Athena Force: Deceived Part 7

"I love you, too, Uncle Jonas."

The minute they hung up Lynn shut off her light and crawled beneath the covers on her bed. Sleep was a long time coming.

She'd been doing recovery work for Jonas for almost two years. In total, she'd recovered about fifteen items. In all of those fifteen times she'd never been accosted by anyone, never been seen at all.

Had she done something to screw up tonight? Had she not listened carefully enough? Had she been arrogantly reckless? She didn't think so, but now she wasn't sure. Had she been thinking about Nick and not focused enough on the job?

There was no way she could have known those agents were waiting for her. But was it possible her mind had wandered for a moment and she'd missed a sound, a scent that should have alerted her?

Once again she was struck by the illogical elements where her work was concerned. If the FBI had somehow become aware of the "robberies" she'd committed, then they would have to know that the items she'd been stealing were stolen. Why didn't they just get the items themselves and return them to their rightful owners?

Jonas's vague explanations of the craziness of politics and the work having to be carried out by a secret, covert agency just didn't ring true.

But if she believed Jonas was lying to her about the work, then she'd have to wonder what else he might be lying to her about.

These were crazy thoughts. Of course he wasn't lying to her. He was the one constant in her life, the one person she'd always looked up to, depended on. She couldn't imagine a reason for him to lie to her about anything.

It was almost noon when she awakened the next day. Whatever clouds had possessed the night had long ago burned away as brilliant sunshine streamed in through her window.

Relax. That's what Jonas had told her to do for the next couple of days. Maybe she'd meet Vicki for lunch. She felt the need to connect with somebody wonderfully normal. A brief phone call to Vicki let her know lunch wasn't possible.

The pool. It had been over a week since she'd swum, and maybe the physical exercise would still the restless energy that had possessed her since she'd opened her eyes a few minute ago.

By one o'clock she was on her way out to the cabana. The Olympic-size pool beckoned to her as she walked past it and into the cabana, where she'd find everything she needed for swimming.

Moments later, clad in her one-piece swimsuit, she dove into the water and began to swim laps. The temperature of the water was perfect, and Lynn had always enjoyed swimming.

She swam the length of the pool with powerful strokes, did a tumble and swam back. Her mind was blessedly empty as she cut through the water. She did twenty laps, then pulled herself up and sat on the edge of the pool.

"Exorcising demons?"

The deep, familiar voice came from behind her, and she whirled around to see Nick standing just outside the pool area. Despite everything that weighed heavily on her mind, the sight of him caused a shiver of utter feminine pleasure to sweep over her.

Clad in a pair of tight jeans and a white T-shirt, he looked casually rugged and masculine.

"No demons, just getting a little workout." She was grateful her towel was nearby and grabbed it to her chest as he stepped closer.

She felt the heat of his gaze as it swept over her scantily clad body. She felt danger as clearly as she had the night before, but this was a delicious kind of danger. She stood, keeping the towel in front of her as if to shield her from the provocative heat of his eyes.

"No Alabama Slammers poolside?" he teased.

She winced. "No more Alabama Slammers for the rest of my life."

He laughed. "There's nothing wrong with cutting loose occasionally, as long as you're among good friends. And you were."

"Yes, they are good friends," she agreed.

"Have dinner with me, Lynn. Tonight. Let's have dinner and go dancing," he said.

"All right," she said without hesitation.

"Good. Why don't I pick you up around seven?"

"That would be fine. I'll be ready."

He nodded and she watched him as he walked away.

Funny, yesterday she'd wanted her work to take her mind off Nick. Now she hoped being with Nick would keep her mind off work and the doubts about certain things Jonas had told her.

Chapter 6.

Time crept by for the remainder of the afternoon as Lynn antic.i.p.ated her date with Nick. At least she didn't have to worry about Jonas's disapproval of her plans for the night. He'd all but given his blessing for her to see Nick.

At quarter to seven she stood in front of her mirror and gazed at her reflection. She had chosen a black-and-red knee-length Valentino dress she'd never worn before. She was pleased to see that the fit was perfect. She looked chic and s.e.xy.

