“You told me you trusted me, despite working here. There must be someone else you trust as well.”
Dalton shook his head. She swore under her breath.
“Then I don’t need a partner. I can work this mission alone.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Alice. You need a partner for protection, if nothing else.”
She stiffened. “I’m capable of defending myself.”
“As are all of my agents. But fieldwork is dangerous and unpredictable. It’s essential to have support, and that is the reason we always go in pairs.”
“I doubt he would be of any help,” she muttered. “He’s probably gone soft with all the years he’s been inactive.”
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow at that. “Do you want me to prove to you how much I’ve not gone soft, wife?”
She flushed furiously; the color extending down her neck and disappearing under the high collar of her blouse. He knew from memory how far down the blush would extend, tinting her breasts a delicious pink. Her nostrils flared. With fury or awareness?
“For goodness’ sake, spare me your innuendos.” Dalton’s voice snapped with disgust. “Whatever issues are between the two of you, save them for when you are in private. I expect you both to put your personal differences aside and work as professionals on this matter.”
“And if I refuse?” Alice asked.
“Then you’ll go back to office work. Who knows for how long.” Came Dalton’s even reply.
It was not delivered as a threat, just a statement of fact, but her indrawn breath told Nathaniel she had taken it as such. He knew how much she chafed under the restrictions placed on her because of her gender.
“Alice, despite our current differences, we used to make a great team. Is it really so terrible to work with me?”
Her eyes snapped to him. Impaled him with her fury and…hurt? “I can’t believe you even need to ask that. What motivated you to accept this assignment? I thought you could hardly wait to be rid of me for good!”
That was a valid question. And one he had no good answer to. His motives were as convoluted as his feelings where she was concerned.
It was true that he wanted to be done with all the pain of his marriage. To close this chapter of his life and hopefully move on. To find, if not happiness like the one he had once known with Alice, at least some peace.
But despite that, perversely, and against his better sense, he also wanted—needed—to be near her again. To work side by side, as they had done before. In perfect harmony. Was that a pathetic last attempt to recapture what they once had? He didn’t know. Was afraid of finding the answer, lest it showed him for the thrice-damned fool he was.
“I accepted because I was needed, and, being in a position to lend my assistance, I considered it my duty to help.”
Her snort of disbelief was eloquent enough to convey that she had not bought that lame answer.
“Alice.” Dalton’s voice rang with calm authority, but also with a smidge of persuasion. “I know the situation is not ideal. If there were any other way, I would have taken it. But you two are truly the only people I can trust with this assignment. You were once my best agents. As a team, you were unsurpassed. I need not only the best agents on this mission but also ones I can trust.”
“The problem is, Your Grace,” Alice replied, her voice dripping with scorn. “That you may be able to trust Lord Greystone, but I no longer can.”
Oh, she couldn’t trust him, could she? Well, that was rich, considering she had been the one who left. The one who had cheated and lied. She had abandoned their marriage. Betrayed his trust. Butshecouldn’t trusthim?
“Likewise, dear,” he retorted.
She glared daggers at him, and her lips compressed in an angry line as she turned to Dalton.
“There you have it, then. We can’t work together like before if neither of us trusts the other.”
“Are you going to keep squabbling like children, or will you act like the adults you are and focus on the important matter at hand? There are lives at stake here.” The reprimand, uttered in the quiet, lethal tones of the duke, brought his attention back from the dark spiral of his thoughts.
“You already have my commitment, Dalton. It seems it’s your agent you need to convince.” He uttered the reply without taking his eyes off Alice.
“Alice? What is it going to be?” Dalton prodded.
With a last angry look at him, she turned to Dalton. “Fine. I accept, damn it. But we’ll need to establish some ground rules and set firm boundaries for our interactions.”
