OOPS! I'M A SECRET AGENT (Romance)

by Black, De-ann

  The snow fell lightly on the ground, covering the areas where the old cobbles merged with the modern day pavements.

  Alexavier didn’t speak. Instead, he signalled to me that we should continue through the labyrinth of back streets.

  I led the way, remembering the route I’d taken so many times in what seemed like a lifetime ago. I’d never have imagined that I’d be here with a man like Alexavier, working as a secret agent, running as if our lives depended on it. And perhaps they did.

  We stopped again to listen and assess the situation. No sound from anyone following us. But neither of us was prepared to take any chances and continued to keep to the shadows.

  His face was highlighted against the glow of the dim streetlamps and the light reflecting off the snow. I’d never seen any man look so handsome. His eyes appeared to be aqua blue, soulful eyes, beautiful, but eyes that had seen too much sorrow amid the dark side of life at the department.

  ‘I think we’ve shaken them off,’ he said quietly. ‘What’s the quickest way back to the department?’

  ‘We can be there in ten minutes.’ I led the way. The snow had covered the streets but our pace kept me from feeling the cold. From the depths of the back streets we emerged into one of the main shopping streets.

  Without pausing, we hurried on and entered the safety of the department. Alexavier helped me off with my coat and we went to his office. He flicked his desk lamp on and filled the kettle for tea.

  ‘Are you okay?’ he said.

  ‘Yes. What do we do now?’

  ‘Other hotel accommodation will be arranged, though I suspect you’ll be back in London sooner than we’d thought. You’ve been a great help. Overhearing that conversation tonight pushed everything forward. Well done.’

  I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had given me a verbal well done at work. I felt myself relax and made the tea while Alexavier called Montpelier.

  I brought two teas over to the desk and sat down opposite him.

  ‘Montpelier’s fine,’ he said, finishing the call.

  No details.

  ‘I’m glad. I feel responsible for what happened. If I hadn’t left the gift unattended, or questioned that it felt slightly different from the one I’d chosen...’

  ‘Don’t beat yourself up. Under the circumstances, being thrown in at the deep end, you’ve handled the job excellently.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  A call came through for Alexavier on his mobile. ‘I’m back at the office. Send it over.’ He finished the call and then opened his laptop to access whatever information was being sent to him.

  ‘We’ve got the security footage from the party.’

  I came round to his side of the desk.

  Alexavier pulled up a chair beside his and we sat together watching the laptop screen. He skimmed through the timeline until the part when I came over and put the Christmas gift on the dinner table.

  ‘Watch for anyone in the background taking an interest in you,’ he said.

  ‘Who is that man there? The one standing to the right of the table.’

  Alexavier clicked the pause button. ‘He’s been causing us trouble for several weeks. He’s not in the traitor’s pocket though. We’re sure of that. He’s just after any money he can get.’

  ‘Trouble does indeed attract trouble,’ I said, remembering what Montpelier had told me. ‘He’s watching me. He’s looking at the gift on the table.’

  Alexavier played the footage and we saw the man exchange the original gift for the one containing the tracking device.

  I leaned close and studied him. ‘Is he some sort of spy?’

  ‘No. You’d be surprised how many criminals use hi–tech stuff like that.’

  ‘Why does he want to track me down?’

  ‘I doubt that he does. He’s taken advantage of the situation. He’s seen you with Montpelier and used you to locate where he is. We’ve been careful not to divulge our location. The hotel we’d chosen was considered suitable.’

  ‘A crime of opportunity?’

  ‘Yes. It happens a lot in our work. As we’ve said, assignments overlap into a web of other crimes and devious characters. It’s never clear cut.’

  I hadn’t thought of being a Jenny the Jinx since I’d left London. Now the thought popped into my mind.

  We replayed the footage and watched the man exchange the gift. No one even noticed him.

  ‘We’ll deal with him. He’s overstepped the mark and we’ve got proof now of what he did.’