Thankfully the nerves that thrummed inside her weren't outwardly evident. She turned away from the mirror and picked up her cell phone and her purse. She started to tuck the phone into her purse, then changed her mind and instead tossed it into the dresser drawer in her nightstand.

She would not be bothered with phone calls tonight.

At five to seven she went downstairs to await Nick's arrival. She went into the living room and sat on the burgundy leather sofa. Within seconds the paintings on the walls turned from the Pica.s.sos Jonas loved to display to several Monet watercolors that were Lynn's favorites. Of course, when they were both in the room, the Pica.s.sos remained. Jonas was master of the house.

She rarely paid much attention to the technology that Jonas loved, but tonight it irritated her. She didn't like the idea of sensors being able to track her movements through the house even if only for the benign reason of attending to her personal comfort levels.

She wondered what Jonas would do if she told him she wanted to move out, to get a place of her own. In truth she didn't have to wonder. She knew he'd blow a fuse.

He'd tell her it was ridiculous to move out of a house in which, other than the help, she was often the sole occupant. He'd warn her about kidnapping plots and personal danger as he always did when it came to her stretching her wings in any way.

But no one had ever attempted to kidnap her. Jonas had kept her like a treasure under gla.s.s, but she was beginning to wonder if she were a treasure wanted by anyone other than Jonas.

Lately she'd thought a lot about what it would be like to have her own little place, a place where her friends could gather, a place where she would feel competent and in control of her surroundings.

The ring of the doorbell pulled her from her thoughts, and a new surge of nervous tension filled her. "I'll get it," she called out for Rita's benefit. She went to the door and pulled it open.

Nick looked more handsome than she'd ever seen him. He wore a pair of black slacks and a dark gray dress shirt, but it wasn't his choice of clothing that she found so appealing. Rather it was that look in his eyes, the appreciative look of a male for a female he found attractive.

She had a feeling it was going to be a night to remember.

"You look amazing," he said, and held out his hand for hers.

"Thank you." She slipped her hand into his and allowed him to draw her out of the house and toward his car. It was a perfect evening, warm but with a faint breeze that kept it from being too warm. To Lynn it felt like an evening filled with romantic possibility, and all her senses were alive with a simmering excitement.

"Where are we going?" she asked once they were in the car and were headed down the highway.

"A favorite place of mine. The food is terrific, the dance floor is small, and the music is slow."

How was it possible that with a single sentence he could spark a fire in the pit of her stomach? "Sounds wonderful," she murmured.

Not only did the plans for the evening sound wonderful, but Nick smelled wonderful. He wore a woodsy cologne that filled the interior of the car, which, coupled with the fainter scent of a menthol shaving cream, was boldly masculine.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" he asked.

She smiled. "I was just thinking the same thing."

"Have you heard from Jonas since he's been gone?"

"Yes, he's in Paris. I spoke to him last night. He's planning on coming home in the next day or two." She hesitated a moment, then continued. "I'm thinking about telling him when he gets back that I want to get my own place."

Nick looked at her, his dark eyebrows raised in surprise. "Really? Have you been thinking about moving out for a while?"

She frowned thoughtfully. "It's crossed my mind off and on for the past year, but lately I've been thinking about it a lot. I adore Uncle Jonas, but he treats me like a baby, and I'm not a baby."

His gaze slid to her face, then down the length of her. "No, you definitely aren't a baby," he agreed dryly.

The man should have those looks bottled, she thought. He could sell them as sheer s.e.x appeal. She fought to regain her composure. "Where do you live, Nick?"

"I've got a one-bedroom apartment at the Heritage Arms."

The Heritage Arms was a luxury apartment building not far from where she lived. "It must be nice to have your own s.p.a.ce, be surrounded by your own things and be able to come and go as you please without feeling as if you're being watched all the time."

"When Jonas is out of town, you pretty much have the house to yourself," he countered as he made a right turn onto a coastal road.

"True," she agreed. "But it's Jonas's house and of course Rita and Arturo are always there."

"Yeah, but if you move out won't you miss all the bells and whistles you have at home now?"

"Not a bit," she replied. "I don't care a thing about those bells and whistles." She thought of all the technology Jonas was so proud of, technology she found intrusive.

