Agent I1: Tristan [01] The D.I.R.E. Agency Read Online Free PDF Page A

alone but he couldn’t afford the complications that came with company and growing close to someone.
    He took another drink. “Depends on my mood, I guess.”
    “Fair enough.” She drained her glass.
    Damn, she could really put it away.
    “With my nursing job, I’m around people all the time and I love it. But, some days I want to be in a quiet place like this and just think… or not.” She gave him a wry grin.
    He got that. “After a really tough op, I try to get back here and spend a day on the beach.” He held up his arm with the armband. “I turn this off, and it’s just me and the water.”
    She poured herself another drink. Apparently, the woman was on a mission of her own.
    “What does your girlfriend think of this place?”
    Tristan laughed to himself. Like that would happen. “No girlfriend.”
    “Wife?” Her voice held a high note of surprise.
    This part of the conversation definitely called for another drink. Holding out his glass, he shook his head.
    She poured him a refill. “Aversion to commitment?”
    He stopped her when she filled it three-quarters of the way full. “No time. I wouldn’t expect someone to sit around waiting for me while I’m out… working. I can be gone for months at a time.”
    Taking another drink, she stopped midstream and stared at him with round eyes. “That’s why this vacation was so important to you.”
    Tristan stared down at his glass again. “Aidan will pay. Take my word for it.”
    Nodding, she refilled her glass, sloshing a little over the side. He steadied it for her before setting the bottle on the step between them.
    “When you and I get through with him, D.I.R.E . may have to piece him back together.” She held out her hand for a fist bump.
    Tristan took her up on it. Her touch caused another spark to ignite under his skin. Maybe he needed to have the science team take a look at his hand.
    “Speaking of Aidan, how did you end up helping him with all of this, anyway?”
    “You sure ask a lot of questions.”
    A blush stole over her cheeks before she dropped her gaze. “I’m sorry. I talk to people all day, every day. Feel free to say no comment.” When she looked up at him, her aqua eyes were soft. “But, I don’t ask questions about anything that doesn’t genuinely interest me.”
    Holding her gaze, Tristan swallowed hard. Did her statement mean she held an interest in him , or Aidan’s favor? Hell, he couldn’t get that lucky. Must be the alcohol making him feel… special. Besides, if he laid a finger on Aidan’s saintly sister, he would be shark bait by tomorrow afternoon.
    “No comment.”
    The silence that met his statement rang louder than any retort she could have made.
    Rachel held her glass in front of her, eyes downcast. The quiet was so unlike the chatterbox that had sat down with him a few minutes ago. He told himself they were both better off remaining strangers.
    Rising from the step, she made her way down to the sand. Her movements were graceful, light - impressive after the number of drinks she’d consumed. Rachel stood for everything refined and soft in a woman, yet he knew she had the stubborn will of an old cat.
    With the wind whipping at her hair, she stood with her back to him. “Your normal day is what: debriefings, teleporting here and there, sitting in on bad guy conversations, taking out someone…?”
    Tristan stilled. Where the hell had that come from? Obviously, he had hit a nerve. “I thought we’d found a truce here but, if you want to go there, we can go there.”
    Staring over her shoulder, Rachel shook her head. “No. For some reason, I can’t seem to separate what you do and what happened to my father. I keep wondering who shot him? Why did they shoot him? What had he done or not done to anger them that much?” She turned back to the water. “My father knew exactly what happened that night but couldn't tell anyone. Some days the frustration eats me alive.”
    Tristan blew out a breath. You’re such