  Alexavier flicked the laptop off and sipped his tea.

  ‘When people join the department, they usually receive training before they’re assigned tasks such as this one.’

  ‘Nothing I’ve ever done has been straightforward. I guess I’m still a Jenny the Jinx.’

  He laughed as I explained what that was. I got up to the part about preferring to be Neve the secret agent, when another call came through for Alexavier.

  ‘Excellent work. Well done,’ he said to the caller.

  I sat wide eyed waiting to hear what appeared to be great news.

  ‘Our agents have picked up the traitor.’

  I felt like punching the air.

  Alexavier leaned back in his chair and stretched. ‘I think we can get some sleep now. Montpelier has suggested another hotel and booked us in.’

  ‘Great.’ I was elated but exhausted.

  ‘Montpelier won’t be joining us. He’s heading the team who are searching for the chap who switched the gifts on you. They should have him by the morning.’

  ‘So it’s just the two of us at the hotel?’

  ‘Yes. The rooms were fully booked but Montpelier knows the owner and has managed to get us a twin room for the night. I hope you don’t mind sharing.’

  Sharing a room with a gorgeous hunk of a man like Alexavier? Oh the hardship. ‘I don’t mind at all.’

  He turned the desk lamp off and we left the department.

  ‘It’s a ten minute walk. I’d prefer us not to hire a taxi. I don’t want a record of where we are and where we’re heading,’ he said.

  We walked briskly and the ten minutes sped past as we chatted about the department in London and how I’d be trained in various aspects when we got back.

  We passed a couple of dubious looking characters in a doorway but one look from Alexavier’s icy blue eyes and they backed off. Streetwise, they sensed they’d be making a mistake to cross him. There was something about him, even though he didn’t look rough or particularly mean, that warned people not to mess with him.

  ‘Will I learn how to fight?’ I said, pretending to shadow box.

  ‘You’ll learn basic self defence, though we have various martial arts instructors who can train you further in any specific discipline you’re interested in. Most of the women in the agency are also given specialist training where they learn how to deal with amorous advances from men.’

  I guessed he meant unwanted advances, though any advances from Alexavier would be hard to resist...

  Don’t think things like that, I scolded myself. I was definitely out of Alexavier’s league. Besides, it could cause problems at work. I had to maintain a professional relationship with him. Do not think about what it would be like to kiss him and run your hands over that strong, lean chest of his. Do not. But of course the more I tried not to think these things, the more I did. I was tired and yet the thought of sharing a hotel bedroom with him awakened my senses. I was sure my boots had a skip in them as we trudged through the snowy street.

  I’d never tell Alexavier. Never ever...

  But again, life is full of surprises. When we went into the bedroom he confessed that he felt attracted to me.

  I pride myself for not leaping for joy.

  ‘I don’t know what to say,’ I said. Shouting yipeeeee didn’t seem appropriate under the circumstances.

  ‘I just wanted to let you know so that there is no awkwardness between us. I have no intention of acting on my feelings. You can be sure
of that.’

  Drat!

  ‘I think that women can sense when a man is attracted to them, and I think it’s better to clear the air instead of letting the tension build up. As we’re sharing a hotel room it seems particularly apt to let you know.’

  I nodded. ‘It’s probably better not to get involved,’ I said, not believing this at all.

  ‘Definitely.’

  So that was it, huh? I sighed and got ready for bed. I felt totally drained.

  The bedroom was lovely and warm and welcoming. The beds were quite close together, and Montpelier had dropped my suitcases off before embarking on a night chasing the bad guys.

  So I had a change of clothes and my belongings but Alexavier didn’t.

  He’d have to sleep in the clothes he had, or strip off and sleep wearing next to nothing. Hmm...this could be interesting.

  I used the en suite bathroom first, brushing my teeth and freshening up.

  I padded back through and climbed into bed. I was wearing my comfy pyjamas which were borderline leggings and a top.

  Alexavier unbuttoned his shirt, threw it on his bed and headed into the bathroom.

