Page 34 of The Spy Ring

“Thank you again, Jagger, for the food. It’s getting late, and I need to relieve Evaleen of her babysitting duties.”

Grabbing my small black leather clutch, I moved toward the front door.

“Please, do come again,” the hostess said as I briskly strolled past her station near the door.

Turning my head, I smiled and nodded at her, not wanting to be rude. As I reached my arm out to where I thought the door was, nothing but warm air remained.

I turned my head back to the front and found Jagger had sneaked past me and was now holding open the door like a gentleman. Ugh, why did he have to be so polite? It was annoyingly alluring.

Just about everything Jagger did had caught me off guard. Sometimes with irritation but more often than not, with pleasant surprise.

“Thank you,” I grumbled as I scurried up the street.

The restaurant was near my building so I could easily walk home which was a good thing. The bad thing was Jagger knew where I lived and walked with me.

“You don’t have to see me back home. I’m only two more blocks away.” I pointed up the street.

“It’s a nice evening. Besides, it’s not safe to walk alone.”

“I’m pretty sure nothing is going to happen to me in the one minute I have left in my walk. It’s summer, there’s plenty of light left. I think I’ll be okay.”

During our conversation, I picked up my pace but couldn’t outmaneuver him. I guess when he trained to work for the government he was taught power walking as well.

“Well, I’m here.” I pushed open the door to my building, but he grabbed my arm before I could escape.

“You trying to pull a Gregger?” Jagger asked.

That stopped me and I turned. “You joking about my date?”

“Yeah, how he jetted out.” He chuckled.

I tiled my head. “But I never told you his name . . .”

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