* * *
Cradling a glass of champagne,Hadley kept her gaze on Kitty.
The woman was down in the garden, talking with some guests. Unsurprisingly, her husband was on the other side of the gathering.
Hadley’s shoulders were tense. She just wanted Westley to get here. She knew the waiting must be killing Bennett.
“Less frowning,” Killian said. “This is supposed to be a happy occasion.”
She looked back at Killian. “I’ll be happy when Westley is in handcuffs.”
“He will be. Soon.”
She dragged in a steadying breath, and pretended to sip her champagne.
“The MI6 agents have all checked in,” Hex said in their ears. “The perimeter of the estate is clear. No problems.”
Hadley hoped the agents didn’t scare Westley off. She knew David would’ve picked his best agents for the job. In fact, she knew most of them. She saw a couple of them now, chatting with some other guests. These people had no clue there were Secret Intelligence Service agents among them.
“Keep an eye on Kitty.” Hadley set her champagne down. “I’m going to do a lap.”
Killian gave her a bland look. “Tell Knightley I said hi.”
She pulled a face at her boss, then made her way through the crowd. She saw the band pulling equipment out of huge black boxes and plugging instruments in. She skirted them and entered inside.
The ballroom was grand with parquet wood floors, wood paneling on the walls, chandeliers, and round tables overloaded with flowers. The scent of gardenias filled the air.
She strode onto a narrow hall. Rooms flanked it, most decorated in a stately style, with grand wallpaper and huge, framed mirrors on the wall. Soon, the sound of the wedding party faded, replaced by the low hubbub of voices and the tinkle of plates.
Her heels clicked on the wood floor as she made her way to the kitchen. She touched behind her ear to deactivate her earpiece.
She stopped in the doorway. The large kitchen was busy, and filled with caterers in white uniforms, zipping back and forth like bees on flowers.
A woman turned and spotted Hadley. “Oh? Are you lost?”
“Yes, sorry.” Hadley spread her hands, a sheepish look on her face. “I seem to have taken a wrong turn on the way to the restrooms—”
A tall figure stepped in front of her. Bennett looked at Hadley politely, like she was a stranger, then the corner of his mouth tipped up. “I’ll show you the way.”
“Thank you,” Hadley said.
He took her arm and led her out of the kitchen. Then he picked up speed, half dragging her down another corridor, then into an empty sitting room.
“You look bloody beautiful, Hadley.” He backed her up until she hit the wall.
“You look kind of hot in that chef’s outfit.”
His mouth crashed down on hers. With a moan, she kissed him back, and bit his bottom lip.
She felt the tension in him, but also the ever-present desire.
“Don’t mess me up,” she panted.
He pressed his forehead to hers. “I want to.” His hand found the slit in her dress, caressed her thigh, then brushed over her gun.
He groaned. “So sexy, Hadley.”
She nipped his chin. “I need to get back, I just wanted to check on you.”