Undercover Read Free Page B

murmured, “I can see why you enjoy that place. It’s very peaceful, and still has a lot to look at.”
    She smiled wryly, “You don’t think I’m crazy?”
    He paused and looked at her with a little frown. “No more than anyone else, probably less.”
    Automatically wrapping her hands around his arm again, he smiled, turning her insides to warm mush.
    They stopped every now and then to look in a window, but he shook his head every time she asked if he wanted to look closer at anything. Eventually, she said, trying not to giggle at the unfamiliar words, “Captain Lieutenant, is that what you said you are?”
    Alex laughed softly, “It’s not as good as it sounds.”
    The comment made her giggle for real, it was impossible not to, and she struggled with herself to get to the point. “I was just wondering if you like it here. Is it what you expected?”
    He fell serious. “I like it, but it is not at all what I expected. It’s very different from where I come from. Now, tell me about you.”
    Jenny smiled and shrugged, “I’m really not interesting.”
    She talked about herself anyway, just because he asked. They reached the office far too quickly. She didn’t want to burst the magic bubble they were in by going inside to the real life world with its real life problems. Alex also seemed to hesitate outside the building, and she wondered if he shared her sentiment.
    They still had to go in, of course. Mark sat at one of the tables in the lunchroom. “Did you have a good walk? It’s cold out there, want some coffee?”
    Alex glanced down into Jenny’s eyes, and she nodded. They took seats at opposite sides of the table, and she fought with herself not to fidget and not to ogle. Maybe she would have to sit on her hands to keep them in place.
    Mark looked at her with a frown. He probably wondered why she looked so happy at work.  “Let’s see, we’re continuing the mill tour this afternoon. Eh, could you give him a logistics overview tomorrow?”
    They talked about people in third person all the time, but when it was about Alex it seemed kind of rude. He sat right next to them, and Mark made it sound like he was a potted plant. The opportunity to have more time with the enigmatic visitor was thrilling though.
    She shrugged and pretended she wasn’t eager at all. “Sure.”
    Mark found his phone in a pocket and looked at the calendar. “Dammit, I’ve gotta take the kids tomorrow morning. Could you stop by the hotel and…”
    He trailed off and Jenny cheered on the inside. She could almost feel her imaginary halo fall askew. “Of course.”
    Mark looked pleased with himself and turned to Alex, “Seems like we’ve gotten it all worked out. I’ve scheduled dinner in the hotel restaurant tonight, and Jen will pick you up in the morning. Tomorrow I’ll leave you in her loving hands until lunch. Sound good?”
    He didn’t give their guest a chance to answer. He jumped off the chair and exclaimed, “So, tour of the plant, are you ready?”
     
    *****
     
    The men left at the same time as Jenny’s phone started to ring, and she ran into her office. Nori plopped down on the edge of her desk the very second she hung up. “I saw you through the window. You two looked very cute, you know, you look at each other like lovers and not at all like new acquaintances.”
    Jenny shrugged, but her friend wasn’t that easily fooled. “So, what are you gonna do about it?”
    It was a good question. “I have no idea.”
    Nori laughed, “Well, you know what I always say—”
    “Yes, yes I know, but I can’t just jump him. What do you want me to do, tear his clothes off?”
    The very idea of her doing a thing like that seemed preposterous, and if Nori laughed any harder, she’d probably fall to the floor.
    “Yes. That’s exactly what you should do. He’s a man, he won’t say no. It’s in their genes, you know, spreading DNA and all that stuff.”
    The entire situation was crazy, and she was grateful to be