For Her Eyes Only by Shannon Curtis Read Free Book Online Page A

with, whenever you’re in town?”
    “No!” Ryan frowned. “Of course not. I don’t... We don’t... You—you make travel arrangements.”
    Vicky recoiled, as though he’d slapped her in the face. Maybe it was the emotional drain of finding her friend in the bathtub, or narrowly escaping being blown into tiny pieces, or maybe it was exasperation at constantly trying to prove herself to Ryan. Either way, she didn’t have the patience for this rubbish. Her hands met the table with a loud smack, and she slowly rose to her feet. Heat bloomed in her cheeks, her knuckles turning white as she clutched the rim of the table, clinging to control. She wanted to smack the smirk off his face, clear into the next century. Okay, so maybe he wasn’t smirking, but she wanted to remove his stunned expression and have it replaced with...something else.
    “Tell me, was arranging the Black Hawk extraction from Nicaragua a ‘travel arrangement’?” she asked sweetly, using her fingers to parenthesize the words.
    “Uh, no,” Ryan began slowly. Warily.
    “Was delivering all the weapons and disguise components you requested for Moscow a ‘travel arrangement’?”
    Ryan’s shoulders slumped. “No.”
    “And getting some splash cash to you in the Philippines so that you could take down the drug lord in that sting operation, was that a ‘travel arrangement’?”
    Ryan shook his head.
    “I work damn hard to get all you guys everything you need, everywhere you need, every time you need it. You have no idea who I know, what I know, or what I do so that you guys can get the job done, nor do you know what I’m capable of. I’m not your Moneypenny, and you sure as hell ain’t no Bond. Partner .”
    She grabbed up her things and stalked to the door. “Mal, please organize a background cover for both Ryan and myself by oh-nine-hundred hours.”
    Mal saluted her. “Yes, ma’am.”
    She cast a quick glance over her shoulder at the team. “We’re going to be included in the next intake. Drew, can you please make the necessary arrangements.” She looked at Ryan. “We’ll drive up to Lake Galena Sunday afternoon.”
    He dipped his head in acknowledgement. She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. She was fuming. She clutched her files with trembling hands and took a deep breath.
    Oh, the man was bloody infuriating. She felt a deep hurt at his doubt, his easy disregard, but quickly swamped it in a flood of anger. Anger was better than hurt. She wanted to choke something, and unfortunately Reese wouldn’t let her choke Ryan. She looked down the hall and spotted the door to their gymnasium.
    Her eyes narrowed.
    Perfect .
    * * *
    Inside the room, the four remaining males were silent for a moment.
    Mal was the first one to move, and he leaned forward in his chair to high-five Drew. “It was so worth it.”
    “Told you so.”
    Mal rose from his seat and made for the door. “I better get onto those backgrounds.”
    Ryan met Drew’s gaze, and his colleague’s expression quickly changed to a frown. “Uh, I should get going.” He scooped up his files.
    “You’ll be Ryan and Vicky’s backup,” Reese said to him. “Make sure Mal sets your cover up, too.”
    Drew grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
    Reese nodded. “I’m thinking waiter.”
    Drew’s face fell. “Oh.”
    Ryan watched as Drew left the room. He felt like he’d been punched in the gut. Over and over again.
    He turned dazed eyes to his friend and boss.
    Reese stared at him. “You must have a death wish.”
    “Come on, Reese. She’s inexperienced.”
    Reese rubbed the bridge of his nose before he dropped the file on to the table in front of him.
    “Do you know where Vicky worked, before she started here?”
    Ryan frowned. “Actually, no.” He knew her favorite movie was The Great Escape , that she liked to go for long drives, that her favorite scent was Beautiful, and if you gave her ABBA music and a microphone she was happy for the rest of the