Lauren nodded. "I imagine it"s strenuous at that alt.i.tude."
"Exactly."
He was toying with her. She"d tried not to judge his lax lifestyle, but calling him a ski b.u.m had probably given her away. If she was that easy to read, she was in big trouble.
"Actually, I was thinking about you."
For one second her spoon froze over the cereal bowl before she willed it to scoop up a strawberry, as casually as if her heart hadn"t just tripped over itself. "How nice for you."
He grinned, and she wondered if sarcastic defiance had been the wrong move. He seemed to love it every time she rose to his challenge.
Gerald stopped eating, looking between them with a puzzled expression. "Did you two have a fight after I left last night?"
Drew"s eyes never left hers. "Of course not," he a.s.sured Gerald. "I adore my aunt Lauren."
She gave him a tight smile. She wasn"t going to touch that one. Instead, she answered Gerald. "I spent several productive hours in my room last night, catching up on my work." It was a blatant lie. She"d barely been able to concentrate on the fashion magazine she"d bought at the airport, much less the weighty budget reports in her briefcase. "But I"m curious to hear what thoughts my nephew has labored over."
Drew tilted his chair onto the back legs, and c.o.c.ked his head thoughtfully, as if he"d given his idea long and careful consideration. "We need to cut your hair," he said.
She didn"t deliberate nearly as long over her response. "I hope you didn"t waste too much time thinking about my hair, because I like it the way it is." Actually, Jeff liked it that way, long enough to wear down during the day, in a pony tail for playing tennis, or in a twist for dining out. Three different looks from one cut-a practical hairstyle.
"The way you like it isn"t important. It has to look exactly like your sister"s. Gerald said hers is now shorter than yours."
"And layered," Gerald reminded him. "With wispy bangs."
Drew nodded. "Can"t forget the wispy bangs."
She chewed longer than necessary, stalling. "And why would I want my hair to look exactly like Meg"s?" she finally asked, feigning disinterest, even though she was afraid she was not going to like the answer.
"So you can pretend to be her tonight when we attend the party at the Watergate Hotel."
She lowered her spoon and gave him a suspicious look. "When we what?"
"It"s a fundraiser. There"s an invitation on my dad"s desk, and he never misses an opportunity to work his contacts. Does he?" Drew turned to Gerald for confirmation.
"That"s true. He planned to go."
"And since he was unexpectedly called out of town, his son is filling in for him, and escorting his father"s new wife."
"He wasn"t called out of town. He just told all of Washington he"s on his honeymoon."
"He came back," Drew told her, apparently inventing a new scenario. "Because of an important issue that just came up. Now he"s tied up in meetings with the big money men back in Texas, and Meg-that"s you-is stranded in Washington, with no escort to the party. Fortunately, her considerate new stepson is visiting and would love to accompany her."
Lauren didn"t like it. There would be too many questions. Besides, she wouldn"t recognize anyone, and wouldn"t know what was expected of her. "Why?"
"Why not? To see what happens." Drew reached for his coffee cup, cradling it on his flat stomach. "To see how people react to this marriage, or whether someone tries to get you alone and steer you away from the party. We might learn something. More than we would sitting here, anyway."
She frowned. "You mean you want to use me as bait."
"You"d be perfectly safe. As your escort, I"ll be close by you all night."
She refused to indulge the appealing mental image of Drew dancing her across a crowded ballroom and ignored the flush that crept to her cheeks. "No."
Gerald"s mouth turned up in a smug, I-told-you-so smile. Drew must have run this idea by him earlier with the same result.
Drew seemed mildly irritated, but she couldn"t tell if it was with her or Gerald. "Why not?"
"Because it"s stupid," she told him. Gerald bit his lip and raised his coffee cup in front of his spreading grin. "Did you forget someone tried to kidnap me?"
"We were taken by surprise. They"ve lost that advantage now."
"Not good enough. Besides, a prominent senator doesn"t suddenly disappear on his honeymoon, then rush back to town a day later without causing a lot of questions. And we don"t know how to answer them. We"ll cause so much of a stir we won"t know what"s gossip and what"s important." She met his frown and tilted her chin up stubbornly. "And I think Jeff is right. We need to be sensible and let the authorities deal with whatever is going on."
Gerald lowered his coffee. "Okay, tell. Who is this Jeff?"
"Some guy she knows," Drew said with a dismissive wave.
