Love & Deception (Agents in Love - Book 1) (5 page)

Carlie thought of the brown monstrosity
hanging on the hook of her office door. No way had she wanted to
wear that on a first date with Nick. It was made to withstand the
brisk winds and cold temperatures of November in Washington—extra
bulky to protect her after having luxuriated in the warm
temperatures of Florida.

“I didn’t bring it. Don’t worry, I’m fine
without it.” She grinned. “I’m a tough chick.”

“I’m sure you are, but hypothermia isn’t an
indication of a good date.” He slipped his suit jacket off and
slung it around her shoulders before she could protest. “Wait here.
I’ll get the car and be right back.”

“But, Nick, you’ll freeze—” Carlie broke off
as he walked out the door. She slipped her arms into the sleeves of
the jacket, admitting to herself it wasn’t as nice as being in his
arms, but special all the same with his scent surrounding her. The
tips of her fingers barely poked out from the fabric.

Nick strode back through the door, rubbing
his hands briskly. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.”

Carlie reclaimed his hand and leaned into
his shoulder. “A girl could get used to such chivalry, you know.”
She paused a moment before rushing on. “You might want to save
something for a second date.”

“Oh, don’t you worry. I’ve got it
covered.”

Did I just get a second date?
She
wasn’t sure, but didn’t want to flat out ask. Instead, she followed
as Nick led the way to the car and opened her door. He helped her
inside and stepped back, staring down with a slight grin.

“What?” she asked.

“It’s just nice. You fit.”

“What do you mean, I fit?”

Nick reached down and tucked a strand of
hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her cheek. “My
jacket, my car. Something’s been missing in this picture for a long
time. You fit.” He closed the door without waiting for a
response.

She placed her hand against her heart,
putting pressure on it in an attempt to stop the palpitations. He
was too good to be true, and Carlie hoped he really was what he
seemed. She’d certainly kissed her fair share of frogs the past few
years—she shuddered thinking about the sleazy way Stephen acted—but
Nick seemed like a prince.

No. She shook her head to erase that
thought. She didn’t want a prince. The difficulties she had with
Ryan were enough for a lifetime. A regular guy would do. It didn’t
hurt that he was handsome and kind and made her body tingly in all
the right places.

Nick hopped in the driver’s seat and
fastened his belt, turning on the radio before pulling out of the
lot. Carlie was happy enough to listen to country music; in fact,
it was her favorite. It also saved her from having to comment on
whether or not she fit. Replaying his words in her head without
really analyzing them or saying anything in return was a nice
change. She’d never dated a man who didn’t constantly want to be
told how wonderful he was.

In too short of a time, Nick pulled the
Porsche into the spot next to her Toyota Camry at Carlie’s
Creations. The song,
We Danced
by Brad Paisley began
playing, and Carlie’s breath caught in her throat. She loved this
song, and she and Nick had certainly danced tonight.

When the song ended, Nick turned the radio
off. “Can we go dancing for real? We could drive down to Seattle,
make a whole day of it.” He smiled and took her hand in his. “You
wouldn’t get embarrassed by people staring.”

“That sounds wonderful, but the only days I
have off are Sundays.”

“We’re in luck. Tomorrow’s Sunday.”

She laughed and shook her head. “I promised
Muhammad I’d help him tomorrow. He’s getting the supplies, but I
said I’d do the baking in the morning.”

“Muhammad.” Nick gently placed her hand back
in her lap and stared out the windshield.

“Is something wrong? I’m sorry I already
made plans. I promised him earlier in the week. I didn’t know
I’d...”
Meet someone as wonderful as you, but I can’t say
that.
“I’ll be free in the afternoon, if you want to do
something then.”

The muscles in his jaw worked for a few
seconds. “This isn’t my business, and you don’t have to answer,” he
finally said. “Are you dating Muhammad?”

That was so unexpected, Carlie burst out
laughing. “No. Of course not. We’re friends, sort of.”

“Sort of? He seemed more than friendly. A
little too familiar, constantly touching you.”

“You’re jealous?” She couldn’t remember a
man ever displaying jealousy about who she paid attention to. “You
don’t need to be. I talk to Muhammad about charity work, help him
where I can. He spreads the word about my business to people who
can actually pay for food. It’s a business arrangement more than a
friendship.”

