He truly loved her, more than Anthony ever had. He was letting her go, giving her what she said she wanted… So why did she feel she was making the biggest mistake of her life?

Shaking off the question that had begun to haunt her, she left her desk and approached Josh, rerouting her thoughts back to the case. “If Carranza isn’t apprehended this weekend, what will happen with him and the necklace?”

“We have a fence who is currently working with the police, and we’ll have to filter the necklace through him and have Carranza believe that you’ve sold it.” Closing the lid on the black case, he secured the locks, then faced her. “It’ll be more difficult to apprehend Carranza, and will take longer than we’d anticipated, but I’m not willing to risk your safety beyond this weekend.” His jaw clenched fiercely.

They stood so close, she ached to reach out and touch him, but didn’t dare for fear of doing something incredibly stupid…like kissing him as she’d been longing to since their return trip from his parents’.

“I want him caught, Josh.” This horrible nightmare wouldn’t end for her just because she was safe in Connecticut, not when Josh’s life was still at stake. She’d worry endlessly about him as long as Carranza remained a free man. “I’d like to see him, and Bridget, behind bars this weekend.”

“That’s what we’re hoping for, too.” The first smile she’d seen in days kicked up the corner of his mouth, softening his expression. “We’ll be on Carranza’s turf, and our guess is that’s where he’ll most likely make his move to obtain the necklace, though we can’t predict how or when he’ll approach you, which is the difficult part.”

She drew a deep breath, resigned to what she had to do, despite her aversion to the situation. Both of their lives depended on her cooperation, and her ability to anticipate the grimmest of circumstances. “Then prepare me for the worst.”

Bracing his hands on his hips, he stared at her for a long moment, a spark of admiration entering his gaze. “All right. I want you to make arrangements to have Pam run the store so your days will be freed up.”

“She’s agreed to manage the boutique until it sells,” she said, having already discussed her plans to leave Miami with Pam. It had been a tearful, emotion-filled conversation, but ultimately Pam had understood her decision, and had already begun to take charge of the day-to-day business dealings. “I’m hoping the new owner, whoever it is, will keep her on.”

Josh nodded. “Over the next three days, we’ll practice self-defense maneuvers, and we’ll spend a few hours each day at the shooting range so you’ll feel comfortable with Liz’s derringer.”

The apprehension Paige thought she’d experience never materialized. It was as though her acceptance had bolstered her courage, made her stronger internally, and pushed aside all uncertainties. She could do this, she realized, as long as she kept her focus. “Okay.”

“I’m taking the tape that recorded your call with Carranza to Reynolds, and he can use it to brief our officers who’ll be working undercover this weekend. We’ve already discovered who is catering the party and assigned men to stand in as part of the crew. Same with the valet service. We’ve been able to post at least two dozen officers at Carranza’s estate for Saturday night.”

Paige’s mind spun with all the information he offered, and she struggled to absorb it all.

He went on. “You’ll also be sitting in on any briefings so you’ll know exactly what our strategy will be, how our men will be set up, and what will happen when Carranza makes his move for the necklace.” His eyes narrowed shrewdly. “The next three days will be intense. Are you up for that?”

“Yes,” she said, meaning it.

A satisfied light came into his gaze. “Then let’s get started.”


SATURDAY AFTERNOON, Paige and Josh headed across the Rickenbacker Causeway to Carranza’s private estate in Key Biscayne. Despite the unpredictability of what lay ahead, Paige felt surprisingly calm, and knew Josh was the reason for her stable frame of mind. For the past three days, he’d committed himself to preparing her both mentally and physically for any confrontation she might possibly face, at times pushing her to the edge of exhaustion and frustration. Still, she’d endured his vigorous demands, knowing the skills he taught her would keep them alive. She’d learned to decipher subtle cues from Josh, knew how to fire a derringer blindfolded, and mastered half a dozen ways to incapacitate a person.

She would wear the Ivanov necklace and knew exactly how to handle any encounter with Carranza or his supposed appraiser. The wireless microphone that had been sewn into the bodice of the gown she’d wear tonight-along with the one Josh would use-was a bit of security Reynolds had insisted upon, just in case she and Josh were separated. The undercover officers would be outfitted with receivers, enabling them to hear their conversations throughout the evening.

