Page 1 of The Angel and the Agent

Prologue

“Ihave an announcement.” Maggie Eldridge stood on a chair to get her friends’ attention. “Out of a thousand applicants, my beautiful, sweet, talented, and amazing little sister, Amelia Anne Eldridge, was selected to apprentice at DC’s most exclusive salon. She’ll be moving here in a month, and I wanted you all to meet her so she’ll feel like she knows people.” She pointed to Amelia who gave a little wave. She had met many of Maggie’s friends before, some of them a few times, but she still felt self-conscious to be the center of attention.

“Also, Cam and I are engaged,” Maggie added quickly, revealing the hand she’d been hiding all afternoon.

There were cheers and applause. Someone pulled Maggie off the chair for a hug. Amelia slipped through the excited crowd of well-wishers to the blue-haired man standing alone at the edge of the group.

“How’s it going, Papa Smurf?” she asked, linking her arm with his.

“Super,” Blue replied. Amelia couldn’t tell if his tone was sarcastic or sad. She had no idea how her sister could be so perceptive about everything but the men in her life. Amelia hadsensed Blue’s feelings for Maggie the first moment she met him. And now she was engaged to another man, their boss no less. It had to be painful, despite the fact it had been coming for the last six months of Maggie and Ridge’s relationship.

“Take a walk with me, some distance will help,” Amelia said, tugging his arm.

“You’re the most adorable little thing,” Blue said, resting his arm companionably on her shoulders. “If you weren’t so fresh out of pubescence, I’d fall for you too, keep all my unrequited heartbreak in the same family.”

“It would be an honor to crush your heart. And your spirit,” Amelia said, and he laughed.

“Be honest, has a girl like you ever experienced unrequited love?” Blue asked.

“Honestly?” she said. “No. But one time my brother, Darren, slammed my hand in the car door, and I’m guessing it feels kind of the same.”

“I don’t know, I’ve never slammed my hand in a door,” Blue said.

“My car’s right there. Hold out your hand and then you’ll be able to compare,” Amelia said.

“What do they put into you Eldridges to grow such wicked senses of humor?” Blue asked.

“Our mother is southern, so basically she specializes in baking and backhanded insults,” Amelia said. They chatted as they walked a half-mile down the road, with Amelia doing her best to amuse and distract him, and then the strap on her ridiculously strappy sandals snapped, rendering her shoes useless.

“Are those shoes made of papier-mâché and gossamer?” Blue asked, stooping to inspect them.

“Also gold, if the price is any indication, but look how pretty,” she said, staring in disappointment at her ruined shoe.

“Come on, baby possum, I’ll give you a ride back to the den,” Blue said, bending to allow her to hop on his back.

“You’re going kind of slow,” Amelia said, poking him after a moment of walking.

“You look slim, but the fact that my ankles and vertebrae are slowly collapsing like an accordion tells me you weigh more than I initially thought,” he said.

“This is the worst pony ride ever,” Amelia complained.

“You’re like one of those kids who pokes the pony with a stick and then sues the owner after it kicks you in the face,” Blue said.

“And that is the story of my tenth birthday,” Amelia said, forcing him to lean against a tree and laugh. They were almost back at the party now. Amelia tapped Blue’s shoulder.

“Give me a second, I’m trying to suck enough oxygen into my lungs to make it the last few steps,” Blue said.

“No, who is that?” she asked, spying a latecomer to the party.

Blue looked up and squinted.

“That’s Ethan.”

“Who is Ethan?” Amelia said. “Besides the future father of my children, I mean.”

“No, no, no, baby bear. Ethan is one of Ridge’s SEAL buddies, and he is totally off limits to you.”

“But he’s so pretty,” Amelia whispered. He had dark hair and a lopsided, boyish smile that, even from so far away, radiated naughtiness and amusement.

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