She absorbed that, equal parts flattered and wary.
“You’ll need to go undercover,” he continued. “And you’ll report only to me.”
She nodded. Nothing unusual about that. Having an actress mother and growing up in the theater meant she was a master of disguise. She had gone often enough as a maid or a clerk. Something lowly enough to be ignored. A position that would allow her to watch and listen without attracting notice. It was amazing the amount of information one could garner that way.
“I accept,” she said without hesitation, her voice clear. The relief of finally doing something meaningful unfurled in her chest like a blossom in spring.
But the duke didn’t look satisfied. His mouth tightened, and one of his fingers tapped once against the edge of the desk. A tell.Her eyes fixed on it. He looked down at his hand too, and his mouth twisted in a wry smile. He knew he had been caught.
“There’s more,” she said quietly. “You’re holding something back.”
He sighed. That same hand stilled. His gaze met hers, steady and unreadable.
“You won’t be working alone,” he said finally.
That wasn’t unexpected either. Although she was surprised he had found someone willing to partner with her. She waited for him to continue.
“Your partner… will be Nathaniel.”
Her breath caught, and she shot to her feet.
“No,” she said. “Absolutely not. You know that is not possible. And I doubt he wants to work with me either.”
The door opened behind her before the duke could reply.
“Actually,” came a smooth, too-familiar voice, “I’ve already agreed.”
Alice turned sharply.
Nathaniel stood in the doorway, causing her heart to leap like a joyous puppy at the sight of him. Traitorous heart. Her eyes joined the rebellion that her entire body was mounting against her at his mere presence. She drank him in greedily. How could she not? She had missed feasting upon him for five long years.
Her husband had always been handsome; tall and broad-shouldered, with languorous eyes and an insouciant smile designed to hide his fierce intelligence. She catalogued the changes in him. He wore his rich, dark hair shorter now. Slickly combed instead of falling in loose locks around his tall forehead and chiseled jaw. His lush mouth, once capable of captivating her with both its sculpted perfection and capacity to deliver pleasure, now formed a hard smirk that had all the warmth of an iceberg. His midnight eyes, which before had looked at her with warmth and love, were harsh and opaque now. Dressed in stylishblack and gray, every inch the aristocrat he'd become, he cut a fine figure. No woman would be immune to his allure, least of all her.
“Hello, wife,” he said. “You look well.”
CHAPTER 2
Whydidshehaveto have this effect on him? Even after all that had transpired between them. The time, the disappointments, the lies and mistrust. The betrayal. Still, the sight of her impacted him with the same effect as a fist to the solar plexus. Leaving him gasping for air, his heart thudding, his pulse jumping, blood racing through his body.
He struggled to remain impassive, aware she could read him like an open book and not wanting to give her the satisfaction of knowing the effect she still had on him. The truth was he was still pathetically, idiotically attracted to his own wife, whom he was divorcing.
He must have succeeded in hiding his reaction, or maybe she was too shocked by this twist of events to notice, for there was no triumph, no satisfaction on her face or in her voice as she turned once more toward Dalton.
“How could you do this to me? Why? This is beyond underhanded, even for you.”
Few men would dare to speak that way to the formidable Duke of Dalton, the head of one of the most secret branches of the Foreign Office. The man behind the desk wielded significant power and was not one to be crossed lightly. But they had known him long enough to grant them some leeway. Instead of looking offended, the duke took a placating tone.
“It’s nothing against you. There are several good reasons for the two of you to work together on this mission.”
“He’s not even an agent anymore!” she protested.
Damn, but she was beautiful when her temper was up. His blood surged at the sight of her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, remembering other activities that used to bring that color to her cheeks. He ruthlessly tamped down his reaction. He shouldn’t be lusting after the woman who would soon no longer be his wife.
“I am aware of that fact, Alice.” Dalton’s reply was smooth, but it contained an edge of warning. “It is precisely why he’s perfect for this mission. I can’t trust anyone currently in my employ. Since he hasn’t worked here for the last six years, he’s above suspicion.”
Nate snorted. “Thanks for the trust, I suppose.”
Dalton threw him a quelling look, as if warning him not to make the situation worse. As if he could. Despite everything, he was enjoying himself tremendously by ruffling his wife’s feathers and watching their ruthless spymaster struggling to placate her.
