Page 20 of The Spy

“The monarch cannot be taking out people. The rule of law…”

“I know all about the rule of law.”

Lucan’s grin started small but it grew. “But I could take him out.”

Anna’s eyes sparkled in response then clouded. “No, for the same reasons I cannot.”

“Well, now, I won’t get caught.”

“Oh, and I would?”

“We both know my skills at going in under the radar were always better than yours, remember I beat you four out of the six times when…”

Anna’s raised eyebrows stopped him.

Sheepish, he shrugged. “It’s worth considering.” And he began planning how he would absolutely do just as he had said.

Chapter 13

Anna tried to get ready for bed, but sounds of Lucan in the next room doing the same were too much of a distraction. She entered her sitting room just as he pulled his shirt off over his head.

A soft sigh escaped, and Lucan turned to her.

She eyed him up and down. “You look fantastic. You kept up your training.” She circled, running a finger over a scar. “That’s new.” And coming to stand in front of him again, closer. She could almost feel the heat off his skin.

“I still train. As I’m sure you do.” He cleared his throat, obviously affected by her closeness.

She was too restless. “Wanna go shoot?”

His eyes lit. “Right now?” He reached for his shirt.

“No, you can leave it off.”

He laughed. And then grabbed her, pulling her to his chest. “So you like a little skin on me, do you?”

“I do, I mean look at you. Who wouldn’t?”

He could be in a magazine. Come to think of it. She vaguely remembered that he was. “Didn’t you win some award, ‘Most Eligible Bachelor’ or something?” She laughed, knowing he cared little for any of that.

“I did, once the others were married, or seriously dating, and I was the last bachelor in the family left.”

“Oh, that’s not why.” She eyed him up and down again and then wrapped her arms around him, feeling his skin slide under her fingers.

“Thank you for giving us a chance, Sammy.” Lucan’s eyes were full of sincerity.

“I’ve only ever wanted this.” She lifted her chin, watching his lips, searching his eyes. If ever there was a time to finally kiss her man after eighteen months, this was it. But he was distracted. His eyes went distant and he had stopped looking at her.

“What? For goodness sake, Lucan, what?”

He whipped his eyes back to her and then blushed. She didn’t think she had ever seen him blush. “And now you’re embarrassed?”

He shook his head. “No, look, I’m thinking.” He sat them both on the couch, his magnificent abs and pecs bare. She knew he was going to talk about something serious but it was difficult not to be distracted.

“I want to go after them. Tonight.”

She forgot everything else. “You do? Now?”

“Soon. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced it’s the only way. We can take him.”

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