Codename: Romeo by Kat Attalla Read Free Book Online Page A

True, she possessed no great knowledge of the male psyche, but Erik was a total enigma.
    Time to reassess the situation. Could she deal with this kind of chaos in her normally ordered life? Be careful what you wish for, girl.
     
    * * * *
     
    Erik beat a fast retreat to the dining room. The expression of bewilderment on Victoria’s face left him with an unaccustomed feeling of regret. Hell, he’d wanted her, and he got no resistance from her. He probably could have taken her right there in the kitchen. With the entire exchange on tape for everyone in the agency to listen to. Bad enough their evening would provide entertainment for his partner.
    He never enjoyed eavesdropping on private conversations between men and women. Although he understood the necessity of his work, many elements bothered him, but never more than tonight. Corporate spying cost the government billions as well as damaging nationality security, but Victoria just didn’t seem the type of woman involved in illegal activities. Bugging her house and investigating her undercover seemed wrong. She trusted him.
    A long-term relationship wasn’t in the cards for him. His job kept him on the road and undercover for weeks at a time. What woman would put up with that? Add to that Victoria’s dislike for the very organization he worked for and a short-term relationship didn’t seem likely either.
    He pulled two plates from the china cabinet and laid them on the embroidered placemats. Did the fork go on the right or the left? Good thing he didn’t plant video cameras in her home because, right about now, his partner would be rolling in the street with laughter. If he were smart, he’d finish dinner and make a hasty excuse to leave. Then again, his boss always quipped that he had more nerve than brains. Which served him well.
     
    * * * *
     
    A gentle flutter brushed over Victoria’s nose. The last remnants of sleep clung to her like a cozy blanket. She grasped her pillow and gave it a punch. A muted grunt echoed in her ear. She opened her eyes and stared at the white buttons on Erik’s shirt. After a few groggy seconds, the reality of her situation dawned on her. How had she ended up in his lap with her leg wedged in between his?
    She remembered settling on the sofa to watch the Monday night football game while Erik cleaned the dishes. Somewhere between then and now, she’d curled herself around him like a pretzel. She tried to unfold herself.
    He tightened his hold. “Two minute warning. Don’t you want to see how it ends?”
    “What’s the score?” she mumbled into his chest.
    “Twenty-eight to three, Patriots are losing.”
    “I don’t think two minutes will make much difference.” She lifted her head. “I’ve been asleep for three hours?”
    He slid his hand down from her shoulder to cup her waist. Calloused fingertips drummed playfully against her skin. “Give or take a few minutes.”
    She should have felt embarrassed by her poor hostess skills, but in truth, she felt too darned comfortable to care. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
    “Are you kidding? It’s every man’s fantasy. A woman at my side who doesn’t talk during the entire game. I’d have to be crazy.”
    “Male chauvinist.” She smacked her palm against his chest.
    “Right to the core.”
    She slipped off his lap and stretched her legs. Cool air replaced the warmth his body so sweetly provided. “Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?”
    “I should be leaving.”
    Raising a half-hearted smile, she tried to hide her disappointment. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t very good company tonight. I guess I’m still suffering from jetlag.”
    Erik laced his fingers through hers and walked with her to the door. “You were better company than you think. You’re very … animated when you sleep.”
    She chewed her bottom lip. Just what had she done the past three hours to give him that wicked glint in his eyes?
    Erik paused at the door, facing her. He smiled and stroked his thumb