Page 82 of Red Line

Here we go.

Chapter Thirty-One

Red

“Red, we’re at your hotel. I’m going to set you down now. I’d appreciate it if I could keep my balls attached to my body.” His voice was warm, and there was a mild chuckle with maybe a dash of concern in the timbre. “All right, Red?” He pronounced her name extra clearly. “We’re agreed?”

What? Who?“Sure. Agreed.”

He slid her slowly down his body, and that was quite the sensation. Truthfully?

Whew.

Yeah, there was the “he’s a whole lot of man with a very fine body” kind of whew,and there was the “my head is spinning hard” kind of whew.

She was experiencing both at the same time.

Red staggered and collapsed against the guy.

Not wholly intentional.

Not entirely against her will.

There was a solid storefront that would have supported her just fine.

“Give it a second,” he said. “You’ve been upside down for a couple of blocks.”

“I’m sure you had your reasons.” It came out sarcastic as hell. She thought that was fair.

His hands wrapped her upper arms, balancing her as Red pressed her forehead to his chest. She’d be more stable if she kicked off the shoes, but she could feel the crunch of broken glass under the thin soles of her high heels.

“Look, I speak Dutch, and it doesn’t seem like you do.”

“True.”

“You didn’t understand what those men were saying to you, what they were planning.”

She lifted her chin to look him in the eye, but with the streetlight out, he’d chosen the darkest spot on a very dark night. “Also true.”Nope, I'm not ready for that yet.Her head went back to his chest. His English was as American as apple pie, and he knew her code name. She would go with this until there was a reason not to. “So you saved me from—well, we both know.” She took a step back. “I’d rather not discuss that.” She licked her lips. “I am interested in the technique. What was that about?”

“When you’re my size—"

“Unimaginable.” He’d kept steadying hands on her arms; Red liked the warmth they radiated.

“Or when people learn that you’re with special forces.”

“Which?” Now that she was steadier on her feet, he handed her bag back to her. He hadn’t mentioned his name. In her business, it was rude to ask. Still, he knew hers. So, things felt uneven. Red didn’t like that he had the upper hand.

“Right now, I am working on a mission that aligns with yours.”

“I see. So, it's not a SEAL. They’ll tell you if you sneeze near them. Not a ranger, there’s no—ah. Got you. You’re a member of the silent profession, I’d bet.”

“Finishing my thought, when someone my size goes out mellow-fellow in the wilds—”

“Men size you up.”

He smiled. “Women, too.”

“Same reason?”

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