Frostfire

Nathan strolled past him, and Ethan turned. “I don’t.”

His brother glanced back. “Don’t what?”

“I don’t hate you.” He stalked into his office and slammed the door. Once he peeled off his clothes and took a shower, he’d cook up some steaks, pop open a beer, and relive the few moments he’d spent watching her.

When he turned and saw her sitting in his chair with her bare feet propped on his desk, he was so sure it was his imagination that he didn’t say anything for a full minute. “Lori?”

“It’s Valori,” she said, swinging her legs down and standing. “They gave me a last name, but it’s just a polite way of saying ‘street trash.’ Which is what I was. Mama threw me out with the garbage.”

He watched her as she walked to him, unsure of what to say but absolutely sure she wasn’t getting past him again. “I thought you left with your friends.”

“Not my friends. Employers. Former employers.” She stopped in front of him and linked her hands together. “I don’t have a job, which makes me happy because I couldn’t stand it anymore.”

“You should always be happy in your work.” God, she was prettier than he remembered. “What did you do?”

“I had sex with men I didn’t care about. When I wasn’t spying on them.” She dropped her gaze. “You’re the first man I’ve slept with in ten years who wasn’t an assignment.”

Ethan considered telling her how his kind felt about sexual experience among females, and how hot imagining her taking on man after man was making him. “I’m flattered.”

“Everything was real with you.” She frowned. “I don’t know why. I don’t do real.”

He put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer. “Maybe I should run an investigation. See what I can find out.” He breathed in her sweet scent. “Can you stick around for a while?”

“I don’t have a job, I can’t go back to Italy, and that makes me homeless, too.” She tilted her head. “So, yes. I can stick around for as long as you’d like.”

He lowered his head until his mouth hovered above hers. “I’ve got a place you can sleep, if you don’t mind sharing.”

She smiled against his lips. “What would you like to share?”