Hottest Mess (SIN 2)

He inclines his head in a subservient bow. "As you wish."

I roll my eyes, but I'm still smiling after he's gone. And when he taps lightly on the door a few minutes later, I say in my most authoritative voice, "Enter."

Except it's not him. It's Archie. And he's carrying a tray with a coffeepot.

The sheet, thank God, is still under my chin--I'd been planning on tormenting Dallas a little upon his return. But that fact barely makes a dent in my overall level of mortification.

Archie, however, is his usual professional self.

He crosses the room without even rattling the cups and sets the tray down on the bedside table. "Shall I pour?"

"I--um." I struggle to answer, not really certain how to act in this situation. As I'm fumbling, Dallas comes in through the open door. He's carrying two mugs, and he didn't bother with a tray.

"Thanks," I say wryly. "But you're a little late."

His eyes meet mine, and I honestly can't tell if that's an apology or amusement coloring his expression. Probably a little of both.

"I didn't intend to disturb you so early," Archie says smoothly. "But you have a guest. Mr. Martin."

He's looking at Dallas, but I'm the one who replies. "Mr. Martin? Bill? My Bill?"

"Yours?" Dallas says sharply, then looks as though he wishes he'd bitten his tongue instead.

"Miss Jane's ex-husband, yes," Archie says.

"Oh," I say, peering around the room for clothes, then remembering they are across the hall in the study. And mostly ruined. Thankfully, I'd ordered a few things on line during our four days of bliss--including my now-destroyed skirt--and that new wardrobe is downstairs in my old bedroom. "Well, I just need to get dressed and--"

"He's here to see Dallas, actually. I've put him in the first floor den," he adds. "With coffee and orange juice."

"Right. Well, I'll go see what he wants," Dallas says, looking as though he'd rather do anything but.

As I watch, he pulls on a pair of khakis that Archie hands him from the closet, then matches them with a loose knit shirt and loafers. He's gone from looking like he just woke up to someone who could model for GQ in approximately twelve seconds. And when he takes the next step and smooths his sex-mussed hair, then rolls back his shoulders and stands tall, he looks like a man who could run an empire.

My man, I think, and hug the little nugget of pride close even as a disturbing question occurs to me. "Why is he here? Do you think he's found out about--" I'm looking at Dallas, but I don't finish the question because it occurs to me that I have absolutely no idea if Archie knows about Deliverance. But I'm terrified that Bill has come on behalf of WORR--the World Organization for Rescue and Rehabilitation.

It's a group with a mission I believe in--assisting government agencies in the rescue of kidnap victims. But it has another purpose, too, and that's to locate and shut down vigilante groups. A former assistant United States attorney, Bill is one of the top people at WORR. And Deliverance is very much on his radar.

"If that's why he's here, we'll deal. But I'm going to start with the assumption that this is family business." His gaze cuts toward me. "After all, the man used to be my brother-in-law."

I scowl, not liking that reminder.

He heads for the door, pausing long enough to glance at me, his smile thin but reassuring. Then he's out the door and out of sight.

I expect Archie to leave. I hope he will, actually, because I really want to get out of this bed and get dressed.

But he's not going anywhere, and I'm pretty sure I know why.

"We've shocked you," I say.

His mouth curves just slightly, making the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepen and softening his usually dour, professional expression. "No, Miss Jane. At least not in the way you mean."

" 'Not in the way I mean'? I don't understand."

"Deliverance," he says flatly, and my eyes go wide. "I'm surprised he told you."

I think back on the conversation. "How do you know he did?"

"Because you're worried that your Mr. Martin is here to interrogate him. That he's learned that Dallas created Deliverance, and that he's on a mission to bring him down."