Trained for Seduction (17 page)

“You were incredibly handsome, though I really think you could have chosen a better shirt.” There was nothing wrong with the shirt. She just had to poke him in the ego some, because he was just too smug for her tastes.

He grinned and closed his eyes, leaning against the pillow. “Learn to be a better spy if you snoop, Kate. It will get you killed one day if you’re so obvious.”

So the next day she paid attention to the details, how he stacked things just so. This time she found a small box of photos in a closet—Chase as a toddler, school pictures, his military photo in a dress uniform, even more handsome than she imagined. And that night in bed, he asked, “Too tired to snoop?”

“I think your prom date was lovely, but that shade of pink for her dress was heinous.” Again, there was nothing wrong with his date, but he didn’t need to know that.

He smiled and hugged her, and she thought it odd to be rewarded for her snooping skills. “You’re getting better. I’ll have to take you to Jake’s and see how far you get. If you can snoop without him knowing, you’ve graduated.”

Snooping at Jake’s was much more fun, because he had lots of personal things to glean information from. Lots of pictures, a lot of her, and that surprised her. A lot of the English chick and Chase as well. Her favorite was him as a toddler with a cowboy hat on a pinto pony, grinning from ear to ear. She put everything back in its place, and Chase rewarded her with two huge orgasms when Jake hadn’t a clue that she’d been there.

One afternoon they had lunch with Chase’s Aunt Sophie, which was fun, because she got to see an entirely different side of Chase. He adored his aunt, and it was wonderful to see him without the mask of doom, just a young man doting on the equivalent of his mother.

That was, until his uncle called Sophie, who handed the phone to Chase. And then the mask returned. He bit out, “Yes, sir,” handed the phone to Sophie and looked a little ill as he excused himself for a moment, to use his own phone in private.

Kate watched him weave through the tables, the women gawking. He didn’t notice, or if he did, it was hard to tell from the back of him.

“Don’t worry, dear. They’re not getting along at this moment—something with work. Chase will be fine.” She leaned in and whispered, “I think you’re wonderful for him.”

“I am? I mean, thanks.” But then she shrugged. She wasn’t his girlfriend. She was supposed to hate him, which was damned hard to do when he made her have lunch with him and his mother-equivalent. “We’re just friends, Mrs. Sanders. Nothing more. He doesn’t want anything serious.”

She smiled and patted Kate’s hand. “Then he needs more friends like you.”

Chase returned and actually looked…happy. Relieved. And her heart sang when he kissed her cheek before sitting down.

“You okay?” she whispered as Sophie discussed desserts with the waiter.

“I just got the best news on Earth. I couldn’t be happier,” he whispered back. He grinned then, that dimple out in full force, breaking hearts across the restaurant.

“Can you share? Or is it confidential.”

He hesitated, the grin fading, and in that moment, she knew it had to do with her. Her mission. And no, he wouldn’t tell her. She knew it better than her own new, fake name. He looked a little sad before he hid his emotions. Not behind a mask. Just…gone.

“This doesn’t change how much you’ll hate me, love. It just means…” He sighed and looked away. “Just keep hating me.”

****

The next morning, Kate looked up from recovering from her last lap around the field to see Jake talking to a tall woman with the most gorgeous deep red hair. The same one who had left Chase’s office that first day, when he propositioned to take her virginity. She narrowed her eyes. Jake was a player. He wasn’t playing with her, not on Kate’s watch. She wouldn’t allow it.

Kate titled her head, studying English with a jealous eye. She was dressed in black—black leggings, black tank top. Even her sneakers were black. It was a sharp contrast with her pale skin, not a freckle in sight. Jake had his arm around her waist and was talking animatedly with her, his handsome face almost boyish.

She’d never felt possessive of Jake before even though he was the work husband. If Jake wanted to be noticed, he would turn on the charm and the women would flock in droves, like seagulls attacking French fries in a fast food restaurant parking lot. Kate had plenty of opportunity to see him in action, and it never bothered her a bit.

But for some reason, seeing him touch that woman the same way he would touch her made her seethe a bit. Which should be very wrong, because she loved Chase, right?

“Hey, Kate. Come here and meet Charlotte.”

Kate obediently jogged over and eyed the tall redhead with new purpose.

“Charlotte Smith, this is Kate Wells. Chase’s new…agent.”

