Page 16 of An Epic Voyage (The Epic Beauty Salon Files #1)

A knock sounded on Indigo’s door.

“Prince Griffin Charming?” Jordy pondered.

“That’s a good guess since he said he’d escort me to the dinner.”

“Well, honey, you wait right there. A vision such as yourself must make a grand entrance.”

He was gone before Indy could say anything. All she had left to do was add a pair of hoop earrings. She heard the men talking while she hooked them through the holes in her ears. There was no mistaking Griffin’s deep voice.

Her steps faltered when she entered the room. Griffin looked terrific in a pair of khaki pants and a white Oxford shirt with the top button open. He lifted his head, and their eyes locked. Oh my.

“Doesn’t she look gorge?” Jordy prompted.

“Definitely,” Griffin agreed.

If Jordy wasn’t there, Indigo might’ve suggested they skip the meal and get to know each other better. In bed. With a shake of her head, she said, “Let’s get this over with. Thanks again for the dress, Jordy.”

“Anytime, my lovely. Have fun, you two. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t, and, hint, there isn’t much I won’t do.”

Indigo rolled her eyes and walked into the hallway.

“You do look stunning,” Griffin murmured. “You also smell divine.”

“Jinger thanks you.”

One of his brows quirked sexily. “Yeah? Why is that?”

“She practically swan-dived into the bottle of perfume. I was collateral damage.”

Griffin chuckled. “I’m still not sure why they invited us to eat with them.”

“It’s Jinger’s way of matchmaking. She’s trying to get me to work for her, and she thinks that if we get together, I’ll change my mind.”

“Ah, well, that makes sense in Jinger’s world, I guess.”

“What a scary place that must be,” she mumbled.

Griffin smiled down at her, and she stumbled. Those doggone dimples would be her undoing.

When they arrived at the private dining room, Jinger fluttered over to welcome them, playing the cheerful, attentive hostess.

She air-kissed each of their cheeks as if she were European royalty.

They joined Benedict at the table. He shook Griffin’s hand and then Indigo’s.

He held on longer than necessary as his gaze raked her body, lingering too long on her chest. Jerk.

She cursed her lack of a bra, even though there was built-in support that covered her nipples.

“How are you feeling today?” Her caring tone belied her true feelings.

“Much better. I must’ve had a case of food poisoning or something.”

Or something.

“I almost fired the chef, but Jinger talked me out of it.”

Thank goodness. Indigo didn’t want the man to lose his job because of her.

A server came over to take their drink orders and to inform them that the choices for the night were filet mignon or grilled salmon. Griffin and Benedict chose the steak, while Indigo and Jinger opted for the fish.

Whereas she and Griffin chatted easily, this dialogue was shallow and uninteresting.

Van Houten tried to play footsie with her under the table, while Jinger was doing her best to talk Indy’s ear off.

Several times, Indy glanced toward the kitchen.

How long did it take to grill a couple of steaks and two pieces of fish?

It wasn’t as if there was a full house and the chef had to divide time between multiple orders.

They were the only ones in the entire restaurant.

Did he have to butcher the cow, or what?

Thankfully, after what seemed like hours, the meals arrived, preventing further conversational torture.

The salmon was divine, as was the roasted asparagus that came with it. The chef’s Michelin stars were well deserved. Jinger picked at her food and barely ate two bites. What a waste of a delicious meal.

Indy had hoped to make a polite exit, but that dream was dashed when Van Houten instructed the server to crack open a bottle of Rémy Martin Louis XIII.

They sat in leather chairs in front of a gas fireplace and spent the evening sipping cognac while Van Houten pontificated about his wealth and the privileges that came with it.

Indy considered grabbing the fire stoker and stabbing it into her ear canal to end the suffering.

At least she was far enough away from Van Houten that he couldn’t fondle her. Bright side.

She almost declared her love to Griffin when he stood and held out a hand for her.

“It’s late, and we should get to bed. We’ll arrive at the island early in the morning.”

They said their goodbyes. As soon as they stepped into the hallway, Indy relaxed for the first time that evening.

