two. Jason’s wholesome smile could make my stomach flip up and down. Right now, my stomach was so empty that if I swallowed a penny it would have clanged as loudly as the slot machines.

I looped my hand through his offered arm and giggled at our ruse. The hotel/casino offered a world-class buffet at the bargain price of $24.99 per person.

"Shouldn't we go somewhere more private?" I asked. Several late-night crime shows taught me that casinos have cameras everywhere and the latest in facial recognition software.

If someone were looking for us, we wouldn't be that hard to find.

"Darlin’, I know it's our honeymoon and all," he said loud enough that the people standing on the escalator behind us could hear, "But we need to get out of the room sometimes."

My cheeks flushed red and I threw a horrified look at the middle-aged couple smiling knowingly in my direction. The man winked and I swear my face was so hot I was about to light my fake hair on fire.

Jason leaned close and whispered in my ear, "Our best bet is to stay in a public place with plenty of witnesses."

"But-"

He put his finger over my lips and smiled like a rogue, which of course, made my knees go weak. "Play along, Darlin'."

Who was I to argue with a certified spy? Besides, the buffet smelled wonderful and if I was going to keep on truckin’ then I would need some high-grade fuel. I gave him what I hoped was a pouty look, though it felt more like a grimace. The couple behind us whispered together and then laughed. I could only image what they were saying about the blushing bride.

Jason rolled a hundred dollar bill off his money clip and told the haggard cashier she could keep the change if we got a corner booth.

Without even blinking, she pocketed the money. “Right this way. I have just the table.”

“Stay close,” Jason whispered in my ear. His body language told the world he was only watching me, but his eyes scanned the restaurant.

“Do you think we’re in danger?” I tensed. I couldn’t help it. Flashes of my last encounter with a bad guy resurfaced. I rubbed my arm where he’d given me a needle full of sleep.

“I haven’t seen anything – let’s just stick together to be on the safe side.” He kissed my cheek.

“How’s this?” The hostess put our silverware on the edge of a booth in the farthest corner of the sitting area. There were several families at nearby tables and one other couple in a booth looking a bit tipsy for the afternoon.

“This will be perfect.” Jason smiled and tipped his hat in her direction.

Scooting into the booth first, I teased, “I think you like that hat. Maybe you were a cowboy in another life.”

“Nope.” He grinned. “As Millie proved, horses don’t like me much.”

“Millie liked you just fine – she doesn’t sneeze like that on just anyone, you know.” I pulled down on his hat, covering his face.

He tipped it back up with one finger. “There is one advantage, though.”

“What’s that?”

“The hat blocks the view.” With that he leaned in to kiss me and I backed away.

"Play along, Darlin'." he said before his lips brushed mine. Surprised, it took a moment to participate fully. Once I let go of the script and got lost in his kiss, I forgot I was hungry, I forgot about the flash drive, and I forgot that we were in public.

“Ahem!” Our bleach-blonde, make-up caked waitress was not amused by our PDA I flushed pink right to my fake roots.

“What can I bring ya to drink?”

“Water,” I said.

“Root beer, please.”

“Okay. Plates are on the end over there.” She pointed with her pen. “I’ll have your drinks out in a minute.”

“Thank you,” said Jason.

We boot-scooted to the Plexiglas. I created the world’s largest salad loaded with a bucket of ranch dressing. Without room on my plate I had to carry the two rolls I planned to devour. Jason stayed right at my elbow, loading his plate as full as mine. I glanced at him. He wasn’t much of a salad lover.

“I didn’t want you to stand out.” He nodded to my lettuce mountain.

“You’re so considerate.”

“Always thinking of you, Darlin'.”

It didn’t take long to work my way across the plate. Jason pushed his, still two-thirds full, away when I was ready and we went back for the main course. They may sell the prime rib at rock bottom prices, but it was still as tender a cut as I’ve ever had. Each bite brought strength back to my body and clarity to my mind. The clearer my mind became, the more I felt like jumping on Millie and hightailin' it out of town.

While we ate, Jason briefed me on our cover. We were a Nevada couple, here for the traditional Vegas wedding/honeymoon. He stuffed a paper-thin cell phone in my back pocket. “If you have to go to the bathroom, I want to talk to you the whole time.”

“That’s gross.” I crinkled my nose.

“That’s necessary.” He gave me a no-nonsense look.

“Fine.”

“And,” he hesitated, “I think you should hold onto this.” I felt him press the flash drive into my palm under the table. I stuffed it into my too-tight front pocket, feeling it press into my hip.

“Why do I have to hold it?”

“I don’t know. I just feel like it needs to be with you.” The sincerity and seriousness came through his voice so I gulped back my worries with a sip of his root beer. Ready to conquer the dessert offerings, I set my plate at the table’s edge for the busser to pick up.

“Are you ready for triple chocolate cake?” I asked. I’d skipped so many calories over the last twenty-four hours I could eat the whole cake and not feel guilty. Plus, the ganache frosting was calling to me.

“I think we’re going to skip dessert.” Jason placed his hand firmly over mine.

“Why would we do that?” I smiled through the terror churning my just-consumed meal into cramps.

“We’re being watched.”

“Jason?” My voice quivered.

He placed a hand on my cheek, bringing my eyes up to meet his. “I’m here, okay?”

I nodded.

