My Spy by Christina Skye Read Free Book Online Page B

cliffs. “So you and Sam got pretty close while he was here.”
    Annie tensed. “Is that a simple question or the start of a fishing expedition?”
    “Just a man making pleasant conversation.”
    Like hell it was. Annie wondered, not for the first time, how much information the Navy had collected on her in the last week.
    She brushed the hair off her face, hating the thought of being watched and followed and discussed. “If you want details, you'll have to ask Sam.”
    “Right now that's not possible. That's why I'm asking you.”
    Annie rolled her shoulders, fighting a wave of tension. “Sam helped me with some repairs, and I invited him up to the resort for dinner. We ate several times on his boat, watched the stars come out, traded tall tales. End of story.” She climbed the path over the dunes, drinking in the panorama of brooding clouds and rugged coastline. “It's your turn. How long have you known Sam?”
    “I'd heard his name mentioned a few times, but I didn't get to know him until about six years ago. We were assigned to a…project … together overseas.”
    There was something in his eyes, Annie thought. Something hollow. “From your expression, I'd say it was unpleasant.”
    His brow rose. “Most people say I have a top-notch poker face.”
    “I'm not most people. Reading faces is part of my job.”
    “I'll remember that,” he muttered, matching his pace to hers along the trail that looped across the top of the dunes. “We did what we set out to do. That's all that matters.”
    “I'm sorry,” she said quietly.
    “For what?”
    “For whatever left that look in your eyes.”
    He shook his head. “Let's switch topics, shall we? You're starting to spook me.”
    “In that case, why don't you tell me what's in that file the Navy has on me?”
    “What makes you think there's a file?”
    “Your people have gone to immense trouble to protect Sam. I'd say they've culled a deskful of information, including reports on my staff, my sister, and the resort. Am I close?”
    “Inquiring minds want to know,” Izzy murmured. “I'm not at liberty to give details, but I'll tell you this. There's zero tolerance for slipups in this case. Careers will crash and burn if anything goes wrong, so the Navy is being exceptionally thorough.”
    Annie drew a sharp breath. “That means my file must be
really
big. No, don't bother to deny it. I knew what I was getting into—I just didn't like it.”
    Izzy focused on a line of fog brushing the far cliffs. “Sam's worth it, Annie. He's a good man. Those kids aren't the only people he's rescued from tight situations.”
    “So tell me what you two did overseas that was so important—”
    There was a flash of movement from the orchard. Annie gasped as Izzy drove her backward, out of sight behind the dunes.
    Sand blew in her face, and she heard Izzy curse as heshoved aside his windbreaker, pulling a gun from a shoulder holster. Annie pushed to one elbow, looking across the sand.
    “Stay down.” Izzy's voice was curt. “Don't move unless I tell you.”
    Sand rustled as he crawled up the slope, hidden in the lee of the dunes.
    Annie discovered the hardest thing was waiting, wondering if they were a target. Anyone could be hidden in the shadows at the edge of the orchard, friend or foe.
    She lay stiffly, listening to the wind hiss over the sand. A lifetime later Izzy's shadow fell over her face.
    “All clear. How do you feel?”
    Confused. Angry.
“Like I'm entitled to some answers.” Annie brushed sand from her legs. “What was that flash?”
    “One of your guests practicing with a foil.”
    “The fencer who's been shredding my towels. I'm glad he's found a better practice area.”
    Izzy glanced down, frowning. “You've cut your knee.”
    “It's nothing.”
    He held out a hand, helping her to her feet. “I'll still take a look when we get back.”
    “All I really need is answers.” As they crossed a meadow beneath the resort's main building, Izzy seemed in no