"My fiance!" Lauren held her left hand up and wiggled her ring finger significantly to display the modest diamond.
Gerald rolled his eyes. "Oh, him."
She narrowed her eyes. "You don"t even know him."
"Meg told me about him. Mr. Perfect with a stick up his a.s.s. Sounds dull to me. But whatever works for you, honey."
Drew choked on a laugh and she turned her glare on him. "Jeff is a responsible person who wants what"s best for me. Maybe you two find common sense funny, but I intend to follow his sound advice. Meg and Harlan asked us to stay out of whatever is going on. That"s what I"m going to do."
"You"re going to sit here and wait while your sister has armed kidnappers looking for her and G.o.d knows what else?"
Lauren pressed her lips into a firm line. "Yes. Or maybe I"ll fly home and wait there. With Jeff. Jeff."
Drew a.s.sessed her as he sipped his coffee. "I thought you might be a little more... adventurous. My mistake."
His disappointment in her cut deeply. She wanted to object that there was nothing wrong with being sensible and that she could be every bit as adventurous as the next girl, when adventure was called for. The words actually formed in her mind, but it was Jeff"s voice saying them.
In the disgruntled silence the phone sounded louder than usual. Lauren stiffened, remembering the last call from Meg and Harlan, and slid an expectant look at Gerald.
He shrugged and dug into his cereal. "I"m the senator"s personal a.s.sistant, not his butler. That"s the house line. Besides, it"s Sat.u.r.day. I"m off."
Her gaze shifted to Drew. He had tensed, also.
"I"ll get it," she volunteered. Lauren rushed across the kitchen. If it was Meg, she intended to get a lot more information from her sister than their four-way conversation had imparted last time.
"Senator Creighton"s residence."
A relieved gasp sounded on the other end and a male voice with an eastern European accent said, "Meg! I am so glad I found you! I"ve been calling everywhere!"
"I"m sorry, but you didn"t. I-"
He cut her off. "There"s no time for old arguments, darling. We are both being watched. Meg, you are in grave danger. More than you realize. I must talk to you."
Lauren"s intended correction died on her lips. Information was information. Hesitantly, she asked, "What do you know?"
"Not on the phone. You must come to the emba.s.sy tonight."
The man sounded like he knew Meg well, but she had no idea what emba.s.sy he was talking about and didn"t know how to ask without giving herself away. "I don"t think I can."
"You must!" Urgency made his words more clipped, his accent more p.r.o.nounced. Something Slavic? "There is a party. An invitation has already been delivered to Senator Creighton. Please, Meg, whatever unresolved issues we have, you must trust me. I fear for your life. There are things you don"t know, things that could kill you!"
Blood drained from Lauren"s face and hands, making her shiver. "Where will I find you?"
"The usual place."
Oh, good, that was helpful. "I don"t recall-"
"Be there, darling. I"ll see you then." The click that ended his call was abrupt. She laid the phone on its base and turned around.
Both men were staring at her.
She cleared her throat. "Gerald, was there also an invitation to some emba.s.sy function tonight?"
He thought for a few seconds. "There"s one for a party at the Romanian Emba.s.sy."
A Romanian accent? Yes, very likely.
She took a deep breath. "Drew, I"ve reconsidered. In light of the fact that a strange Romanian thinks my sister"s life is in immediate danger and wants to meet with her tonight, I think your little fable about a one-day honeymoon might work after all."
His eyebrow lifted. "Who was that?"
She shook her head and returned to the table. "I have no idea. But he seems to be on familiar terms with Meg, and he"s worried sick about her. That makes me me worried. I"d rather risk kidnappers than miss a chance to meet with him." worried. I"d rather risk kidnappers than miss a chance to meet with him."
"You don"t think he knows her well enough to know you"re not Meg?"
"I"m sure he does. But maybe by the time he figures it out, I"ll be able to convince him to give me his information." She gave a hopeless shrug. "It"s worth a try."
Drew watched her for a moment and then nodded. "Right. Gerald can take care of your haircut."
"Me?" Gerald aimed his spoon at Drew. "I"m an administrative a.s.sistant, not a friggin" hair dresser. Just because I"m gay doesn"t mean I know anything about cutting hair."
"Gee, no kidding," Drew said, with a look of mock disgust. "Gerald, you"re the only one here who saw Meg"s hair. Since you seem to have such fantastic powers of observation, you"ll have to tell someone how to cut it."
