“Oh, Daddy, I just have a question. Have you ever heard of Lyman Vaughn?”
“Good God, Darcy, please tell me you aren’t dating him too.”
“No, but you have heard of him?”
“Of course. The elusive bastard is on every most-wanted list in the civilized world. As for the uncivilized half, he’s up for Man of the Year. I sure hope he’s not vacationing there in Monarch Bay.”
“No, I was just curious. Thanks, Daddy, I’ll call again soon.”
Darcy remained by the telephone long after they’d said good-bye. She was proud of herself for at least introducing Griffin as a topic, but she knew she could have revealed a lot more. She hadn’t been this interested in a man since college, and his celebrity was the least appealing thing about him. Were he a physician or engineer he would be equally attractive, but she hadn’t made that clear.
She’d just dropped his name, a tantalizing tidbit, rather than confess she was falling in love. Besides, it was much too soon to speak of love, and she’d not be the first to say the word either.
She did care, though, an awful lot, and maybe she hadn’t taken Griffin’s warning about Lyman Vaughn as seriously as she should, but her father’s disgust with the man had been chilling.
There was no way she could allow Griffin to face Vaughn alone. Focusing on Paris, she went into her bedroom and took a good look at her wardrobe. She doubted overalls were popular in Paris that spring, but Monarch Bay had some nice boutiques. Maybe over the weekend she could shop for a few classic pieces which would not only travel well, but make Griffin proud.
When Griffin arrived at Defy the World Friday morning, three men he recognized from Darcy’s crew had already shoveled away the debris, swept the asphalt clean and were arranging the plants.
“Looks like there isn’t much for me to do out here. What about inside?” he asked Darcy.
“We’re doing okay, but come on into my office.” She led the way and leaned back against her desk.
“I owe you an apology. You told me Lyman Vaughn was a dangerous man, but I didn’t really appreciate just how bad he is until my dad told me that—”
“What?” Griffin shoved the door closed. “You asked your father about him?”
He looked horrified, and Darcy had expected him to be pleased that she’d begun taking the danger Vaughn posed more seriously. “Yes, but you needn’t worry. I didn’t tell him why I was interested in Vaughn.”
Griffin shook his head. “Let me get this straight. I asked you—no, insisted—that you respect my privacy and not repeat our conversations to anyone. Does any of that sound familiar, or have you completely forgotten your promise?”
Darcy recalled that particular discussion vividly as well as the weight of his cock in her hand. “No, not at all. I left your name out of it. Well, perhaps that’s not exactly true. I did tell my folks that I’d met you, but I didn’t believe that had to remain a secret.”
Griffin raked his fingers through his hair in a vain attempt to grab hold of his temper. “That’s just great. ‘Hi, Dad, I met Griffin Moore, and by the way, who’s Lyman Vaughn?’ In other words, you linked us in his mind. I’ll bet you anything you name that he’s already repeated your question to his partner.”
“Stop it!” Feeling trapped, Darcy moved away from her desk, but with Griffin blocking the door, there was no way to escape him.
“I wish you’d looked half as panicked when I told you I’d be going to Paris,” Griffin continued. “Now right this minute you’re going to call your father and tell him that under no circumstances is he to mention my name or Lyman Vaughn’s to anyone. Then call your mother and do the same.”
Darcy opened her mouth to argue, then realized this was probably the only way to undo whatever harm had been done. The intelligence community was acutely sensitive to rumors and a single mention of Lyman Vaughn from a security firm in Texas might snowball into widespread interest that would swiftly reach the arms dealer’s ears.
She called her father’s office and, relieved to hear his voice, repeated Griffin’s message. “This is really important, Daddy. I shouldn’t have said anything about Vaughn, and you mustn’t either.”
Then she called her mother, who was delighted to hear from her again so soon, and quickly agreed to be as silent as her husband. Feeling very foolish for having involved them, Darcy hung up and turned to Griffin, who was still eying her coldly.
“I wasn’t trying to sabotage your mission,” she swore. “I simply wanted more information. Now, what else can I do?”
“Frankly, you’ve done more than enough already. But at least half the fault is mine. I never should have mentioned Interpol, let alone Lyman Vaughn.”
“We agreed to tell each other the truth, remember?”
“Yes, and it was obviously a mistake. Look, I’ll find someone to repair the roof and trim the eucalyptus. Then I’ll give you a call when I’m home from France.”
While he no longer appeared close to a murderous rage, she wasn’t pleased by his aloof stranger act either. “Wait a minute. You think I’ve blown your cover, and you’re going anyway?”
“The subject is closed, Darcy.”
“No, it is not. Neither of us is the most forthcoming individual ever born, but at least we were both trying. Or at least I thought we were. You’re acting as though I’d deliberately screwed things up, and that’s not what happened at all. Were you hoping that I’d run the first time you mentioned Interpol?”