Nick finally faced her. “And does he know
that? I don’t like the way he touches you.”

Okay. Jealous was cute to an extent, but not
if Nick didn’t get that macho, ‘she’s mine’ look off his face. “I
like you, Nick, but we’ve only been on one date. Isn’t it a little
early to judge my friends?”

“Well, shit.” He closed his eyes and rubbed
his temple. “From chivalrous to major ass in two seconds flat. I
definitely know how to impress the ladies.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it.” It wasn’t
as though she could argue with him. She didn’t want a man to
dictate her actions. “Look, Nick, I have an early morning. Thanks
for dinner, but I really should get home.”

He opened his door and rounded to her side
of the car, helping her out and walking her to the driver’s side of
the Camry. “I didn’t mean to get into your business about
Muhammad.”

Carlie nodded. “Okay.”

“You’re pissed, aren’t you?” He took a step
nearer and caressed her hair softly. “I am sorry, really. I’ve been
on my own a long time, Carlie, and thought I liked it that way.”
His dark eyes shone brightly in the moonlight. “You make me feel so
different. When Muhammad put his arms around you...” He let out a
loud sigh. “I hated how it made me feel, but I’d hate not seeing
you again more. Can we still go out tomorrow?”

“I don’t...” She paused, unsure what to say.
The part of her that had been running for six years wanted to cut
her losses, decide Nick was a jerk who would soon try to run her
life, and end things now. However, she also thought of how good and
safe she’d felt dancing with him, how cute he’d been putting his
jacket on her.

“It’s okay. I understand.” He stepped back.
“I don’t have a right to place demands on you—your time or your
friends.”

This was all so fast. Too fast. How could
she trust it? Nick might be a hired gun. Ryan’s enemies searched
for her and wanted her dead. She wished she could believe that was
just paranoia talking and the people in Ryan’s country had long
since forgotten she existed, but she couldn’t.

When Ryan’s mother flew to America to pick
up his body, she’d warned Carlie to take the money she gave her and
run far and fast. Her mother-in-law feared for Carlie’s life and
told her never to let anyone know who she used to be. Didn’t that
mean they might still be looking for her? Could she believe that
Nick was just a harmless man, looking for a good time and a
training partner? And maybe...love?

“I’m not saying I don’t want to see you
again,” she said. “But maybe it’d be best to take things slower.
How about we just try for dinner tomorrow?”

He put his arms behind his back and nodded.
“Fine. I’ll agree to slower. I have a tendency to go full throttle.
I did warn you that I’m worried about scaring you away.”

That didn’t sound like a man who planned to
murder her in her sleep. In fact, maybe Carlie
was
being
silly. If Nick’s goal was to kill her, she’d been at his mercy all
night. He was a fifth-degree black belt; she had no hope of
defending herself against him.

“You didn’t scare me away.” She stepped into
him and pressed a soft kiss against his cheek. It calmed her
further when he didn’t move his hands from behind his back to grab
her or force a more passionate kiss on her.

When she moved away, he reached into his
back pocket and pulled out his wallet, fishing a business card from
it. “This has my cell number on it. Will you text me when you get
home tonight? Just so I know you’re there safe.”

I should be ashamed of myself for doubting
him. That’s so sweet.

She took the card from him and nodded. “As
soon as I pull into the driveway.” After unlocking her door, she
slid into the driver’s seat. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I can’t wait.” He shut her door and walked
back to his car, waving before climbing inside.

Carlie pulled out of the lot and was halfway
home before she realized she still had his jacket on. She breathed
in his cologne, excited about the thought of spending more time
with him. He couldn’t be working for Ryan’s enemies, or she’d
already be dead. Instead of being suspicious and overanalyzing
everything, Carlie knew it was time to move on with life and let
herself be happy.

Maybe she’d invite Nick to her house for
dinner. He mentioned living in a hotel. A home-cooked meal would be
nice. Besides, then if he wanted to dance again, no one would be
there to stare at them.

Carlie turned into her driveway and put the
car in park, shutting it off before pulling out her phone. She
turned on the overhead light to read the number off his card.
Here safe. Can’t wait ‘til tomorrow. How about I cook for u at
my place?

