Page 36 of Special Agent Isabella

Bella stayed in the bathroom for as long as she could. What the hell just happened? She knew the man must have some experience with the opposite sex, certainly more than she could ever claim but… son of abitch! She began to chew her nail without any idea of doing so.

She’d just got a glimpse of heaven. And now she had to pretend like it was just run-of-the-mill sex. Jesus, her acting skills used in undercover work had been good, but this was academy-award level.

Taking her time, praying the man had fallen asleep, she finally finished primping and opened the door. With the light from the room behind her shining into the room, she knew instantly he was gone.

When she moved forward, intending on getting a robe, she saw the rose. That’s when her insides combusted. Running to the bed, she picked up the flower, let herself in under the covers where he’d been laying. Reverently, she smelled his token and then his pillow.

Proof he’d been here didn’t really matter. Her body knew. So did her head. Now all she had to do was pretend it never happened. Go back to being the agent partnering with him and forget all about their last hour spent together.

Closing her eyes, it all came back to her, and she relived the wondrous moments again… and then again. Only the pounding on her door brought her back from dreamland to a room filled with sunshine and Nan’s voice. “You coming for breakfast Sleeping Beauty?”

ChapterThirty

Having no idea what to say to the man when they met, she assumed her previous business attitude, the one she’d slowly dropped since spending time around Abbie. Upon entering the breakfast room, she saw only one person. Finding Leslie sitting at the table allowed her heart to stop its ridiculous pounding and gave her stomach a reason to settle down.

She moved to where Nan had set her coffee at her usual seat and reached for the sugar.

“Good morning.” Leslie sounded chipper, considering the circumstances.

“Yeah. Hi.” Bella glanced out the window and added, “Good weather for flying.”

“Turns out, Stacy had a change of mind. She said I could stay for a while and get to know my niece. I’m beyond thrilled.”

Bella smiled at Nan when she brought the orange juice and poached eggs on toast using her homemade bread, a breakfast she knew Bella loved. When she harrumphed softly at the other woman’s statement before leaving the room, Leslie sent a glare her way but didn’t speak.

Questioning the woman, a habit well tested, Bella opened with the one item that bothered her. “Were you aware of Stacy’s difficulties after she stepped up to replace the former Governor?”

“Not really. I might have read a bit about it on the flight over.”

“Uh-huh. So, your paper back home wasn’t interested?”

“I’m a freelance reporter, Agent Mendez. I sell my stories to many different buyers.”

“Must be difficult living without a proper income.” Bella knew she was goading the other woman, but it tickled her to see the fire ignite in the other’s gaze.

“The world presents plenty of good fodder stories if one has the grit to find them. I know many papers and magazines always willing to purchase my work.”

“Hmm… and yet you haven’t appeared in print for quite some time.”

Leslie’s smile never reached her eyes. “You’ve been digging into my past. Shame on you. If you had asked, I would have told you what I felt you needed to know.”

“Right. Otherwise, mind my own business.”

Leslie shoved her chair back, not caring that she scraped it on the floor, or that it made an annoying sound. “Precisely.” She threw her napkin on top of her unfinished cereal and stomped from the room.

Happy now, Bella enjoyed her breakfast, her open phone beside her. She again checked her messages to see if someone might have taken the time to say something special. Not seeing anything from Tanner, she noticed a new item arriving from Demi.

“Had a fabulous time last night. Borrowed the little black number as you suggested. He thinks I’m beautiful… guess he likes redheads. Can’t wait to share. Thanks.”

Unlike her friend’s usual correspondence or terse notes, this one actually had a heart emoji at the end. Not sure how to take this new Demi, she pushed the contact number. When Demi answered after only one ring, she suspected her buddy knew her well enough to figure she’d be wanting all the scandalous details.

“Fast pick up pal.”

“I knew you’d call.”

“Figures. You set me up with the can’t-wait-to-share line.”

A smile sounded in Demi’s voice. “I know.”

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