We went down the escalator emerging into the heart of the casino. The artificial atmosphere made it hard to determine the time of day. I glanced down for my watch before remembering I’d left it in Tiffany’s South Jordan beauty shop.
Shoot
.
That was a Christmas gift from my parents
.

Jason’s arm tightened around my waist and we veered around the craps tables.

I caught a glimpse of a guy watching me, so I ironed the worry wrinkles out of my forehead and laughed loudly to cover my stumble.

“You’re doing great.” Jason smiled encouragingly.

“What time’s our appointment?” I pulled the cell phone from my back pocket.

“Eight.”

Dang
. “It’s only 1:30.”

“We need to kill some time.”

I looked around. “We could get a room.” I pointed to the check-in counter.

Jason wiggled his eyebrows. “That’s not what I meant, but...”

Oh, if only he
could
kiss me for the next several hours. That would be the most enjoyable undercover operation ever! But, if we were going to get out of this alive, I needed to make sure Jason was on his game. He was the trained spy and I was just baggage. “Don’t even think it, cowboy.”

Jason was all mock innocence. “You’re the one that said it, not me.”

I swiped at his arm. “You know I didn’t mean
that
.” I was all sorts of pink again.

He brushed my cheek. “You are so fun to tease.” He looked over my shoulder. “Let’s keep moving.” He pulled me back into the casino’s belly. “We need to stay in public, and,” he looked over his shoulder, “we need to ditch these guys.”

“What’s your plan?”

“I’m open for suggestions.”

We neared the back wall where large arrows pointed towards the conference hall.

“How about that?” I nodded to a sign that read:

Help Us Set a World Record

Couples streamed down the corridor dressed in all sorts of getups. I saw Star Trek costumes, vampires, brides and grooms; dang it all if we wouldn't fit right in, in our western wear.

Jason pulled on my hand. “Let’s do it.”

I hadn’t seen who hunted Jason and me, but as soon as we turned down the corridor I felt as if something evil closed off the exit behind us. There was no turning back. We walked ahead, smiling just like those around us even though I doubted any of their lives depended on this world record.

As we approached the ballroom doors a short man in a powder-blue tuxedo waved his arms for attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to start in three minutes. Make sure you have signed in so we can verify your names for the record book.” He had on a name tag that I couldn’t read from this far away, but it was obvious he was in charge of this event.

We made a beeline for the sign-up desk. There were four women in white button-up shirts and red vests on the other side of the desk and each had a line.

“He’s too close, we’ve got to get inside.” Jason pushed me to an open receptionist. She gave us each three sheets to sign. Neither of us bothered to read them as Jason watched the crowd and I watched Jason. His eyes were hard and I held my breath waiting for them to widen and warn me of danger.

The girl monotoned her way through the introduction. “Wait in line with the other couples. When an empty spot opens you will be directed there. Please move quickly as this is a timed event.”

We moved deep into the group waiting on this side of the double doors. That’s when I saw a man settle in to watch us. He was short and stocky like a toad, but he moved with a grace that said he had complete control over his huge muscles. I squeezed Jason’s hand and tapped his palm to indicate the guy on the right. He squeezed back and I knew he had already seen him.

“Can my dad come in to watch?” he asked the woman blocking the doors.

“I’m sorry, no one but the participants are allowed in the room during the event,” she replied.

“Oh, okay.” Jason shrugged and I breathed a sigh of relief. Unless toad-man could find a partner, he wasn’t going to follow us into the room. I relaxed enough to give Jason an encouraging smile.

“Good luck and congratulations," said the man in the powder blue tux as they opened the doors to the ballroom.

“Thanks,” we answered at the same time. Once inside the doors we were greeted by an energetic, short man in a bad suit. He rushed us behind a couple dressed as Mork and Mindy. I rolled my eyes at them.

Jason smiled. “Anything for a world record, right?”

Mindy turned our way, “Isn’t this so exciting?”

“Um, yeah.” I faked enthusiasm. “Totally.”

“I never thought I’d be a part of anything like this, and here I am.” She let out a happy squeal.

“Here
we
are,” Mork interjected. Mindy sighed and molded herself to Mork.

I squeezed Jason’s hand to keep from laughing out loud.

He gave me an I-want-to-laugh-so-hard-it-hurts look.

An Elvis impersonator in a sequined jumpsuit called out, “Next!” and Mork and Mindy stepped forward.

The powder blue tuxedo rushed past us. We turned to watch as he made it to the door. “No. No. No. Participants only.”

“Sounds like our shadow is trying to get in.” Jason took a quick scan of the room. “There.” He pointed to a door on the far wall. “That should lead to a hallway and then to the street. If we can get through here before he gets in, we can lose him.”

“Let them pass.” Powder blue was anxiously trying to get more couples through the door, but our shadow kept trying to push his way in.

One muscular half of a couple - he seriously looked like those guys who fight in cage matches - decided to step in. “What’s your problem?” He demanded from the shadow.

“Next!” Elvis called.

“That’s us.” Jason put his arm around my waist, pulling me forward.

“We are gathered...” Elvis began, but I couldn’t hear what happened next. I was watching our shadow and the muscle man as the argument escalated. Jason’s attention was focused on them as well.

“Do you think we can make it?” I asked Jason at the same time Elvis asked him a question that neither of us caught.

“Yeah,” he replied.

Elvis nodded and continued, “And do you...”

Hotel security showed up to calm down Shadow. Shadow’s desperation escalated when he took a swing at the guard. It looked like he might get the better of the guy.