Between those lessons and the briefings with Reynolds and the officers assigned to the case, Josh had helped her pack up personal items from the beach house. She’d hired professional movers to secure the rest of her possessions and furniture, and ship them on to Connecticut. By Monday, the house would be empty and she would be gone.

For the past week, she and Josh had been living in a two-bedroom furnished apartment that rented by the week. By the time they arrived home in the evenings after a full day of training and review of strategies, she was so exhausted she fell into bed and slept soundly until dawn. Their hectic schedule left little time for idle conversation, and as a result they didn’t talk about her move back to Connecticut. Not that there was anything left to say. She was leaving and Josh was letting her go, giving her what she said she ultimately wanted.

With every day that passed, she ached at the thought of losing Josh, a man who’d given her friendship, had been her lover in the darkest hours of need, and still remained steadfast and true. Yet she feared what her heart was telling her-feared trusting her feelings, believing she and Josh could have a solid, secure future together. Past experience had taught her otherwise.

At the entrance to Carranza’s estate, Josh announced their arrival. After a brief moment, the elaborate wrought-iron gates slowly opened, allowing them access, and he guided the Volvo up the winding, private road. The scenery, left Paige breathless in awe. The estate, a paradisical hideaway, was surrounded by rolling green lawn and lush, vibrant landscaping. Beyond, she could see the tropical blue water of the Atlantic Ocean.

“Are you ready for this?” Josh asked, slowing the ve- hicle as the driveway circled around an elaborate mar ble fountain, then ended in front of a graceful, elegant mansion that seemed to go on forever.

Watching as a uniformed valet approached their idling car, Paige drew a deep breath and flashed Josh a smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Good.” His voice was a low, husky murmur in the close confines of the car, his gaze just as sexy and intimate. He reached out and brushed his fingers along her cheek, tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear-all part of the pretense of being lovers, she assumed, yet that didn’t stop her pulse from leaping or her skin from heating.

He cast a surreptitious glance at the man striding toward her side of the car. “The guest cottage will most likely be bugged, so once we leave this car, there will be no more talk of the case, okay?”

She licked her suddenly dry lips and nodded. “All right.”

His fingers slipped to the base of her neck and an involuntary shiver rippled through her. He looked as if he wanted to kiss her, looked as if he wanted to say more, but there was no time.

The valet opened the passenger door, interrupting the moment. “Good afternoon, ma‘am,” he said pleasantly.

Josh let go of her, slowly sliding his hand away, and she turned her attention to the man waiting to help her from the vehicle. Placing her fingers in his white-gloved ones, she slipped from her seat and stood, wondering if this clean-cut young man was on their side or Carranza’s.

“Thank you,” she murmured, retrieving her hand from his as quickly as possible. At the moment, she didn’t trust anyone but Josh. So as not to appear anxious, she smoothed a hand down the chocolate-colored, knee-length silk dress she’d worn. The gown was one she’d taken from the boutique’s inventory, simple in design, yet sexy in a body-forming way. Perfect for a weekend tryst, Pam had told her, as she’d selected a pair of heeled sandals and some matching lingerie that Paige had been skeptical about wearing.

Standing a few feet away, she waited while the young man unloaded their one suitcase and garment bag and placed them on the imported tile veranda in front of the main door. He rang the doorbell, caught the keys Josh tossed his way, hopped into the Volvo and drove it around a bend in the drive Paige hadn’t noticed until then. She supposed with all the parties Carranza threw, he had a separate lot to park his guests’ cars.

By the time she and Josh made their way up the steps to the veranda, the front door had opened and a staidlooking butler greeted them. Another man dressed in black slacks, a crisp white shirt and black bow tie whisked their luggage away. Paige experienced a moment of panic, until she remembered that Josh had placed the velvet-lined bag holding the Ivanov necklace in her purse for just such a reason. Her hand tightened on the strap.

The older, gray-haired butler escorted them through a marbled foyer and into a large room decorated in rich furnishings. A small gathering of people milled about, talking and laughing, indulging in the wine and the light buffet spread out on a nearby mahogany sideboard. By the time Paige found Carranza and Bridget across the room, the other man had spotted her. Paige looped her arm through Josh’s, as much for silent support as to give the impression they were lovers.