Always - Iris Johansen [5]
His expression didn’t change, but she had the impression she’d surprised him. Suddenly he smiled with a beguiling warmth. The transformation of his rough-hewn face gave her a little shock.
“I was rude, wasn’t I? You’ll have to forgive me.” There was the faintest trace of a brogue in his deep voice. “I’ve always been too blunt. It’s one of my greatest faults. My name is Clancy Donahue, Miss Landon. I’d like to talk to you, if I may.” His blue eyes were suddenly twinkling. “I’ll let you search me if it will make you feel any safer. I’m totally without weapons of any sort.”
She doubted that. There was nothing in the least defenseless about Clancy Donahue. His wickedly appealing smile caused her to smile in return. “I’ll trust you. Come in, Mr. Donahue. What can I do for you?” She resumed wiping the cream from her face.
He closed the door and the size of the dressing room seemed to shrink. “I want your cooperation.” He came forward to stand before her. “You’ve missed a spot. Here, let me.” He took the tissue and carefully wiped the blob of cream from her temple. For someone with such large hands, he was very gentle. It was an intimate gesture performed with surprising matter-of-factness. “There. That does it.” He tossed the tissue on the vanity. “I like you better without makeup. Your skin is really quite extraordinary.” He spoke almost abstractedly. “So white and soft. Like a camellia. I was thinking that while I was watching you sing tonight.”
“You were in the audience?” She couldn’t hide her surprise as she glanced at his casual jeans and navy crew-neck sweater. She had known the headwaiter for only a few days, but she was aware that Monty was snobbish and rigid about his precious dress code.
Clancy’s lips twisted. “I have friends in high places.”
“You must.” Lisa wished he’d move away from her. She could feel the heat emanating from his big body even though he was no longer touching her, and she was conscious of the clean scent of soap and an after shave that smelled vaguely minty. She’d been shockingly aware of the physical presence of the man since he’d walked in the door, and she wasn’t sure she liked having her composure disturbed. She had fought too long, and too hard to gain that composure. Nodding, she gestured to the chair across the room. “Won’t you sit down?” He moved away at once and she let her breath out in a little rush. How stupid to feel threatened because he was a virile male and she was merely experiencing a very natural sexual chemistry. “You said something about cooperation?”
He dropped into the chair she’d indicated. “In my search for Martin Baldwin,” he said bluntly. “I think you can deliver him to me.”
She stiffened. “You’re a policeman?”
He shook his head. “I’m with the Sedikhan Security Service. Your ex-husband and his ‘company’ have been running guns to a group of terrorists based across the border from Sedikhan in Said Ababa.” His expression hardened. “I don’t like men who make money off of that terror any more than I like the terrorists themselves. I want very much to find Baldwin.”
Lisa moistened her lips. Oh, dear Lord, would it never end? “Then go find him,” she said quietly. “It has nothing to do with me.”
“I need you. Baldwin knows I’m looking for him and has gone underground. The only person who can make him come out of hiding is you.”
She lowered her lashes to veil her eyes. “We’re not married any longer. I have nothing to do with Martin these days.”
“Not willingly, perhaps.” Clancy shrugged. “But he still wants you. Would you like me to quote a few instances of Baldwin’s pathological jealousy? You lost a very good job in Las Vegas because Baldwin made a scene and threatened to cut a customer’s throat. That was about a year ago, wasn’t it? There have been two other ugly scenes since that I can think of offhand. I have the dossier in my suitcase if you’d like to review it.”
“No,” she said numbly. Of course he would have a dossier on her. All policemen had their damned dossiers. She should know that by now. “I just want to be left alone.