Forgiving Paris: A Novel(52)

And that he wanted her the way she wanted him.

But even then he had pulled away before she did. His eyes told her all she needed to know. That he was attracted to her, and that her advances were hitting their mark. But maybe she was wrong. Maybe he didn’t find her appealing—because of her past, no doubt. Her life at the Palace. Because the ocean kiss had only seemed to make Jack more removed. She could still remember how without saying a word or looking at her again, he had shaken the water from his hair and made his way back up the beach.

When they had returned to their suite, she called him out on it. “You kissed me back out there. I felt it. But now you’re acting like you barely know me.”

Jack’s expression was all business. “I wanted to keep us both alive. Everyone could see us.” He stared at her. “What choice did I have?”

After that, Eliza hadn’t tried again. His rejection made her angry. And so she had played the part, but she had played it with hurt and anger in her veins. And when he’d dropped her off at the group home last night, she hadn’t said goodbye.

Now they were having their debriefing with Oliver Layton along with several other agents and senior officials. Never mind how she felt about Jack. They had done great work in Nassau. They had rescued a child and they knew how many men were working the beach. They had photos of the teenage girls who were clearly in charge of luring girls into the operation. And they knew where the kingpin of the trafficking ring lived.

At the end of the meeting, Oliver went over their collective notes and nodded. “Amazing work. We’ll get a few operatives on the ground and set up the raid.” When the other agents had left the room, Oliver looked at Eliza and then Jack. “How would the two of you feel about taking another honeymoon, to San Pedro Sula? The Honduras police need our help with a ring.”

Eliza was about to tell the man no. She couldn’t possibly do another mission with Jack Ryder. But before she could speak, Jack cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He glanced at her and then back at their boss. “I recommend she get more counseling before she goes out in the field again.”

“Excuse me.” Eliza was on her feet. “I don’t need more counseling.” She glared at Jack. “And I was going to recommend that I work with another agent.” Her tone couldn’t have been more biting. “Mr. Ryder and I are not… compatible.” She felt the meanness in her smile. “I guess I’m not that good at pretending, after all.”

Oliver looked from Jack to Eliza and back again. The man could clearly see there was more to the story. But if Oliver was aware of the issues, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he picked up his files and formed them into a neat stack. Then he faced Eliza. “Where would you like to work?”

“Sports rings.” She lifted her chin. No undercover agent was going to make her feel like trash. “Put me in the roughest school you have. Where girls are most likely to be dragged into trafficking.” She didn’t have to ask if such a role would be more dangerous.

Of course it would be.

Eliza didn’t care. “You can mic me and put me right in the path of the worst of them.” She snarled at Jack. “Then you can see what I’m worth to the bureau.”

Oliver nodded. “Okay. I’ll talk with the team and see if that’s a possibility.” He motioned to the door. “Eliza, if you could give me and Jack a minute alone.”

She hesitated, but she had no choice. Fine. She walked out the door and shut it hard behind her. Her throat was dry, so she walked to the office break room and grabbed a water. She didn’t need surveillance equipment to know what was being said about her right now. Jack would explain how Eliza had a crush on him, always trying to kiss him. And how she was too immature and lovestruck to work as an informant—at least with him.

He would look like an FBI expert, and she… she would look like a fool.

She returned and waited down the hall from the office door. By the time Jack came out, Eliza couldn’t look at him or talk to him. He must’ve felt the same way because he walked by without saying a word.

How could she ever have had feelings for him? He was cold and callous without a hint of genuine compas sion. His kindness had been nothing more than an act. She met with Oliver Layton then, but only for a few minutes. Just long enough for him to promise he would try to get her undercover at a high school, one where sex traffickers often lured girls to work hotels during major sporting events.

Back at the group home, Eliza forced herself not to think about him. She would never work with Jack Ryder again, no matter what. Every gentle word or tender moment had been another of his lies. For the job, he would tell her if she gave him the chance. But where did that leave her? Didn’t he care about her feelings?

Two days later Oliver worked out the details so she could, indeed, go undercover at one of the toughest high schools in San Antonio. The bureau had decided Eliza’s lack of high school experience wasn’t a problem. The kids she’d be hanging with didn’t have much classroom experience, either.

Eliza couldn’t have been happier.

If she needed training, she would do it. Whatever it took to get out in the field and help catch parasites like her father. The man who had stolen her childhood and nearly sold her into marriage. Her father had taken her childhood and her heart. Emotionally, she was damaged goods, and she always would be. Because her father had taken something else.