Delta Force Defender. Carol Ericson

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СКАЧАТЬ on her gloves. “That would be pretty unusual for November.”

      They walked along the busy Georgetown sidewalk, occasionally bumping shoulders, which oddly reassured her, although she couldn’t figure out why. Cam had the type of solid build that screamed strength and fitness. Physically, he could have his way with anyone, even a tall woman like her.

      She hunched her shoulders and stuffed an errant strand of hair back under her hat. Dream on, Martha. Cam was the type of guy who’d wheedled homework assignments out of her. Just like in college, she had something he wanted—just not her body.

      She stopped in front of the town house she owned but shared with a roommate, and grabbed the iron handrail. “I’m right here.”

      “Door right onto the street.”

      “Yeah? So what?” She fished her key from the side pocket of her purse, and for the first time in a while hoped her roommate, Casey, was on the other side of that door.

      “Not that safe.”

      “If you haven’t noticed, this is a nice area.”

      He looked up and down the street. “Lots of foot traffic though.”

      She looked up from turning the key in the lock. “I’m a very careful person.”

      “And yet, here I am.”

      She opened the door and blocked it with her body. “Are you telling me not to trust you? Because I can change my mind right here and now.”

      Casey yelled from the inside. “Close the door. You’re letting in the cold air.”

      “My roommate. Protection.” Martha jerked her thumb over her shoulder.

      “Good thinking.” He rubbed his gloved hands together. “Now can we go in? It is cold out here.”

      Martha pushed into the room, and Cam followed on her heels.

      “I was just on my way...” Casey tripped to a stop in her high heels when she swung around and almost collided with Cam. “Well, hello there.”

      “Hey, what’s up?”

      “Casey, Cam. Cam, Casey, my roommate.”

      Casey stuck out her hand and wiggled her fingers, her long painted nails catching the light and glinting like she was casting a spell. “Nice to meet you. You’re the first guy Martha’s ever brought home.”

      The heat washed up Martha’s face, and she ground her teeth together. “It’s not like that. He’s not a guy.”

      Casey fluttered her long—fake—eyelashes as she gave Cam the once-over. “You could’ve fooled me.”

      “I think what Martha means—” he hooked his arm around Martha’s neck in a total buddy move and pulled her close “—is we’re just friends.”

      “Of course you are.” Casey turned toward the kitchen, giving Cam a view of her derriere in her tight dress. “Do you want a beer?”

      “I thought you were going out?” Martha ducked out of Cam’s hold and shed her coat.

      “Just showing a little hospitality.”

      “Don’t worry about it. He’s my guest. I can get him a beer if he wants one.”

      “I’m good.” Cam held out one hand as if refereeing an MMA fight. “We don’t want to hold you up, Casey. Nice meeting you.”

      Her roommate’s pretty face fell, and Martha couldn’t help the little spark of satisfaction that flared in her belly. “Have fun, Casey.”

      “Nice meeting you, Cam.” She swept up her coat from the back of a chair. “Hope to see you again sometime.”

      The door slammed behind Casey in a gust of perfume and hairspray.

      Cam cocked an eyebrow at her. “Not a good friend, I take it?”

      “Not a friend at all, and she’s a horrible roommate—messy, noisy, brings guys back here all the time.”

      “And you mean guys.”

      “Yeah. She’s a real pain.”

      “Move.”

      “It’s my place.”

      Cam’s gaze flicked around the town house, still sporting the expensive furnishings Mom had favored and she couldn’t afford to replace. “Government’s paying some solid wages.”

      “Anyway, I can’t just move.” She had no intention of getting into her personal finances—or her notorious background—with Cam.

      “Kick her out.”

      “She signed a lease.”

      “How long?”

      “Four more months. I think she’s gearing up to move out anyway.”

      “I’m sure you’re counting the days.” He clapped his hands once and she jumped. “The emails?”

      “Do you want a beer? Or something else?”

      “Just some water.” He tipped his head at the door. “She doesn’t know about the messages, does she?”

      “Casey?” Martha snorted. “No. She wouldn’t care, anyway. She’s in DC to sleep around and maybe snag a book deal, and she has a good start on both.”

      “Who knew the capital was such a cesspool.”

      “I hope you’re kidding.” She strode into the kitchen and reached for a glass. As ice dispensed from the fridge, Cam joined her in the kitchen, making the space feel claustrophobic.

      “I am kidding, and I’m convinced someone, somewhere in this cesspool has it out for Major Denver.” He took the glass from her hand, his fingers brushing hers and giving her a jolt.

      Leaning her hip against the kitchen counter, she tucked the hand behind her back. “Why would they have it out for him? Why frame him? By all accounts, he’s a good soldier.”

      “The best and maybe that’s why.” He gulped down the water. “Maybe he stumbled onto something he shouldn’t have.”

      “Again, that could point to a foreign entity.”

      “I agree, especially after what you told me about the emails, which are...”

      “On my laptop.” She brushed past him. “In my bedroom”

      Leaving him in the kitchen, she jogged upstairs and pulled the door closed on Casey’s messy room. She ducked into her own room, swept her laptop from the desk and tucked it under her arm. By the time she got downstairs, Cam had settled on the sofa in the living room, his long legs stretched out in front of him.

      She СКАЧАТЬ