Kate glared at Jake, not liking the way he stressed agent, as if it were something dirty, even though what she did with Chase was pretty dirty. The redheaded witch didn’t need to know that.

“Really.” Charlotte narrowed that violet gaze on her, that English accent throaty and sexy. “A pleasure to meet you, love.”

“Likewise,” Kate responded, not feeling the least bit pleasured at meeting her. She had never been sized up on the playground as a kid because she’d been homeschooled or had tutors. But Charlotte was obviously doing just that, weighing what Kate had to bring to the table or even what Kate had to bring to Chase’s bed.

“Charlotte is here to be your playmate for the day. We’re going to see exactly how much you know, and Charlotte will be putting your skills to the test instead of me.”

Jake couldn’t be serious. “I have to fight her?”

The look on his face couldn’t get much more serious. “I have to hold back with you, Kate. I’m bigger and I’ll hurt you. Charlotte doesn’t have to hold back. She can just kick your ass the way you deserve.”

She eyed Charlotte’s slight frame. A runway model had more meat on her. “Thanks for that vote of confidence.”

Charlotte shot her a frosty smile. “You ready for me to hand you your ass, love?”

Kate assessed her again. One-fifteen maybe, soaking wet. Only an inch taller. This could be fun, if she believed she had a chance in hell. “Maybe I’ll hold my own.”

Charlotte tilted her head at Kate. “Can you take down Jake?”

“No.”

Her smile became canary-eating cocky. “Well, I can.”

Kate sucked in a breath and stared at Jake. “Can she?”

“Yep.” Jake leaned up against his truck and crossed his arms over his chest. Jake who had so much to say usually, reduced to a one word answer.

Kate stared at him. That latte he had for breakfast had to have been laced with something illegal because he had to be higher than a kite. “And you want me to fight her? Are you insane? I can’t do that.”

“Of course you can. You have the tools. Get out there and make me proud, darlin’.”

Make him proud, indeed. Kate swallowed and walked out into the middle of the grassy area to stand in front of Charlotte, her heart hammering a million miles a minute. If they were in the lab, she’d show the English bitch. Wire her a little something special with her favorite explosives.

But they weren’t on her stomping ground, and Kate’s stomach sank as she looked over at Jake and he nodded encouragingly. He was going to be sorely disappointed, which meant eventually, Chase would be horribly disappointed, too. She sighed and presented herself, hands up, leading with her shoulder. But she didn’t believe, not for one second, that she was going to do more than sink like a stone in the river.

“So you’re fucking my favorite spy, are you?” Charlotte asked with a nasty smile as she took her place.

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.” Kate glowered at Jake. How dare he? And then the world spun. She hovered upside down for what seemed an eternity and then she slammed down on her back, the air forced from her lungs in a loud whoosh.

Deep violet eyes blinked innocently down at her. “Don’t take your eyes off the enemy, love. Not if you want to live. Now get up.”

Kate rose on shaky legs and tried to catch her breath as she picked grass from her hair. She didn’t look at Jake, not when she’d see disapproval on his face. She had to try harder, find a way to outsmart Charlotte. She had the advantage there, because who was smarter? Not many people.

She and Charlotte circled each other in a crouch position, and Kate decided two could talk trash. “Did you enjoy fucking him, too, English?”

“Which one? Maybe I’ve done them both.”

Kate wanted to look at Jake, but she didn’t. She didn’t want English fucking Jake, either. “Chase.”

“My dark and dangerous spy is fun to play with.” Charlotte gave a throaty laugh. “He loves spy games. But maybe he wouldn’t have played those with you, because you’re a rookie. He wouldn’t want to hurt little, new you.”

“Do you want to hurt me?”

“Oh, yes.” And Charlotte attacked.

Kate blocked a kick, feinted left, and returned with a kick of her own. Then she faded back and waited for Charlotte to make the next move. She fought a lot like Jake did, which meant he had to have had a hand in teaching her.

That also meant she’d make the same mistakes, mistakes that Kate knew too well. She’d almost taken Jake down a couple of times when he failed to block her properly. It was a technique thing, but she wasn’t strong enough to follow through. However, if she could get Charlotte to make the same mistake…

“So, back to Chase,” Kate said as Charlotte circled again. “I would assume you’re old news, since I happen to be in his bed, and you’re…not.”

