Twice the Temptation

Cody leaned forward. “What did she say?”

“She sang.”

“A song?”

Brie nodded as she took another bite of burger and chewed. “But it wasn’t the song that had been in my head when I’d imagined myself sitting on the piano. And it wasn’t my voice. Hers is deeper. Throatier. But it was the song that I end every performance with. It’s sort of my signature. ‘When You Wish Upon a Star.’”

“Hattie doesn’t appear to everyone. I’ve seen her lover, but not her yet. And as far as I know, she hasn’t spoken or sung to anyone before.”

She salted her fries. “You’re the one with the talent for seeing ghosts. Why do you suppose she appeared to me and not to you?”

“It’s an interesting question—but I’ll bet the answer lies with Hattie.”

“There’s a part of me that wants to believe she was a figment of my imagination. But I know what I saw. In a way, it’s like that night when I stepped out into the alley and saw that scumbag murder my boss. Once I got far enough away, I wanted to deny what I’d seen. To convince myself that I’d imagined it all. But I knew what I’d seen that time, too.”

“Telling the police was a brave thing to do,” Cody said.

“No. It was a practical decision. Dicky saw me. He even took a shot at me. It wasn’t going to take him long to find out who I was. I needed protection.”

Cody reached for her hand and squeezed it. Instantly, he felt the same connection that he’d felt twice before. “I’m going to protect you, Brie.”

“And I can increase your chances of doing that.”

He opened his mouth, but she held up a finger. “Let me finish.”

“Go ahead.”

She met his eyes steadily. “I already gave you the whole two heads are better than one spiel.”

“I usually work by myself.”

“Same here. Much less hassle.” She tilted her head to the side and studied him. “Have you ever seen the Steven Segal movie, Under Siege?”

“He’s a Navy SEAL/cook on a war ship that’s hijacked by Tommy Lee Jones and buddies?”

She pointed a fry at him. “That’s the one. I feel just like Miss January—the girl who popped out of the cake at the captain’s birthday party. You’ve saved my life twice, so I figure the safest place for me is with you. That’s how she convinced Steven Segal not to stuff her away in a locker. And later on in that movie, she saves his life. I think we’re better off as a team.”

She had a point. Besides, there was something in her eyes, something he hadn’t seen before. Vulnerability. She hid it well. Perhaps that was why it pulled at him. “Okay. We’ll stick together.”

“Thanks.” She smiled, and he felt the warmth shoot straight to his center.

Then she dropped her gaze to one of the platters. “Do you want any more fries?”

He pushed the plate toward her. “Are you going to eat any of that salad?”

She wrinkled her nose as she swirled a fry in ketchup. “Do I look like Popeye?”

He laughed as he pulled the salad toward him. “You don’t look like Olive Oyl, either.”

“I hope not.” She swallowed a fry. “Why the CIA?”

Cody speared some spinach. “I went to law school to please my parents. But after one year at my grandfather’s firm, I was bored to tears. The only thing I liked about being an attorney was the research—trying to discover the solution to a problem. Going to court and actually arguing the case was tedious. So it wasn’t too tough for my friend, Ian MacFarland, to recruit me. He’s engaged to one of the Brightman sisters now, but back then he worked as an analyst for the CIA.”

She tilted her head to one side. “Why’d you leave?”

“Bored again. I enjoyed the research and analysis, but I couldn’t follow through on it. I handed it over to someone else who acted on it—or not. Plus, I discovered I didn’t like working for other people.”

“I guess your current career choice doesn’t get boring.”

He laughed. “You’re right. Although I haven’t had many days like today. How about you? How’d you get to be a singer?”

“I always wanted to be one. Ever since I can remember, I’ve had songs in my head.”

“Did your mother sing to you?”

“I like to think so, but I was adopted when I was two so I can’t be sure if she actually did—or if I just fantasize that she did.”

“You never once had a doubt, never wavered about a singing career?”

