Angel of Desire Read Online Free PDF

distance. At this moment, they could have been the only two people in the bar. The air around them was practically crackling.
    "I don't know him personally. But I do know who Tony Bendetti is. I am also acquainted with his line of work."
    Tension shimmered between them. Shade was all barely restrained energy , reminding Rachel of a jungle cat prepared to pounce. His green eyes glittered dangerously.
    "May I make a suggestion?" she asked quietly.
    "What?"
    It came out on a low, dangerous growl, reminding Rachel of one of his former code names: Panther . At the time she hadn't realized exactly how well that alias had fit.
    Reminding herself that she had nothing to fear from this man, she said, "That policeman over at the other table, the one who came in just a minute ago, is watching us with increasing interest."
    Although he didn't move a muscle, Rachel was aware of Shade's surreptitious sideways glance. "I would suggest," she continued calmly, "if you wish to avoid spending the remainder of the evening down at the precinct house responding to questions you'd rather not answer, that you leave your weapon safely where it is."
    Damn. He hadn't even noticed the cop come in. No doubt about it. He must be getting soft in his old age.
    That unsavory idea reminded him of an old intelligence agency bromide: There were old spooks and bold spooks, but there were no old, bold spooks. Shade slowly dropped his hand to his side.
    "Who the hell are you? And what do you want with me?"
    "My name is Rachel Parrish. And I want to accompany you to Yaznovia."
    There. It was out in the open. She hadn't broached the subject as tactfully as she'd planned, but then again, tact and patience had never been Rachel's long suit. There were some things that even death couldn't alter.
    "You're from the company." Shade wondered why he hadn't figured it out the minute she'd shown up. Obviously the desk jockeys were afraid that, left to his own devices, he'd screw up some unfathomable government foreign policy.
    "No. I'm not from the CIA."
    "Sure." She was good, Shade admitted as he swiped at the damn fern again. Everything about this woman—her unwavering gaze, her steady expression, her understated appearance, her composure—all screamed sincerity. "That's what they all say."
    He still had the scar between his shoulder blades where an unbelievably sexy, redheaded double agent had stabbed him while they were taking a hot shower together in a supposed safe house in the German countryside. Six years later and Shade still hadn't figured out where she'd hidden the damn stiletto.
    His intelligent eyes were looking into Rachel. Looking hard. Looking deep. Men had looked at her that way before, while questioning her during her fatal trial. At the time, they'd professed to be merely probing for the truth, but Rachel had understood all too well that they'd already found her guilty.
    But this man was not like those others, Rachel reminded herself. Shade was rough-hewn, yes. He'd done things that he would someday have to atone for. But despite his outward cynicism, she knew that he possessed a deep-seated, unflinching integrity. He was also old-fashioned enough to believe in justice.
    She'd always seen things in Shade others couldn't see. Things he'd never seen in himself. She also knew that it would irritate and embarrass him to discover that she considered him an unshakably moral man.
    Such knowledge allowed her to hold her ground beneath his sharp stare. Although looking into his unwavering eyes was like gazing into a too-hot sun, if he expected her to squirm, he'd be disappointed.
    "I understand why you might doubt my word. But I assure you, I'm not a spy."
    She was a helluva lot better than good. There weren't many people who could stand up to a look designed to make the bad guys tremble in their boots. Most individuals with something to hide began to fidget. Flush and look away. Sweat. But she remained as cool as a frozen daiquiri.
    "I think," he said slowly,