In a Fix by Linda Grimes Read Free Book Online Page B

to be ourselves for a while.
    Since there was a severe shortage of men’s clothing around the place, Billy was wearing Edith’s pink flannel robe, and Mark was still in Trey’s bathing suit. I’d snagged one of Mina’s new outfits for myself, a floaty, multicolored drawstring skirt and matching spun-rayon tank top. The top was big and the skirt way too long, but it was miles ahead of anything in Edith’s wardrobe style-wise.
    Yes, I’m short. My own hair is strawberry blond, my eyes are pale green, and “voluptuous” is not a word you’ll ever hear associated with my true form. Try to ignore the freckles. I know I do.
    Mark, looking too damned delicious in Trey’s trunks, glanced at the clock on the wall. His build was similar to Trey’s, but his hair was a darker blond, and his eyes a shade of gray that oscillated between dove-soft and cold as steel. His features were sharp and rugged. If Trey brought to mind country clubs and polo, then Mark made you think back alleys and street fighting. Seeing him in his own form never failed to make my hormones do the happy dance. Billy’s dark curls and dimples were probably, from a strictly objective point of view, every bit as swoon-worthy, but the pink robe tended to detract from that.
    Billy’s voice interrupted my mini-reverie on Mark’s physical virtues. “Nice job at the warehouse, cuz. Your screams sounded so authentic .” One of his hands crawled across the table toward me, squashing any hope that my reaction to the spiders would go uncommented upon.
    “That hand gets any closer, and I swear to God I’ll smash it,” I said, my mostly full beer can held poised for attack. Mr. Crawly retraced his steps.
    Mark gave my shoulder a squeeze, looking at me with what could have been pity, but I chose to believe was sympathy and understanding. He let go too quickly to suit me, and turned his attention to systematically devouring slice after slice of a Meat Lover’s Special. Between bites he grilled me about everything Trey- and Mina-related.
    “… so, was there anything—anything at all—in Mina’s dossier that might point to a non–Agency-related reason for Trey’s abduction?” He timed the final question to coincide with his last swallow of beer.
    “No,” Billy and I answered simultaneously.
    I glared at Billy, who flashed me his best dimples-and-lashes look of pure innocence. Note to self: beef up security at my office .
    “Okay,” Mark said. “But we better look at it again. I’ll have a copy sent over in the morning. In the meantime, I have to go check on our new friend.” He dropped a kiss on the top of my head (a waste of good lips), ruffled my hair, and was Trey again before he got to the door.
    “Wait a minute,” I called after him, my mind backspacing to what he’d said about Mina’s dossier. “You mean to tell me you have a copy of Mina’s file, too?” Damn it, was there anyone who didn’t have access to my office?
    “Later.” He lifted one hand in a casual wave, without turning around, and let himself out.
    I turned to Billy, who was studiously selecting his next slice and avoiding my eyes. “Billy,” I started in conversational tone, “how did Mark get the file from my office?”
    “About that…” He cleared his throat and took another swallow of beer before continuing. “Well, you see…” He looked at me and must’ve seen the murder in my eyes. I’m no good at hiding my feelings when I’m in my natural state. “I suspect he has people for that sort of thing, don’t you? Clerical help.” He took a humongous bite of his new slice.
    “Did you give a copy of Mina’s file to Mark? Or did you make him steal his own?”
    He chewed thoughtfully, taking his time before swallowing. “There’s no good answer to that, is there? I’m screwed either way. You probably won’t even be mad at Saint Mark, you’re still so besotted with him.”
    “That is not true!” I felt my cheeks flame.
    “Is so. Why else do you think