As Lost as I Get Read Online Free PDF

she’d never be mistaken for anything other than an American. The locals always knew. Something in her bearing or her clothing gave her away every time.
    Susan interrupted her thoughts with two delicious-smelling arepas de huevo, purchased from one of the stalls. She handed one to Zoe. They were hot out of the fryer, cornmeal dough crisp around the edges. Suddenly Zoe was starving, the crowds momentarily forgotten. “Maria says she’s going to teach me how to make these,” Susan said as they walked to the next stall.
    “God help us.” Zoe laughed around a mouthful of savory corn cake and egg. She swallowed. “Warn me, will you, so I can be out. Or so we can alert the fire department.” She looked up ahead of them and her stomach slammed shut. It couldn’t be. There was no way she was seeing what she was seeing, and yet . . .
    A man was haggling with one of the stall owners, a good-natured smile on his face. His clear, fair skin and expensive-looking clothes marked him as an American; she would have known that even if she hadn’t known who he was. Her heart started pounding painfully in her chest, and it got harder to catch her breath. Oh God, not a panic attack, not now.
    The last time she’d seen Lee Wheeler, he’d brought flowers to her in the hospital and made uncomfortable small talkuntil visiting hours ended. The time before that, she’d been clinging to his hand while orderlies tried to wheel her away on a stretcher.
    What was he doing here? More important, why was the CIA in Inírida? She had to get out of here.
    “Zoe?” Susan touched her arm and she jumped. “You okay?”
    “Yeah. I—I think the heat is getting to me. I should go back home. Will you be okay?”
    “Are you sure you don’t need me to go with you?” Susan frowned at her and pressed a hand to Zoe’s cheek and forehead. “You’re not feeling faint, are you, honey?”
    “No, it’s fine. Stay.” Zoe managed a smile. “Someone’s got to finish the shopping.”
    “Well, if you’re sure . . .”
    “I am, I promise.” She slipped away from Susan and made her way out of the market. She threw away the last of the arepa, not hungry anymore.
    It was too late. She reached a quiet section of the street when she heard, “Zoe?”
    Damn it.
She turned around and there he was, tall and breathtaking and terrifying. He was nothing like she remembered him, disheveled and determined and smudged with dirt. Instead he was smiling and crisp and looked every inch the well-to-do American businessman. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “I thought you were in Miami.”
    “Lee, hello.” She hated how weak her voice sounded. “I’ve been here a few months. The MI clinic in town needed a director, and I wanted back in the field.” She made herself smile.
    Lee leaned a little closer and smiled. He wouldn’t stop smiling at her, and it was confusing. Was the adrenaline rush still fear, or something else? “I shouldn’t have even said hi, but it’s a small town, and I needed to catch you alone.”
    “A-Alone?”
    “I have to ask, when you spotted me in the marketplace, did you tell your friend who I was? It’s very important.” Now he looked more like she remembered: serious and intent, his bright blue eyes laser-focused on her.
    Zoe shook her head, unable to look away. She reminded herself she wasn’t in danger, but her heart beat loud in her ears like she was. She had a sudden vivid memory of being cradled in his arms, held against his chest, and how it had signified a return to safety and home.
    “Good, that’s good,” he said. He sighed. “Damn it. I hate to do this, but I need your help.” He needed
her
help? He looked around, then stepped closer. “I’m on assignment here. Undercover. We may not run into each other again, but like I said, it’s a small town and—”
    “I should act like I don’t know you,” she said, catching on.
    “No, I think that’s probably not necessary. Besides, someone might’ve seen