Homeland Security (Defenders of Love Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

after all.
    He caught Katie's eye over a display of animal print push up bras. His blood warmed pleasantly as she smiled at him. A hunger of a different sort clenched in his gut.
    "I'm sorry," she said. "I know it's late but I can't stomach the thought of anything that man touched on my skin. I want to grab a couple of things to hold me until I can get to the mall."
    "Take your time. You might not be able to go home for a few days so grab what you need," Kaiden responded with more conviction than he felt. He nodded at a leopard print push-up in front of him. "That looks nice." It would look real nice on Katie. Forget about his allergy response, everything started to warm up.
    "Agent James! I had no idea you had such a wild side to you!"
    "I'm not all business all the time you know. And please, call me Kaiden already. I am pretty sure we have gone beyond formal. Not every woman I meet gives me a sponge bath." He winked at her as a blush formed on her cheeks.
    "We probably shouldn't discuss that. Nurse-patient privilege or something." She reached for a deep emerald satin and lace set that would look like the jewel of the same tone against her creamy skin and bring out the green in her hazel eyes.
    "I don't think there is any such thing. Besides, it's something I certainly enjoy thinking about."
    He watched as the flush in her cheeks darkened by at least three shades. Kaiden couldn't help but wonder if Nurse Katie had ever thought about him. Of course not, you idiot, she was engaged! Still, during his stay in the hospital they had definitely shared a flirtation. Apparently it ended at flirting since she had a boyfriend the entire time. The pain meds had probably colored the experience, making it something more in his mind than it had actually been.
    "All right then it must be off-limits for a secret agent to discuss such things with a suspect."
    Kaiden laughed. "There is nothing secret about this agent. You know who I am and what I do and I'm fairly certain the only thing you are guilty of is bad judgment in men."
    As soon as the words left his mouth he regretted them. The look on her face, a mix of pain, betrayal and anger, cut him like a knife.
    "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for." Stepping around the rack of lingerie, he instinctively reached for Katie. He wanted to hold her close, protect her from the pain he had caused. She moved out of his reach around another rack where she grabbed a couple more hangers of bra and panty sets. Kaiden gave her the space she obviously wanted but it killed him to. He wanted to find out what, if anything, was happening between them but needed to keep his distance.
    Katie scooped up a couple of nightshirts and a few pairs of socks. The faraway look in her eyes bothered Kaiden more than it should have.
    Who was he kidding anyway? He had been attracted to Katie in the hospital and that obviously hadn't gone away. Last time her job kept them apart, this time it would be his.
    Remembering Cara and the nastiness of his divorce, he knew it would be wise to avoid any more relationships. Cara had made it absolutely clear no other woman in the world would put up with his secrets and lies. It didn't matter that those secrets were usually a matter of national security and the lies were more like half-truths, intended to protect her from the evils of his world. Maybe things with Katie could be different. You're better off keeping your distance, man. Hell, she'd definitely be better off.
    Better than what? Better than the mess she had gotten in when some smooth talking politician's son had convinced her he loved her? Yeah, she had been so much better off with a man who only wanted her access to the hospital lab.
    Access to the lab. Oh man, why hadn't he thought of that before?
    "Katie?" he called across another rack of sheer fabrics and lacy cups. "Do you use a keycard to access your department?"
    "Of course," she replied without looking up.
    "Where do you keep it?"
    "I always drop it in a box on my bureau