her twin sister, Allie, had had to fill in. But Allie and Drew had failed to capture the Ghost, had lost the weapons and the money to Jammer. He had orchestrated the death of Miyagi, effectively saving her sister’s life, for which Callie would always be grateful.
How to mesh this man with his international reputation for being the Ghost’s muscle? It was interesting how he was always where the Ghost was supposed to be. Always the face of the organization. It made her wonder and speculate.
Jammer was much more than the Ghost’s muscle. She found this intriguing, and grudgingly had to admire Jammer’s intelligence.
“We’d better get going,” he said as he let her go. She slid off the fountain and for an instant, in front of one of the most famous monuments in the world, she wrapped her arms around him and held him, just held on to him, breathing in his scent and enjoying the sheer physical contact.
That was the other negative side effect of being undercover-the loneliness of never really letting herself get too close.
And in her heart, she knew that even after she’d completed her mission she would always feel that loneliness, because after her mission was complete, Jammer would never hold her like this again.
7
THE ITALIAN MET THEM in a small conference room provided by the hotel. It was a quick transaction and took all of thirty minutes to complete.
As they were wrapping up, Jammer asked, “Alberto, do you have any ideas where would I get my hands on seven or eight hundred surface-to-air missiles and two planes?”
Callie closed her eyes and swore softly when Alberto regarded her quizzically.
“This information I have already given to the fair Gina. E questo non e cosi?”
Jammer looked at her as she smiled and nodded at the Italian. “Yes, you have, but I haven’t had a chance to discuss it with Jammer.”
“Ah, well, I must depart. Your shipment will go out this afternoon to the place you have specified.” He kissed Gina’s hand and exited the room with his two bodyguards.
As the door closed, Jammer turned to her. “You know where to get the rest of the weapons? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was checking all my contacts.”
“Why do that when we have a solid lead on those weapons? It’s all I need to complete the shipment.”
Just then Jammer’s cell rang. He answered curtly.
Fuentes’s voice dropped, and Jammer ended the call shortly afterward.
“Now, who is this contact?”
“Joost Roorback,” Callie said. She wasn’t disappointed in Jammer’s reaction.
“Son of a bitch! Three years I’ve been doing this and not one problem. Not one.” He sat down heavily in one of the conference room chairs. “Joost fucking Roorback hates me, and the Ghost in particular. He feels that he’s being dissed every time I make a buy in the Ghost’s name. He’s a loose cannon and a murdering, sadistic bastard. I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
“He doesn’t hate me, Jammer. Maybe I can work with him.”
“No! Out of the question. We’ll find another way.”
She came around the conference room table to where Jammer was sitting. He’d worn a gorgeous gray Armani silk wool suit that darkened the shade of his eyes and easily cost ten thou if she was any judge. The silver-gray, unembellished tie made him look sleek and sophisticated. She settled her hands on his shoulders and kneaded the knotted muscles through the jacket and white silk shirt. “Okay, okay, I’m on your side. I’ll keep checking with everyone I know. Jeez, don’t shoot the messenger.”
Jammer nodded, his features tight. “Sorry, but that man is bad, bad news.”
“I’ve only heard rumors. I haven’t had much of an opportunity to deal with him.”
“Good. Steer clear. That guy’s going to come to a violent end, Gina. Mark my words.”
“So, I guess our trip to Italy is over. I didn’t even get a chance to go to Tuscany.”
Jammer swiveled the chair, cutting her legs out from under her so that she landed in his lap with an “oomph” and a giggle.
“Well, why not? When do we meet lover boy?”
Callie straightened his tie and smiled wryly, “Jammer, he’s not my lover boy, and we’re not supposed to see him until Friday.”
“That leaves us two days. Plenty of time.”
“You’re serious? You want to frolic around in Florence for two days?”
“Why not? It doesn’t make sense to head back to the U.S. when we’d just have to turn around and go to London. Might as well take advantage of the time we have together.”
True to his word, they flew into Florence. It wasn’t until they landed and got to the hotel that he told her he’d booked a bike tour around the city. Callie loved the idea.
They spent their first day doing that, then it was off to San Gimignano to a farmhouse for the night, to experience the Tuscany region and the vineyards of the area. The day was filled with nothing but wine sipping and pool lounging, until Callie felt so relaxed and refreshed she never wanted to leave.
Jammer bought a bottle of wine and a meal from the generous owners and they took it out to the terrace.
She was tipsy from the wine and warmed by the sun when she sat down to the simple but delicious fare the couple had prepared.
Jammer filled her glass and said, “This variety of wine dates back hundreds of years to Greek sailors.”
“I feel as drunk as a sailor,” she said softly, and they both thought that was completely hilarious.
“You know the last time I had wine with you, mister, I ended up very wet and very satisfied.”
Jammer’s eyes glowed, and an infectious grin split his lips. “As I recall, you didn’t protest too vigorously.”
“As
“Debauchery?”
They broke into gales of laughter over that, too.
After dinner, Callie stepped up to the railing of the terrace and appreciated the view. The panorama of the Tuscan countryside spread out before them-undulating hills topped with little terra-cotta-roofed farmhouses.
“Let’s go for a walk,” Jammer suggested as they left the terrace. It was getting dark, but there was a full moon and plenty of light to see where they were walking.
They soon came to a field full of red poppies gently blowing in the breeze, which carried the smell of earth and grass. Callie leaned her forearms on a fence and took in the countryside.
Jammer came up behind her, his hands encircling her waist. He kissed the back of her neck, sending spikes of pleasure down her spine. Her head reeling from the wine, she relaxed into him, breathing in his clean, sharp male scent and sighing.
“What a beautiful night and a beautiful place.”
“You’re beautiful, Gina. So damned beautiful.”
“Is that the wine talking?” She giggled.
He chuckled and said, “No, you crazy woman, it’s not. You’re beautiful from the top of your silky cap of hair down to your breasts, to your long, killer legs.”
“I can kill a man with my legs, you know.”
He laughed softly into her neck. “I can attest to that fact.”
She laughed with him, and said, “I can.”
“Yeah, you’re lethal, I have no doubt.”
