Read Online Confidence Tricks by Tamara Morgan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tamara Morgan
Tags: Romance
Ads: Link
stalking.”
Asprey had seen Poppy approaching from across the street and, other than a momentary urge to turn and flee, was rather proud of standing his ground. “Maybe I wanted to be seen. Did you even consider that possibility?”
She came to a halt in front of him, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. “So…you’re standing on a street corner in a trench coat because you’re seeking attention? Please tell me you’re wearing pants.”
He couldn’t help a grin from spreading across his face. This might not be the way Graff would go about things, but forgive him for taking a little joy in what he did. “I’ll admit this isn’t my finest disguise. But if you knew how long I’ve been tailing you, I think you might revise your earlier statement. Recon is the one thing I can actually do.”
Contrary to his expectations, she didn’t smile. With a predatory step forward, she jabbed a finger his direction, and her normally large, expressive eyes narrowed. “Let’s get one thing straight if we’re going to work together. I don’t care if you can make yourself invisible or spy like you once belonged to the CIA. You don’t come here. Ever.”
Now that was interesting. “You came to my home.”
“It’s not negotiable, Asprey.”
He studied her carefully. It was hard to imagine how someone almost a foot shorter than him, wearing leopard-print shorts and the same teal cowboy boots from before, could have such powers of intimidation. But the powers were there, and so was she. He stuck out a hand. “Fair enough. But in return, can we at least go somewhere to talk? There have been…developments regarding your proposition.”
“Graff would rather eat the feathers in my hair than help, wouldn’t he?”
Asprey snorted. “He has a few concerns.”
Poppy rattled off an address down by the waterfront and asked him to meet her there in thirty minutes. Almost as an afterthought, she grabbed his sleeve before making her way back across the street. “Have you really been following me that long?”
As in, had he watched as she paid a visit to a parole office downtown this morning? Or been there when she tossed on a wig and spent six hours as Natalie Hall at a gym he knew firsthand was patronized by Todd Kennick?
“Nah,” he lied. Better to ease into that sort of thing. “Besides—even if I had, I can promise you that your secrets are safe with me.”
She let go and shook her head. “That shows what you know. My secrets aren’t safe with anyone.”
They met at a place called Dinghies and Donuts. Asprey took one look at the faded, wood-paneled interior and the waitress with nicotine stains on her fingers and almost fell into a swoon.
“This place is perfect.” He held up two fingers when the waitress cast a wary and tattooed eyebrow straight up to her hairline. “Your corner booth, please. My colleague and I require privacy.”
“Real subtle,” Poppy muttered. She nudged him out of the way and followed the waitress toward a semi-private booth farthest from the door. “You might as well wear a sign around your neck that says Aspiring Criminal Overlord.”
“You picked it. I would have been just as happy at Denny’s.”
They slid into the seats as the waitress overturned two brown ceramic cups. “You kids want coffee?”
Poppy widened her eyes and gave a warning shake of her head.
“You might as well bring the whole carafe,” Asprey said warmly, rubbing his hands together. “We’re going to be here awhile.”
“You gonna eat?”
This time, Poppy kicked him under the table. Point taken. How bad could the food possibly be?
“We’ll let you know,” he said.
“If I’d have known you were going to act like a kid at his first coed party, I would have suggested somewhere else,” Poppy said. “This place is good because almost no one comes in. Ever.”
“Plan a lot of crimes here?”
“You could say that.” Poppy watched him for a moment before settling into the
Asprey had seen Poppy approaching from across the street and, other than a momentary urge to turn and flee, was rather proud of standing his ground. “Maybe I wanted to be seen. Did you even consider that possibility?”
She came to a halt in front of him, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. “So…you’re standing on a street corner in a trench coat because you’re seeking attention? Please tell me you’re wearing pants.”
He couldn’t help a grin from spreading across his face. This might not be the way Graff would go about things, but forgive him for taking a little joy in what he did. “I’ll admit this isn’t my finest disguise. But if you knew how long I’ve been tailing you, I think you might revise your earlier statement. Recon is the one thing I can actually do.”
Contrary to his expectations, she didn’t smile. With a predatory step forward, she jabbed a finger his direction, and her normally large, expressive eyes narrowed. “Let’s get one thing straight if we’re going to work together. I don’t care if you can make yourself invisible or spy like you once belonged to the CIA. You don’t come here. Ever.”
Now that was interesting. “You came to my home.”
“It’s not negotiable, Asprey.”
He studied her carefully. It was hard to imagine how someone almost a foot shorter than him, wearing leopard-print shorts and the same teal cowboy boots from before, could have such powers of intimidation. But the powers were there, and so was she. He stuck out a hand. “Fair enough. But in return, can we at least go somewhere to talk? There have been…developments regarding your proposition.”
“Graff would rather eat the feathers in my hair than help, wouldn’t he?”
Asprey snorted. “He has a few concerns.”
Poppy rattled off an address down by the waterfront and asked him to meet her there in thirty minutes. Almost as an afterthought, she grabbed his sleeve before making her way back across the street. “Have you really been following me that long?”
As in, had he watched as she paid a visit to a parole office downtown this morning? Or been there when she tossed on a wig and spent six hours as Natalie Hall at a gym he knew firsthand was patronized by Todd Kennick?
“Nah,” he lied. Better to ease into that sort of thing. “Besides—even if I had, I can promise you that your secrets are safe with me.”
She let go and shook her head. “That shows what you know. My secrets aren’t safe with anyone.”
They met at a place called Dinghies and Donuts. Asprey took one look at the faded, wood-paneled interior and the waitress with nicotine stains on her fingers and almost fell into a swoon.
“This place is perfect.” He held up two fingers when the waitress cast a wary and tattooed eyebrow straight up to her hairline. “Your corner booth, please. My colleague and I require privacy.”
“Real subtle,” Poppy muttered. She nudged him out of the way and followed the waitress toward a semi-private booth farthest from the door. “You might as well wear a sign around your neck that says Aspiring Criminal Overlord.”
“You picked it. I would have been just as happy at Denny’s.”
They slid into the seats as the waitress overturned two brown ceramic cups. “You kids want coffee?”
Poppy widened her eyes and gave a warning shake of her head.
“You might as well bring the whole carafe,” Asprey said warmly, rubbing his hands together. “We’re going to be here awhile.”
“You gonna eat?”
This time, Poppy kicked him under the table. Point taken. How bad could the food possibly be?
“We’ll let you know,” he said.
“If I’d have known you were going to act like a kid at his first coed party, I would have suggested somewhere else,” Poppy said. “This place is good because almost no one comes in. Ever.”
“Plan a lot of crimes here?”
“You could say that.” Poppy watched him for a moment before settling into the
Similar Books
