Love with the Proper Stranger Read Online Free PDF

windowless cubicles assigned to the less experiencedagents. He heard what’s-his-name’s voice. Taylor. Steven Taylor’s voice.
    “He’s a time bomb, about to explode. You know that as well as I do. You wouldn’t
believe
the rumors that are circulating about John Miller. Talk is that he’s on the verge of some kind of breakdown.”
    “Do you always listen to rumors?” It was Daniel, and there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
    “Not usually, no. But the man looks
terrible
—”
    Daniel’s voice was gentle now. “He’s a living legend, Steve. He’s the best there is. He looks terrible because he’s got insomnia. It gets worse when he’s between investigations. But believe me, he’ll be fine. Don’t request a transfer—you’ll be able to learn a lot from this guy. Trust me on this one.”
    “Humph.” Taylor didn’t sound convinced. “Did you see the way his hands shook? No way do I want to be under the command of some flaky insomniac James Bond has-been who’s on the edge. No, I’m outta here. Haven’t you heard that his partners have a way of dying on him?”
    Miller stepped into the room. “If you’ve got a problem with me, Taylor,” he said coldly, “come and tell me to my face.”
    A flush of embarrassment darkened Taylor’s cheeks as he gazed at him in surprise. His eyes lost their focus for a second or two, and Miller knew that he was replaying his words in his mind, recalling all the harsh things he’d said that Miller had no doubt overheard.
    Time bomb. Flaky insomniac. James Bond has-been.
    “Excuse me, sir,” Taylor said, making a quick exit out of the room.
    That was one agent
he
was never going to see again.Miller turned to Daniel Tonaka. “Mind stepping into my office with me?”
    Daniel didn’t look perturbed, but then again, Daniel never did.
    Miller went out into the corridor, leading the way back to his office. He went inside, then turned and waited for Daniel to join him.
    “What’s up?” Daniel asked evenly.
    Miller closed the door and immediately lit into him. “If I hear you discussing my personal life with another agent ever again, you will be transferred off my team so fast, you won’t know what hit you.”
    He’d truly caught Daniel off guard, and a myriad of emotions flashed across the young man’s face. But he quickly recovered. “I was unaware that you believed your inability to sleep was a secret around here.”
    “I know damn well that it’s no secret,” Miller said coolly. “But it’s not your business to discuss.”
    Daniel nodded and even managed to smile. “Okay. I can respect that, John. And I apologize for offending you.”
    Miller opened his office door. “Just be ready to leave first thing in the morning.”
    “I will.” Daniel paused and smiled again before he went out the door. “I’m glad we had this little time to talk and straighten things out.”
    Miller didn’t let himself smile until he’d closed his office door behind Daniel.
I’m glad we had this little time to talk…
Hell, other men would’ve wet themselves.
Taylor
sure as hell would’ve—it was just as well he wasn’t going to be hanging around, getting in the way.
    Miller tossed his briefcase onto a chair and the photos Taylor had taken onto his desk. The blurred pictureof Serena Westford had been on top, but it slid off the pile, and Mariah Robinson’s laughing eyes peeked out at him.
    Tomorrow he was going to be in Garden Isle, Georgia, and he was “accidentally” going to bump into Mariah Robinson. For the first time in weeks, he felt wide-awake with the buzz of anticipation.

CHAPTER TWO
    T HERE WAS A DOG ON THE beach, frolicking in the surf in the predawn light.
    There was a dog—and a man.
    It wasn’t such a rare occurrence for a dog and its master to be on the beach outside of Mariah’s cottage. The stretch of sand was nearly seven miles long, starting down by the resort, and ending at the lighthouse on the northernmost tip of the island. Ambitious