Page 105 of Hot & Heavy

"Okay, spill, baby."

She twirled his chest hairs nervously, then looked him steadily in the eyes. "Do you think you could ever love a woman like me?"

He just stared at her for a very long moment. Then he whispered in a husky voice, "Do you read minds now, too?"

Confused, she tilted her head.

"Maddie, I love you. I honest to God do. I probably did the moment I saw you with that Phyllis Diller hair and camel stink on you. I think I will love you always."

"Oh, Ian." She began to cry. "I am not crying," she quickly said.

He brushed some hair off her face. "Why are you not-crying?"

"Because I love you so much it scares me."

Ian blinked several times, as if he might have tears rising, too. Then he pulled her down for a kiss that lasted this side of forever.

"What are we going to do about this love?" she asked him when they came up for air.

"I don't know, but one thing is certain, wife…"

It was the first time he'd addressed her that way, and a thrill rippled through her. I am his wife. Truly.

And he is my husband.

"Are you listening, Maddie? I am never going to let you go."

His words sounded a little bit autocratic, as he often was with her. But this time, she liked the sound of it.

Betimes it was all right to love a tyrant, Madrene decided.

Chapter Fifteen

People are not always what they seem…

Madrene was floating in a haze of love that morning when Ian left for the base and Geek came to take his place. She felt the same way all morning as she performed what had become routine chores for her. She could tell she was making Geek uncomfortable with her incessant smiling.

Then everything came crashing down.

Ian returned at lunchtime, and he had five seals and a woman with him. "Maddie, meet Maddie," he said cheerfully. He must have noticed the glare on her face, because he quickly explained, "Everything is going down today, and I found a way to protect you… keep you out of harm's way."

She folded her arms across her chest. "Did I ask you for protection?"

Ian's seal comrades began hooting with laughter and making remarks at the interplay between them, such as, "Give him hell, Xena." Let them make mirth. She did not care.

"No, but I'm giving it anyway. It's my job, sweetie."

"Sweetie?" she saw Cage mouth to Pretty Boy before the two of them raised their right hands high and clapped them against each other.

Ian seemed taken aback when she said, "Do not even try to soften me with endearments. Speak plainly and tell me what this is all about."

"This is Joan Askey. She's with the CIA, and she's going to impersonate you today. You won't even have to leave the house."

Madrene made a low growling sound before turning to the woman, who extended her hand for a shake.

Madrene complied, but only because it would have been inhospitable not to. Then she surveyed the woman from head to toe. She had red hair, a small nose and mouth and no bosom to speak of. The only similarity between them was their height.

She looked at Ian and said, "She does not resemble me at all."