Sean!
The car swerved to the left. Caitlin toppled onto him. Suddenly he was cradled from ear to cheek in the softness of her breasts. Her tangy, fresh-air scent surrounded him, and the warmth of her body pressing against his consumed him.
In the next instant, he took control of the car and his wayward reactions. He righted the wheel, steered them safely into the passing lane and pushed against Caitlins thigh, forcing her down into her seat. She landed with a plop on her bottom, as a flush of color raced across her skin.
Are you all right? he asked.
Im fine, she answered breathlessly. Keeping her gaze fixed on the dashboard, she dropped her feet to the floor, slipped into the shoes and buckled her seat belt. Only after she was breathing more evenly did he see her big gray eyes dart his way. Sorry.
No harm. He kept his gaze on the last dregs of rush-hour traffic and concentrated on his driving instead of on the gangly beauty beside him.
Theyd passed the next mile marker before she angled her face toward him with a wry frown. Not a very auspicious start to my secret-agent career.
Oh, no. Miss McCormick needed a quick reality check. Im the secret agent. Youre on vacation.
But I want to help.
You are, just by coming with me.
That answer seemed to disappoint her. What will I be doing while youre investigating the island?
Youll be acting as my girlfriend. My mistress. Well have to do a little kissing and cuddling in public to justify our presence there, but otherwise its a free day at the spa for you. Use the hot tub or whatever facilities theyve got. Its on the Bureau.
Now she turned her whole body in her seat. The look she gave him must have let any number of junior-high students know they were in trouble. You said Id be serving my country. I agreed to do this because I wanted to see some action. How is sitting in a hot tub doing my patriotic duty?
Sean raised a placating hand. Im the one whos trained in covert ops and investigation procedures. Im the one with the gun and the experience.
And Im just Mr. Untouchables moll. Yippee. She turned again and glared out the windshield. She crossed her arms with a decisive shrug, and the black strap of her sundress fell off her shoulder and caught in the crook of her elbow.
Sean narrowed his eyes on the road, but couldnt resist the urge to glance over at that long stretch of bare skin. Too long without sex, his mind warned. He felt equally powerless to stop himself from reaching out and lifting that strap up onto her shoulder. So what if the back of his knuckles brushed across the smooth skin there? He didnt mind.
He did mind when she flinched away from his caress. Youll have to get used to me touching you, he warned, placing his hand safely back on the wheel. And you cant be afraid to touch me. Not if were going to make a convincing couple.
Im not afraid of you. Im angry. She scooped her hair behind her ear, exposing a long line of naked neck for him to stew over while she lectured him. My father is a retired Marine Corps general. He served his country proudly for over thirty-five years. My brothers are following in his footsteps. One is specializing in diplomatic security and the other works in Special Forces. Her touch-me-not glare never wavered from the endless stretch of cars and highway before them. Ive always wanted to give to our country the way they do. Ive wanted to be a part of the action.
Sean wasnt sure where she was going with this, but it was his nature to play devils advocate. So why didnt you enlist or go through ROTC? There are plenty of women making careers in the military. Her long silence prompted him to look her way again. He saw one hand nervously picking at the hem of her dress where it rested high on her thigh. She had gone somewhere inside herself. Not for the first time, he wondered if hed picked the wrong woman for this job. Not that hed had much choice. Caitie?
My name is Caitlin. She muttered the correction as if by rote. As if he wasnt the first person shed set straight on not using the shortened version of her name. Just when he thought she might not say another word, she lifted her gaze to his. The energy that had thrummed through herpart anticipation, part angerhad dissipated. I cant pass the physical.
Oh. Sean looked back at the road and slowed the car to maneuver the twisty highway that circled around Washington, D.C. Was Caitlin ill? Flat-footed? Crazy? He brought up pImages** of her body, already well-ingrained in his memory. Long, strong legs. Soft, flawless skin. Wild, sexy hair. To look at her, Caitlin McCormick was the picture of a healthy, fit woman.
Whats wrong with you? he finally asked when she didnt explain further. He shook his head. An interrogation with a criminal suspect he could handle blindfolded. But this conversation wasnt going so well. Maybe his perpetual lack of charm with the ladies was partially to blame for his extended celibacy. Sorry. I dont mean to be blunt. But if it could affect my investigation, I have a right to know. I mean, are you going to have a heart attack on me? Am I keeping you from a dialysis treatment?
She took a deep breath that stirred the best parts of her body. I have asthma. Its a chronic disorder that stems from lung damage I sustained when I was hospitalized with pneumonia as a child. Ive outgrown the worst of the attacks. I take regular medication for it, which generally keeps it under control. But sometimes unusual stress or an allergic reaction can still trigger it. Ill cough or wheeze and have shortness of breath. Then Ill use my inhaler or, on rare occasions, take an epinephrine shot. But it isnt life threatening. It justkeeps me out of the action.
Apparently this wasnt the first time shed been asked to explain her condition. Her speech had been glib and well-rehearsed. And alarming. Unusual stress?
Caitlin laughed, but her lips were pressed together too tightly for her expression to qualify as a smile. I dont run marathons, I dont work in a coal mine or with hazardous chemicals. I dont own a cat.
Any of those things could trigger an attack?
She nodded. But I do swim three times a week. I go sailing when I can. I have a teaching career. I read a lot.
What do you read?
Fantasy. Action-adventure. Romance. Mysteries. Classics. Biographies
A little of everything, huh?
She nodded and sank back into that quiet place inside herself again.
He listened to the hum of the tires on the pavement for several minutes, processing everything shed told him. She read books to find the adventures she couldnt experience herself. But she clearly wasnt an invalid. She exercised regularlyher fine, toned body was proof of that. She probably lived her life on a predictably even keel. Hed shown up at her front door and had bullied and cajoled and practically dared her to play his mistress this weekend.
What should he do? Turn the car around and drive her home? Risk an asthma attack? Take her back to her safe, sedate apartment and her books, or take her to Maine and put her in the middle of a charade that could prove very stressful?
Why did you say yes to my proposition? he finally asked.
Because I thought it sounded exciting. Well, it did until you said I wouldnt be doing anything except sitting in the hot tub. Her reprimand gave way to a heavy sigh. And because you said it was top secret. My father would never have to find out. Hes a little overprotective.