as rain pinged the cobbled street below. He turned back to Kat, who stood next to the door, her back against the wall. “Going somewhere, poppy?”
Her eyes darted around to the telling mess scattered around the room. Panic ticked the delicate vein in her throat. “You can’t be in here. It’s not appropriate.”
“Considering our cause for celebration, I thought it more appropriate than the hotel lobby.”
“A celebration is premature. Wait until after tomorrow night’s dinner and we’ve survived this whole ordeal.”
“Tomorrow. Aye, that is something I’d like to discuss.” Setting the bottle on the table in the center of the room, he went to the bathroom to retrieve two glasses. “But first, a toast for this afternoon’s accomplishment.”
“You must leave. Now.”
“Afraid someone will get the wrong impression? Close the door.”
“Barrett—”
“Shut the door, Kathleen.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. She flattened her mouth into a white line. If she could spit nails, she would have nailed him between the eyes. Fine by him. If she wanted to go down with a fight, he was more than happy to oblige her destruction.
Notching her chin, she closed the door. Finally, common sense took hold.
Grabbing the bottle, he peeled off the foil and pushed his thumb against the cork. Pop. Golden froth spilled down the neck and into the two waiting crystal-cut glasses. Grabbing them, he held one out to her.
“To successfully infiltrating the enemies’ camp.” He held his glass up in salute.
She took her glass and raised it to his. “To infiltration and getting out of here alive.”
He gulped his back. The expensive liquid bubbled down his throat to fizz sourly in his belly. Kat sipped hers and placed it back on the table.
Grabbing the bottle, he poured two more fingers worth into his glass. Compared to his beloved Ballantine’s, this stuff was like drinking water. Good. He needed a clear head for this event. “You did a fine job today. I doubt even a highly trained soldier could’ve pulled off that amount of charm in front of the devil himself.”
“I’ve had practice with the number of politicians my father brings around.”
“If you’re not careful, you’ll have Eric eating out of the palm of your hand.”
“Not a bad advantage to have.”
“No, but the closer you are, the harder it is to slip away unnoticed.”
The pulse ticked harder in her neck. “That’s the plan, isn’t it? To integrate ourselves firmly into their confidence?”
“Aye, confidence and trust without a hint of betrayal coming straight at them.” His fingers curled around the glass, fragile and cool to the touch. Just like the woman standing before him, daring to look him in the eye. Just like all the rest. What a blithering fool he’d been to think she’d needed his help. His grip tightened until the stem threatened to break. Her unfinished glass of champagne taunted him. “Not going to finish?”
Her eyes didn’t leave his. “I’ve rather a large headache after today’s excitement. Thought I’d go to bed early.”
“We haven’t discussed tomorrow’s plan.”
“Perhaps in the morning—”
“I’ll have an easier time sleeping knowing what’s going to happen tomorrow. I don’t like surprises, especially when the stakes are high.”
Her eyes dropped to the floor as the color ebbed from her cheeks. Her mouth clamped shut, refusing any words of explanation or apology. Like a bad tooth, he’d have to force it from her.
“Goebbels will be there with his wife, and the von Schiraches. The husband is governor of Nazi operations in Vienna and the wife a longtime friend of Hitler.”
He walked to the open door leading onto a small balcony. Leaves tumbled down the street as the wind crashed down from the mountains and streaked between buildings. The rain turned sideways, pelting windows and spraying across the toes of his shoes. “A dinner party should be easy enough for you, but you’ll have to guide me through all the social niceties of fork and spoon.”
She smoothed the bottle’s condensation from the tabletop, still not meeting his eye. “Not that hard. I’m sure you’ll do just fine.”
Rain smacked his cheek. Cold and stinging, it slithered down his neck toward the envelope searing his chest. “I’m sure I will with you beside me.”
Thunder galloped across the sky as lightning split the heavens. Searing light flashed around the room as the earthen smell of burned dirt filled the air. Barrett closed the balcony door, locking it tight as the lamp on the bedside table flickered.
“Everything will be fine. Tomorrow will go splendidly.” With her head down, her words barely registered above the thunder.