Aegis 01 - First Exposure Read Free Page A

like he didn’t know her. Like he didn’t want to know her. And the things he did know …she wasn’t sure she wanted to know how or why he knew them.
    This wasn’t the same misunderstood rebel she’d fallen for at the age of seventeen. He was harder, darker, and way more cynical. And at the moment, he was all that stood between her and finding her friend.
    “I’d listen to him, Ms. Scott,” Jake cut in. “Blackwell used to work undercover for the FBI. He’ll see things you won’t, and he’ll be able to head off any trouble before it hits you. He’s the only one from my team I’d send into this situation.” He reached back and pushed a button. “Marley? Get Kristin Pearson on the line. We’re going to need the works.”
    “On it,” Marley said through a speaker somewhere in the room.
    The only one from his team… Which meant she couldn’t even ask for someone else. It was Cade Blackwell or no one.
    Jake looked toward Avery again. “Kristin Pearson does alteration work for us. She’ll take care of anything you need.”
    Cade huffed. “It’s gonna take a lot more than a little alteration to tramp this one up.”
    “I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it work. Besides, she’s an actress. She should be able to pull this off, probably more convincingly than you, Blackwell.” To Avery, Jake said, “Do you have any questions, Ms. Scott?”
    Avery had a million, like how the hell Cade had ended up working undercover for the FBI. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been leaving her and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in the dust to join the military, but the hard look in his eyes said not to get into that one in front of his boss.
    She glanced between the two men, from Cade’s rigid jaw to Ryder’s waiting expression, and in the silence realized…either Ryder didn’t know that she and Cade knew each other, or he just didn’t care.
    Neither of those options sat well with her. But a bigger, more important question swirled louder in her brain. Namely, why wasn’t she protesting this?
    Because if you do, you’ll never see him again…
    Heat spread all along her skin and ignited a rush of awareness that exploded through her belly and hips. A weekend alone with Cade Blackwell. A weekend with the only man she’d ever truly loved and the one who’d broken her in more ways than she could count. She should say no. She should run from this room. But one thought kept her rooted firmly in place.
    More than one counselor had told her the reason she couldn’t seem to find happiness with her success was because she’d never had closure. No end to the relationship that had changed every one of her hopes and dreams. And here, unexpectedly, was her chance. Not just to find her friend, but to finally put the past behind her.
    Melody hadn’t planned this, but if she knew Avery was standing face-to-face with Cade Blackwell, she’d tell Avery to suck it up and go with it. God knew they’d talked about this moment far too many times late at night over a bottle of wine.
    Her stomach flipped at what she was about to do, but she squared her shoulders, pulled up every bit of confidence she had as an actress, and said, “When do we get started?”
    “Eager,” Blackwell muttered under his breath, looking back toward Jake. “That’ll change as soon as she gets there. Guaranteed.”
    Jake shot him a look.
    The door pushed open, and the blonde—Marley—stuck her head into the room. “Kristin Pearson can see her now. I’ve got a car waiting downstairs as soon as you’re through here.”
    “Well,” Jake said, moving away from the desk. “Looks like you’re all set.” He reached for her hand. “Good luck, Ms. Scott. Don’t worry, you’re in the best of hands.”
    Avery glanced toward Cade, but he wasn’t looking at her anymore. He was already heading for the door, leaving Avery with the view of him walking away. A familiar view. One she knew was at the root of every one of her personal hang-ups. But that was