Page 23 of An Epic Voyage

“Yes, I will make it happen, Ms.Adair,” Van Houten responded smoothly.He’d yet to take his eyes off her.“Name your price.”

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Indigo had been aroundcreeps before, and Benedict Van Houten set off every one of her internal alarms.He made her skin crawl.Maybe it was because she knew he was a traitor to his country, or perhaps it was the way he brushed her leg under the table while his girlfriend was sitting across from him.

“I’m flattered, but I already have a job I love.”

“Benny,” Jinger whined.“I want her.Look what she did to my hair.”Jinger shook her head, sending her waves dancing.

“Yes, she is talented.I’m sure we can make a deal.I can be very ...persuasive.”

Indigo fought a shudder.Ick.He was disgusting.And he hadn’t quit staring at her.She smiled politely and stood.“It’s getting late, and I’ve had a long day.I’m going to turn in.It was nice to meet you, Mr.Van Houten.Jinger, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Not too early,” Jinger warned.“I need my beauty sleep.Right, Benny.Benny?”

“What ...oh, right.”

Griffin rose to his feet.“I’ll walk you back to your suite, Indigo.”

Benedict stood too.“We’ll discuss this proposition in more detail later.I’ll have my lawyer draw up a contract.”

Good grief, how many times did she have to say no?“That’s unnecessary, Mr.Van Houten.I’m afraid it won’t do any good.Goodnight.”

Indigo walked away before he could say anything else.Griffin followed her, and they headed to the elevator.Neither of them spoke.Griffin subtly shook his head when they were inside.She took that to mean the elevator either had ears or someone was watching the monitors in the security room.Maybe both.Crapola.How was she going to search the ship?Griffin had given her a thorough tour, and there were several areas she wanted to inspect closely.

When they reached her suite, she opened the door and waited for Griffin to follow.He did.She turned to him and whispered, “I’m assuming by your reaction that the ship is bugged?”

His brows raised.“Bugged?This isn’t a spy movie.”

Son of a bucket.She’d made a strategic mistake.Why would a cosmetologist worry about listening devices?And now, Griffin was studying her like a dead tick under a microscope.Just freaking great, Indigo.Way to fly under the radar.She tried to play it off with a chuckle.“Okay, so maybe I watch too many cop dramas on television.”

She wasn’t sure he believed her.His gaze was still assessing, but he answered, “There are cameras all around, some with sound capabilities, like in the elevators, hallways, common spaces.As I told you before, the rooms are safe.”

She nodded.It was what she had expected.

“Are you seriously going to turn down Van Houten’s offer?”

Good, he’d dropped the bug issue.“Absolutely.”

“He’s been known to dip into the seven figures to pacify Jinger.”

Indigo gulped.That was a lot of money.Certainly more than her government salary.She’d never been into material things.Her loft and vehicle were part of her contract, so the bulk of her salary was allocated to savings and investments.She wasn’t filthy rich, but she wasn’t hurting either.

“That must be how he lured Jordy to work for him.”

“Probably.”

It had been a long day, and tiredness was setting in.“Is anyone allowed to use the weight room on the second floor?”

“Yes.”

“Is it usually busy in the mornings?”

Griffin shrugged.“My first time on the boat too.”

“Oh, right.”

Indy couldn’t stop staring at Griffin.He was so handsome, and having him in her suite was doing crazy things to her body.His clean, masculine scent wafted around her.She felt the effects of the earlier margarita and the glass of wine she’d imbibed with Griffin.Thanks to Jinger’s impeccable timing, she had never managed to eat.