Agent Undercover Read Online Free PDF Page B

bother him. He usually wasn’t so open with people he’d only just met, but there was just something about Paige, something that made him want to explore the possibility of a relationship.
    Plus, he had Will to think of. What if Will’s reaction to Paige was just a fluke? Then again, what if it wasn’t? Their connection seemed real.
    He had to keep Paige around in order to find out. Of course, with the way he was attracted to her, it was obvious that wasn’t going to be a hardship. At least not for him.
    He cut those thoughts off as she directed him to turn into the drive of a small, yet cozy-looking house with gray vinyl siding and green shutters. “Ah, you rented this from the Jacksons, didn’t you?”
    “Yes. My … brother found it for me.”
    “Well, I know they’re relieved to have it rented. They’ve had some serious financial difficulties since he was laid off six months ago. Rose Mountain is a great little town, but unfortunately, it doesn’t offer much in the way of employment unless you have a specialty.”
    “Like medicine?”
    He smiled. “Like medicine—or teaching. Or owning your own business.” He turned the engine off and started to climb out.
    “You don’t have to get out. I can make it.”
    He knew she could, but for some reason he wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her yet. “Do you mind if I see you in? Make sure you have everything you need?”
    She narrowed her eyes and he held his breath until she said, “Sure. Thanks.”
    The joy that stirred in his heart didn’t shock him at this point, but it did make him remind himself to take it easy. His heart ignored the reminder and thumped faster.
    He followed Paige up the steps to the covered porch. She slid the key in the lock and opened the door. “My garage door opener is in the car.” She froze. “My bike! I totally forgot to ask anyone about it.”
    Dylan grimaced. “I’m afraid it was pronounced dead at the scene.” He flushed. “But I told Principal Bridges I would keep it at my house until you could decide what you wanted to do with it. The dump is probably the best place for it.”
    She eyed him and he squirmed under her gaze. She asked, “It’s that bad?”
    “Trust me. It’s that bad.”
    She sighed. “Okay. I’ll come by and take a look at it when I’m feeling a little better.”
    A bush rustled to her left and she shot a glance over her shoulder. Visions of the car speeding into the school crosswalk flashed momentarily, and she blinked.
    Another rustle. An animal? A neighbor child playing hide-and-seek?
    Dylan must have heard it, too, as he turned to look at the bush.
    She tensed. Or something more sinister?
    The bush shook and she heard—a sneeze?
    She moved toward the sound. “Whoever you are, you better come out now, or I’m calling the police.”
    Absolute stillness.
    Paige narrowed her eyes. Was she being paranoid? Dylan walked up the steps of the porch and grabbed the broom she’d left next to the door.
    Coming back down, he flipped it so the handle pointed toward the shrubbery.
    Paige’s adrenaline rushed through her as he poked into the bush.
    A grunt sounded. “Ouch! Stop!”
    Tempted to run inside and grab her gun, she ignored the feeling. Instead, she pulled out her cell phone. “You have two seconds to show yourself or I’m calling the cops. I—”
    “All right, all right.” The voice sounded frustrated. Then a head popped around the side of the bush. “Paige Worth?”
    A young man in his mid-thirties with shaggy blond hair gradually revealed himself. He had a smile on his face that Paige immediately didn’t trust. He looked—
oily
was the word that popped into her head.
    Dylan didn’t look like he was too happy to see the guy, either.
    Paige narrowed her eyes and drilled him with a harsh glare. “Why are you hiding in my bushes?” she asked.
    The trespasser rubbed his chin and studied her. She saw his eyes settle on the bandage around her head. “Aren’t you the one who saved the