Murphy's Law Read Online Free Page B

Lilly added quickly.
    “A bubble bath. Women should spoil themselves, no?” Chantal said in English, with a delicate French accent.
    Jack glanced at Lilly. She twisted her fingers together and muttered, “Whatever. I don’t care.”
    Her flushed face and lowered gaze said otherwise. Although she talked tough, she wasn’t an operative used to this kind of thing. If he knew any place safer, he would move her.
    “You could do with a bath yourself, Jack,” Chantal said. She ran her hand along his jaw and added, “And that cut. It should be taken care of.”
    He shot an accusing glare at Lilly. “Maybe later. Let’s go see about that bath.”

     
    * * * *

     
    The old, bear-claw tub was filled to the top with hot, bubbly water. Lilly eyed the bath with desperation, torn between ripping off all her clothes and jumping in or remaining stubborn until Jack gave her some privacy.
    “What are you waiting for?” he asked.
    She folded her arms across her chest. “I’m waiting for you to leave.”
      “I’m not leaving without your clothes.”
    “Don’t you trust me?” she asked innocently.
    “Only marginally less than you trust me. But I know you won’t try to leave without your clothing.”
    “Turn around.”
    His dark eyes danced mischievously in the dim lighting. He enjoyed inflicting humiliation on her. Refusing to let him have his way, she stepped into the bathtub, fully clothed. She wriggled out of the wet shorts and tee shirt while submerged ,   presenting   certain   difficulties,   but   she   managed   and   flashed   a triumphant grin.
    He picked up the wet clothes from the floor. “You still have to get out of it later, Lilly.” He reached down and splashed the surface of the water, sending a hand full of bubbles into her face. She wiped it away, ready to snap again when she noticed he had left.
    Finally alone . Without one stitch of clothing and no one to help me .
    She leaned back and let out a sigh. If she got lucky and lived through this, she might write a book about her ordeal. She’d met her share of weird characters. Jack Murphy ranked at the top of the list. She had no idea what to make of the enigmatic mercenary. He had to be freelancing for her ex-boss; otherwise, he would have shown her official identification. Besides, if her own government wanted her back, they only needed to ask and she would have returned.
    Lilly sunk down into the tub to let the lavender scented water ease away her tension. She refused to waste another second of this bliss thinking about Jack. A knock on the door brought her head up with a start. He hadn’t given her five minutes of peace. “What?”
    Chantal walked in, carrying a towel and some clothing. “Jack asked me to bring this for you,” Chantal explained, placing them down on a small chair next to the tub.
    The French might think nothing of entertaining visitors in the bathroom, but Lilly felt uneasy when Chantal sat down on the edge of the tub.
    “Thank you. I’m almost finished,” Lilly said politely, hoping the woman would take the hint to leave.
    “Jack says that you and he had a—how you say—close slave at the marina.”
    “Shave,” Lilly corrected.
    “You are very lucky woman, don’t you think?”
    Lucky? Had Chantal thought her lucky to be forced to endure Jack’s presence for the night? “No. I don’t think I’m lucky.”
    “No? But Jack is the best.”
    A testimonial to Jack was the last thing she wanted to hear. Chantal spoke with such reverence that Lilly wondered if only she saw the horns and pitchfork when she looked at him. The women there seemed to think a halo floated above his head.
    “If you think so much of him, you sleep with him.”
    Chantal drew her brows together in confusion. Suddenly, comprehension flashed in her dark eyes, and she laughed. “No. You misunderstand. I was talking about his work.”
    Lilly cast a doubtful gaze toward the heavens. “I guess even kidnappers have to have a top in their