"Um, I can't say for sure, but I don't remember seeing anything about snakes when I did the research."

"Okay. Good. No snakes." She took a deep breath and her face relaxed.

He couldn't believe that snakes were the things she was most worried about. The truth was they were probably going to run into more than one snake of the human variety, but that's why he was there. He'd protect her.

The car stopped in the middle of the street, and Jackson saw the flashing lights to the right. "Ah, here we are."

The music booming out of the club was so loud they could hear it from in the car with the windows rolled up. Jackson slipped the driver an extra hundred and told him to hang around the corner on a different street. Then he paused and looked back through the window. "The hotel should have a package ready for you. Put it in the trunk and then we'll meet up with you soon."

"Okay," the driver told him.

Phatong was one of those glossy-on-the-surface places with silver walls and gla.s.s tables, but underneath that it was slick and seedy. The loud music and the decor had been designed to make people drink. The more they danced, the more they drank. The more the clientele imbibed, the more likely they were to lose money in the casino.

Jackson had a plan. Keeping his hand on Mariska's back, he led her to the dance floor. "This is the easiest place for us to get a good run of the place. Keep an eye out and let me know if you see any muscle. That's most likely where we'll find the casino entrance. They'll have some guards posted to keep out any cops who might wander in. Best not to rush these things. We'll let them think we're here for a good time."

Smiling up at him, she nodded. That show of pearly white teeth against the plum lips was enough for his c.o.c.k to stir again. This had to stop.

She is a means to an end.

This was a job like so many he'd done before. He had to stay alert and couldn't think about things like how her body would feel next to his.

The crowd around them was a mix of tourists and young locals. .h.i.tting the club scene. The fast electron-ica beat moved into a slow song as they hit the dance floor.

d.a.m.n. Now he was about to find out exactly how she felt tight against him. At least he didn't have to bop around like an idiot to fast music. That was one thing he'd never picked up in his training. The waltz and a modified box step were about all he could handle.

Of course, there was also the slow high school move where you put your arms around her waist and moved back and forth. Unfortunately for his libido, that was the only kind of dancing that fit this particular song. He pulled her to him in a smooth move, wrapping his arms around her hips, his hands lightly touching her lower back.

Her arms slid around his neck, and he tried not to think about her pert b.r.e.a.s.t.s pushing into his chest or the seductive way her hips moved from side to side. No, he wasn't thinking about those things at all.

"She sure gets around," Mariska said.

Jackson glanced around. "Who?"

"Natasha Bedingfield," Mariska whispered, her breath tickling his ear and sending shivers of pleasure down his spine.

"Is she here?"

Her soft laugh caused him to gaze down at her beautiful face.

"Do you have any idea who she is?" Mar grinned at him as if he were missing the joke.

Jackson thought for a moment, but the name didn't mean anything to him. "Uh, no."

"She's singing this song, 'Soulmate,' and it happens to be one of my favorites. It's a few years old but I've always loved it."

She was talking about the music. Jackson didn't spend much time in the States, and while he had an MP3 player, he used it for downloading books, historical fiction and biographies.

"It's nice." It was an inane thing to say, but he wasn't familiar with the artist. He did make a note that it was one of Mariska's favorites. He wasn't sure exactly why he found that necessary.

Keep your mind on the job, man.

Taking in the rest of the club, he twirled her around. There were a couple of bouncers near an entrance at the back. His first instinct was to hit the bar and get an invite, but the woman in his arms made him want to hold off a few minutes more.

It's her favorite song after all. The fact that her fingers played a seductive rhythm on his neck had nothing to do with it.

When it ended, he took her hand and pushed through to the crowded bar. As he waited for the bartender to get their drinks, he listened to other patrons. One guy was talking about winning at the wheel. That meant a roulette table. They were on the right track.

Careful how he worded it, he spoke to the bartender in stilted Thai. He wanted the man to think he was a tourist who recently learned the language. Jackson asked if he knew of a place where a man could find a solid card game. Then he handed him a hundred-dollar tip. The other man pointed toward the back. "Tell them Kwan sent you."

"Okay." He pulled Mariska away from the crowd. "We're going in, but there are some ground rules. Stay close and at the first hint of trouble we are out of there."

As hard as he tried, it was tough to think of Mariska as a business partner. He had an overwhelming need to protect her. So much so that he considered sc.r.a.pping their plan and taking her back to the hotel. He could handle this part of the job on his own.

"Jackson, I'm not an idiot." Mariska's frustration could be heard in her tone. "Trust me when I tell you that at the first sign of trouble I'll be booking it like n.o.body's business. Please don't even go there."

He glanced up to see the bartender watching them. To keep the man from getting suspicious he leaned down and captured Mariska's lips. There was a tiny "oh," from her but she didn't fight him. Her arms snuck up around his neck as he further explored her mouth. She was sweet with a slight tang of the lime from her drink. More intoxicating than any alcohol he could have imagined.

