With him gone, there were just a few feet of empty space between her and Rand. “You’re researching your next book?” She spoke loud enough for others to overhear.
“I’m behind on my proposal and figured a tax-deductible trip might get the creative juices flowing.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “It’s good to see you. I’ve been meaning to contact you to get an appraisal for a painting my sister inherited from her husband’s family.”
Her nerve endings prickled with the touch of his lips on the back of her hand. Usually, Kira would give all the disclaimers about the limits of her expertise, but this was a cover story like his fake author persona. It didn’t matter. “We can discuss that when we’re both back in DC.”
His smile deepened, bringing out the wrinkles next to his eyes. “It’s a date, then.”
Her belly fluttered. This was all an act. He couldn’t hold her to a fake date and nonexistent artwork appraisal, yet she felt certain that was exactly what he intended to do.
She decided to make him squirm by asking a question he might not have an easy answer for. “If you’re in Malta for research, what brings you to this gallery, tonight of all nights?”
“You”—he paused, letting the word stand alone, then added—“hooked me on collecting when you helped me last fall. Although I’m no longer interested in antiquities. I figured since I’m here for research, I should buy a souvenir I can write off as a business expense.”
“Your writing must be going really well if you can afford original works as souvenirs, but I have a hard time believing Uncle Sam would accept such a purchase as a business expense.”
“So I’ll convince my publisher to put whatever I get on the cover. There. Business expense.”
She laughed. “Well then, I think this glass fire sculpture would sell a lot of books.” She pointed to the work she’d been studying moments ago.
“You like that piece?”
“Very much.”
He glanced at the price and his grin widened. “I’ll add it to the list of potentials. I’ve only just arrived in Valletta. I probably shouldn’t buy the very first thing I see, even if it has the stamp of approval from my favorite art historian.”
“You flatter me.”
“Definitely not.”
“I have the distinct feeling I’m the only art historian you know.”
“I’m certain we’ll meet at least one more tonight.”
She laughed. “What if you decide you like them more than me?”
“Not possible.” His eyes lit with warmth as he watched her. Relaxed and confident. Nothing about him said he was working the room, working undercover.
“How long are you here for?” she asked.
“Two weeks, maybe longer if my research goes well.”
His answer didn’t surprise her. It was exactly her timeline. Was the Navy really giving him that much time off? There was no way this was a sanctioned op. He had to be burning leave.
The idea that he was giving up precious leave for her brought a return of the fluttery feeling, but it also left her with a debt she’d never be able to pay.
Chapter Fifteen
“Dr. Hanson, can I walk you back to your hotel?” Reuben Kulik asked.
Kira had been slowly making her way to the door, figuring her work here was done for the night, but the question made her pause. She wanted to talk to the man, but needed time to see what she could find out about him first. From what Juliette had said, she surmised Kulik owned this gallery.
Was this a rich man’s hobby, or something else?
She hadn’t planned to tap into Friday Morning Valkyries’ resources for this—after all, this was a personal matter, and she had reason to fear what would be found—but Freya had insisted on updates, and now with Rand here, Freya would know if she held back names.
He was here to protect her, she assumed, but he was also Freya’s spy. His allegiance would be to FMV. If her father really was an art thief, that was not something she wanted Freya—or anyone—to know.
She smiled at Kulik, but before she could speak, Rand jumped in. “Sorry, but Dr. Hanson and I have plans.”
This was news to her, but she wouldn’t out the lie. Even though she was tempted.
She appreciated that he’d traveled nearly one-fifth the circumference of the Earth to protect her, but that didn’t mean he could come in like a steamroller and make decisions for her.
This was her trip. One she had taken for a very specific reason that he knew nothing about. There would be places she would go and people she would meet without him. The last thing she would allow was a man she barely knew to seize her autonomy.
She gave Rand a stiff smile, then turned to Kulik. “Are you free tomorrow for a drink? Say, five o’clock at the bar across from the Co-Cathedral?” That should give her time to dig a little, but soon enough to appease his ego at tonight’s rejection.
“That would be perfect. Yes. Just the two of us.” His gaze flicked to Rand.
“Of course.” That was, in fact, why she’d chosen the open-air bar on the busy street.
Kulik took her hand and kissed it, then gave Rand a smug smile before stepping outside.
Kira thanked the gallery manager one last time, then turned for the door, not bothering to see if Rand followed.
She stepped out onto the cobbled street that fronted the gallery. Like most of the streets in the city interior, it was pedestrian only. Strings of lights zigzagged across the road connecting the limestone buildings that faced each other. The result was pretty and festive on the sultry early summer evening.
