opened it. “Hold out your left hand.”
Kate did as he asked.
“With this ring, I thee fake wed. I promise to have your six and pretend to love, honor and cherish you until this op is over.” Montana slipped on the engagement ring with the huge emerald cut diamond and matching wedding band.
Kate snorted. “Cute.” His big hands felt rough against hers, but warm and strong. She could imagine them sliding across her bare skin. With a start, she yanked her hand away. Now was not the time to be daydreaming about the man who would play her husband. “God, I hope this isn’t real. It looks like at least three carats.”
He removed the larger, plain wedding band from the box and started to slip it onto his ring finger.
“Wait.” Kate took the band from him. “It’s only fair.”
Montana’s lips quirked. “I’ve never been accused of being unfair.”
“Well, don’t start now,” she said. “With this ring, I thee fake wed. I promise to save your butt, should the need arise...again. And should you try anything without my permission, I promise to hurt you.” Kate raised her brows. “Got it?”
He held up his hand. “Got it. I won’t try anything without your permission.” As Kate took his upraised hand and slipped the ring onto his finger, Montana muttered, “I don’t try...I do.”
Kate glared at him. “This marriage is fake. Don’t forget that.”
“Trust me. I won’t.” Montana leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers in a brief brush of a kiss.
A blast of electricity ripped through Kate, followed by heat, searing a path through her chest and down low in her belly. She pressed her fingers to her lips. “Why did you do that?”
“Only seemed fitting, after tying the knot.” He winked, sending another rush of heat rushing through her veins. “Want me to take it back?”
She rubbed the back of her hand over her mouth, her head spinning. “You can’t take something like that back. Once given, it can’t be returned.”
“Oh well, I guess you’ll have to keep it.” He smiled and sat back against the plush leather seat.
“Well, don’t do it again.” Thankfully, the car pulled up to the curb at the Baltimore International Airport and dropped them off with their luggage.
Two minutes later, Mica Brantley’s limousine arrived, picked them up and drove them back into the city.
Once they’d switched chauffeur-driven vehicles, Kate remained silent, going over the script Tazer had given them. Not only did she have to know the details about the fictitious Lindemanns, she had to be prepared to step into Mica Brantley’s shoes at a moment’s notice. She had to know Mica’s idiosyncrasies, which would be much harder to pull off if they ran into anyone who knew her and Trevor Brantley.
Over an hour since they’d left the shops, the limousine pulled up in front of the Jefferson Hotel, one of the oldest and most expensive hotels in downtown DC. Once Monty and Kayla Lindemann got settled, they were to meet Mrs. Brantley for dinner.
The chauffeur opened the door.
Montana slid out first and then bent to offer his hand to Kate.
Reluctantly, she placed her fingers against his. That same shock of electricity rippled up her arm and showered warmth throughout her body. He had her so stirred up inside, she tripped over the curb.
If Montana hadn’t reached out and yanked her into his arms, smashing her against his chest, she’d have fallen face-first on the concrete sidewalk.
Instead, she was crushed to him, his arms like steel bands around her waist. When she got her feet under her, heat rose up her cheeks. “Sorry.”
He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “I’m not.” Then he hooked her with one of his big, capable hands and waved toward the door. “Ready?”
She nodded, though she couldn’t remember ever being so ill-prepared as she was at that moment. What worried her most was that she had no doubt she could play the part required. Keeping her head on straight and not falling even a little bit for the handsome SEAL would be the real challenge.
While the bellman retrieved their luggage, Montana dealt with the reception desk. Royce and Geek had been busy securing reservations, backdating them to make it appear as though Mr. and Mrs. Lindemann had planned their trip to DC weeks ago.
Kate took a moment to casually glance around the lobby, searching for anything that stood out. Suspicious characters, security cameras, lurking staff members...anything that might set off alarm bells in her head.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, nothing did. She spotted the requisite security cameras placed throughout the lobby for the protection of the wealthy guests.
A warm, rough hand curled around her elbow. “Ready?” Montana’s deep, rich voice filled her ear and spread over her body like melted butter—warm, smooth and penetrating every fiber of her being. She trembled.
How did he do that?
With a nod, she let him lead her through the lobby to the elevator.
Montana pushed the button for the seventh floor and then slipped his arm around her waist. “Feeling better?”
“I wasn’t aware I was feeling poorly.”
“You know...you don’t have a stomach for flying.” He pulled her against him.
“Oh, yes. I feel much better.” Aware of the camera in the upper right corner, she leaned into Montana. The thin fabric of her suit did little to guard her against her body’s reaction to his.
The elevator door slid open. Kate stepped out, afraid if she stayed any longer, her knees would wobble and refuse to hold her up.
Their room was the last door near the end of the hallway. A stairwell was located at the very end, marked with a sign For Emergency Use Only.
Montana ran the key card over the lock and the green light blinked. When he pushed, the door swung open on oiled hinges.
Kate entered first. Expertly decorated, the suite contained a sitting room, sleeping chamber and a large bathroom with a shower big enough to fit two.
Montana set the briefcase on a desk in the corner and flipped the spring-loaded latches. He opened the case and extracted a small monitor Kate recognized as the kind she’d used to check for surveillance devices. Bugs.
“Do you need to freshen up before we meet with Mica?” Montana asked, as he crossed to her and slipped the monitor into her palm.
“Sure, but you can go first.” She leaned up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips.
His irises flared and he caught her arm. “I’ll only be a minute.” Then he kissed her full on the lips.
Reeling from the rush of searing passion from the kiss, Kate stood in the middle of the room until Montana entered the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
Having been warned that they couldn’t trust anyone, Kate had to assume even their room could be bugged. Until she swept the room to determine whether or not there were listening devices, she had to play the part.
While Montana took his time in the bathroom, she walked around the room, pretending to examine the decorations, all the while carrying the monitor in her palm. The alarm vibrated against her hand when she neared the nightstand on the right side of the bed. She leaned close and flicked the light on. A tiny metal object clung to the inside of the shade. First bug.
When she walked to the other side of the bed and leaned over the nightstand, the monitor again vibrated in her hand. As she switched on the light, she noted a second bug clinging to the inside of that shade. Walking through every part of the room and the adjoining suite, she located two more listening devices and a miniature camera affixed to the chandelier in