Jackson lost himself in her. His brain shut down and his body responded to her in ways he hadn't allowed himself in years.

This woman could be the death of me. The thought helped Jackson to finally pull himself away from her, but it wasn't easy. "Ready?"

5.

JACKSON HAD KISSED HER. Gawd, that was amazing even for a fake kiss. Mariska's stomach was full of b.u.t.terflies and even her eyes had lost focus for a second.

She glanced at the door where two bodyguards stood, and worried about what Jackson had said to her about surprises that might be behind the curtain. So far there'd been no snakes. Thank G.o.d. She'd been so embarra.s.sed when she brought that up in the car, but snakes were definitely a deal-breaker for her.

"What exactly are you expecting to find back there?" Mariska asked the question to give herself time to check her knees and make sure they worked. She knew Jackson had only kissed her because he'd caught someone watching them. It was too sudden for anything else.

While she didn't want to admit it, the kiss had been one of the best she'd ever experienced. It would have been nice if it'd been real. Her body already craved his touch. Maybe when they finished this case she could convince him to go with her to the beach resort where she planned to vacation for a couple of weeks.

The very idea of asking a man to spend two weeks holed up in a beach villa. Please. What a-G.o.d, I'm going to do it. If we make it out alive from this place, I'm going to ask him to go with me. If he says no, I'll live.

She would never let on, but he'd absolutely scared the c.r.a.p out of her with his worry about what was behind the curtain. Pretending she was worldly hadn't been easy in that moment.

More than anything she wanted to take his hand and run out the front entrance and to the safety of the town car. She didn't need to find Gladstone that bad. Then all she had to do was convince Jackson to run away to the beach with her. That prospect was much more enticing than going through the curtain with the two guards.

She glanced up to see Jackson was answering her question, and she'd missed most of his answer. She forced herself to focus.

"It's best to be on guard at all times. We're here to gather information, nothing more. The most important thing is, if you see Gladstone, don't let on that you know him right away. Give me some kind of signal and then we'll play it by ear."

Jackson squeezed her hand and she gave him her most rea.s.suring smile.

Jackson said something in Thai, and the guards pulled back the curtains. The disco part of the club hadn't prepared Mariska for the freak circus in front of her. The casino, packed with ma.s.ses of people, was an overwhelming, nasty mess. From the flashing lights to the totally nude c.o.c.ktail waitresses, it was an a.s.sault on the senses.

There were blackjack tables, slot machines, roulette wheels and everything else one might find in a Vegas casino, including card games in side rooms along the casino floor.

Down the center of the casino was a line of large birdcages hanging from the ceiling. Inside were nude dancers. A few of the cages had more than one girl and they were making out. h.e.l.l, it was more than making out. It was erotic and kind of sleazy at the same time.

Note to self: Don't look up. Holy c.r.a.p. Eyes forward.

The girls were a distraction so that people didn't pay attention to how much money they were losing. She knew that. Still, though Mariska had partied hard in her early college days, hitting some of the not-so-lovely bars in Austin, New Orleans, Vegas and L.A., she'd never seen anything like this.

Jackson glided in with his arm around her shoulders. The warmth of him helped her get her bearings in the sea of people. He moved as if he knew exactly where he was going. She walked beside him, and admired Jackson's way of looking like he owned the room. The man definitely didn't lack self-confidence, which was the exact opposite of how she felt.

Now that they were in, her stomach tightened with unease. She felt completely overwhelmed.

This was a dumb idea. We're never going to find him in this mess. Seconds after she thought it, she spotted Gladstone. He was across the large expanse where the slot and poker machines were lined up.

She must have tensed, because Jackson leaned down and whispered against her ear. "Where is he?"

He's good. Jackson was so in tune with everything around him that even her slight movement caused him to take notice. She reached up and touched his cheek to help with the charade and to hide their lips as she whispered back, "Straight ahead and to the left. End chair at the big table."

Jackson hugged her, and then kissed her again, lingering a little longer than necessary for their theatrics. She didn't mind a bit.

"Good job. Now follow me." He winked at her.

Jeez, if he didn't stop touching her like that she would melt into the floor. Seriously, she'd be the wicked witch of the west in a puddle, or was that the wicked witch of the east. She could never remember.

If Jackson knew what he did to her, he'd run for his life. His touch around her shoulders sent electricity through her body, heating and teasing. Her nipples tightened, which was unfortunate since the thin halter she wore didn't hide much.

Great. They really are going to think I'm cheap eye candy.

Taking their time crossing the floor, they watched some of the tables for a few minutes. Then they stopped to play roulette, and Mariska won. "Oh, my, Gawd. This is so much fun!

"I've never been this lucky," she said as she cashed in her coins for bills. Since her purse was barely big enough to hold her phone and lipstick she handed the money to Jackson.

