Although the idea of letting her think he was hired by NASA to follow her around was an appealing one, it was still likely to restrain his actions. And if Jamie happened to mention him to Lance or someone else in the agency, his cover would be immediately and irrevocably blown.
“Oh no you don’t!” Jamie grabbed his arm with both of hers, attempting to restrain him. “I’m not letting go until you admit you’re from NASA.”
Drake wanted to smile. The idea of this tiny woman keeping him from doing anything was laughable. He gave a sharp tug, easily pulling from her grasp.
He turned to walk away and was surprised when he felt her attack from behind. Jamie had leapt onto his back, her legs wrapping around his waist and her arms digging into his shoulder blades.
Although he’d envisioned holding this woman on more than one occasion, he’d never pictured her in a position like this, grasping tight to him while he tried to determine how to dislodge her without hurting her.
“Look, lady, I think you’re overreacting. Do I look like a spaceman to you?”
Jamie held on as he attempted to swing her off, her forearms crossing around his neck. Although it did little damage to him, especially through the Hareema skin suit, he knew they were making a scene and attracting notice was the very thing he wanted to avoid.
“No, you look like a goon. One hired to keep me out of the big boys’ hair. Now just admit it so I can figure out what to do with you.”
He didn’t know why, but those last words sent a strange tingle through him. Drake knew whathewanted to do withher, but he doubted she had similar thoughts.
The way he saw it, he only had a few choices. He could keep insisting that his being around her was coincidence, but his cover was effectively blown. She’d notice him now as he stalked her around the city. His anonymity was lost.
His other choices were either to let her believe he was a NASA plant, or to come up with another lie that would be as convincing as the one she’d already saddled him with. And since she’d already convinced herself, it seemed the path of least resistance would be to go with the NASA story.
Now, he just had to find a way to twist it to his advantage…
“Fine,” he grunted, “you found me out. Now get off my back.”
Jamie let out an unexpected crow of delight and released her hold, hopping down to the sidewalk with one last slap to his back. Drake was surprised to realize that he missed the contact, even though she was little more than an impression through the suit.
"I knew it, I just knew it," she was saying to herself. "Especially when you showed up outside the restaurant last night. Did Lance tell you where we were going? Or have you guys tapped my phone?"
Drake had actually considered breaking into her phone communications, as well as emails, but so far he'd decided to merely keep an eye on her. The least intrusive route was the best, especially since he didn't know how deep the Hareema's interest might be in her. No need to set off any alarm bells unwittingly.
"I've been charged with following you around, making sure you don't get into any trouble, as you said," he told her, his tone as level and neutral as he could make it. "That's the extent of it."
Jamie's eyes narrowed. It was obvious she didn't know if she could believe him. He couldn't blame her.
"Okay," she said after a moment. "Well, now that I know about you, what's the plan?"
"The plan?" He didn't have any fucking plan, now that she'd caught him out.
"Yeah. Clearly you can't think to keep stalking me, now that I know who you are."
That was true. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure what else he could do. She was the only door into NASA that hadn't been shut in his face.
He needed a way to use her to gain entry without her giving him away to the enemy. And, Drake realized suddenly, that would mean they'd need to work together.
Slowly a plan unfurled itself, and he set it into motion.
"Well, I suppose now you tell your fiancé that you caught me red-handed. He tells his bosses, and they fire me. Then some new guy replaces me and it starts all over again."
"New guy?" Jamie's face scrunched up in a most adorable fashion.
Drake steeled his features to ensure they gave no window into his emotions. "Yes, another tail. You're too important for them to leave you to your own devices."
"But then I'm back to square one," she said in a huff.
Her eyes captured his own and he felt like he couldn't catch his breath.Noruma help me, but I can't escape the effect she has on me.
All of a sudden, Jamie put her hands on his shoulders and gripped them tightly. "And say I don't tell Lance? Say we go on as we were, me oblivious to your existence, and you just creeping around town after me?"
