Some of the ice in her gaze thawed. “Would you have let me marry Donald?”

  That was a question he’d wrestled with in the dark hours of the night when he discovered Lauren had begun dating again. Visions of her in the Englishman’s arms, making love to him, had nearly driven Jon crazy.

  “I don’t know.”

  Disappointment colored her green eyes.

  His hand slid up her spine to cup the back of her head. “Everything inside me rebels at the thought of any other male putting his hands on you. You’re mine. My woman. My wife. And I think I would’ve killed Donald on your wedding night before he had a chance to do anything.”

  He didn’t apologize for the primitive feelings running through him. Instead, he gave in to the most basic, and his mouth settled over hers. Apparently Lauren wasn’t offended with his show of male aggression. She wrapped her arms around him and opened her mouth for him, welcoming him.

  Jon felt as if a volcano suddenly erupted in the middle of Glasgow. The ground under their feet seemed to shift, and a white-hot fire shot up around them.

  He pressed her hips into his, and the heat in the room intensified. Wanting her, needing her, consumed him from the inside out. He trailed kisses down her neck to the top of her blouse. As his fingers undid the buttons of her blouse, she worked on the buttons of his shirt.

  In a frenzied drive, they discarded their clothes as they moved toward the bed. They tumbled onto the mattress, Lauren landing on top of him. They needed no other foreplay but being as one. She wasn’t shy, reveling in his rough thrusting. With one final flex of his hips, he sent them both over the edge, plunging into the fiery ecstasy that was love.

  Lauren listened to Jon’s heartbeat slow as she came back to the real world. Each time she made love with him, the stronger the tie between them became. And each time they made love, she surrendered a little more of her soul to him.

  The question that plagued her like a demon disrupt ing her peace was what would happen to them once Jon caught his traitor? Would he continue playing spy or would he quit? And if he continued, would she be able to endure watching him leave on his missions without dying a little more each time he left?

  She brushed her cheek over the soft hair on his chest. His fingers toyed with a strand of her hair.

  “What are you thinking?”

  This was the time to ask him. Hadn’t he said, in not so many words, that he loved her? His body certainly had said it. But now it was time to see if he loved her more than he did his job.

  “I was wondering about our future.”

  His fingers stilled. “What about it?”

  She raised up and braced herself on his chest. “What happens to us when you find your mole? Are you going to continue working for the CIA, going on missions, disappearing for weeks like you did the last time?”

  His expression turned hard and remote. “I won’t be doing any more fieldwork. My leg assures that.”

  “So does that mean that you’re going to stay with the CIA?”

  He looked away from her. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”

  It wasn’t the answer that she wanted. But suddenly Lauren was afraid if she pressed him for an answer, she’d get one that she didn’t want to hear, one she couldn’t face now.

  Instead, she laid her head down on his chest, wanting only to enjoy this moment.

  Jon sat in the chair and watched Lauren sleep. It was close to ten, but he didn’t have the heart to wake her. He recognized the signs of her emotional exhaustion. She was edgy, tired easily, and her emotions were on a surface level.

  Of course, her exhaustion was understandable. Lauren had been plunged into the center of the storm raging between him and the mole. Was their mole Parker? They had funneled decoy information through London Station and nothing had leaked. Whoever was controlling the mole in London was smart enough to know that his man was in danger of being caught and kept his man clean.

  It was time to call Diamond. And maybe it was time to check Parker’s bank account. Jon walked to the bed and brushed a kiss across Lauren’s cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, and a welcoming smile curved her lips.

  “Good morning.” She stretched like a contented cat. The movement made the bright yellow sheet slide down her body, revealing the top of her breasts. “What time is it?” she drowsily asked.

  “It’s ten.”

  The drowsiness left her expression. “Why did you let me sleep so long?”

  He sat down beside her and grasped her hand. “You needed the sleep.”

  Snuggling closer to him, she asked, “What are we going to do today?”

  “After I call my boss, I plan to check out Parker’s bank account. Maybe I should visit his house, see if he has any expensive hobbies or tastes that he couldn’t support on his salary.”

  She tucked the sheet under her arms and scooted into a sitting position. “Are you going downstairs to call?”

  “Yeah. I don’t trust hotel phones. Never know who’s listening. A phone booth is more secure.”

  “I’ll shower while you’re gone.”

  He leaned over and placed a kiss on her mouth. She moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. His hand roamed over her back, and he was tempted to slide his hands around her sides and stroke her breasts. But if he did that, he’d never get downstairs. He broke off the kiss and rested his forehead against hers.

  “I’d like to finish this but…”

  She sighed and withdrew her arms. “Go.”

  He left the room while he still had the will to go. He walked down to the lobby and stepped into the enclosed booth. After dialing, he got Diamond.

  “How did your meeting go with Dr. Fox?”

  “Good. He was totally charmed by Lauren.”

  “Maybe you should work as a team.”

  Everything in Jon rebelled at the thought. Although he had chosen to live in the shadows, Lauren hadn’t, and he wouldn’t try to seduce her into his darkness. He’d dragged her in far enough as it was. “No.”

  “What did you learn?”

