Agent in Training by Jerri Drennen Read Free Book Online Page B

minor.”
    She rolled her eyes and turned away, taking a sip of the amber-colored drink in her hand.
    “Want me to help you find a man?” He leaned in, inhaling her sweet, flowery fragrance. The perfume made his groin twitch, which surprised him. Could it be the kind that had pheromones in it, because it sure as hell stirred him?
    She elbowed him lightly. “I can find my own men, thank you. Don’t you have a beach bunny you could hop off to?”
    “Cute, but no. I’m a free agent tonight. So, what type of guy you looking for? Are we talking commitment kind or a one nighter?”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Go away!”
    At that moment, Nick noticed she wasn’t wearing her glasses and her eyes were a beautiful light green with intriguing flecks of gold running through them.
    His stomach bottomed out.
    “I never noticed before but you have freckles,” he said more to himself than to her.
    She blushed, then turned away.
    “They’re cute, really.”
    She turned back to glare at him. “Are you flirting with me?”
    Nick shook his head. “Never happen. Why would I do that?”
    “I don’t know. You tell me?”
    Time to change the subject to something less personal. “Did you get that picture analyzed and fingerprinted?”
    She turned away, gulping down the remainder of her drink. Another subject she apparently didn’t plan to discuss with him.
    He signaled for the bartender then turned to her. “Can I buy you another drink?”
    “I can buy my own,” she snapped back.
    “Okay.” Wow, director through and through .
    The man behind the bar took his drink order, and Nick swung on his stool, glancing around the crowded nightclub. It was dark, but he could see two young women smiling at him beneath a neon beer sign—a clear invitation to join them. From the glimmer of interest, he could very easily get lucky if he wanted to. But did he? Hell, the way they ogled him, he could probably have both—at the same time.
    But for some reason that didn’t sound as appealing as sitting with Shiloh, slinging verbal barbs. And quite frankly, that change in him worried Nick.
     
    Of all the bars in Washington DC, how had Nicholas Trent ended up on the stool next to hers?
    Annoyed, she glanced at him and noted his attention drawn to two young women sitting in a booth across the bar. The interest was mutual––both eyed him in return. A twinge of something alien hit her stomach, though she wasn’t sure what it was.
    Shiloh snatched her drink, found it empty, and signaled for the bartender to refill it––which he quickly did. Nick Trent was now sideways on the stool, facing the two other women.
    A deep sigh escaped her. Why hadn’t she gone straight home?
    When she’d left the office, she’d felt an urge for a drink and a little male companionship instead of going back to her cold, lonely apartment. Ages had passed since she’d been held in a man’s arms and told she was beautiful. And that was a lie, of course. She knew she wasn’t pretty, but she needed some type of validation that she was a desirable woman.
    An appliance could only relieve a physical need, not an emotional one. Shiloh wanted relief of her sexual tension but also a connection. Tender words. A gentle touch. Something solid, with a heartbeat.
    Lifting her glass, Shiloh took a long swallow. The brandy instantly thawed her insides. Warm and fuzzy feelings washed over her. How many brandies had she had? Three? Four? Shiloh hadn’t had a drink in months and it was going straight to her head. She glanced at Nicholas and her stomach fluttered. He was one hot-looking man.
    Images of his naked, tanned body floated around in her mind. All that toned, taut muscle wrapped around her body... Would he be good in the sack? Energetic? Could a guy his age go all night?
    Her hands shook as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and leaned in to catch his attention.
    “Go for it.” She tipped her head toward the women in the booth. “Obviously they’re