  Jeez! I didn’t think that he’d done it deliberately to tempt me, but what an effect this man had on me.

  I flicked off the bedside lamp. I snuggled up under the duvet and watched the night sky out the window. Plenty of light beamed in through the window, streaking a silver glow across the room.

  Alexavier emerged from the bathroom having freshened up too. His hair was wet and swept back from his face. It looked very sexy and so did he.

  Nope, don’t think such thoughts. Do not.

  But of course I did.

  He sat down on the edge of his bed. ‘Do you think you’ll ever get back together with Rupert?’

  ‘No, we’re finished.’ Why was he asking me that?

  ‘Goodnight, Neve.’

  Goodnight? What? After asking me about Rupert the weasel? But I said, ‘Goodnight.’

  I didn’t stare as Alexavier stripped down to whatever he ended up wearing. His boxers I think. Okay, so I peeked.

  He got into bed.

  We lay there in silence for a few minutes. Even after all that had happened I didn’t feel sleepy. My mind was racing with a dozen thoughts, not least that I was sharing a bedroom with Alexavier.

  ‘Are you asleep?’ he said.

  ‘Yes,’ I whispered.

  He laughed.

  And so did I. But as I laughed my throat was dry from being out in the cold night air and I started to choke, and laugh, which made him laugh, which made me giggle and splutter all the more.

  He got up and brought me a glass of water from the bathroom. The glow from the night shone across the contours of his strong, lean chest. He wore only his black boxers, and his legs were long and athletic. What a great build he had.

  He came over to my bed and leaned down. ‘Take a sip.’

  I’d stopped choking and giggling but I sipped the water hoping it would calm my senses. His hand brushed against mine as I handed the glass back to him, sending my senses into overdrive.

  He put the glass down on the bedside table.

  And paused.

  My stomach tightened. He’d paused!

  He looked down at me with those gorgeous blue eyes and lips that tempted me to reach up and kiss him and be damned with the consequences. What did it matter? Jenny the Jinx had a whole CV of mischief making and broken dreams. What was one more blot on my jotter?

  While my mind argued the toss, he leaned down. His arms pressed on both sides of my pillow, and he kissed me with more passion than I’d felt in my entire life. I wrapped my arms around him, feeling the sinew of his muscles and smooth skin beneath my fingertips. I ran my hands across his shoulders and then through his hair, pulling him closer to me, though he needed little encouragement.

  If the knock on the door hadn’t interrupted us, I don’t know how far we’d have let ourselves go.

  Alexavier jumped up. ‘Who’s there?’

  No reply.

  We looked at each other. I had a bad feeling about whoever wanted to enter our room. He phoned down to reception to alert security. No reply.

  He motioned for me to get dressed. I threw my clothes on immediately. Having a tendency to sleep through my alarm clock and be late for work in the mornings had been excellent training for being able to get dressed at the speed of light. I think even he was impressed.

  I’d gathered everything except my senses and was ready to run at his signal.

  He put his clothes on and went over to the window.

  My heart sank. No, he wasn’t thinking of climbing out of the window. We were two storeys up.

  His expression confirmed that he was.

  They knocked on the door again. Louder this time. A sense of menace filled the room. By the sounds of it there was more than one of them lurking outside the door.

  He opened the window wide and the freezing air rushed in.

  ‘Wait here,’ he said. ‘I’m going to climb in through one of the other bedrooms to get to the corridor.’

  And presumably fight them while trying to protect me. Although I knew he was well capable, I had a better idea.

  ‘I’ll go with you.’

  The doubt flashed across his features.

  ‘I can climb. I’m rubbish at lots of things, but I can climb like a spider.’

  He frowned.

  ‘I can do this.’ I didn’t especially want to do this, but I could.

  ‘Could you climb down to the ground?’

  I peered out the window, feeling the snow touch my skin. The wind blew through my hair. The building was old, the type that had embellishments and broader ledges than some of the sleeker constructions they built nowadays. There were enough footholds and bits to grip on to. I reckoned I could climb down.