Between acting interested in the mind-numbingly boring fluff Jinger prattled about and avoiding Van Houten’s roaming hands—and feet—she was exhausted.

Her mission would start in earnest tomorrow. She needed to be rested for it.

Griffin walked her to her door. In another circumstance, she’d invite him in and act on the scorching chemistry that sizzled between them.

As horrible as Benedict and Jinger had been, the evening had been bearable because of Griffin.

All she had to do was look at him and calmness would overcome her, along with a healthy dose of lust.

“Do you expect any nocturnal visits from Van Houten tonight?”

“I didn’t last night,” she countered. “I don’t plan on opening the door if he comes knocking.”

“By the way he was staring at you tonight, I’d say that’s a pretty good bet.”

She sighed. Griffin was right. Those looks had been downright lecherous.

“If you want, there’s an empty crew room next to mine. You could sleep there tonight.”

That would allow her to rest without worrying that Van Houten would accost her while she was unconscious. “I’ll take it. Come on in, and I’ll grab a few things.”

Indigo picked up her suitcase and disappeared into the bathroom.

With one last wistful look at the beautiful dress, she removed it and replaced it on the hanger.

Jordy could have it dry cleaned, and it’d be as good as new.

She pulled on a T-shirt and shorts that were comfortable enough to sleep in and removed her makeup.

Griffin was staring out the window when she emerged.

It was too dark to see anything, yet he seemed mesmerized.

Indigo took the opportunity to ogle his behind. Oh my.

When he turned, she averted her gaze and picked up her computer bag with her SIG Sauer in a hidden compartment. “I’m ready.”

Griffin waited for her to exit and then placed a small piece of paper against the frame while closing the door.

“Great idea,” Indigo praised. It was a rudimentary, foolproof method of knowing if Van Houten had visited.

“I have to warn you,” Griffin said as they walked to the elevator. “The rooms downstairs aren’t nearly as extravagant as your suite.”

Indigo waved a hand. “No worries. I’m not a luxe kind of girl. What?” she prompted when Griffin stopped walking.

“You’re a unique woman, Indigo.”

If he only knew. “Nah. I’m nothing special.”

“I beg to differ,” he murmured.

A shiver of warmth rushed through her body. Oh, she wanted to act on the feelings, but she was, above all, a professional. The job came first.

#

G riffin had shocked himself when he’d invited Indigo to use the room next to him.

Still, that hadn’t been the biggest hit to his heart tonight.

No, that had come when Indigo had walked into the room dressed in a gown that perfectly molded to her toned body and accentuated her unique eyes.

Every ounce of breath had fled his body in a rush.

He’d never seen anyone more beautiful. Jordy had been jabbering away, saving him from having to talk, which was good since speech had been next to impossible.

He couldn’t fault Van Houten for being unable to take his eyes off her. Griffin had struggled to do the same thing.

It would be harder to monitor Indigo and keep her safe when they arrived on the island in the morning.

There were only so many places one could go on a boat.

True, the same could be said about an island in the middle of the Atlantic, but it was more expansive.

Plus, Griffin was at a disadvantage. He’d never been there before.

He had studied the plans and been given instructions, but he would have preferred a visual run-through first.

“Does Van Houten know which room is yours?”

“No. I’m not sure he’s ever set foot below deck. He’s not usually one to mingle with the minions. Tonight was an anomaly.”

“Are you calling me a minion?” Indigo asked in what he thought was mock anger, given the smile.

He grinned down at her. “No, I’m calling myself one.”

They arrived on his floor. Griffin had commandeered the end unit. He’d purposefully kept the one next to it unoccupied so he could get work done with no one overhearing his conversations. Also, so he’d be able to sleep. Some of the men snored like rusty, fifty-year-old chainsaws.

“You might want to keep the television turned on,” he warned her.

“Ah. You snore like a bear, do you, Griffin?”

He chuckled. “Not me, I hope, but some of the others. I’d advise you not to walk down the hall at night.”

“That bad?”

“Worse.”

Indigo smiled as he opened the door to the empty bunk. It was much smaller than her suite but still nice. It was like going from a luxury boutique hotel to a generic chain motel. Functional, but without the bells and whistles.

