Catch, Release. Carol Ericson

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СКАЧАТЬ of thing. I haven’t heard anything back from the tests yet, but it’s only been a week.”

      “Then you really need to demand to see him or talk to him. What story is Zendaris feeding him?”

      “I have no idea. He’s only two. I’m sure he doesn’t understand why I’ve abandoned him.” She covered her face with her hands. “Once a child is abandoned, he never gets over it.”

      The mattress sank and Beau encircled her wrists with his fingers. “Nonsense. You recovered nicely. Hell, you’re one of the most well-adjusted people I know.”

      “You don’t know me. We spent one night together.”

      “That’s all I need to figure someone out.”

      She spread her fingers and peeked at him through the spaces. “That’s not saying much considering the types of people you hang out with.”

      He raised his brows. “When I’m not doing the spy thing, I have the most boring existence you can imagine. My dad’s a mechanic, my mom’s a secretary at the local high school. Staid. Boring.”

      “Is that why you went all out on the career path to become one of the most feared assassins in the business?”

      His jaw tightened as he shook his head. “I’m no assassin, Deb. Nobody got killed who didn’t deserve it. Nobody who wasn’t a threat to other lives.”

      Someone rapped on the door with a shout. “Room service.”

      Holding out his hand, Beau rose from the bed and crept to the door, lifting his weapon from its holster on the way. He stood to the side of the door and put his eye to the peephole. “Can you slide the check under the door, man? I’ll sign it, send it back and you can leave the food.”

      “Sure.”

      A slip of paper sailed beneath the door and Beau plucked it from the carpet. He backed up to the credenza and signed the bill. Then he shoved it back through the door and watched from the peephole.

      The waiter called out, “Thanks.”

      Beau waited several seconds and then opened the door and wheeled the cart into the room. “Can’t be too careful, huh?”

      “If he’s been working in hotels a while, I’m sure he’s seen everything.”

      Beau stationed the cart by the table and began lifting silver domes. “Looks good. You hungry?”

      The steam that rose from the dishes carried some savory scents that made her mouth water. It had been several days since she’d eaten a real meal, and her stomach grumbled with the realization.

      “I am hungry.”

      Beau transferred the plates from the cart to the table and pulled out a chair. “Have a seat.”

      Deb shook out a thick white napkin and dropped it on her lap. She started with the soup and didn’t stop until she’d licked the last smudge of cream cheese frosting from her fork.

      “How long has it been since you’ve eaten more than a few bites of food?”

      She patted her mouth with the napkin. “Since the day they took Bobby.”

      “I thought so. You look—” his gaze dipped from her face to her body and back again “—a little thinner than when I last saw you.”

      Warmth crept into her cheeks and she covered the bottom half of her face with the napkin, pretending to wipe her mouth again. He should know.

      They’d spent almost the entire night naked in her hotel room. They’d eaten room service that night, too, but not seated at a table with napkins in their laps. They’d lounged across the king-size bed, feeding each other morsels of food, even incorporating the chocolate cake into their lovemaking. Instead of daintily patting their mouths with napkins, they’d hauled off to the shower, together.

      She coughed. “Being a mom keeps me on my toes. I don’t have as much time to work out at the gym, but I get to run at the playground and throw balls and chase after a speeding tricycle.”

      “Sounds like you love it...and him.”

      Deb studied his face. Was it time to tell him Bobby was his? Nope. Loki wouldn’t want to be saddled with a son anyway. How could he squeeze in a battle with Somali pirates between Little League games?

      Beau Slater may have come from ordinary, but he didn’t want to go back there.

      The cell phone by the bed chirped. The fork she’d been dragging across a plate dropped with a clatter and she half rose from her chair.

      “It’s him.”

      “Answer it. It’s what you’ve been waiting for.”

      She swallowed and all the sweetness from the carrot cake dissolved like ashes on her tongue. When the phone rang for the fourth time, she dived across the bed and grabbed it.

      “Yes?”

      “Good job at the jewelry store. You can keep the loot.”

      “I don’t want it. What was the point of that? Someone could’ve gotten hurt.”

      Beau jerked his thumb up, and she punched a button for the speaker.

      “Someone would’ve gotten hurt if you hadn’t followed our instructions, Deb. Just look at it that way.”

      “I—I’m in a different hotel. Someone was aiming a high-powered weapon into my hotel room this afternoon. I saw the beam on the wall.”

      Zendaris sucked in a breath. “Are you scamming me, Deb?”

      “Are you scamming me? Are you trying to kill me?”

      “Why would I do that? We’re just getting started.” He clicked his tongue. “But maybe your colleagues want you dead.”

      “Never.” Her gaze darted toward Beau slumped in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. Why had Prospero sent the best in the business after her?

      “Are you sure about that? If the mighty Jack Coburn gets wind of your betrayal, you’re finished.”

      She ground her teeth together. “It’s not a betrayal if it’s coerced.”

      “But they don’t know that, do they? Do they, Deb?”

      “As far as Prospero is concerned, I’m on a leave of absence. They have no reason to suspect otherwise.”

      “Where are you?”

      “Another hotel in Cambridge.” She held her breath. Would he demand the location?

      “Excellent.”

      “What next, Zendaris? A bank robbery? A high-speed chase?”

      “A party.”

      She raised her shoulders at Beau. СКАЧАТЬ