‘Will you two just stop for a second? We need to work out when and where we’re going to meet tomorrow.’
They both turned to look at me as I stood between them, holding them in place. I realised how ridiculous we must look and dropped my hands back to my sides.
‘Call me when you arrive in Amsterdam,’ Ford said. ‘I’ll call you back as soon as I get the chance.’
‘OK,’ I said. ‘Good luck, and be careful.’
‘I will.’ He turned towards me and touched my cheek. ‘Thanks for everything, Sarah. I really appreciate it.’
It was uncomfortable, standing there with him while Nick looked on, and I itched to brush his hand away. He’d also assumed a proprietorial air, presumably for Nick’s benefit, that reminded me a little too much of James, and I couldn’t stand that shit. I took a step back. ‘No sweat.’
He gave a brief wave to Nick, who nodded coolly in response, then slipped out of the room.
‘That was cosy,’ Nick said.
‘I was working, Nick. I’ve got his side of the story, but we have to go to Amsterdam to get the evidence.’
‘I can’t believe you’re still mooning over that twit after what his mates did to us. Thanks for everything, Sarah. I really appreciate it,’ he mimicked in an atrocious attempt at a Scottish accent.
‘I’m not mooning over him,’ I said. ‘Could you even contemplate growing up?’
‘Then why did you have to conduct your interview in your hotel room?’
‘Because if his mates, as you call them, catch him talking to a journo, they’ll probably kill him. I’m sure what they did to you and me is nothing compared to what they’re capable of.’
‘You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?’
‘Yeah, Nick, loving it.’
‘Come on. Risking your life for the job… tell me it doesn’t turn you on just a bit.’
His voice was mocking, but his eyes were burning. He wanted to hurt me for pursuing the story without him, for being here alone with Ford, and part of me wanted to hurt him back. But his face was still so messed up that I couldn’t bring myself to bite back. Plus, he was kind of right. I’d never felt so alive.
‘Go to bed, Nick,’ I said. ‘We’ve got a long day tomorrow.’
‘What, so you can call Ford back here? You must think you’re pretty hot stuff, getting involved with a rockstar.’
‘I’m not involved with him. Look who you’re talking to. I wouldn’t know Brad Pitt if I ran into him on the street.’
‘But he’d make quite a good rebound option, wouldn’t he?’
‘Jealous?’
‘In your dreams.’
‘Nightmares, more like it.’
‘Why did you lie to me?’ he asked.
‘About what?’
‘You went back there, didn’t you? After what they did to you. After what they did to both of us.’
‘I had to find out more,’ I said. ‘I couldn’t risk you showing your face there again.’
‘So I’m a risk now, am I?’
I groaned. ‘If you listened to what I said, you’d realise that I didn’t want you to get hurt again.’
He pressed his lips together for a second. ‘That’s not your choice to make.’
‘But it’s my responsibility,’ I said. ‘Ford is in enough trouble as it is without us making it more complicated.’
‘We’re a team, Burrowes, whether you like it or not. I put myself on the line for this story too, remember?’
‘Well, you shouldn’t have. Going undercover isn’t part of your job.’
His face relaxed into a laugh. ‘Says the one who dressed as a prostitute to infiltrate a drug cartel. Anyway, you made me your gay friend. Give me the chance to play the tough guy at least once.’
I tried to hide my smile. ‘Being gay isn’t an insult, you know.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘I never said it was. Regardless, you’re not doing anything alone from now on. You need to check something out, I come with you. You interview someone, I come with you.’
‘Nick—’
‘I’m serious.’
‘You’re overreacting.’
‘And you’re being stubborn. Don’t argue.’
I sighed. ‘Fine. Now will you please get out of here so I can write up my notes and email Katrina before she fires me again?’
His expression finally softened. ‘You’re kicking me out?’
‘That’s right.’
He was about to walk out when he turned to look at me again.
‘Are you sure there’s nothing going on with that Ford knob?’
‘What if there was?’
‘Well, then I guess I’d be jealous.’
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
On my third flight in as many days, I filled Nick in on everything that had happened since our first night in Paris, including the deal I’d struck with Adelita.
He raised his eyebrows. ‘The bitch from Barcelona?’
‘I’m not terribly happy about it myself.’
‘I look forward to finally meeting this chick. She sounds like she’s really something.’
‘I don’t think she’d be your type. She’s got balls of steel, unlike the girls you usually go for.’
‘On the contrary.’ He winked at me. ‘I like my women feisty.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Trust me. You’re not going to be interested in Adelita.’
‘And if I was?’
‘I guess I’d be jealous.’ I gave him an arch smile.
I turned my attention back to the page I’d been scrawling notes on. We’d been flirting madly all morning and I wasn’t sure what it meant. Once we got home we’d have to face up to reality and all its associated complications. And yet I couldn’t help enjoying this game. It was far better than trading insults anyway.
‘How do you know you can trust her?’ Nick asked after a while.
‘I don’t. But she has contacts, and she can get us a lot of money selling this story.’
‘Seems like a pretty good business she’s got going there,’ he remarked. ‘Do I get a cut of this big money?’
‘Thanks to me you do,’ I said. ‘Adelita wanted to keep you in the dark about it, but I insisted that you get your share.’
‘Bitch!’ Nick muttered.
‘If that’s the way you’re going to thank me, I’ll leave you out next
