Undercover Passion Read Free Page B

as it formed. Despite her spunk, Abby was soft and sweet and seemingly naive—all the things he wasn’t. The women he dated tended to be the women he met in the course of his workday, and as a cop, he mostly mixed with a fairly rough level of society. He wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like this.
    â€œSo tell me about the exercise programs. What are they like?”
    She perked up markedly, her eyes brilliant. “Now those I have tried. They’re great, really the most comprehensive I’ve found anywhere. That was what made me so interested in joining Dr. Richie. I admire him so much. He’s been able to do what is so difficult to do—marry serious health advantages with movements that are just really fun and relaxing to do.”
    Daniel raised an eyebrow. “But can he walk on water?”
    She looked startled. “What?”
    â€œNothing. I was just being rude.”
    The way her face was shining as she spoke of the good doctor, Daniel felt a twinge of jealousy. Though he would face death rather than admit it.
    â€œHow much do you know about this Richie character?”
    She drew herself up sternly. “Dr. Richie is a well-respected expert in the fitness field. It’s a real honor to get this opportunity to work with him.”
    She was cute in her righteous indignation, and he had trouble not grinning at her again. Could it be the exercises that were making people act crazy? It didn’t seem likely. But he couldn’t afford to overlook anything just because it didn’t fit the pattern he expected.
    â€œHow about a demonstration of the exercises?”
    â€œWhat— Right now?”
    â€œCan you think of a better time?”
    â€œWell, if you come to the seminar…”
    â€œI’ll come to the seminar. But I’d like to get a hint of what I’m letting myself in for.”
    She frowned. She didn’t want to do it. She glanced at her piles of supplies, still languishing on the floor, and he knew she wanted to get things finished here. But she was too polite to say so, and he actually felt a twinge of guilt over putting her in this position. But it was just a twinge. He could easily ignore it.
    â€œOkay,” she said, just a hint of her reluctanceshowing. Then she visibly put all that behind her and got into the swing of things. “Tell you what. I’ll do it if you help.”
    Her smile was impudent. And that made him suspicious.
    â€œWhat? How can I help?”
    â€œI know some really fun things for two people to do together,” she said happily.
    He forced back a laugh. He knew a few fun things for two people to do together, too, but he had a feeling they weren’t what she had in mind.
    â€œDon’t worry,” she told him. “I’ll show you what to do.”
    Reaching under her desk, she pulled out a large exercise mat and plopped it down in the middle of the room. “Okay, we are now going to demonstrate the Giaza.”
    He was skeptical. He’d much rather watch than join in. “What is the Giaza?”
    â€œIt’s a set of exercises.”
    â€œSounds more like a set of steak knives.”
    Grabbing his hand, she pulled him to his feet. “Come on, mister. You asked for it, you got it. Come sit down cross-legged.”
    â€œLike this?” He did as she’d ordered.
    â€œYou’re nice and limber, aren’t you? And athletic, I’ll bet.”
    He muttered something. For no known reason, he was suddenly feeling a little self-conscious.
    â€œOkay,” he said, settling down, hands on his knees. He was glad he’d worn fairly loose slacks. “What’s next?”
    â€œThis is the two-person routine. I’m going to sit down, too. We’ll be back to back.”
    That seemed odd. “No kidding.”
    â€œNo kidding.” She stood before him and held her hands together in front of her stomach, looking like an Asian princess. “This is