Page 43 of Fox in Plain Sight

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Before Michelle could throw something at him, Nick pulled her into his arms and immobilized her.

“I can’t help myself with you,” he confessed. “I’m not normally so aggressive when it comes to women. I’m more the shy kind of guy from—”

“Yeah, yeah, from Indiana,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes. “How about you drop the act and show me who you really are? Don’t I deserve that after you nearly shot me tonight?”

“I didn’t nearly shoot you.”

“Pointing a gun at my forehead says otherwise.”

“I’m never gonna live that one down, am I?”

“Not as long as I can use it as a bargaining chip,” she admitted.

“I give in. What do you want?”

She lifted her chin. “You. The real you. Just for tonight. I want you to show me what’s behind that façade.”

“You might be disappointed. The man behind the secret agent isn’t all that interesting. Just a normal guy with a not-so-normal gift. That’s all.”

Michelle smiled a knowing smile. “Maybe that’s what I find interesting: a normal guy. My life is crazy enough. I just want to pretend for one night that I have a normal life with a normal guy and forget that the government is after both of us.”

“Just for one night?”

“That’s all I need.”

He looked deep into her eyes, searching their blue depths for more. Was it really only one night she wanted? And what did he want? Would he be satisfied with just one, knowing that hoping for more was foolish?

“And after that?” he found himself asking.

She looked to the side, avoiding his gaze. He didn’t force her head back, didn’t make her tell him what she really wanted, because he knew instinctively that he couldn’t give her more. “Let’s not think of tomorrow.”

“All right, then.” He lifted her into his arms and stood. “Let’s go to bed.”

She laced her hands behind his neck as he carried her to his bedroom. Nick flipped the light switch on his way in, and the bedside lamps went on, bathing the room in a soft glow.

“Sorry about the mess. I don’t generally have visitors.”

He set her on her feet.

“I don’t care. I just hope you have condoms here.”

He motioned to the bedside table. “Plenty. You won’t have to worry about that.” He caught a curl of her hair and wrapped it around his index finger. “You should worry about how sore you’ll be in the morning.”

Michelle pulled his head to her face. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“What if it is?”

“Then I’m afraid Normal Guy here will have to draw upon his secret agent skills and show you that making fun of him is only gonna get you in trouble.”

She pouted. “But I already am in trouble.”

“Oh, this is a very different kind of trouble.” He reached for her long-sleeved T-shirt and pulled it over her head. “It’s the kind of trouble that is best enjoyed naked.”

Her jeans landed on the floor a moment later, together with her shoes and socks. She looked utterly sexy in her black bra and matching thong.