She hit send and got out of the car,
grabbing her purse and pushing the lock button. Skipping up to the
house, she couldn’t stop smiling. Things were definitely taking a
turn for the better.

“There you are, Carlie,” a voice came out of
the darkness. “We need to chat.”

***

Nick sat in his car outside the hotel and
read the message from Carlie. He couldn’t help but feel satisfied.
She wanted to cook for him. That was a victory of sorts.

He tapped on the virtual keyboard on his
phone:
Dinner sounds good. What time?
He punched send and
jumped out of the car, swiping his keycard to get into the side
door of the hotel and then making his way to the elevator. Sayle
didn’t offer a hotel with a plush penthouse, so Nick made do with a
nice two-room suite on the fourth floor.

It had been a mistake to bring up Muhammad
tonight. He hoped Carlie could forgive him for that. He was
suspicious of the man, but he shouldn’t have shown any interest. It
put Carlie on alert, and that was the last thing he wanted. She
needed to feel safe, comfortable, as though Nick would go along
with anything she did. That was the only way to meet his
objective.

Opening the hotel room door, Nick frowned as
he walked inside. Something was wrong. The cloying scent of
patchouli hung in the air, and there was a heaviness to the
darkness. Nick kicked the door shut and dropped to the ground,
rolling to shield himself behind the small counter to the left
side. He slapped his side for his gun, only then remembering he
posed as a successful businessman and had no right to be carrying
one. Looked like it would be hand-to-hand combat. Fortunately, he
excelled there.

A lamp clicked on near the couch. “Get off
the damn floor.”

Nick wasn’t sure if knowing who was in his
room was any better than assuming it was an enemy. “Good evening,
Paul.” Thankfully, his voice came out calm and confident. Nick
regained his feet and walked slowly to the seating area.

Paul Billings, boss of the anti-terrorist
organization Nick worked for, S.A.T.O., sat in the leather armchair
and jerked his head to the couch adjacent to him. “Have a
seat.”

Obeying the command, he eyed Paul wearily.
There was a time when Nick would have trusted him with his life.
However, that was also during a time Paul wouldn’t have traveled
across the country to check up on him during a mission. For
thirteen years, Paul had been not only Nick’s boss, but a surrogate
father figure. Something changed recently and Nick wasn’t sure he
liked the changes.

“I was just about to call you, boss.”

“I decided to pay a visit.” Paul clasped his
hands over his stomach and leaned back in the chair. “How’d your
date go?”

“She’s invited me to dinner tomorrow.” But
she had yet to answer about the time. Nick glanced at the face of
his phone, realizing five minutes had passed. Wouldn’t she have
waited for his answer before doing something else?

“I’m starting to worry about this mission.”
Paul lifted one graying eyebrow. “What’s taking so long?”

“I’ve been doing surveillance on the target
and all the people she associates with, but it’s not like you gave
me much information.” Although Nick knew it could be hazardous to
his health to mouth off to Paul, he was at the end of his patience
with how things had been run at S.A.T.O. the past year. “You said
you had other agents on this case. Let me know who they are so we
can collaborate and also stay out of each other’s way.”

“You dare talk to me like that?” Paul’s blue
eyes narrowed. “I don’t care how good an agent you are, if you
become a liability to this operation, you will be taken out.” And
there was the threat, always present. “Tell me, agent, are you
questioning my decisions?”

Nick hated backing down, but Paul knew just
where to prod. It was true he’d take out any agent who became a
liability, no matter how good or important to a mission. Nick
understood this when he joined the group. They couldn’t afford
liabilities in their business or innocent people got killed. The
last agent who proved to be a liability had been Nick’s job to
dispatch.

“With all due respect, sir,” Nick said, not
breaking eye contact, “I think the agency ran better when you told
us who our allies were.”

Though he’d never understood the reason,
Paul had changed the procedures for the anti-terrorist group right
after Nick took care of Jason, the problem agent. In the three
cases he’d worked since that time, Nick always went in with very
little information, and he hadn’t spoken to anyone else within the
group besides Paul. He didn’t even know if some agents he used to
be friendly with were still part of the organization. Perhaps
they’d all been killed.