The Spy Who Loves Me Read Free

pulled out and ready.
    From her bathroom doorway, Brandon Kline held up his hands, his eyes dancing with mirth. “Shit, Robinson, it’s just me.”
    â€œDammit, Brandon.” She pitched the knife next to the gun. “Haven’t I asked you nicely to please not break in? Someone might see.”
    â€œNot to worry,” he said, moving to sit on one of her barstools. “I’m good.”
    She frowned but didn’t argue. He was good. They’d been recruited together—rescued by Providence from the hell of juvie hall—and had trained hard to become top operatives in Unit 7, a shadowy government organization that did everything from hostage rescue to out-and-out espionage. She’d known him for sixteen years, and she’d trusted Brandon to watch her back on more than one occasion. Significant stuff, especially considering there weren’t many people in the world Amber would trust with her phone number, much less her life.
    â€œSo what’s got your panties in a wad?” he asked, striding into the room.
    â€œI just did a stupid thing, and it’s irritating me.” She kicked off her running shoes, careful not to damage the camera hidden in the toe, then unzipped her warm-up jacket and threw it over the back of a chair. The T-shirt followed, then the sweatpants—each layer revealing more of the short, flirty red dress she’d worn to the U.N.–sponsored luncheon Brandon had sent her to.
    Brandon raked an appreciative gaze over her. “You know, kid, there are times when I think maybe we should just get it on,” he said, a tease in his voice.
    â€œNot a chance,” she answered, deadpan. “What if we fell in love? Neither one of us could live with the consequences.”
    â€œBullshit, babe. We already know where your loyalty lies. Mine too, for that matter. Hell, if we weren’t so loyal we’d be out there freelancing.”
    Amber frowned, avoiding Brandon’s eyes as she reached under her skirt to tug her panty hose down. Everything he said was true. They’d joked about striking out on their own a number of times. Joining the ranks of freelance mercenaries around the globe. But neither had seriously considered it. For one thing, if she was on her own, she’d lose access to the Unit’s seemingly endless resources. Amber wasn’t stupid. She knew a good deal when she saw one. And the jets, disguises, and weaponry currently at her fingertips cost a pretty penny.
    Not that there weren’t other well-funded organizations that would be interested in acquiring her particular talents. But it wasn’t just about the Unit’s resources. The Unit was her life, her family. She’d never give it up. Not for anyone; not for anything.
    â€œBesides,” Brandon said, his tone light as he picked up the conversation’s thread, “me? Fall in love with you? Never happen.”
    â€œNonsense,” she said, shaking off the unwelcome bout of melancholy. “I’m irresistible.”
    He laughed, and she stepped out of the damn constricting garment and tossed the panty hose across the room.
    â€œI hate these things,” she muttered.
    â€œBut they do such nice things to the curve of your ass.”
    Her mouth twitched, and she fought hard to hold back a smile. “See, this is why we can’t have a relationship. No respect.”
    â€œWho wants a relationship? I just want to get laid.”
    At that, she laughed outright. She certainly couldn’t argue with that. It had been months since she’d had sex. But she wasn’t about to use Brandon to scratch that itch, and they both knew it.
    â€œSo how’d it go?” he said, the tone of his voice letting her know the teasing was over. Back to work.
    â€œSmooth as silk. Everything’s in place.” Translation, she’d tagged their target with the homing device.
    â€œGood girl. Sorry for such a mundane assignment. And