  “Blake Catering was the company that served three of the four plants that were manufacturing the radar system. I checked with the other companies who had had robberies. Blake served a couple of the places, and the ones Blake didn’t serve directly, they delivered food to the on-site cafeterias.”

  “You think this was what Tony stumbled onto?”

  “Could be. What I suspect is that they use the catering cover to gain access to the facilities, then they have the run of the place. Our mole is feeding these secrets to Blake Catering.”

  “Any new leads on who the mole is?”

  “I think it’s time to start taking a look at people’s bank accounts. And Parker James is first on my list.”

  “Well, I’ve got news on Parker. The officer in ONI who was responsible for the radar system is Ted Anderson. He’s a straight arrow according to his superiors. But after checking personnel records, I discovered Ted Anderson served in the navy with Parker James. They were on the same ship for several tours of duty. Even more interesting, after talking with Ted, I discovered Parker made a trip to Brussels last fall and spent time with Ted. Old friends celebrating Ted’s promotion.”

  Jon cursed. “I had a feeling about Parker, but I kept telling myself it was plain old-fashioned jealousy since he’d struck up a friendship with Lauren.”

  “We’re going to need a little more proof than your gut feeling.”

  “How about a little trip to Parker’s house, see if he’s sporting some expensive habits that his salary won’t support. Also, there’s a bookie friend of mine I’m going to check with to see if he knows anything about Parker.”

  “All right, but I don’t want any Lone Ranger stunts out of you. No charging in without backup. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Keep me updated. I want to catch Parker red-handed, no questions about his guilt.”

  Once Jon hung up, he felt the first adrenaline rush that came with knowing he was closing in on his target. He’d stop by Davy’s before visiting Parker’s house. If Parker was betting or gaming, Davy would know it or would know someone who would know. Besides, Davy would be able to get him a gun, and he wasn’t going anywhere near Parker without one.

  When he entered the room, Lauren was sitting on the bed, dressed and ready to go.

  “What’s wrong?” she immediately asked.

  “We’re going back to London. It’s time we paid a little visit to Parker James.”

  Lauren waited until they were in the car before she questioned Jon. When he had entered the room, he had a look in his eyes that told her he was in another universe and it would be a waste of her time to try to get any information out of him. She remembered that particular look from the year they were married. Right before he would go on one of his “trips,” Jon would get this particular look in his eyes. No matter how hard she questioned him, all she would get were nods and noncommittal sounds of agreement. Now she knew what that look meant, and she knew that concentration was with him when he started one of his missions. This time she decided to wait, and once he was enclosed in the car with her, she would spring her questions.

  They were an hour out of Glasgow, and Jon’s gaze had lost some of its intensity, when Lauren asked her first question.

  “What did you find out from your boss?”

  “Huh?”

  It wasn’t a promising beginning. “Jon, you went downstairs to call Diamond. What did he tell you?”

  Lauren felt him struggle within himself.

  “Jon, I think I have a right to know what was said.”

  He closed his eyes and nodded. “You’re right. I guess I’ve just fallen back into my ‘mission mentality.’ I’m not used to working with a partner out in the field.”

  “Quit stalling.”

  “It seems that Parker knew the ONI officer in charge of the radar system. They were old navy buddies, and Parker just happened to visit his friend around the time the radar system was being parceled out.”

  “That looks bad for Parker. It could be coincidence. Do you have any proof?”

  He fixed her with a hard stare. “This isn’t going to go to court, Lauren. Not at this stage.”

  “But if he is the one doing the spying for the other side, don’t you want to be able to put him behind bars?”

  “I’ll do the right thing.”

  His answer worried Lauren. Jon’s professional persona had emerged, and she knew she didn’t want to be on the wrong side of his anger.

  “Tonight, I want it done, tonight. Do you have someone lined up to do it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Someone who won’t talk if they’re caught?”

  “I’ve got an expert, the best torch in the business. Don’t worry.”

  “I always worry, especially with you in charge.”

  “If I’m so incompetent, why do you use me?”

  “It’s a question I’ve been asking myself a great deal lately.”

  Fear clutched Parker’s heart.

  It was close to midnight when they arrived on the outskirts of London. Instead of driving to either her flat or Jimmy’s, Jon instructed her to turn off the M1 and directed her to a small pool hall in Edgward.

  “May I ask why?”

  “Because we need to make some inquiries before we take a look at Parker’s house.” He pointed to the next streetlight. “Turn left there.”

  “What do you hope to find at Parker’s? Surely he wouldn’t leave out any sort of incriminating evidence.”

  “Probably not, but I want to see if Parker is living beyond his means. And if he is, I want to know how he’s financing his life-style.”

  She started to suggest Parker was doing it like everyone else, by credit cards, but she didn’t think Jon would appreciate her observation.

  “Stop here.”

  Lauren pulled up in front of a timeworn building that looked as if it had been hit during World War II and no one had bothered to repair it. Two men came barreling out of the front door, followed by a billow of smoke and loud music.

  “Come on,” Jon said, opening the passenger door.

  “What?” she asked, surprised he didn’t want her to wait in the car.