He cast her a quick sideways glance. "What do you plan to do when you graduate?"

"I'd like to work for Uncle Jonas. I'm hoping once I finish school he'll bring me into the business and make me a more active partner in his import/export work. I keep most of his financial records for him, but I'd like to do more."

"No desire to strike out on your own? Build something that's just yours?"

"Certainly I want to have a life of my own. I like dabbling in developing video games, but I'd be a fool to turn my back on the opportunity of working with Uncle Jonas. Besides the import business, he does such important work with the government, and I'd love to be a part of all that." She slid him a glance. "Isn't that why you're working for Uncle Jonas?"

"Sure. I'll admit it. I want to do more than work for Jonas. I want to work with him."

"Sounds like we both have a common goal." She flashed him a challenging look.

He laughed, his straight white teeth flashing in the illumination from the dashboard. "I'd say there's room for two at the top, don't you think?"

"Is that why you invited me out? Why you've taken an interest in me? To advance your career with Uncle Jonas?"

He sighed with obvious impatience. "I told you the other day that has nothing to do with it. I'll tell you why I took an interest in you, Lynn."

He didn't look at her but instead kept his focus on the road ahead. "I took an interest in you because for the first time the other night I realized how silky your hair looked. I noticed when you smile your mouth looks like it needs to be kissed badly, and I realized I wanted to be the man to do it."

"Do you always do this?" she asked, her heart beating a little faster at his words.

"Do what?"

"Seduce a woman with words before you've even eaten dinner with her?" Lynn felt her cheeks burn with a blush at her own boldness. But something about Nick made her feel reckless and bold.

"Would you prefer I wait until after we eat?"

"No...I mean, I'm not sure. I don't think I've ever really been seduced before."

"Really?" Once again he looked at her in surprise, then grinned that bold, s.e.xy smile. "Then I'll have to make sure and do it right."

That seemed to set the tone for the evening. He took her to a place called Smokey's, a small club that catered to an older crowd and was located on the waterfront.

The interior was semidark, the dance floor small and the tables s.p.a.ced to provide maximum privacy to all of the diners.

Nick placed a hand in the small of her back as they were led to their table near the dance floor, where several couples swayed to an old standard tune being played by a quartet. She felt the burn of his touch through the fabric of her dress.

They were left alone to peruse small menus. "How did you ever find this place?" she asked as she opened her menu.

"My parents used to come here when I was younger. We had a lot of family gatherings here. They all stopped coming a long time ago, but I occasionally drop in for dinner or a drink. I like the old music and the ambiance."

She wondered if by coming here he felt some sort of connection to the family who had disowned him. Her heart softened with empathy for him. What must it be like to have a father who had cut you out firmly and forever from his life? What kind of scars did that leave behind?

The waitress arrived to take their orders. "The house specialty is seafood, but they also make a mean steak," Nick said. He ordered a steak and baked potato, while Lynn decided on shrimp with wild rice, and they both ordered a gla.s.s of wine.

"So, you don't do the club scene?" she asked when the waitress had departed.

"Not much. To tell the truth, for the last couple of years I haven't had much time for socializing. I've been too focused on work. But you know what they say about all work and no play." His dark eyes gleamed in the light of the candle that flickered in the center of their table.

"I can't imagine anything making you boring. I'm the boring one with no life outside of school."

"There's a difference between being boring and being a bit naive. From what I've heard about your upbringing, you've just been sheltered, that's all."

Sheltered. She was naive and sheltered, but she'd been shot at by an FBI agent the night before. She shoved this thought away, not wanting to ruin the evening with Nick by dwelling on what had happened the night before.

"Maybe I should have remained sheltered, considering what a fool I made of myself at Sensations," she said dryly.

He laughed. "It's not an uncommon phenomenon that young women who have never really been free tend to overimbibe when they get a taste of freedom."

"I'll keep that in mind for the future."

Their dinner arrived, and as they ate they talked. It was a conversation of discovery. They spoke about favorite foods, movies they'd seen and politics. It was the kind of talk that began the path to knowledge about each other, the path that led to the first step in intimacy.