  ‘Yes.’

  We didn’t hesitate a moment longer.

  Alexavier picked up my bags and threw them down on to the snow covered ground. The snow cushioned the sound of their fall. I took my coat off and threw it down too. I couldn’t climb with it on.

  With an acknowledging nod we climbed out of the window and started to edge our way down to the next floor. The cold began to freeze my fingers but the sandstone provided an ideal grip for climbing.

  A few times we glanced at each other. We’d taken one hell of a risk, but the odds were better than tackling whoever had hunted us down. When I got back to the department in London I’d definitely take them up on their self defence and martial arts instruction. But tonight, my climbing had come in useful. Rupert never acknowledged my ability. When he trained at the gym, or played at it, for he didn’t really do anything other than trundle a bit on the treadmill and chat to his friends, I opted to train on the climbing wall. It was a great facility and kept my hand in at something that seemed to come naturally to me. My father had been a climber and I’d learned from him. It wasn’t anything I planned as a career or main leisure interest, but I enjoyed doing it. I especially liked the climbing wall because you were hooked up to security ropes that saved you from harm while letting you train.

  Anyway, we climbed down further and then Alexavier jumped the last few feet, dropping safely on to the thick layer of snow. He held his arms out and encouraged me to jump. So I did, and he caught me.

  We gathered our things and started running.

  I glanced back and saw two men watching us out of our bedroom window. Were they going to attempt the climb we’d just made? I didn’t think so.

  Having a head start on them, we disappeared into the night, and headed back to the department.

  I had a couple of hours sleep on the sofa in Alexavier’s office. I woke around six in the morning to a city that was a total whiteout.

  Alexavier was tapping away at the laptop. He didn’t look tired, just determined to find out who the two men were, how they’d located us, and keep updated on the situation with Montpelier.

  I could hear a few people coming into
the building as it came to life.

  The receptionist I’d met the previous day glanced into the office, saw me lying on the sofa covered with my coat and Alexavier’s jacket, gave a disapproving stare and then left us to get on with our business.

  Alexavier gave me a long, unfathomable look. ‘About last night...’

  This was it. He’d made a mistake kissing me. It would never happen again. The whole drama and excitement of the night, the adrenalin kicks, were to blame for his lack of self control and mine.

  Thankfully, I was wrong.

  ‘I’d like you to think carefully about whether or not you want to become involved with me.’

  I nodded. There was hope. Hmm?

  How long did he want me to think it over? Ten seconds? Would that suffice?

  ‘I will.’ I tried to sound thoughtful, as if the choice of having a relationship with him was in any doubt.

  A message came through on Alexavier’s phone. He read it and smiled. ‘The traitor has admitted his guilt, so that part of the assignment is complete. And Montpelier checked the security footage at the hotel you and I stayed at to find out exactly what happened last night.’ He clicked on a document on the laptop. ‘These are screenshots of the men he found. We ran a check on them through the system and they’re well paid thugs hired by the traitor. Now that he’s out of the game, so are they.’

  ‘Does that mean the assignment is over?’

  ‘For you, yes. Things were cleaned up quicker than we thought which is obviously great. You’ll be sent back to London later today.’

  ‘Do I have to go?’ The thought of suddenly leaving Glasgow again jarred me. ‘I somehow thought I’d be here a bit longer. I wanted to at least have a proper look around the city before I had to go home to London. I may not be back in Glasgow for years.’

  He nodded thoughtfully. ‘I understand, but you will be back in Glasgow within the next few months. Montpelier intends writing a glowing report and requesting that you are utilised here on a regular basis. Two or three trips a year.’

  ‘That sounds great.’ It did. Being back in Glasgow was wonderful. I didn’t think I’d leave London. I had my house and was settled there, but assignments to Glasgow would give me the chance to get to know the city again. And who knows what the future would bring.