Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan #23)(51)

“Cara.”

She looked over her shoulder.

Darcy was smiling curiously. “You said that when Kaskov walked into a room everyone else faded away … Did Jock Gavin fade away?”

Kaskov standing warily at the bar in the anteroom of his box at the theater in Moscow, tall, broad, powerful with his gray-streaked hair and that aura of total dominance and power.

Jock standing looking at him, slim, sleek, lithe, his silver eyes glittering with intensity. Eager, ready, his entire body like a stiletto poised to strike.

She shook her head. “No, Jock didn’t fade away.”

“I didn’t think so. And what did Kaskov do? What was his reaction?”

“He wanted to own Jock. He tried to hire him.”

“Now that’s a truly intelligent man … and even more dangerous than anything else you’ve told me about him.” She smiled. “Or maybe not. Don’t we all want to own Jock? Don’t answer that.” She looked back at the lake. “That was a little too close to the edge…”

Yes, it had been, Cara thought as she opened the door. Not because Darcy had reminded her how desirable Jock was in so many ways. Because it had brought back memories of that night that Jock had risked everything to guarantee that Kaskov would keep his word to save Eve and her child.

“I was wondering when you would show up to check casualties,” Jock said, as she came into the house. He was sitting at the kitchen bar with a glass of whiskey in his hand. “I would have come to you after I had a drink. I needed it.”

“Where’s Eve?”

“Putting Michael to bed, and probably telling Joe that I was more civilized than she’d thought I’d be.” He lifted his glass to his lips. “All an act, Cara. I’m not feeling at all civilized.”

“And Eve would realize that. She wasn’t looking forward to your reaction.” She paused. “None of us were.”

“Because you all knew I’d have found a way to have prevented it if I’d been here.”

She shook her head. “No one could have prevented it once Eve made up her mind. Even Joe couldn’t have done it.”

“I’d have found a way.” He took another drink. “It’s what I’ve been dreading for years.” His hand tightened on the glass. “Hell, I could see it coming. And now she’s joining forces with the devil who could destroy you?”

“Eve thinks he can help.” She came closer to him. “And the reason everyone was afraid for you to know was that they were afraid you’d do something that would make that impossible.”

“And is that what you thought?” His lips twisted. “Am I going to do that, Cara?”

“No, you’re going to hate it, but you’ll find a way to do what you think has to be done without damaging what Eve has set up with Kaskov.” She met his eyes. “Because you wouldn’t want to take the chance that she might be right, and you’d run the risk of spoiling a way of winding this up quickly.” She smiled faintly. “Is that what you told her?”

He was silent a moment. “No, I wasn’t that generous. I was too pissed off. I told her what she’d done was dangerous, and it might be hard to pull her out of the fire.”

She nodded. “But she’d recognize that as a tacit acknowledgment that you’d accept it and be ready to do the extraction.” She added, “So she felt comfortable about leaving you and going to put Michael to bed.” She nodded. “And you thought a stiff drink is what you needed to bring that frustration and anger down to a low simmer. Too bad MacDuff isn’t here. He’s your favorite drinking partner. He would have been glad to join you.”

“You think you can read me so well?” he said softly. “In this particular situation, I’m finding that particularly annoying.”

“Of course I can read you. Not as well as you can read me. You sometimes say one thing and mean another. I’m clear as glass, and I never try to hide anything from you.”

“Yet I’ve been feeling lately that you might be trying to do that.” His gaze was narrowed on her face. “I believe I mentioned that before. Now isn’t the time for secrets, Cara.”

She suddenly couldn’t breathe. She wanted to reach out and touch him. She had made a mistake and blundered into that area that was causing her to—

Back out. Don’t reach toward him. But don’t run away, that would be worse.

Distract him.

“Hiding something? Because I know that you and MacDuff usually have a drink when you’re together?” She looked at his whiskey. “Though how the two of you can stand that stuff, I’ll never know. Perfectly foul, Jock. The one time I ordered one, I nearly choked.”

“Ordered one?” He tilted his head. “Just where did you order a whiskey?”

“Phoenix. We went out after a charity concert to a party at the home of one of the benefactors, and I ordered one from the bartender. So it was kind of legal.”

“Were you with Darcy?”

“No, that was before I knew her. She doesn’t drink much anyway. But she does believe in experimenting. So I should probably go with her if I try anything else. Right?”

“You could wait awhile. You’re only eighteen.”

“But I told you, it was almost legal. These days there are all kinds of exception laws about liquor in private homes.” She looked at the whiskey again. “I have to find out what I like, and I don’t like. Experimenting is important. The older I get, the more aware I am that I should experience everything. Don’t you agree that—” She stopped as she met his gaze. She had been rattling on, but she suddenly realized she was in deep waters. She inhaled sharply. Too far? “Jock?”