The Specialist

“Have a seat.” Rafe seemed to glide forward, holding out a chair and waiting.

Kendra didn’t think she’d ever had a man hold out a chair for her. The action made her feel awkward, and foolishly feminine at the same time. The long table could easily seat fifteen or more. So why did Rafe have to pull out the chair beside hers and sit down? She was already far too aware of him.

“Tell me what you know about Stephen Rialto,” Rafe said.

Kendra wished she could look away from his penetrating eyes, but she couldn’t. “He’s the lowest form of human slime. He uses his legitimate oil company as a cover for all sorts of illegal activities.”

“For instance?”

“Murder, drugs, money laundering, gun running—whatever Tomaso Calderone wants him to do.”

Emotion came and went in Rafe’s expression at the mention of the other man’s name.

“So you also know about Calderone.”

“He’s a high-priced gangster who thinks he’s untouchable.”

Rafe nodded. “Close enough. What’s your stake in going after Rialto?”

“I want to see him pay for his crimes.”

“Why?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters very much.” He lifted her hand from the table, stroking it gently in his much larger, rougher hands. Working man’s hands. She felt the hint of calluses against her skin.

When she tried to pull free, he released her at once. But his suggestive smile caused her stomach to flutter. She had to stop letting him get to her like this. She was here for a purpose. Keeping that firmly in mind was proving difficult.

“Mr. Alvarez—”

“I think we’ve gone past formality, don’t you?”

“Rafe then. I…what’s this?”

Rosa plunked down two platters of bacon, eggs, homefries and toast. Rafe watched, openly amused.

“I told you to tell her toast.”

Rafe shrugged. “You got toast.”

“And an entire meal.”

“Rosa tries to fatten everyone up. We’ve never been able to explain the dangers of cholesterol to her.”

“But I only wanted toast and juice.”

“Juice, sí,” Rosa beamed as she deposited glasses of fresh-squeezed orange juice in front of Kendra and Rafe.

“Gracias, Rosa,” Rafe told her with a beaming smile. The woman returned it and bustled away before Kendra could find the wits to thank her as well.

“But—”

“Don’t fight it. You won’t win.” He forked up a mouthful of scrambled eggs.

Kendra stared from him to her plate, wondering if he’d deliberately told Rosa to bring her this huge meal. She couldn’t eat it all, but to ignore it seemed churlish. She was an unexpected, unwanted guest here. Kendra picked up her fork.

“Now tell me why you personally hate Rialto,” Rafe said.

Eggs fell from her fork to land back on her plate with a splat. “I never said—”

“Not in words, but your tone says it each time you say his name.”

If Rafe could read her so easily, she was going to have trouble lying to him.

“He killed some people I—cared about.”

“You mean he had them killed.”

“They’re dead and he’s responsible.” She leaned toward him, seizing the chance to push home her point. “I know a great deal about Rialto. I can help you get to him.”

“Thanks, but I don’t need any help.”

“I can make your job easier. Take me along as your personal assistant when you get the security chief’s job.”

Rafe stopped chewing. For a long second he simply stared at her, then he swallowed slowly, took a sip of his dark, strong coffee and shook his head. “No.”

The finality of his tone shocked her. She blinked and set her jaw. “This isn’t negotiable.”

“Nope. It’s not.”

“I am going with you.”

“I told you, the only sort of partners that I have—”

She aimed her fork at him. “If you don’t take me along, I can and will blow your cover completely. You’ll never get near Rialto again, but I’ll find another way inside.”

Anger darkened his eyes, though his expression remained calm. “I’ve never cared for threats.”

“You aren’t leaving me any choice. You’ve written me off without even knowing what I can do.”

He leaned toward her suggestively, but there was only hard appraisal in his expression. “What is it, exactly, that you can do?”

Kendra refused to be intimidated. “I can help you get hired—or I can make it impossible. I know computer systems better than anyone you’re apt to meet. Once we’re inside, I can pull information from his computer files that you’d never get any other way. Information that can help you get not only him, but Calderone as well. I promise you, I know what I’m doing.”

Rafe sat back, picked up a piece of bacon and bit down, chewing and swallowing before he spoke. “And if I don’t take you along, you’ll blow my cover, is that it?”

“Yes.”