every time she travelled to Toronto, as it had been for her parents and her and grandmother before her.
She knew the hotel’s logistics put extra strain on the team to ensure her safety, as there were more outsides factors in play—like other guests and more hotel staff.
The cars rolled up and having changed on the plane, Astrid was now playing her role of Miss Caroline Simmons, lady in waiting.
Delight lit her face when they walked through the doors of the hotel and she saw Bebe, her friend and fellow Zenobi colleague, in the foyer standing well back from the circus that was their arrival. She also saw Zack Cunningham and Daniel Thompson from Fortis. She’d known they’d be joining them as Zin and Jace had arrived yesterday in Cyprus to give them extra cover and would provide help for the rest of the tour.
Astrid felt eyes on her and saw Jack in her peripheral vision watching her, the warmth of his gaze seeping through the fabric of her dress like a caress.
Once the hotel manager had fawned over the royal guests, he led them to an elevator that would be strictly for their use only and showed them to the rooms they’d be using on the top floor. This floor at least was secure as it was only accessed by those cleared by Eidolon. They, along with the Fortis guys, would be on guard at all the exits.
With Queen Lydia in her own room taking afternoon tea and resting before her reception that night, Astrid let Decker show her to her room to keep up appearances for anyone that might be watching.
“Thank you, Deck.”
“My pleasure. Jack will be having a meeting with the entire team in two hours to go over the plan for the next few days and how Fortis will fit into that.”
“Which room?”
“He said to tell you he’ll come and get you.”
Astrid saw the question in Decker’s eyes that he left unsaid and didn’t give in to the pressure to offer up any information. She knew the team were close like the women of Zenobi were, and they’d have questions about what had happened, and she’d answer those at the meeting. She owed them that for bringing this to their door but what was going on with her and Jack was nobody else’s business but theirs. “Okay, I’ll be ready.”
Astrid closed the door and nearly jumped out of her skin at the voice behind her.
“Nice dress, Ace.”
Astrid spun laughing and threw herself at her friend. “Bebe, I’m so glad to see you.”
Bebe hugged her back. “Heard you needed some back up so here I am.”
Astrid tugged her towards the chairs in the huge suite, which also had terrific views over Toronto. “Did you hear about Ravelino?”
“Yes, Jack called Roz after you did. He was losing his mind over it, wanted to know exactly what happened.”
Astrid pulled her lip between her teeth. “He was on the beach with me when they attacked. It would’ve been different if I’d been alone. I couldn’t have fought them all, and if they’d gotten to the building I hate to think what might have happened.”
“Thank God he was.” Bebe wiggled her eyebrows. “Talking of that, why was he on the beach with you alone at night?”
“We were on a date.” Astrid waited for the inevitable warnings to come her way.
“Wow. How did you manage that?”
Astrid threw up her hands and let them fall to her lap. “No clue. We went from me messing with him and him growling at me, to somehow him asking me on a date.”
Bebe gave her a look and stood, walking to the bar. “I’m gonna need a drink for this.” She held up the bottle of wine in question, and Astrid lifted her hand, pinching her fingers an inch apart. “A small glass, I’m on the clock.”
Bebe poured and brought the drinks back to her. “So, start from the beginning and don’t leave anything out.”
Astrid did, telling her about the meeting at Eidolon, the way he’d opened up on the beach, and that they had kissed and how she’d suddenly felt afraid and pulled back. Then about Jack asking her on a date to get to know him, which ended in gunfire and an entirely new headache in the form of Iago Ravelino.
“Wow, he’s romancing you.”
Astrid snorted. “I don’t think it’s that, more like he wants in my pants and I’m a challenge.”
“Has he treated you like one? ’Cos if he has, I can kick his ass