As he watched, she leaned her head back against the chair and sighed.
“What’s up, baby girl?”
She hesitated. “I’m thinking about changing my last name.”
Remy was surprised. “Really?”
She nodded.
“Why?”
A shadow crossed her face before she shrugged. “No particular reason.”
Remy didn’t believe her.
After another moment, she said almost defensively, “It’d be one thing if I were close to my father. But I’m not, so there’s no reason for me to keep his name. Honestly, I don’t know why I never changed it before.”
Remy swallowed at the sudden tightness in his throat. “Well,” he said carefully, “why don’t you just wait until you...you know, get married.”
Zandra snorted. “That won’t be happening anytime soon.”
Remy winced, her words plunging a dagger through his heart.
Oblivious to his reaction, she reached across his desk and picked up the small rubber frog she’d sent to him when he became a SEAL. She’d enclosed a card with the message, A frog for the new frogman. May you keep each other safe.
The simple gift had meant more to him than anything he’d ever received before. His teammates had joked that it was his good luck charm, because he’d carried it in the left breast pocket of his uniform, close to his heart.
He watched as Zandra absently toyed with the rubber frog, lost in thought.
“What’s on your mind?” he gently probed.
Her eyes lifted to his. “I’ve been thinking about going somewhere.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t really decided.” She sighed, setting down the frog. “I know we just returned from St. Lucia, and it was wonderful. But I guess I wouldn’t mind taking another trip, just to get a change of scenery.”
“Funny you should say that.”
“Why?”
“Because I have to travel to London next week. I’ve been invited to speak and serve as a panelist at an international conference for private security service providers.”
“Really? That’s wonderful, Remy.”
He made a face. “You know I’m not big on public speaking, but I figure my attendance will be good for business.” He paused. “I was going to ask you to go with me.”
“To London?”
“No. The moon.” He chuckled. “Of course London. Go with me.”
Her expression turned wary. “I don’t know.”
“Come on. You haven’t been back to London in years, and I know how much you loved living there when you were at Oxford.”
A soft, reminiscent smile touched her mouth. “I did. And I always enjoy visiting whenever I can.”
“So come with me,” Remy cajoled. “We’ll have fun, and you can show me some of your old hangouts.”
He could tell the idea appealed to her. But she wavered, tugging her lush lower lip between her teeth.
“Let me think about it and get back to you.”
Remy swallowed his disappointment. “Fair enough. In the meantime—”
She let out a squeak of surprise as he suddenly scooped her out of the chair and into his arms, then sat down and pulled her onto his lap. The lush curve of her ass sent an instant rush of heat to his groin.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded teasingly.
He nipped her ear. “Reclaiming my chair, woman.”
She giggled, reaching across the desk and picking up the remote control to the hologram schematics. “What’s this?” she asked curiously.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” Remy murmured, smoothly plucking the device out of her hand.
“Ooh. Sounds top secret.”
“It is. If you saw it, I’d have to kill you.”
She looked over her shoulder at his face. “That’s not funny.”
“Sorry. It was a joke...sort of.” Nuzzling the nape of her neck, he savored the scent of her skin, an elusive fragrance he’d never smelled on any other woman. He wished he could bottle it.
“So,” she began casually, “I spoke to Noelani this morning.”
He instinctively tensed. “Yeah?”
“Umm-hmm.”
“What’d she say?” Remy asked, matching her casual tone.