The Angel and the Agent (Spies Like Us #2)

Prologue

“ I have 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 had sensed 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-maché 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.

“Yes, and he knows it. Ethan’s not the kind you take home and try to litter train. He’s the kind you visit in the zoo because he’s too wild and dangerous to be a pet. Listen to your big brother Blue and stay away from that one.”

Blue deposited her by the drink table. Despite his warning, Amelia couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the mysterious Ethan. Eventually he turned in her direction and they made eye contact. She smiled, and he smiled in return, a slow curving of the lips that told her the intense attraction she felt for him wasn’t necessarily one sided.

Amelia was the first to look away because she was always the first to look away. She knew how to play the game and always came out on top. What she said to Blue was true—she had never wanted a man she didn’t eventually get. Men liked her, providing her the luxury of being choosy. But she had never had such an instant, over-the-top reaction to anyone before.

Her eyes landed on the ice bowl she now realized was empty. She grabbed it and carried it inside for a refill. She was at the freezer adding ice when she heard the door open and close behind her.

“You’re new,” a male voice said, and she didn’t have to look to know it was Ethan. Even his voice gave her a little shiver that started at her spine and worked its way out.

“Depends on your definition. I think I’m kind of old,” she said, turning to face him.

“Let me guess, you’re the caterer,” he said, tapping the ice bowl that was now all that rested between them.

“Yes, but only ice. It’s a highly specialized industry. Lots of bankruptcies, especially in the winter,” Amelia said.

“Uh-oh,” Ethan said.

“What uh-oh?” Amelia asked.

“I recognize that sense of humor. You must be Maggie’s little sister,” he said. “I’ve heard about you.”

“Why is that an uh-oh? Don’t you like Maggie?”

“I adore her, but as her boyfriend’s friend, that makes any member of her family totally off limits to me,” he said.

“Too bad because my brother is single and looking,” she said, earning another smile from him. He leaned uncomfortably close to her and sniffed.

“You smell amazing,” he said.

“You smell like sweat. Am I making you nervous?”

“Sorry, I was playing football,” he said, reaching for a piece of ice from the bowl as he stood upright away from her. “Would you like me to go away, leave you alone?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” she said, trying hard not to stare at his mouth as he sucked on the ice cube.

“Are you ever going to tell me your name?” he asked.

“You’re a stranger. I’m not supposed to talk to strangers,” she said.

“I’m Ethan,” he said. “Not so strange anymore.”

“How do I know you’re an invited guest? Maybe you walked in off the street. Maybe you’re not safe.”

“I’m definitely not safe,” he agreed. “But safety’s overrated, don’t you think?”

Before she could answer, the door opened and Maggie stepped inside. “Amelia? There you are. We’re out of ice.” She took two steps in and stopped short, her gaze bouncing questioningly between Amelia and Ethan.

“Hey, sweets,” Ethan said, tossing her a wink.

“You’re subdued,” Maggie said, her tone loaded with suspicion. “Are you sick?”

“Football. Your boyfriend wore me out,” Ethan replied.

“Fiancé,” Maggie replied, holding her hand aloft and wiggling her ring finger.

“No way, LT made it official? He never said a word.”

“He was going to tell you this afternoon, but I subverted his party for this one,” Maggie said. She had thrown the party together last minute after Ridge’s proposal the night before, as a way to celebrate and let their friends meet Amelia before she went back home for the final time.

“This one’s way better,” Ethan said, his gaze landing quickly on Amelia and then away.

“Have you met my sister?” Maggie asked.

“Your sister? I was under the impression she was here for the ice. I guess that explains the family resemblance,” Ethan said, his wicked smile lighting on Amelia as he spoke.

Maggie’s smile dimmed. “She’s my baby sister, Ethan. Baby. She’s way too young, and you’re way too old.”

He held his hands up in surrender. “You know me, Maggie. I was being friendly.”

“People are waiting for the ice.” Maggie took the bowl from Amelia and gave Ethan what could only be described as a warning look. He held up his hands again and aimed for an innocent expression. Shaking her head, Maggie headed back outside.

Ethan took a step back and reached for a bottle of water. “How young is young, Miss Amelia?”

“Twenty two.”

“Your sister’s right; you’re a baby, way too young and innocent for an old guy like me,” he said. Smiling, he unscrewed the water bottle and took a drink.

“How old is old, Mr. Ethan?” she replied.

“Twenty seven,” he said.

She grimaced. “Yikes. How are you hips holding up? I hear those knee replacement surgeries are no joke.”

He leaned against the counter, smiling the smile that made her heart do the thing, his legs crossed at the ankles. Thanks to the pickup football game he’d just abandoned, his shirt was slightly wet with sweat and stuck to his chiseled chest. Without her permission, Amelia’s gaze traveled from the smile to the chest down to his well-formed calves and back up again. When she reached his face, he was giving her a knowing look. “I do all right.”

“I think you should know I’m a good girl,” Amelia said.

“I could guess that you were,” Ethan said.

“My mom is big on ladylike behavior. I don’t kiss strangers, and I never throw myself at men.”

“Is there a reason you’re telling me this?” Ethan asked.

“I thought you should know what I’m about to do is highly out of character,” she said.

His smile widened. “What are you about to do?”

“This,” she said and then pushed him into the pantry with her and closed the door behind them.