The Cinderella Mission Read Online Free PDF

“Man, I’ll be sorry to see it go.” Arms crossed over her chest, she circled him in a slow perusal. “Hmmm, let’s talk body specifics.”
    “Let’s not.”
    “He’s got nice legs. Runner’s legs. And those washboard abs—” She pivoted to the woman in the cubicle beside her. “What do you think, Carla?”
    The woman’s gaze raked him with bold appreciation before she gave Kelly a wink and a nod. Heat burned over him. Damn it, he absolutely was not blushing.
    “Time to go.” Ethan grabbed Kelly’s arm and started hauling her toward the hall, all the while trying to ignore the soft give of womanly flesh beneath his hand.
    He may have been dragging her, but her straight back made it clear she was walking tall at her own pace. She called over her shoulder, “What’s the verdict on his butt, Carla? Pretty fine, huh?”
    The low rumble of laughs swallowed any answer, laughs from everybody including one from Robert Davidson, who lounged just inside the door. Kelly’s eyes turned razor-sharp again in a warning Ethan picked up two seconds too late.
    She jerked loose and stood her ground. “But of course we all know his butt’s great…since he shows it often enough.”
    Uh-oh. Ethan jammed his hands in his pockets and prepared to weather the storm.
    “As a matter of fact, he was showing that awesome ass of his about four minutes ago. You see, the thing is, now that he finally figured out I’m attracted to him, he assumes his hot body is so appealing it will render me incapable of working with him. Now silly little ole me thinks I’ve managed to do my job quite well for two years with him around. Somehow he must have forgotten that.”
    Kelly advanced to stand toe-to-toe with Ethan. “Just so everyone’s clear, you’re a good-looking guy. No question. But you know what else? Big deal. Get over yourself.”
    She flicked her hair over her shoulder in a tidal wave of silk that caught him square in the libido before she whipped around him and out the door.
    Her tennis shoes thudded all the way down the corridor.
    Davidson applauded. “Well done.”
    Low chuckles echoed as everyone ducked back into cubicles.
    Davidson shoved a hand through his damp hair. “Nice to see a woman have you on the run for a change.”
    Kelly? Have him on the run? Ethan didn’t like the sound of that at all. And he wasn’t on the run, damn it, just off his game today. “I was only protecting her feelings.”
    “And instead you hurt them.”
    That stung more than it should have. “Looks that way.”
    His fellow operative nodded toward an open meeting room and gestured for Ethan to follow. “So you’re going to be working with her?”
    Ethan paused, then closed the door to the windowless room. Davidson would be briefed soon enough anyway—and probably laugh himself sore.
    “The couple-cover deal.” Ethan paced around the room, restless energy fueling his feet.
    Davidson tugged a chair from the conference table and dropped into it. “Tough gig, working with a woman you’re attracted to.”
    Weary eyes said Davidson had already taken that walk.
    Stopping beside a Power Point projector, Ethan readjustedthe cord with too much attention. “Who says I’m attracted to her?”
    “You’re not?”
    Ethan blocked the image of her breasts straining against her sweater, the memory of her voice flowing over him in the car while he dressed. “She’s a friend. Or at least she was.”
    “Whatever.” Davidson worked a hand along his left thigh where he’d been hit two years ago. “Sure will kill that playboy image of yours to be seen with her.”
    Defensiveness crept through Ethan. He’d never thought of Davidson as shallow. Couldn’t the guy see the patrician cheekbones Kelly almost managed to hide under all that magnificent hair? And she could layer on enough clothes for an ice storm and it wouldn’t disguise the curve of those breasts he suspected were as incredibly generous as the woman.
    He opened his mouth to set Davidson