“No, I’m not going to forget it.Tell me what you meant,” he insisted now feeling defensive.
“It’s just not like you to text a woman.”
“It’s true, but I have to keep up the pretense I want to get close to her.”
“Is it a pretense?”Luke questioned, sounding like he believed there was more going on.
“Of course, it is.”It didn’t feel like it sometimes.
“Just don’t forget—”
“Don’t get too close to my subject and risk blowing my cover.Spare me, Luke, please.This isn’t my first solo mission.”Or his first seduction.Andrea was just taking a little longer than planned to warm up to him, that was all.Text was the easiest.
“And now you’re getting defensive.What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.”Jack didn’t want to talk about it.He didn’t fully understand it himself.“I know what the mission is.I know what’s on the line if I fail.”
“You know you wouldn’t be the first to fall for a mark.”
“Fall ha,” Jack laughed.“I’m not falling for anyone.I’m incapable of love unlike you shmucks.”
“Mightier men than you have fallen for a woman.Look at Greg, Barry, and myself.”
“That’s you not me.”He would never fall in love.There were too many women in the world to woo and seduce.He didn’t want to deprive them.
“All I’m saying—”
“I know what you’re saying, and you’re wrong,” Jack spoke over him.It was rude and considered insubordination, but he didn’t care.He wasn’t going to be reprimanded for something that wasn’t true.“I don’t have feelings for her.Everything I do is for the mission, okay?”
“Okay, if you say so.”Luke didn’t sound convinced.Well, it wasn’t his job to convince him.When he had her caught and didn’t care, he’d show Luke.
“I have to go; I have data from Andrea’s phone I need to go through.”
“Alright, let me know if you need anything.”
“I will.”He wouldn’t.Jack was confident his feelings could be controlled.
His gaze fell to his laptop.He really should be going through it to help build his case.Or better yet, sneak into Andrea’s house and get on her computer.Now was the perfect time.She was out, and he had the cover of darkness to shield him from neighbors.
Are you working Saturday?Jack texted Andrea.He tapped his phone impatiently, waiting for her response.She was at work at the bar, and her responses were spaced out.
That night, but I’m free during the day, came her reply a moment later.
Will you spend the day with me or at least part of it?
Yes.Is there a plan?
There is.
Care to enlighten me?
It’s a surprise.
I don’t like surprises.
You’ll like this one.Besides, if I don’t tell you, you can’t say you’ll hate it and ditch me.
I could just on principle.
