Donovans 03 - Pearl Cove

anyway.”
    “Stop looming over me!”
    “I haven’t moved an inch.”
    “You don’t have to. You’re just—just—”
    “Cold, ruthless, incapable of love,” he said neutrally. “I know, you’ve told me before.”
    “I never said anything about love.”
    “Then you think a cold, ruthless man like me is capable of love?”
    She shut her mouth. “Why are you pushing me?”
    “Because you’re pushing me. Let’s look at pearls. And forget the mistress bit. No one watching us would believe it. You stiffen every time I touch you.”
    Hannah wanted to deny it. She couldn’t.
    But it wasn’t distaste that made her stiffen. It was desire. She didn’t know how to handle it.
    Or him.
    “Right,” she said through her teeth. “I’m not your hired playmate. Then what am I?”
    “A woman who wants to break into the pearl game.”
    “What’s my name?”
    “Hannah McGarry. You’re my partner in Pearl Cove.”
    She blinked.
    “Lying got us out of Australia alive,” Archer said. “Maybe the truth will get us to the pearls.”
    And maybe it would get them dead. Either way, hiding wasn’t possible anymore.
    Ian Chang stood fifteen feet away, staring at Hannah.

Twenty
    T he look on Chang’s face said that he wasn’t surprised to find Hannah McGarry in the Pearl Exchange. His clothes said he hadn’t been off the airplane long enough to change. He strolled forward, took her hands, and kissed her. If she hadn’t turned her head aside quickly, the kiss would have landed on her mouth.
    “Well, well,” Chang said, looking Hannah over carefully. If he was bothered by the fact that her heels made her six inches taller than he was, it didn’t show. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
    Archer didn’t like the gleam in Chang’s eyes or the way he was running his thumbs over the backs of Hannah’s hands. But she wasn’t stepping away, even though the man’s breath was all over her low neckline.
    “G’day, Ian,” she said automatically. She hoped he didn’t sense how unhappy she was to see him. “What are you doing in Seattle?”
    The blunt question made Chang smile rather grimly. “I was worried about you.”
    “Why?”
    “Come now, Hannah.” Chang’s fingers tightened on hers. “Surely you realize that you’re half owner of a very valuable commodity. People who own things of value are always at risk.”
    Sell Pearl Cove to the Changs. We’re big enough to weather the coming storm. You aren’t. Don’t follow Len into the grave.
    Hannah wished she could forget Ian’s warning, and the threat implicit in it, but she couldn’t. She could only put on a smile and pretend that this was a chance meeting half a world away from Pearl Cove.
    “Archer Donovan,” she said through stiff lips, “Ian Chang. Or have you met?”
    “Indirectly,” Ian said, releasing one of her hands and holding his right hand out to Archer. “A pleasure to meet directly.”
    “Mr. Chang,” Archer said neutrally.
    “Hannah told me you own half of Pearl Cove. Is that correct?”
    Archer nodded, concealing his surprise at Chang’s bald approach.
    “The family of Chang is prepared to make you a very handsome offer for Pearl Cove,” Ian said.
    “I haven’t considered selling.”
    “Do.” Chang smiled. “It is worth considering, even for a man of your wealth and . . . connections.”
    Archer heard what Chang wasn’t saying: Sell out or even Donovan International wouldn’t keep him from being at risk.
    “If I won’t sell, you can always buy Hannah’s share,” Archer said mildly.
    “My instructions don’t include Mrs. McGarry.”
    Adrenaline slid through Archer’s veins. Not good. Not good at all. Someone has thrown Hannah to the wolves. “I see.”
    Chang nodded curtly. “I hoped you would.” He handed over a business card. “Please contact me as soon as you decide.”
    “You, the Australians, the Japanese.” Archer smiled. “A lot of interest for a pearl farm that has been only marginally profitable.”
    “Under Chang leadership, Pearl Cove will be quite profitable.” Chang looked back at Hannah. Desire, regret, echoes of anger; all were in his sad smile. “I wish you had chosen me, Sister McGarry. I would have kept you safe. Now it is too late. Stay very close to the man you did choose. Very, very close.” With that, Chang released her hands and glanced at Archer. “Mr. Donovan, I look forward to doing business with you. Soon.”
    Silently Hannah and Archer watched Chang turn away and