Donovans 02 - Jade Island

raising her voice to carry over a burst of Cantonese as three connoisseurs argued over the merits of a Ming statue. “The Chinese aren’t noted for their understanding of wine.”
    “That explains it.”
    “What?”
    “Last week. Bubbles in the burgundy.”
    Despite Kyle’s dry words and crooked smile, his golden-green eyes were watching her with unflinching patience. He was waiting for her answer the way a cougar waited for a fawn to do something stupid.
    A server came by balancing a tray of wineglasses both empty and full. He picked up Lianne’s glass, accepted Kyle’s, and took their refusal of more wine with an understanding smile.
    “Bubbles in the burgundy,” Lianne repeated, biting her lower lip and smiling almost sadly as the waiter disappeared into the crowd.
    Silence grew. Kyle did nothing to break it.
    “You know,” she said, “it would be easier if you at least smiled again.”
    He did.
    It wasn’t.
    “I’m not planning on sticking a nail file in your oversize chest,” Lianne said, “if that’s what is bothering you.”
    Despite his wariness of the intriguing Ms. Blakely, Kyle’s smile warmed a few degrees. The thought of the petite lady attacking him was amusing.
    It was also arousing. The stirring of his body surprised him. He hadn’t been much interested in women lately. Being set up to die by a former lover had had a chilling effect on his interest in the fair sex.
    “What do you want from me?” Kyle asked bluntly.
    Irritation jerked, replacing Lianne’s uneasiness. He had no reason to act as though she was a criminal or a beggar asking for a handout.
    “Do I have to have an agenda? Hasn’t a girl ever come on to a big stud muffin like you?” she asked with cool sarcasm.
    “Yeah. That’s how I know you aren’t. What do you want from me, Lianne Blakely, and what makes you think I can help you out?”
    “You’re big.”
    “So is a stuffed elephant. Want me to call a taxidermist?”
    The idea of hauling a stuffed elephant to jade sales or to meet the Tangs would have made Lianne laugh, but the look in Kyle’s unwavering eyes took the humor right out of the situation. The wishful thinking she had done about taking care of two problems at once—her promise to Johnny and her own protection—evaporated.
    “Please do,” Lianne said. “I think you would be charming stuffed. In fact, it’s undoubtedly the only way you could be charming.”
    Without intending to, Kyle laughed. “Oh, I have my moments.”
    “I’m breathless.”
    He took her hand, raised it slowly to his lips, and brushed a Continental kiss over her fingers.
    “Let’s start over again,” he said, putting her hand between his. “I’m Kyle, you’re Lianne, we’re both human, and we’re both interested in Chinese jade. What else do we have in common?”
    “My hand.”
    “A very nice hand,” Kyle agreed without releasing it.“Small, clean, warm, elegant shape, nails buffed but not lacquered. That’s another thing we have in common.”
    “Buffed fingernails?”
    “Warmth,” he said, running a fingertip lightly over her palm.
    Lianne felt breath filling up her throat. “All right. You have moments of charm. May I have my hand back?”
    “Sure you want it?”
    “I’m very attached to it.”
    Kyle grinned. “And you wince at my puns.”
    He released her hand by letting it slide slowly from between his own. Hoping to conceal the slight quiver of her response to what felt very much like a caress, Lianne laced her fingers together as soon as both hands were free.
    “All present and accounted for?” he asked dryly.
    “What?”
    “Your fingers.”
    “Oh. Er, yes. All ten. Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome. I rarely eat digits on first acquaintance.”
    Lianne blew out her breath. She had a distinct feeling that the conversation was slipping right out of her control.
    The combination of alarm and humor in her expression got to Kyle more deeply than her taut little body and wide cognac eyes. In some ways she reminded him of Honor and Faith, his younger twin sisters, who often started more than they could finish with their older brothers.
    A burst of Mandarin came from behind Kyle. The only word he recognized was Lianne’s name. Though she didn’t move an inch, she seemed to withdraw behind a thick glass shield. Whoever was heading toward her wasn’t someone she wanted to see.
    Kyle turned and saw a thickset, middle-aged man bearing down on them. The two younger men walking behind him could