Page 16 of Stealth Mission

I tilt my head and study the puzzle in front of me. “Now why would you say that?”

“It’s complicated and this is not the place to discuss personal matters.” She exhales slowly. “I’ll just say this: I don’t have a choice about this subject, it will just be far easier for me to go along with his ploy right now.”

“Let’s get you that drink.”

She’s quiet and sticks close to my side as we finish crossing the veranda. There’s no one at the bar when we pull to a stop in front of it. I turn to her. “What would you like?”

“Tonic water with lemon.”

Ready to place her order for her, I pause and look down at her. “I thought you wanted something stiff?”

“I changed my mind. Decided I needed my wits about me.”

I grin. “You’re allowed to change your mind, I just wondered.”

The bartender shrugs. “That's all for you two?”

“That and a bottle of water. Sealed.”

As if my request isn’t unusual at all, he gets to work. “Coming right up.”

When I have the drinks in hand, I motion toward a small table in the corner. Marianna walks in front of me and I have to admit, I enjoy the hell out of watching her walk in her heels. Damn, she’s got some nice curves and the way she’s dressed tonight puts them ALL on display for my viewing pleasure.

We sit and as Marianna takes her glass from me, she finally grins, some of her anger softening. “You don’t trust the bartender?”

“Call me suspicious.”

“Smart man. I’m thinking maybe you are not the average tourist.”

I crack the seal on my water only after squeezing the bottle to make sure it’s not leaking from any needle pricks or hasn’t had the top removed. “Anyone can be the average tourist.”

She stares at her cup, thinking as she toys with the wooden stir-stick. There’s a parrot carved in the top of it and I vaguely wonder if it’s disposable.

The cool water slides down my throat but doesn’t do a damned thing for the thirst looking at Marianna causes in me. Ican’t remember ever feeling the way I do when she looks into my eyes.

Whew. Boy.This is not good.

Maybe the heat in this damned country is getting to me.

“So where are we going sightseeing, Mr. Goodlove?”

I snap myself out of my haze. “You really don’t have to?—”

“We already covered this. Besides, I might figure out some more things about you if I drag you all over Vandemora.”

A warm sensation stirs in my chest. It’s followed by a pulse of excitement. “Oh, I got you curious now?”

“You had me curious this morning.”

I rest my elbow on the table and find myself leaning in. “Good to know.”

“So what’s your pleasure, sir?”

So many things about that question make it hard to swallow.

My eyebrows rock upward. What’s my pleasure?

Throwing you on my bed and devouring you. Gripping that sweet ass in one hand and fisting all that gorgeous hair with the other. Having those silky dark strands spill over my chest as you ride me…

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