Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 139606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 558(@250wpm)___ 465(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 558(@250wpm)___ 465(@300wpm)
He moved to the safe and ensured everything was there and as it should be.
And that was when he saw it. A folded piece of paper on the desk against the wall. He picked it up, his heart breaking a little.
Dare,
Thank you for the best night I’ve had in a long time, Sir. I wish you all the best and hope you continue to follow your instincts. You’re an excellent top, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You made this sub very happy for a night.
Much love, Tasha
He sighed and sank down on the couch beside Brian. She hadn’t been here to steal secrets. Her cousin had likely been worried and come to pick her up. He had no idea who the guy had been, but somehow he didn’t think Tasha would have cheated on a boyfriend.
She was open and honest. She was beautiful and comfortable with herself.
She was gone, and that was probably a good thing because his father would be watching now.
“You wanted to see her again?” Brian asked.
It was morning and that meant it was time to get realistic. “No. It was a nice night but it’s time to get to work. My father called.”
Brian nodded sagely. “Ah, that explains the cell phone as a projectile. What does he want?”
“We’re staying here for at least an extra week. We’re supposed to get close to Emmanuel Huisman.”
“The Huisman Foundation guy? The one who wrote that book?”
“That very one,” he agreed. “You’re staying with me, so we should get to work. I need to know everything I can about him.”
“I can help you there,” Brian replied. “I’ll order some breakfast and we’ll hit the Internet. And don’t count her out, Dare.”
His friend was being a bit too optimistic now. “I think she has what she wanted out of me.”
“And I think absence will make the heart grow fonder and we’ll see her again,” Brian countered. “Or hornier. Were you terrible?”
He shot his friend what the Americans affectionally called “the bird.” “It was good. Better than your night. Unless a miracle happened, but I don’t think so since you had to stalk Kara when she got here.”
Brian’s lips kicked up. “Oh, I would have such fun stalking that girl. It’s the hair. Give me a magenta girl anytime, and no, she was not interested. But I can change her mind.”
He seemed to have a death wish. “Or you could take a hint and leave her alone.”
Brian shrugged. “How about I’ll take another shot if she shows up again? Let’s agree to that. Now let’s figure out this Huisman guy. Do you want pancakes? Toast?”
Brian picked up the phone to order breakfast, but Dare’s mind was on Tasha.
The one who got away.
Chapter Four
Tasha checked over her presentation. Everyone was in place with the exception of Cooper, which was surprising because it was usually Kala or Tristan who showed up late to a briefing. Kala did it to piss off their dad. Tristan sometimes got lost in his work, spending endless hours on the Dark Web. Cooper was almost always early, but not today.
“I get to go in tomorrow.” Kenzie stared at her twin over the conference room table.
They were in this spacious house thanks to the Agency. Tasha was certain they’d selected this place for the fact that it had an actual conference room rather than the tiny bedrooms they all got to share.
“Nope. It’s my day tomorrow,” Kala replied.
Zach sat at the head of the table. He was a few years older than Tasha, making him the senior in the room at the ripe age of twenty-nine. Zach was a stunning man with dark hair that started to curl when he let it grow out and deep brown eyes more than one target seemed to get lost in. He was like an extra brother, and he groaned as the twins started to argue.
It had been two days since she’d woken up and walked away from Dare, and she hadn’t stopped thinking about him for one single minute. Even as she was preparing for tomorrow’s first contact with the target, she’d had Dare on her mind.
Had he gotten her note? Did he understand how sincere she was? Or had he not even cared because he’d gotten what he wanted?
“Yeah, but it was my day two days ago and you stole it and got mimosas and you got to meet Hot Brian, and all I’ve gotten to do is go grocery shopping with Lou,” Kenzie shot back. “I should have gotten to be the one to comfort our sister when she lost the man she’s obviously in love with.”
Kenzie was overly dramatic. Tasha hadn’t even thought the word love. She’d thought the words adore and wild about but not love. Yet. “I just met him.”
Zach snapped his fingers and pointed her way, giving her an approving nod. “I can always count on Tash to be reasonable.”