  “I don’t want to leave you alone in the car at this time of night, in front of a pool hall. Besides, Davy will have something for us to eat.”

  Lauren eyed the place. Whatever Davy had, she didn’t know if she wanted any.

  Jon pulled Lauren to his side as they entered the hall. Two of the three pool tables had people around them. In the back of the room there stood a bar. Through the smoke, Lauren could make out a tall, large figure. Jon edged his way around the room, Lauren in tow.

  When they were close enough for Lauren to actually see the bear of a man, he smiled broadly, revealing a gleaming gold tooth. “Sam, it’s good to see you, old friend.”

  Lauren stiffened at the name. Her husband seemed never to give anyone his true name. She wondered if she really knew it. Jon’s arm slipped around her waist, plastering her against his body.

  “Davy, the missus and I have had a long drive and need a little something to eat and drink. Think you could provide it?”

  “I can. Mavis, watch the bar.” He motioned Jon toward a door behind the bar. “This way.”

  They followed him into a small kitchen that was amazingly clean and well cared for. “I got some Scotch broth and black bread. That do you?”

  The thick barley soup made Lauren’s mouth water. “Sounds heavenly,” she said before thinking.

  Jon grinned at her. “You found the way to my missus’s heart.”

  Davy’s chest shook with mirth. “I don’t think she’s looking.” He winked at Lauren.

  Davy dished up the dinner, then sat down beside them with a mug of ale. “Now, Sam, why are you here?”

  “I need to know if an American named Parker James has any bad habits. Women, bookies, gaming halls. He might not be going under his own name. He works at the American embassy. He’s five foot eleven, one hundred eighty-five pounds. Brown thinning hair and brown eyes.”

  Davy stared down into his mug, then up at Jon. “That could describe half the men on the island, ‘cept the American part. Anything that would make him stand out in a crowd?”

  “No.”

  “Can’t say I know the gent. But my clientele is smalltime. I could check around.”

  “How long would that take?”

  As he scratched his chin, Davy’s eyes narrowed. “I could do a quick round, say in a couple of hours.”

  “Good.”

  Davy rose, towering above them much like the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk. “Help yourself to more soup if you want. I’ll be back.”

  Jon stood and followed Davy to the door. He leaned close and whispered something.

  “Yeah, I can, but it will cost you extra.”

  “I wouldn’t expect less.”

  When Jon joined her at the table, she gave him a questioning look.

  “You don’t want to know, Lauren,” he replied to her unvoiced question. She knew he was right.

  “Lauren, sweetheart, wake up,” Jon’s voice called. She tried to shake off the intrusion into her sleep. “C’mon, love, wake up. I can’t carry you to bed.”

  “I’ll get her,” a voice said.

  Suddenly Lauren was swept up into strong arms and held against a large chest. Her eyes fluttered open. Davy grinned down at her.

  “Go back to sleep, lass. Your old man is following us. I’m taking you to a more comfortable bed than my kitchen chair.”

  Lauren wanted to fight against the overwhelming drowsiness, but her body wouldn’t cooperate.

  “That’s quite a head of hair your missus has,” Davy said.

  “Yeah, it is,” Jon answered. There was pride in his voice that warmed her and made her smile as sleep overtook her.

  Chapter 13

  Voices pulled her from sleep.

  “Did you discover anything?” Jon asked.

  “I think I might have a bead on your man.” Lauren recognized Davy’s voice.

  She opened her eyes and saw Davy and Jon huddled on the lumpy couch across the room.

  “Go on,” Jon urged.

  “The name Parker James didn’t mean anything to an associate of mine, but your description fit a man who’s been going to him for the last four years.” Davy rested his elbows on his knees. “It seems that this here gent got hisself in a bit of trouble with my friend. Couldn’t pay off his losses on several races. Suddenly the bloke comes up with the money. Lots of money. ‘Course, the mark continued to use my friend, and he’s made ‘im a rich man.”

  Lauren propped herself up on her elbows. If the man they were discussing was Parker, then Parker certainly had good reason to be on the take.

  Jon rubbed his chin. “Why is your friend so sure that this guy is Parker James?”

  “Well, that’s the interesting part. He had the gent followed. He wanted to be sure he got his money back. They discovered their sucker worked at the American embassy. You think we’ve got the right man?”

  “Yeah, it sounds like it.”

  “There’s another thing. This Parker James, he likes to dress up like a cowboy and strut his stuff for all the English ladies.”

  Jon’s expression turned hard. “What? Has your man seen Parker dressed like that?”

  “Sure, it’s a big joke among the bookies that that cowboy wouldn’t know one end of a horse from the other.” Davy pointed toward Lauren. “It looks like your missus is awake. I’ll go down and fix some tea.”

  Jon nodded absently. Davy rose and walked to the stairs.

  “Davy,” Jon called, stopping the other man. “Were you able to get me that item I asked for?”

  He nodded. “It will be here before the end of the hour.”

  Lauren waited until she heard Davy downstairs before she asked, “What item, Jon?”

  His gaze captured hers. “A gun, Lauren. I’m not going into this situation unarmed. Parker tried to kill me once, and he is probably the guy who killed Tony.”