Code Red by Susan Elaine Mac Nicol Read Free Book Online Page A

from Homeland Security, Deirdre Timmons, who had helped
him out on numerous occasions when he needed access to Russian
diplomatic channels in the swaps he’d organized. She’d sometimes
tried to make their business relationship something more, but
Kieran had no interest. Not in a colleague. The closest he’d ever
come to crossing that boundary was Jess.
    Deirdre barely acknowledged Red, hugging
Kieran too close and kissing him on the lips. Red didn’t appear
amused by Deirdre’s display, but neither was Kieran. He pushed her
away a bit too sharply.
    Deirdre placed a manicured hand on her hip
and tipped her chin up as though accepting a challenge. “I haven’t
seen you in weeks. I’ve missed you. I hear they won’t let you go
until after this assignment. I hope it ends quickly—for your
sake.”
    “It was nice seeing you,” Kieran grunted.
    He steered Red away while trying to keep his
expression steady, but he could feel her glare. Shit. “I am not seeing Deirdre,” he promised. “Nor
have I ever.”
    “I know that.” But Red, fists clenched and
brows creased, turned on him. “Am I the assignment? Am I the reason
you can’t retire?”
    Where the hell had this anger come from? He
guided her toward the door. If she was going to cause a scene, he’d
take her somewhere private. They’d already broadcast their presence
to Dmitriyev, especially with Red’s flame-colored hair, so their
task here was for all intents and purposes done. Maybe they could
even head home.
    “It’s more complicated than that.” She was
part of the assignment, of course, but the assignment wasn’t
stalling his retirement. His need to protect her was the real
roadblock. Without the resources of the agency, they’d be sitting
ducks.
    When they arrived in the parking lot, Red let
her temper fly. “I really believed in you. Did any time with me
mean anything other than work? Maybe a few kisses on the side?”
    “A whole hell of a lot more.”
    “I’m such an idiot.” She yanked away from him
and stormed to his car. “You’d think I’d learn, but no.”
    “I can explain,” he said.
    “You can explain why you lied to me?”
    “I wanted you to be safe. Initially, I didn’t
tell you about the threat because there was no real threat against
you. Why worry about something that doesn’t exist? As soon as the
situation turned, we told you. Well, we sent Marcia.” Frustration
stormed through him. She wouldn’t listen, and he sucked at
declaring how he felt. “Damn it, I have one task left in this lousy
job, and trust me when I say I want the whole thing to be
over.”
    “Me too. Just take me to pick up my things. I
want to go home.”
    ***
    Jess wasn’t jealous. She was embarrassed. She
had wanted never to be fooled again, and here she was being strung
along by an out-of-towner. Unlike Robert, and perhaps even more
humiliating, Kieran didn’t want to sleep with her. Instead, he
needed her to finish a case so he could run away to his beach
somewhere. Alone.
    “I’m not here for sex,
Jess,” he’d said. “I’m here for
you.” But he’d been doing the minimum to stay in close
proximity. Lying to her, pretending to be interested. She was a
task to finish, not a woman to love.
    They drove toward his house in silence, and
she mentally walked through what Deirdre had said about Kieran
retiring. They wouldn’t let him go until he finished this one
assignment. So, instead of letting her remain protected in the
middle of nowhere indefinitely, he’d brought her here and put her
life on the line, all to hurry up and collect his pension.
    He maneuvered down the long driveway to his
house, which was hidden away in an acre or two of woods. He exited
the car first and trotted around to open her door, held out his arm
to help her up. Damn gentleman. The perfect man. Just not for
her.
    “Come inside.” He glanced back at the car.
“We can talk in my kitchen.”
    She pulled her hand back and took out her
phone. “First, let me