“This will work,” she said as she placed her bag on the dresser. “What time will we arrive tomorrow?”

“Between nine and ten in the morning.”

“Have you checked the storm lately?”

Griffin sighed. “Yeah. Signs are pointing to it turning our way, but they haven’t made the call yet.”

“Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

That innocuous sentence shot straight to his groin. Standing by a bed with Indigo in front of him, oh yes, he wanted to get lucky. He wanted to get lucky all night long.

Clearing his throat, he said, “My room’s the next one over.” He pointed in the direction. “Holler if you need anything.”

“Thanks. I will. Goodnight, Griffin.”

“Goodnight, Indigo.”

With one last look, he closed the door behind him. He was both relieved and bummed when he heard the lock slide into place.

#

“W hy are you still in your office?”

Jackson glanced up at Evangeline, her arms crossed as she leaned against the doorframe. “I could ask you the same thing.”

With a sigh, she walked inside and collapsed into one of the chairs in front of his desk. “When did we become total workaholics?”

About the time you left me.

Jackson didn’t say the words on the tip of his tongue.

Instead, he reached into a drawer and pulled out a bottle of Maker’s Mark and two glasses.

He poured the amber liquid and slid one over to Evie.

She slammed it back. He refilled her glass before downing his shot.

Liquid fire traveled down his esophagus, and he savored the burn.

“I think we’ve always been that way.”

Evie twirled her glass idly. “I think you’re right.”

Damn, she was beautiful, especially when she let down her shields, which wasn’t often. All these years later and she still had the power to bring him to his knees.

Jackson cleared his throat. “To answer your first question, I was monitoring the storm.”

Pale-blue eyes met his. “It’s going to cause problems for Indy, isn’t it?”

Jackson nodded slowly. “I fear it is.”

“Do we pull her out?”

He’d been thinking about it but didn’t have a definitive answer.

Finding the nuke was a top priority for the president, but Indigo’s safety was his.

“Let’s see what it looks like in the morning when the yacht reaches the island.

We should get a better idea of what the hurricane will do.

I can arrange for a helo to pick her up if needed. ”

“Won’t that blow her cover?”

“I’d rather that happen than have her caught in a natural disaster.”

“I agree.”

#

E vangeline hadn’t planned on going to Jackson’s office, but her feet had carried her there nonetheless. Being around him was dangerous. He made her feel things that frightened her. That’s why she’d broken off their relationship ten years ago. She’d regretted it every single day since.

When he’d been shot protecting the future president, Evangeline had reacted as if the bullet had pierced her flesh.

Then she’d sat beside his bed and couldn’t fathom how she would go on if the unimaginable happened and he didn’t make it.

That’s when she decided he had too much power over her.

She was a strong, capable woman who needed to reclaim her independence.

Biggest mistake of her life.

People had thought she’d been an Ice Queen before, and yes, she’d heard the whispers behind her back. After learning that Jackson was marrying another woman only a few months after their breakup, she’d become the most frigid bitch who’d ever walked the earth.

If her heart was encased in permafrost, then it couldn’t be broken, right? Wrong.

Evangeline wondered if one reason the president had assigned her to a new department was because her fellow Secret Service officers had complained about working with her. She didn’t blame them. She had a hard time living with herself.

To make matters exponentially worse, Jackson had been appointed as her equal.

“Evie, where did you go?”

Evangeline shook her head to clear the memories. “What was that?”

“What’s going on in that head of yours?”

She had no idea how long she’d been lost in the past. “I was thinking about Indigo and the situation.”

“We’ll keep her safe,” Jackson promised, and she believed him.

She stood and tried not to sway. The two shots of whisky had gone straight to her head. She’d forgotten to eat lunch and dinner. That happened sometimes when she was engrossed in work. Okay, if she was being honest, it occurred all the time.

“Don’t stay too late,” she told Jackson as she turned toward the door. “Call me if something changes. Otherwise, I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Night, Evie.”

She thought walking away from him would get easier over the years, but if anything, it was harder than ever.