Never Say Necklace

Carlie has spent her entire life searching for Cleopatra's necklace that was lost centuries ago. When the news finally comes that her research has paid off, she won't let anything get in her way—including hunky Braden, a fellow professor who seems to be watching her every move.

Braden works undercover for an agency going after artifacts throughout the world. But when his latest quest means taking the necklace from the woman he’s been secretly in love with for months, things take a drastic turn.

Carlie and Braden aren’t the only ones searching for the necklace. What seemed to be a cut-and-dry quest becomes a constant battle to stay one step ahead of their enemies. Will their love survive this dangerous adventure, or will they be forced to live forever apart?

 Carlie looked up from her computer and narrowed her eyes. She wasn’t alone. This had always been her turf. No one else ever came into the anthropology lab during lunchtime so she always had plenty of time to work. Apparently, it wouldn’t be that way anymore. 

The same guy sat across from her again. This was the fifth day in a row he’d been here. He was gorgeous, with his sandy blond hair, dark blue eyes, and the dimple that would appear when he smiled at something on his screen. Not that she paid much attention to him. Carlie shifted in her chair and kept working on the research she’d been doing for a couple of years now. She was so close she could taste it.

Her pocket buzzed and made her jump. Oh, please let this be Ed. Carlie pulled her phone out and grinned when she saw the message. This was it. Excitement bubbled up inside as she snapped her laptop shut and shoved it into her bag. On her way out of the lab, she turned to make sure she hadn’t left anything behind, and ran into something hard. Her breath caught in her throat when she looked up into the dark blue eyes that she had most definitely not been thinking about. 

“Oh man, I’m sorry.” It was the guy who had invaded her territory. His cologne intoxicated her and it took a second to remember why she was standing there.

Carlie shook her head to clear it and brushed past him, wanting to call her contact. “It’s fine. Excuse me.”

“I’m Braden by the way,” he called behind her.

Carlie waved and kept going. There was no time to chat and she figured she could always talk to him when she got back. If there was a chance to grab this necklace, she had to go right then. She ran out to her beat-up Honda Civic where no one could listen in.

Carlie hit speed dial on her phone as she put on her seat belt. She tapped her fingers impatiently. “Hey, Ed. What’s up?” she asked as soon as he answered.

“We got it. You were right.” He paused for her to cheer. “But listen, someone else knows what’s going on, so we need to go right now or we’ll be too late. You have everything ready?” Ed’s voice was excited. That wasn’t his real name. He had a code name just like everyone else on the team. 

“What do you mean someone else knows what’s going on?” Carlie’s stomach dropped. No! This was her discovery. She started the car and left the parking lot. She
waited for a few cars to pass before pulling out onto the road. 

“It seems that we have a mole somewhere and we have reason to believe that they’ve sent out their own group to snatch the necklace.”

“Brilliant. Find whoever it is and take them down. I gotta go. I’ll be at the airport in half an hour.” Carlie shut the phone and threw it onto the seat next to her. Whoever the mole was would pay. She weaved her way through campus traffic and skidded to a halt in her parking space. She checked her phone to make sure there were no messages, then climbed out of the car. 

Up in her apartment, she hurdled over her roommates who were doing Pilates and ran to her room. She grabbed her duffle bag, double checked to make sure everything was inside, and left the room.

“Going somewhere?” Dee asked. She changed positions and everyone else followed her.

Carlie grinned, almost bursting with the news. “We found it.” 

Dee squealed. “Awesome! So, if anyone asks?”

“I’m at home visiting my parents. See you girls later. Don’t get into too much trouble.” 

“You know we will,” Dani said. She was twisted up in a pretzel doing her own thing. “Maybe this time you can bring back a guy.”

“Not likely.” Carlie rolled her eyes. This was the same conversation they went through every time she left. “Gotta go. Eat whatever food I have left in the fridge. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.” She waved and ran out the door. She pulled out of the parking lot and sped toward the airport, then called another number on her phone.

“Frank? You around at all?” Carlie switched lanes, wincing at the honking horns as she cut someone
off.

“No. What do you need?” Frank’s voice boomed through the receiver.

“I need a flight as soon as possible in case I can’t get a ticket.” She preferred her own flight to commercial flights because there were too many prying eyes among the passengers.

“I’ll see what I can do.” He dropped the call.

 The airport sprawled out in front of her, and an airplane was just taking off as she entered the parking garage. She drove up a couple of levels to find a spot and squeezed her Civic between two poorly parked cars. 

Carlie grabbed her
duffel bag before heading in to the airport.  It was busy at this time of day and desperation drove her to quickly duck around the crowds of people as she hurried inside. When she saw the enormous line of people waiting to get tickets, she groaned. This was going to take forever. She tapped her foot as she waited, going through a mental list of everything she needed to have taken care of while she was gone, including finding a sub for her classes. Feeling someone watching her, she glanced around, but everyone seemed to be busy with their own luggage or kids. Carlie shook her head. This was an airport with thousands of people. She was just jumpy because of her trip.

“Next, please.” The
attendant asked. The poor woman seemed frazzled and her smile looked more tired than bright and cheery.

“Yes, I’d like a ticket to Egypt, please.” Carlie slapped her passport and credit card on the desk and glanced over at the security line. She caught a glimpse of someone who looked almost familiar and she tried to figure out where she’d seen him before.

“I apologize, but that next flight is full. We’ll have to put you on standby.”

Carlie jerked her attention
back to the attendant, frustrated. “You’re sure there’s nothing right now? I’m willing to pay for first class.” She could feel the tension building. She needed to get on that plane.

“Sorry, Ma’am. Standby is the only possibility. The next flight leaves tomorrow evening.” She seemed to brace herself for a fight.

Carlie sighed and nodded. “I’ll take it.”

The attendant took the passport and card and typed the information into the computer. Carlie
tapped her fingers to the beat of the music blaring over the loudspeakers,
trying to stay calm. 

“You’ll be at gate 55. Don’t forget—”

“Thank you.” Carlie grabbed the ticket from the woman, then hurried over to the security line that seemed to have grown in the last couple of seconds. 

Her pocket buzzed again and she pulled out her phone. There was a message from Ed confirming that someone else was on their way to Egypt as well. Carlie searched the airport to see if she could find the guy from the security line, but he’d disappeared. She texted back telling Ed to find out who it was and how they were getting there. 

After five minutes of waiting, Carlie was ready to scream. What in the world was taking so long? She had worked too hard for this to let it go. Cleopatra’s necklace was at the top of every collector’s list and she was the one who had figured out the clues to get there. Rumors had flown for centuries about whether or not it had even existed. Now that Carlie had finally located it, the thought of someone else getting it made her stomach turn. 

Her phone buzzed and she grabbed it. “Hey, Frank. Please tell me you have good news.” She tried to keep her voice low so those around her wouldn’t catch any of the conversation. 

“You have a chopper waiting outside for you. It’ll get you to Salt Lake City. Then you’ll hop a
flight we have booked for you.”

“Sweet. You’re the best, Frank.” Carlie stepped out of line and headed for the door, lugging her duffel bag behind her.