Undercover Read Free Page A

fun with that.”
     
    *****
     
    It didn’t take long until they strolled arm in arm through the alleway leading up to town, and Jenny tried to keep a casual tone of voice, in spite of the fact that the large Russian man was very close. “It’s a small town, but it’s okay I guess. It has everything we need, and it’s not far to the next one. Uh, is there anything special you’d like to see?”
    Holding on to his arm was pleasant, and would be easy to get used to.
    Alex gave his head a slight shake. “No. Take me somewhere you would like to go.”
    His accent was sexy enough to make her melt, and she squeezed his arm a little harder. He smiled. “It is a fine day and I am walking with a beautiful woman, how could life be better?”
    She didn’t know what to answer, and they walked in silence until crossing a large parking lot, close to the shops that lined the main street. Jenny nodded towards a window and confessed, “That’s my favorite store.”
    The moment the words left her lips, she wondered why she said it. It was the last place anyone would take a tourist. She needed to remember that he was a tourist and not hers to keep.
    Alex got a curious look on his face and pulled her with him towards the window. She thought she might die from embarrassment when he eyed an astonishing amount of golden Buddha-figures, fairies, and trolls.
    “Interesting. I expected shoes.”
    He was at the entrance before she could say anything, and a sweet scent of incense attacked them as he pulled the door open and held it for her.
    Jenny sort of knew the store owner. She wouldn’t call them friends, but at least acquaintances, and the older woman flashed a bright smile when she saw a familiar face enter the little shop. She stood behind the counter as always, and called out, “Hey Jen, it’s good to see you. You haven’t been in here for a while.”
    It was difficult to walk all the way to the register without looking back to see if Alex was watching, but Jenny managed, and Joanna came around the counter to pull her into a hug. She smelled of sweet perfume and whispered, “Oh my goodness, where did you find that man? He’s so handsome, and your auras glow together.”
    Jenny didn’t believe in auras, regardless of Joanna’s conviction they were real. Her friend’s words still made her unreasonably happy. “He just stood in the door to my office this morning.”
    She giggled quietly, and Joanna giggled too. “This morning? Oh sweetie, this is so exciting. You’re keeping him, aren’t you?”
    “Oh yes.” At the same time as she wondered how she could say a thing like that, she marveled at how heartily she meant it.
    Both women glanced over towards the object of their gossiping. Alex seemed fascinated with the number of dragons and other mythological creatures on the shelves, and picked up a fairy with a thoughtful expression on his face. Turning his head towards them, he flashed a smile, “These are lovely.”
    It was difficult not to stare: he was almost too handsome. As childish as it was, she wanted to touch his hair, just to see what it felt like. Running her fingers through it would be most excellent. Luckily, Joanna wasn’t dumbstruck. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? Like a mix between a fairy and a witch. She’ll give good luck in love for sure.”
    Jenny’s cheeks flushed hot. Why did Joanna have to talk about love? And what was wrong with her even mentioning this store in the first place? She should have been able to figure out something like this would happen. “Alex, this is my friend Joanna.”
    He came up to the counter, smiled and offered his hand, with the fairy still firmly held in the other. “It is nice to meet you, Joanna. I think I’ll have to buy this one.”
    His way of pronouncing the name, with a little pause after the first syllable was charming, and Joanna’s face turned crimson red.
     
    *****
     
    Jenny and Alex stayed in the store a few minutes more, and when they left, he