NorthernPassion by Cynnamon Foster Read Free Book Online Page A

curiosity. It happened every now and then, but that did nothing to make
Reed happy. The only agenda he cared about was his own and right now that meant
reminding Sam and Desiree how he was sticking his neck out by humoring them with
this assignment. “Not to mention the tab for setting you up in your fancy
suburban digs—”
    “Okay, Reed.” Sam’s voice was gruff. He cut Reed off before
he ran things into the ground. It didn’t make sense to be annoyed by someone
who wasn’t even really in the same room. “We got it. If you weren’t in, you
could have said no. If it’s a problem, you know I can pick up some of the tab.”
Sam had gotten a completion bonus from one of the agency’s benefactors left him
set for life, yet he kept working. He was one of those rare folks who wouldn’t
quit his job if he hit the lottery. Though they’d never discussed it, Desiree
often wondered about it. Her family hadn’t exactly been poor, but they weren’t
rich either. A mixed-race family didn’t really fit anywhere in Austin, where
she’d grown up. Most of her life, she’d lived in a neighborhood just above the
bottom and everyone’s favorite fantasy was what they would do if they won the
lottery. Almost everyone’s first response had been “I’d damn sure tell my boss
to go to hell.” Basically Sam had, yet he came to work every day and took shit
from Reed. His dedication spoke volumes about how much he loved what he did.
    Desiree refused to be flustered but, like Sam, she was done
hearing what Reed had to say. “If we’re going to be on time, we need to go.” Instead
of the email she’d promised, a golden envelope had been slipped under their
door the next morning. The instructions in the invitation were clear. Nine p.m.
sharp. So much for fashionably late. “You know I need to manage my mane.” She
flipped her curly locks back over her shoulder, then played at smoothing it
with her hand. Desiree knew what would get on Reed’s nerves and this obvious
display of frivolousness would certainly annoy him.
    As expected, Reed rolled his eyes, having little patience
for all things girly. His annoyance was clear, even via video chat. “You have
two months, maximum, and this had better be done in closer to thirty days,” he said.
“Just give me an update tomorrow.” He didn’t wait for goodbye. The screen went
dark almost immediately.
    Sam chuckled. “My, my,” he said. “Someone has certainly come
a long way. You went from scared mouse to playing dirty.”
    “I get so tired of him. It’s obvious he has a problem with
women.”
    “So when he bothers you, you let all your woman hang out,
huh?”
    She nodded. “Damn skippy. Reed is so easy once you figure
him out. That’s all I’m saying.” Desiree had quickly learned what she had in
her toolbox and how to use them. Office politics were certainly different
around the agency, but that didn’t mean they were impossible to master.
    Sam put his arm around Desiree, kissing her gently on the
lips. “I like a woman who knows how to handle herself. Do you have me figured
out too?”
    “I can’t give away all my secrets.” A small smirk played
about her lips.
    Sam kissed her again. “What did he do to annoy you? I need
to know what it was so I won’t make the same mistake. Was it the criticism? Or
the cracks about playing house?”
    “You couldn’t possibly be like him….” She paused. Sam didn’t
need to know how she really felt, at least not yet. “It’s just his general
being.”
    The obvious digs about them being undercover as a married
couple were a sore spot for her. She had no idea how much she would enjoy the
thought of being married and particularly to Sam. They’d never talked about
their relationship in terms of permanence before. Permanence, like
relationships, was something best not discussed. One wrong turn and either one
of them could be gone tomorrow, so it was better not to think about such
attachment and act as if now were real. This