"Oh." He dug back into his granola. "That makes sense."
"Not her regular hairdresser. Someone who won"t blab about giving the senator"s wife a new hairstyle just a few days after someone else did."
"I can ask Steven. He used to cut hair before he went into computer programming."
"Is he good?"
"He does mine," Gerald said.
Drew glanced at Gerald"s perfectly styled hair and smiled. "Great. Can he to do it today?"
"Maybe." His eyes focused on some invisible point as he considered the request. "He"s probably out jogging now, but he"ll be home in an hour or so."
Drew turned a satisfied smile on Lauren. "Don"t worry. We"re making progress already, and we haven"t even checked out your sister"s apartment yet."
She chased down the last blueberry in her bowl. "There"s just one thing. I didn"t bring anything to wear to an emba.s.sy party."
Drew hesitated at that one, but Gerald brushed her protest aside. "Meg has several dresses that will work. Check her closet for the black silk sheath. That"s her best piece, very flattering. Especially in the bust area." He wiggled his eyebrows.
Drew gave her a speculative look, his eyes straying to her chest long enough to make her blush. "Black sheath. Can"t wait."
Lauren picked up her empty bowl and carried it to the sink, as if establishing a distance from Drew could reduce his effect on her. She felt warm every time his gaze lingered on her for more than two seconds. Despite her concern over Meg, she might spend the entire emba.s.sy party in a state of flushed excitement. Resisting Drew would be easier if she"d avoid him rather than date him, but she didn"t have much choice. The Romanian had information and he wanted to talk to Meg. Drew was the logical escort.
And if someone did did make a second attempt to abduct her.... She glanced across the kitchen, taking in approximately six feet three inches of toned, muscular manhood draped across the chair. Yes, Drew was the man she"d want protecting her. make a second attempt to abduct her.... She glanced across the kitchen, taking in approximately six feet three inches of toned, muscular manhood draped across the chair. Yes, Drew was the man she"d want protecting her.
"If you"re afraid, you don"t have to go," he said, misreading her look. "I"ll find the guy somehow."
"No," she insisted. "I want to be your date." Fl.u.s.tered as he lifted an eyebrow, she corrected herself. "I mean, you may escort me to the party."
If she didn"t die of embarra.s.sment first.
They still needed to search Meg"s apartment for any hints of what she"d been involved in lately. Lauren wore sneakers, jeans, and a sweatshirt, and pulled her hair into a ponytail. Her sister"s distaste for housekeeping could turn this job into dirty work.
They headed straight across the lobby toward the elevators and nearly made it before an authoritative male voice barked out, "Excuse me!" Even if she didn"t speak English, she would have known by his tone that he really meant, "Hold it right there!"
She turned with a broad smile, hoping the ponytail disguised the actual length of her hair, whatever he expected it to be. "Hey!" She was too far away to read his name tag, so she settled for a wink, a gesture Meg threw out liberally to men. "How ya doin" today? It"s just me, and this is Senator Creighton"s son, Drew."
"Oh. Miss Sutherland. I didn"t recognize you, dressed like that."
Shoot, she hadn"t thought about that. If her fashion-conscious sister ever wore jeans, it would be with a smart leather jacket and to-die-for boots. She probably didn"t even own sneakers. Lauren heard uncertainty in the guard"s voice, but Drew didn"t give him time to think about it.
"Hi, nice to meet you." He stepped closer and read the name tag, using it like the son of a politician should. "Daniel. Do I need to sign in or something?"
"No, sir, I"ll make a note in the log."
"Okay, thanks." They both turned, eager to be gone.
"I saw you on TV, Miss Sutherland. They said you got married to Senator Creighton."
She guessed the unspoken part was, So what in h.e.l.l are you doing with his son? So what in h.e.l.l are you doing with his son? She talked as they kept walking. "I did. Surprise, huh? Drew"s helping me move a few things out." She pressed the b.u.t.ton for the elevator. She talked as they kept walking. "I did. Surprise, huh? Drew"s helping me move a few things out." She pressed the b.u.t.ton for the elevator.
Daniel trailed them. "The TV said you left on your honeymoon."
She heard the ding and stepped inside before the elevator doors were fully open. "That"s just what we told the press. Can"t have them knowing our real schedule, after all." She gave him a mischievous smile and wagged her finger. "I"m counting on you to keep our secret."
Daniel raised his voice as the doors closed. "Of course, miss!"