Page 3 of Shadowed Agenda

Chapter two

PavlowonderedwhoIslawas texting. They had barely left her side, and she had pulled out her cell. The woman had been a mother hen, always at their side. He’d have expected her to watch from the sidelines.

What had Isla been thinking, getting Regan involved with the Senator? The man’s group of militant supporters was downright scary. They didn’t hesitate to resort to violence in their support of him. Just last month, a late-night talk show host had been bombarded with death threats after he’d joked about the Senator’s views. He’d had to hire a security team.

As for Isla’s insistence that the arrangement had been last minute, it was possible but not likely. Pavlo had played bodyguard to enough politicians to know that someone like Senator Aster had every minute of his day planned months ahead of time. From what he’d read of his wife, her schedule was equally tight. She was a popular speaker and spearheaded several charities.

If the Senator’s supporters found out Regan had refused the private book signing, it wouldn’t sit well with them. They’d interpret it as a slight. It could put her on their radar.

Pavlo made a mental note to speak to Isla after the morning show. They’d have to devise a plausible reason for canceling that didn’t inflame the Senator’s supporters. He hoped Isla’s text had nothing to do with Regan’s refusal.

The stage manager held up his hand for them to stop. Regan turned and glanced in Isla’s direction, her bright smile faltering for a moment and her sparkling blue eyes dulled. It wasn’t a look that suited her.

Pavlo rolled his shoulders. From the brief time they’d spent together, he’d learned that Regan was as smart, strong, and sassy as the protagonists in her books. She wouldn’t want his help and, more likely, would resent it. She took care of herself. The quick background he’d run on her had confirmed his initial impression. She had a Ph.D. in English literature and was a guest lecturer at the local university in Kansas, where she lived.

He’d been tempted to delve deeper into her past, but it would have attracted the attention of his friends. The five of them were co-owners in the private military firm they’d started when they’d left their Navy SEAL life behind. If his buddies found out he was checking on the one woman in the world who seemed to hate him, they’d deliberately confuse curiosity with interest. They’d never let up.

Pavlo was sure Regan had been about as enthusiastic as he was about spending five days together. They were like oil and water. He intended to stay as far away from her as possible.

Applause filled the stage, and the stage manager motioned for them to enter the set.

Char Denvers, the morning show host, stood in front of a semi-circular white couch. An abundance of girly pastel cushions any self-respecting man would refuse to cozy up to were casually placed on the couch.Regan sat to one side of Char. With no chair in sight, Pavlo heaved a mental sigh, pushed pastel yellow and blue cushions aside, and sat on the couch on the other side of Char.

“I’m excited that the two of you started your book tour with an appearance on my show. What a great way to start the week,” Char said, smiling brightly at the cameras.

The audience clapped.

Regan’s smile widened. “We’re delighted to be here, Char.”

“It’s been an exciting year for the two of you,” Char said, referring to the notecard in her hand. “You’ve had three new releases between you, and early in the year, Streaming announced each of you had optioned your first series. Last week, the first trailers appeared on Streaming.”

The audience clapped again, and Regan flashed them another smile.

Pavlo was certain the audience expected a repeat of the book talks a few months ago. Regan’s criticism that his female characters held minor roles quickly became a topic for discussion in a handful of magazines. Pavlo had found the whole thing frustrating since he was already on the second book in a new series with a female protagonist. Now that the publication date was set, he was free to share that nugget—and make it clear he’d written the book before Regan’s comment.

She may look like the cute girl next door with her straight blonde hair, sky-blue eyes, and thick lashes, but she wasn’t sugar and spice. Her bubbly personality and clever remarks hid a rattler’s bite. Unlike the snake, Regan gave no warning she would strike.

Pavlo didn’t know what he’d done to earn her animosity. Charm was a skill Pavlo and his four partners had had to learn when they’d started Shadow Defense Security. All former Navy SEALs, they were used to getting the job done, niceties not included.

Pavlo had turned his charm on as high as it could go with Regan without success.

“When did Streaming approach the two of you?” Char asked.

Regan began explaining how her deal with Streaming came about.

The rest of the morning show went as Pavlo expected. Char ran the trailers for Reagan’s mini-series and Pavlo’s Streaming original movie. They continued to field questions. The audience ate it up when Regan hinted at him resembling the heroes he portrayed in his books. The interview questions didn’t veer from the list they’d been given before the taping until the show’s end.

“Soft romantic suspense author and reserved spy thriller novelist on tour together,” Char said. The media had noted the fans loved the juxtaposition of their personalities, and Char was cashing in on it. “Do you expect smooth sailing or choppy waters?”

“Sometimes a little turbulence can make a journey more memorable,” Regan quipped, referring to the relationship between them. The audience roared with laughter.

Pavlo’s thoughts drifted to the Senator’s followers. Those were choppy waters they needed to avoid.

Char leaned toward Regan as if sharing a secret. “There’s been a rumor of a private book signing at the end of the week. Can you give us a teeny clue about the identity of the celebrity? We promise not to tell.” She turned to the audience and winked.

The audience laughed.

Pavlo’s hackles rose. Had Isla given Char that little tidbit to force Regan to meet with Mrs. Aster, anticipating Regan’s refusal?

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