"That's how they pull you in," he said under his breath as he led her toward Gladstone. They were close enough now that she could see the lines of worry etched in the other man's face, shadowed by a couple of days' whisker growth. His pile of chips wasn't very high.

"My guess is he's been here for at least two days. He probably started out with a big wad of cash and now he thinks he can win it all back." Jackson took her hand in his and moved into the crowd that surrounded the table. There were four other men and the dealer playing. It was a form of poker but she didn't recognize the game.

When Jackson let go of her hand and moved forward she was shocked.

"Desmond, is that you?" Jackson had waited for a lull in the action while the dealer shuffled the cards. He stepped forward and stuck out his hand.

The other man shook it but had a look of uncertainty on his face.

Jackson carried on his ruse. "What the heck are you doing here?" He tilted his head back toward Mariska. "The little woman is here with me. Where's your wife? She was complaining this morning that I was no fun shopping, maybe the girls could spend the day together tomorrow." He glanced at his watch. "Make that later today."

Desmond Gladstone wasn't sure what to think of Jackson. She could tell from the wary look in his eyes. Bloodshot eyes that revealed he'd been at the table way too long, and it looked as if he'd had one too many drinks.

Alcohol could make a man stupid. h.e.l.l, it could make a woman stupid. She'd made plenty of mistakes after a few too many. His hair was mussed, and though he was in his early thirties according to the background report the agency sent, he appeared much older, haggard and unhealthy, as if he hadn't had a decent meal or a shower in days.

Jackson continued the charade, looking around as if trying to find the other man's wife. Gladstone took the bait.

It wasn't surprising since Jackson was so d.a.m.n convincing. The man should have been a star in Hollywood for the show he put on. He acted as if he'd known Gladstone all his life, and even Mariska would have believed the scheme if she didn't know the truth.

"She's back in the States. I'm here on business." Gladstone shook his head as if he'd been in a daze, then he sat a little straighter in his chair as if to make himself look more important.

Monkey business. She couldn't help it. Gladstone's poor wife was back home worried sick and here he was in the middle of a card game. Of course if the wife had mentioned a gambling problem, it would have made the agency's job much easier.

"We were going to grab a late dinner. When do you think you'll be finished here? We'd love to catch up. Do you know it's been almost two-" Jackson was interrupted by a large man who stepped in front him.

The man barked an order, and Jackson held his hands up. "Hey, I'm only trying to say hi to an old friend." He leaned around the burly man. "We'll wait for you and then we'll head out for some dim sum."

Gladstone glanced down at his chips and a look of defeat washed over his face. "Shouldn't be long." It wasn't.

After four more hands, Mar watched as the man slid his chips forward, calling, "All in." She held her breath, her nerves raw with antic.i.p.ation. He's a friggin' lunatic, or he has a really good hand.

When he flipped up the three kings, she thought he'd won. Then another man at the end of the table had five spades.

Gladstone's head fell to his hands in despair.

"A flush will kill you every time," Jackson said beside her. He'd taken her hand again and she appreciated the calming effect he had on her.

That was until he motioned with his eyes to the side door. She gave a slight nod that she understood.

Oh, h.e.l.l, we're making a break for it.

"Well, old man. You can't win them all," he said to Gladstone. "How about you come with us and we'll buy you some dinner. Looks to me like you could use a break from the tables."

Gladstone stared blankly ahead as if he didn't hear Jackson.

"Hey, Earth to Des. Come on, let's go eat," Jackson encouraged the man. "It's on me."

The other man finally glanced up. "Uh. Sure."

The dealer pointed a finger. "Markers?" He told Gladstone. "You have good credit here. We take care of you and you can win money back." The stilted English wasn't lost on Mar. They didn't want Gladstone to get up from the table.

The bouncer guy, who had stepped in front of Jackson, put a hand on Gladstone's shoulder. "You stay."

Jackson shifted so he was inches from the big burly man, and Mar wondered if he was getting ready to take out the bodyguard. They'd have to make a run for it if he did that, and she wasn't exactly sure she could manage it in four-inch heels. Though, with the adrenaline pumping through her veins she had a feeling she'd make a good go of it. Everyone seemed so tense, and the bodyguard looked as if he'd have no problem pummeling Jackson.

Moving two steps closer, Jackson gave the bodyguard a wink. "Hey guys, I'll bring him back, but the man needs to eat. Surely you can spare him long enough to have a quick meal with friends. I'm sure he wants a chance to win his money back."

Gladstone shrugged the guard's hand off his shoulder. "I'll be back, but I'd like to spend some time with my friends," he said to them.

"Maybe I'll even come back and play a few rounds." Jackson gave the table an affable smile. "I think I'd very much like a chance to win my friend's money back from you guys."

Gladstone stepped down from the platform where the table sat and stood beside Jackson. "Okay, buddy. Let's find us dim sum." Moving a protective arm around the other man's shoulder he used his other hand to motion Mar to walk in front of them. "Keep moving and don't stop even if the guards say something," he whispered to her.