AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The target is at the bar. Julie is not.” He glanced at the man in question. Zack wore a blinding white
T-shirt and extremely tight blue jeans. He was slouched against the bar trying to talk up a brunette.
The wrong brunette. He should be propositioning Julie.
Eric winced. God, he couldn’t believe he just thought that. “What is she doing?” he said sharply.
“Hey, I adore Julie,” Asia said. “But sometimes you need to leash her. She’s having way too much fun with her aliases.”
“Those aliases are the quickest way to get to the target,” Eric said in defense. He knew Julie placed too much emphasis on her disguises, but he was impressed by how she got into the target’s head and figured out each man’s particular fantasy girl.
“If I were heading this assignment, we would be celebrating at the hotel bar already.”
“Asia, I promise you can lead the next premarital screening.” He wouldn’t be here to take charge and if he had to transfer leadership, he would choose Asia. “Just tell me where she is.”
“I want it in writing that I get lead. You know Max is champing at the bit to take charge.”
He expected nothing less from Asia. Julie, on the other hand, would accept his word. She believed in him and his abilities, and he didn’t take that honor lightly. “I’ll send an email to Perry tonight,” he told Asia.
“Thank you,” she answered smugly. “I’ll tell Julie to find you.”
He ended the call, chugged down his water and checked on Zack’s location. From the disgusted expression of the brunette and how quickly she walked away, he suspected Zack failed to get as much as the woman’s name. Eric scanned the premises. This would be the best time for Julie to strike.
Where the hell was she?
He looked out onto the dance floor. Suddenly, the crowd parted. Eric blinked as he saw Julie under a spotlight, dancing to the music as she went from one partner to the next.
His heart clenched at the sight of her. Julie’s appearance wasn’t that different than how she looked at work. Her hair was pulled back in a tight French braid and her makeup was understated. She wore a fitted black halter dress that fell several inches above her knee. She looked sexy, but not scandalous.
She twirled on her black stiletto heels and Eric discovered that her dress was entirely backless. The plunging V showed a dramatic expanse of her smooth pale skin and suggested she wore nothing under that dress.
Eric watched, mesmerized, his pulse skipping a beat when she leaned forward. How did she keep from falling out of that dress? Sheer willpower?
As he watched her dance, he noticed the slight differences in her expression. Her friendliness was absent, and her mouth was formed in a pout instead of her breathtaking smile. He wasn’t fond of her aloof manner, but he could guess her alias: Ice Princess Julie.
Soon, his gaze ensnared hers. Julie’s eyes brightened and her lips pursed as if she were holding back a smile. He wanted that smile. Waited for it, but it didn’t come.
Julie faced him, her hips swaying, and motioned for him to come forward. Damn if that confident curl of her finger made him get up and meet her.
He moved as if he were hypnotized. His progress was slow, but he only had eyes for her. When he reached Julie, she pressed her hand against his chest before he could wrap his arms around her and stake his claim.
“What did I tell you about your shoes?” he asked.
“Aren’t they fabulous?” She twisted her foot from side to side. The metallic heel reflected the colored lights. “They were a steal at this consignment shop in Redmond.”
“They put you at a disadvantage.”
“No way, Eric. These shoes are my secret weapon. Look at what they do for my legs.”
It was best if he didn’t stare at her legs and remember how they felt tangled with his or wrapped tight around his waist. “Your target is at the bar,” he said, mindful of the people around her and the earpiece she wore.
“I know,” she said as she linked her arms around his shoulders and rocked her hips against him.
“The bar is that way.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder.
“I’ve been keeping an eye on Zack,” she promised as she turned around and leaned against his chest while she danced.
“Sure you have.” Was she trying to drive him crazy?
“He only goes for women who blew off other men,” she said as she rocked her hips against him. “Hotter, cuter men. It’s like a challenge for him.”