“Never.” She met his eyes. “And I’m not going to waver now.”

“There they are.”

The voice had Brie turning toward the archway that opened into the lobby. Tess was hurrying toward them, followed by a tall woman and an even taller man. The woman was carrying what looked like a hat box.

“Cody?” It was the woman who spoke, and when she reached their booth, Cody slid out to give her a quick hug.

“Good to see you, Reese,” Cody said.

“We’ve been looking all over for you. Mac and I were on our way to meet someone and we ran into Avery and Nate in the lobby. Both were concerned that you hadn’t checked in yet. We split up to find you.”

“I’ll let the others know where you are,” Tess said before hurrying off.

“Brie, I’d like you to meet Reese Brightman.”

“And I’m Mac Davies,” the man said.

Reese set her hat box down on a nearby table. “Nate filled us in very briefly on what happened to you on the way up here.”

“What can we do to help?” Mac asked.

“Keep your eyes open,” Cody said. “And as far as everyone else is concerned, Brie is my fiancée and we’re here on a little getaway. What you might find interesting is that Brie has already had an encounter with Hattie. I’ll let her tell you about it.”

Both Mac and Reese shifted their gazes to her.

“I think I saw her on the piano, and she was singing,” Brie said.

Reese exchanged a look with Mac. “Hattie’s had a busy day. This morning, she and Samuel were out on the cliffs saving my life. No one who’s seen her has ever mentioned her speaking before. What did she sing to you, Brie?”

They were all looking at her again. No one had a doubt that she’d actually seen a ghost. And heard one.

“‘When You Wish Upon a Star.’ The odd thing is that it’s a song I always sing at the end of my performances. And it’s not part of the standard repertoire of night club singers.”

“No,” Mac said. “It’s from Disney’s Pinocchio. I remember my mother used to sing it to me when I was little. How long have you been singing?”

“All my life,” Brie said. “Just before I saw Hattie, I was imagining myself on that piano. None of my gigs so far have offered a Steinway. But the more I think about it, the more I’m wondering if I just imagined it. Or her.”

Reese reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I know the feeling. I felt exactly that way the first time I saw her in the mirror in the tower room. I didn’t want to believe that she might be real. But she is.” She glanced at Mac again. “And I’m very grateful to her.”

Brie was aware that Cody had shifted slightly in front of her before she saw that Nate and Avery Cooper were nearly upon them.

“You two are tough to track down,” Nate said.

“That’s our goal,” Cody said.

“You must be Brie,” Avery said, and she found herself enveloped in a warm hug. “Welcome to Haworth House.” Keeping his hands on her shoulders, he stepped back. “I’m sorry that your ride up here was a bit rough and even sorrier we were so busy when you arrived. If I can do anything to make it up to you, just say the word.”

Perhaps if his voice hadn’t sounded so sincere, or perhaps if the piano hadn’t been in her line of vision…or perhaps if she hadn’t had a momentary flashback of seeing Hattie sitting there, legs crossed, smiling at her, she might have been able to stop herself….

Because the idea was both reckless and dangerous. And wonderful. In the end, the words just popped out. “I want to sing on that piano.”

“Done,” Avery said.

“No.” Cody and Nate spoke in unison.

“It’s too dangerous. I’ve got information on our mystery woman,” Nate said. “Her name is Marielle Radtke, and she’s in the major leagues when it comes to hit men for hire. She works with a partner. Interpol has a huge file on her. Their best theory on the partner is that he’s male.”

Cody turned to Brie. “Radtke was alone on that motorcycle when she drove onto the ferry. But that doesn’t mean her partner didn’t get here another way while she was putting on a show. So Radtke’s partner could still be on the island—even in this hotel. There’s no way you’re going to sing in public until after the trial. You might as well paint a target on your back.”

Any possible response Brie would have made was postponed when a small brunette rushed into the bar. “Reese, there you are.”

The pretty young woman’s forward propulsion was halted abruptly when everyone turned to face her.