Spy Games (Tarnished Heroes #1)(34)

“We can make that happen. Right this way.” She turned and led them to the only unoccupied table surrounding the Chinese delegation.

Two, maybe three, tables were pushed together to accommodate a group of six men. They hardly spoke while they flipped through the breakfast options.

Rand stepped in front of Sarah and pulled out the chair that would put her back to the table. The better to hear anything that might be spoken. Leaving him the chair across from her, giving him an opportunity to observe the group, their body language, the comings and goings.

“How’s this?” the hostess asked.

“Perfect. Thanks.” Rand scooted Sarah’s chair in and circled to take his own while the hostess left them to peruse the menu. He leaned forward and whispered, “Relax. Smile. Act like you’re having fun.”

“I’m sorry.” Sarah laid the menu down and put her hands over her cheeks. “I don’t think I was ready to wake up yet.”

“We’ve had a rough couple of days.” He reached across the table and took one of her hands in his. She hesitated for a moment, then allowed him to envelop her palm between his. “I’m not sure you’ll have much time to sleep while you’re here.” He kissed her knuckles.

The perverse side of him enjoyed the multilayered expression playing across Sarah’s face. The innuendo wasn’t lost on her. He’d been an ass earlier, and he knew it. Sometimes he couldn’t help it. She twisted him up inside, even after all these years. She knew his buttons, how to tweak him. He’d be lying if he didn’t admit, at least to himself, that he wanted to find his stride with her. Be with her again.

“You’re terrible,” she said in a stern voice.

Sarah. Stern. There was a joke.

“That’s why you love me.” His stomach clenched, and for a moment, he wanted to catch the words and shove them back in his mouth. They were playing at being in love, and yet it hit far too close to how he felt about her.

Sarah blinked at him, her lips parted. Shocked he’d said it?

He picked up the menu and pretended to glance at it. The Chinese were still not speaking, their posture tense.

“Do you have to be so frustrating?” she whispered.

“That’s what you love about me.” The more he said it, the easier it would be to use the word in any context in the future. He’d wear her down.

“I’m reconsidering my feelings.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

That was the Sarah he knew.

Rand chuckled and leaned back so he could get a better view of the rest of the neighboring table. “What do you think you’re getting?” he asked.

“Mm, I’m thinking.” She tilted her head to the side.

Two of the men just behind her had their heads together, speaking in hushed tones. Rand could hear them, but besides a few very basic words, he was out of his depth.

He used the moment of quiet to pick out his breakfast. The last meal he’d eaten was hours ago and didn’t qualify as a meal. He’d been too frustrated, too anxious to really get much in him. He hoped they didn’t have to pick up and go any time soon, because he could seriously polish off a big plate of food.

The server approached and took their drink and food orders.

Without menus to hide behind, they’d have to actually pull this whole fake relationship off.

He held out his hand and waited.

Sarah studied his palm. Was she reading his mistakes in the lines of his hand? Could she see the future in his veins?

She propped one elbow on the table and leaned forward, fitting her smaller hand in his. There. He smiled, letting himself fall a little more into the ruse.

“They’re going to the restroom,” she said.

He watched the table’s reflection in the tinted windows. Half the table rose and ambled toward the men’s room, leaving the least-interesting people behind. The younger men were aids or assistants, not the major players of the bunch.

“They’re all looking at their phones now.”

“Great. Too bad we can’t see what they’re looking at.” She smiled back, her posture easier, more relaxed. “How’d this morning go?”

“Pretty good. I think I’ve lined up our weekend plans.”

“Oh, really?” She arched a brow at him.

“Sure. Me. You. That big bed. All weekend.”

She chuckled and shook her head. Was it his imagination or were her cheeks a little pink?

He wasn’t lying. Their surveillance suite wasn’t as big as the one booked under her real name. About the only place to sit besides at the desk in that uncomfortable chair was the bed. He figured she’d do the listening and he’d do the transcribing. It wasn’t nearly as sexy as it sounded.

The server reappeared with their drinks and the first course, an assorted fruit plate and toast for them to share. Sarah plucked a strawberry from the mix. His stomach was demanding, but they had more pressing matters to sort out first.

“Let’s talk about us while we’re otherwise indisposed.” He kissed the back of her hand, stroking his fingers over her knuckles.

Sarah’s eyes bulged and her brows drew down.

Yeah, he’d waited for her to eat something. It was about the only way he could get an idea in without her dismissing it. “You’re probably thinking this isn’t the time or place, right? When is?”