Jenna Petersen - [Lady Spies] Read Free

spinning on her and pinning her in place with a piercing glance. His wariness was evident in the way he held himself, the way his eyes swept over her. Analyzing. Judging in an instant. She felt the very odd sensation that she had been stripped bare, laid out for this man to examine until he knew her every secret. Until he knew her very soul.
    Charlie motioned to him. “Ana, this is Lucas Tyler. He was to be Emily’s partner in her investigation. He was the man she was on her way to meet when she was attacked tonight.”
    She heard nothing more as hot blood rushed to herears. All the emotions she had fought to manage since she saw Emily bleeding bubbled and spiraled out of control. She stumbled toward the man, unable to keep herself from balling her hands into trembling fists.
    “ You !” she cried, pushing into Tyler’s personal space without any thought for the propriety of such an action. Her anger was too powerful to deny. “This is your fault! Emily may be dying because of you !”

Chapter 2
    L ucas looked from Charles Isley to the woman. He didn’t know who this bloodstained beauty was, coming at him with trembling fists and brown eyes shining with tears and accusations. And he certainly didn’t know what she was prattling on about. He was just as shocked about the attack on Emily Redgrave as anyone. But clearly this stranger knew something about Emily’s position as spy, or Isley wouldn’t have revealed so much information in front of her.
    He ignored the woman since he could think of nothing to say to her indictment and asked Isley, “Is she dead?”
    At that, his accuser stumbled back, her heated words dying on her lips as a tear trailed down her cheek. Just one. Silent, but it cut through Lucas like a straight blade, and at once he regretted his callous question. He didn’t know what kind of relationship Emily had with this woman, but clearly the lady cared for his would-be partner. He shouldn’t have been so blunt.
    He was grateful when Isley stepped forward, his gaze flitting to the woman before he refocused on Lucas. “No. She was badly injured, but she lives. The doctor seems hopeful at her chances for survival, though there is no certainty.”
    Lucas let out a long breath of relief. He had met with Emily several times in the past few weeks to compare notes and prepare for their case. They had butted heads at each and every turn. She was a stubborn, headstrong woman, determined to do whatever she wanted, his suggestions be damned. But he certainly wished her ladyship no harm and had come here with a heavy heart when he heard of the attack on her.
    “That’s very good, Isley. I’m pleased to hear she has survived and has a chance. But surely you must see that this proves what I’ve been saying to you all along.”
    Isley’s expression shifted, the frustration and anger lighting in his eyes as they always did when thissubject was broached. “Don’t start on that, Tyler. Not now!”
    Lucas folded his arms. “Now is the perfect time. Women should not be working in the field. It’s too dangerous, as tonight has shown. Clearly, Emily made a wrong move and—”
    The woman he had all but forgotten let out a gasp of outrage, and once again she flew at him. A blast of floral scent preceded her, and her eyes sparkled with life and anger. Despite himself, despite the situation, Lucas was surprised by a sudden and very powerful explosion of lust. His body heat notched up and blood rushed to the most inconvenient places, even though she was railing at him.
    What the hell?
    “Emily is an excellent spy,” the young woman all but growled. “Tonight she was trapped, ambushed. That had nothing to do with her sex.”
    Lucas stared at the woman. Did she tremble like that when she was kissed, as well? “Who are you?”
    She stopped her tirade and seemed to notice that she was mere inches away from him, up on her tiptoes and right in his face. Not many men had dared to do that in his lifetime. And the women