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Linc had been watching one couple in the queue. The guy’s hands had been roaming over the woman beside him, and then he’d taken her in a tight clinch and kissed her. Some people have no idea, he thought, shaking his head.

As Jane put his phone down on the low table and dug in her bag, Linc caught sight of the flight crew walking across from the plane. He kept one eye on them; he’d catch Johnny and take a rain check on that drink.

‘What’s up?’ he asked Jane, stifling a groan when he saw who was walking beside Johnny.

‘He wants me to text a photo of myself so he can match my photo on my passport for more ID.’ She pulled out a phone, smaller than his and used her thumb to scroll through the screen before handing it to him. ‘He won’t give me any details until he gets the photo. Here use mine, so yours doesn’t get disconnected.’

She smiled when Linc lifted the phone to take a shot.

‘Don’t smile,’ he said. ‘Not if it’s got to look like your passport photo.’

He grinned as Jane tried to compose her face into a serious expression.

‘Sorry, I’ll do it again. Be quick.’ She stared at the camera and he clicked off a shot. ‘Hang onto my phone, I’ll ask him what mobile number to text it to.’ Her smile crumpled as she lifted Linc’s phone to her ear. ‘Oh, no! The call’s dropped out again.’

‘Damn. Pass it over and I’ll call again.’

Jane took her phone back and held onto it as Linc dialled Brisbane Airport. As he waited for the call to connect, he caught the eye of the Romeo in the queue. His instincts kicked in as the guy’s eyes widened as he stared back at Linc. He turned quickly to the woman beside him and she looked over at Linc and horror filled her expression.

What are they up to and how did he know he was police?

He watched as the woman took off towards the restroom and the guy stayed in the queue. Neither of them looked familiar, and he usually had a pretty good memory for faces. They were up to something, and he was suspicious.

Drugs maybe? Jennifer was pretty laidback when it came to checking luggage. He’d spoken to her about being more vigilant a few times.

‘Jane. Can you wait here, please? And when they answer, ask for Andre at gate 30.’ He handed her the phone and stood. He’d catch Johnny at the same time.

Jane gasped as she looked past him. ‘Oh, God. No!’

Before Linc could turn around to see what she was looking at, she threw the phone onto the table and jumped up beside him. She grabbed at his hands and her expression was stricken. ‘Linc. Listen to me! Please? I’ll do anything if you help me out. I’ll be your pretend fiancée, anything, if you follow my lead. But first, quick, put your arms around me and kiss me.’

Chapter Five

Linc didn’t hesitate. Before I knew it, his arms were around me and his lips were against mine. He was tall, and his body was firm and muscled. I wasn’t used to that. Brad spent most of his time at the office or at business drinks, and his body was soft.

‘I’ll explain later,’ I murmured into warm lips. Being held tight against that rock-hard chest was very pleasant. I could have stayed there forever.

‘I’ll look forward to it.’ His lips vibrated against mine, and his arms pulled me even closer. ‘I just want to turn us around so I can watch someone who was acting suspiciously. Just follow my lead.’ He shuffled us around so that he was facing out to the terminal, and my face was blocked from view and that was a relief because I couldn’t see Brad anymore.

Yes, Brad!

I’d almost died when I’d looked past Linc and spotted Brad in the queue.

How much worse could this day get?

What the hell was my ex-fiancé doing on Deception Island? How did he find out where I was going? I hadn’t told a soul.

The pressure of Linc’s lips lessened and he pulled away, although I was still totally shielded from Brad’s view.

‘We’re about to get company,’ he said. ‘He must have seen me checking him out. Interesting. Very interesting; he’s on the front foot, that’s for sure. And oh, damn. Sorry. More company.’

‘What? Who?’ I almost screeched. ‘He saw me?’

‘He?’ Linc looked over my head. ‘Who’s he?’

‘You’re looking for a fiancée,’ I said crossly. ‘And I have an ex-fiancé. And that’s him walking over here. Just follow my lead. Please.’

Before Linc could answer the door opened and Brad pushed into the room closely followed by two men.