Page 33 of When Fashion Turns Deadly

“An extra layer of protection.” Isabelle pointed at their boyfriends’ room.

“They aren’t planning to stay up all night to watch our window, are they?” Marit asked.

“They’re taking turns.” Isabelle moved away from the window and spoke into the phone again. “Make sure you and Lars get some sleep.”

“We will, but don’t forget to set up your security measures,” Cole said.

“I’ll do that right now.” Isabelle hung up and crossed to the bedroom to retrieve the equipment from her suitcase. She located the hard-sided silver case and carried it back into the living room.

“Did you want your own room now that Nadia isn’t staying with us?” Marit asked.

“Actually, it might be better for us to stay in the same room,” Isabelle said. “That is, if you don’t mind.”

“I was kind of hoping you would say that.” Marit’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “I know it’s silly, but I’ll feel better knowing that if I hear something, I can look at the bed beside me and know whether it could be you.”

“I get that.” Isabelle set the case on the table and opened it. Remembering that Marit had worked for her father’s security company as a teenager, Isabelle pulled out three of the cameras. “Want to set these up to cover the door and the windows?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks. I’ll set up one in the hall so the guys can see our front door,” Isabelle said. “And then we can decide where we can set up the motion detectors without tripping them every time we need to go to the bathroom or fix something to eat.”

Marit held up one of the cameras and focused on Isabelle. “Thank you for being here.”

“Of course.” Isabelle hugged Marit. “This is what friends are for.”

Marit laughed. “I hate to break it to you, but most friends don’t know how to disarm gunmen or set up surveillance equipment.” She eased back and looked Isabelle in the eyes. “Unless they work for the CIA or something.”

Isabelle’s pulse quickened. Suddenly, unexpectedly, she was on dangerous ground. Schooling her expression into a somewhat natural smile, she laughed. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” She paused, needing to deflect the conversation. “You already have the surveillance part down. How about we work on teaching you how to disarm gunmen? If I can do it, you can do it.”

Marit gave a resigned nod, and Isabelle’s tension eased a fraction.

“I’ll learn that gun trick you do if you promise it means I’ll never have to use it,” Marit said.

“I’ll certainly hope for that,” Isabelle replied. And she meant it. Just as much as she hoped that Marit wouldn’t revisit her suspicions about Isabelle’s involvement with the CIA.

Chapter 12

Cole set his laptop onthe little table by the window, angling his chair so he could see both the screen and Isabelle’s window. He clicked on the link Isabelle had emailed him to access the digital feed from the cameras she’d set up.

Cole turned as Lars lowered into a chair behind him, his camera in hand. “I don’t think you’ll be able to get many good shots with your camera now that it’s dark.”

“I got some great ones of the Eiffel Tower.” Lars held out his camera so Cole could see the view screen.

Cole stared at the photo, the Eiffel Tower illuminated, the branch from a tree framing it on one side. “That’s incredible. You could print and sell that.”

“Thanks.” Lars scrolled through before he turned the view screen toward him again. “I think this is my favorite though.”

In it, the Eiffel Tower rose above the bridge, but somehow, Lars had captured the exact moment Cole had kissed Isabelle in the center of it. Warmth swelled inside Cole, the depth of his feelings expanding uncomfortably. For the first time, he had someone in his life who was more important than anyone or anything else. A burst of clarity pulsed through him as his future unfolded before him, Isabelle at the center of it.

He didn’t know how it had happened, but sometime over the past few months, he had fallen in love with her.

Lars shot him a quizzical look. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Maybe. He motioned to the photo. “Can you send me a copy of that one?”

“No problem. I’ll email it to you as soon as I download these.” Lars retrieved his laptop and returned to his seat. “Too bad I chased after the guy who took Marit’s purse without taking his photo.”

“Seeing as he was wearing a hat, the back of his head probably wouldn’t have told us much.” Cole narrowed his eyes. Why had the thief gone for Marit’s bag instead of Lars’s camera? He shook that thought away. He was probably looking for quick cash, not an expensive item he would have to pawn.

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