Page 32 of The Angel and the Agent

“Hmm, I see. So when does this new order start?” he asked.

“As soon as I can touch bottom and am no longer in fear of drowning,” she said.

“Let’s move this conversation to the ocean,” he replied.

She laughed. “I have to go dry off. Piedmont’s stopping by whenever he can get off work.”

“You mean he could walk in here any minute?” Ethan replied, his grasp on her waist tightening.

“This is the very definition of not helping,” she said.

“It’s your rule, not mine. If it were up to me, we’d roll all those almost moments into a big, cataclysmic life event,” he said.

“You’re so ridiculously charming it’s nearly irresistible,” she said.

“Nearly’s not a good word in this context,” he said.

“It ranks up there with maybe,” she said.

“You’re the comeback queen.”

“I was a math major. For survival’s sake, it was imperative I also be cute and witty,” she said.

The door to the common room opened and someone stepped out. Amelia swam to the ladder and exited the pool, bypassing her brother-in-law, Ridge, as she made her way inside. Ridge remained by the pool surveying Ethan for a moment before bringing two fingers to his eyes and pointing them at Ethan in the universal,I’m watching you,gesture.

Ethan drew an imaginary circle around his head, a halo.

Ridge held up horns behind his own head and smashed his fist into his palm.

“Are you trying to tell me you’re a Satanist now?” Ethan asked.

“Pretty sure you get what I’m trying to say,” Ridge said. “She’s twenty three; she’s a baby.”

“You know I’m only twenty eight,” Ethan said. “Not exactly Father Time.”

“You ceased to be a child on your first mission,” Ridge said, reminding him of all he’d seen and done. “She’s an innocent, a civilian who has no idea how far we’ve gone in our jobs.”

“She’s more mature than you realize,” Ethan said.

“Are you?” Ridge asked. “I’ve seen what you do to women. I don’t want that to happen to Amelia.”

“You’re really getting into the big brother thing,” Ethan said, aiming for a lighter tone.

“I’m not joking, Ethan. This is my wife’s beloved little sister. I love you like a brother, but you hurt her, and we’re through.”

“You’re in luck; I’m not the one she wants,” Ethan said.

Ridge’s eyes narrowed on him, morphing from anger to concern in a heartbeat. He was looking at him the same way he used to after a particularly difficult mission. “You doing okay, Beck?”

“What’s okay in our world, Cam?” Ethan asked. He took a deep dive and didn’t come up for a long time, until he thought his lungs might burst. When he emerged, Amelia was sitting on the side of the pool, wearing the same look of concern Ridge had used a few minutes ago.

“You were down a long time. I was starting to worry,” she said.

“I can hold my breath for a long time,” he reminded her.

“It felt long from up here,” she said.

“It’s supposed to,” he said.

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