“I have a lot more sway than you do, love. Don’t think because he’s between your legs that you have any claim on the man.”

Charlotte attacked again, and Kate defended, blocking, then kicking. But then she hesitated as a vehicle pulled in. Charlotte took her down again by swiping her feet out from under her in a totally unJake-like move.

“Good one, Ginger,” Jake called from the truck.

“Whose side are you on?” Kate snapped as she stood.

“I love you both equally. I’m impartial.”

Charlotte shook her head and circled her again. “He’s lying, love. They both love me best. Get used to it. You’re nothing better than second best.”

Well, that stung, probably because a part of her sensed English was right about the love. They treated Charlotte very differently. Plus she called her love, Chase’s pet word for her.

Kate shook her head. No, she had to believe in Chase. Charlotte was the past. She was his future. “If you’re so first in their lives, then why is today the first day I’ve ever heard your name?”

“Spies don’t talk about each other. The more you love someone, the more you keep them a secret. You wouldn’t want them getting killed, now would you, love?” Charlotte attacked again, driving Kate backward. “And I’ve heard all about you, Kate Wells, collateral damage. I would guess they both want you to die.”

Chase didn’t want her to die, did he? He said she’d hate him. Sending her to die would definitely be a deal breaker. Still, she had to believe. It was just trash talk. Kate took a deep breath and centered herself. And decided if she could kick Charlotte’s ass, she could come back from whatever Chase sent her to do and make him love her.

“How’s she doing,” Chase asked as he walked over to Jake and leaned next to him against the door of Jake’s truck. Charlotte was driving Kate downfield with a series of moves that would make a Ninja envious. Poor Kate blocked the best she could, and Chase felt a little sorry for her. Charlotte was damned good.

“Well, not so good.” Jake looked over at him. “She’s taking the trash-talking a little harder than she should. If Kate just attacked instead of listening to Charlotte, she’d be better off. She doesn’t believe in herself, and if she doesn’t suck it up and start believing, she and I are dead in a few days.”

Chase sighed. Charlotte was the queen of trash talk. “What’s Ginger trashing her with?”

“You.”

“Christ, what did you tell her?” Charlotte adored him and was incredibly protective. She’d eat Kate for breakfast and spit her out as nails.

“The truth. That you were sleeping with Kate.”

“Inappropriate.” He was the boss, damn them. Kate was his, only in his bed. Not here. Not anywhere else. They had to respect that.

Jake grunted. “You think the guy who attacks her is going to be polite and nice? You have to trust me on this. She’ll rally. Our Kate doesn’t believe in herself, but she believes in you. She has spunk. She’ll rise and claim you.”

“Jesus, I don’t want her to claim me.” But he did, and he resented Jake referring to her as our Kate. She was all his the last time he checked. Or maybe she wasn’t, since he’d made it quite clear he didn’t do girlfriends.

“Wait, here she goes. That’s my girl,” Jake murmured with approval. And sure enough, Kate was finally attacking, driving Charlotte back, not with any finesse or fancy moves, but she was finally holding her own. “You watch—she’s setting Char up. God, she’s so smart. She just waits for an opening. She’ll do that with me. Just wait. She’s got your patience, buddy.”

Kate drove Charlotte left with a kick, and then when Charlotte feinted right, Kate grabbed Charlotte’s arm and flipped her. Kate dropped and pinned Charlotte’s shoulders to the ground. And then stared down at a panting Charlotte with surprise.

Jake stepped forward and said over his shoulder, “Don’t hate me for what I’m about to do, buddy. You know it has to be done, or she’ll never get through this in a few days. We don’t want Paris, take two. Take a deep breath and just let it happen.”

Chase stiffened because he guessed what Jake was about. Jake started toward the two women, applauding. Kate squealed, leapt to her feet and ran to Jake. She catapulted against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Jake spun her so she faced away from Chase. He stopped breathing. Swore his heart stopped because what would he give to have her run to him like that?

Jake met his gaze over her shoulders for a moment in warning. Then he smiled down at Kate and dropped a kiss to her lips, one that was too much to be just friends but not enough to be lovers. That kiss was a sucker punch in the gut, stealing Chase’s air, sending shards of pain through his chest, to his heart. Jesus, did it hurt, because Chase knew it wasn’t the first time he’d kissed her. Or held her.