Page 60 of An Epic Voyage

“It does have its appeal.”

“You know, I was starting to like you, Indigo—if that’s your real name.I thought you were intelligent and interesting.”She ignored the shiver that shot through her body.“Both times we had dinner together were pleasant.”

Was that a slam?Who described a fantastic meal with stellar company that way?“And now?”

“I think you are a pain in the ass, and I can’t wait to send you away and never see you again.”

Those words shouldn’t hurt so much, but it felt as if he’d taken a knife and sliced her torso in two.She glanced down to make sure her chest wasn’t bleeding.It wasn’t.Only on the inside.“Who uses the word pleasant to describe a situation, anyway?”

“It’s a perfectly suitable adjective.”

“Sure, for my grandmother, God rest her soul.”

“You’d prefer if I said amiable?Congenial?Cordial?”

“Why not engaging?Exhilarating?Titillating?”She’d thrown that last one in to get a reaction out of him since he’d turned into an expressionless robot.It worked because his eyes darkened and his gaze dropped to her chest for a nanosecond before snapping back to her face.

Before he could answer, Griffin’s phone buzzed.He studied it with a furrowed brow.

“That would be your boss.You’d better answer it.”

“How did you ...never mind.”He pivoted away before answering.He listened to what the man was saying and then slowly turned to face her.“Say that again.”Pause.“You’ve got to be kidding me.”Another pause.“It could be faked ...no, I understand.”He nodded, not that the person on the other end could see him.The conversation lasted a few more minutes.Indigo studied her fingernails, which wasn’t easy with all the bindings.“Yeah, okay.Got it.”

He disconnected without taking his eyes off her.“It seems you have friends in high places, Ms.Adair.”

“Oh, you mean the president of the United States?Yeah, I do.”

He narrowed his gaze.“Why wouldn’t you tell me you worked for the government?”

“You didn’t tell me,” she challenged.

“I did.”

She scoffed.“Only because you were arresting me.You didn’t mention it at any point prior.”

“Why should I have blown my cover to you?You, however, should’ve said something after I cuffed you.”

“Which time?”

“Smartass.”

“You wouldn’t have believed me.We don’t exist on paper.You should know that from your background check.”

He shook his head.“You ignoring the warnings to get on the yacht makes sense now.”

She chuckled.“Yeah, but I thought I’d be here alone.You blew that by coming back for me.”

“I’d planned on staying here too, but I wanted you to be safe.”

He reached into his pocket.“Stand up and hold out your hands.”

She did, and he removed the metal cuffs before cutting off the two plastic ones.Her fingers tingled, so she shook them out.

“What do you know about the laptop?”

“What laptop?”

“Isn’t that why you’re here?”