blast.
“Well, Salomeh is just one of my many aliases,” she countered, poking him in the ribs, “so you’d best keep your guard up.”
Julian wondered at the transformation in her behavior. She had gone from standoffish to flirtatious, but clearly wasn’t too swayed by his allure, judging by how she swatted away his compliment.
“You’re pretty bad at this whole sleeper-cell business,” he said. “Rule number one: never confirm you’re not who you say you are. Rule number two: if you do blow your cover, make sure to take out whoever knows your secret.”
“What makes you think I’m not going to take you out?” she asked, batting her eyelashes at him. “Enjoy this drink I’m getting you. It may be your last.”
“I’ll take a rum and Coke, then,” Julian said as she moved away from him.
“I know,” she said and merged into the crowd.
Julian didn’t know why he was turning the charm up to eleven instead of asking her more productive questions, but somewhere between his first sighting of her and their exchange under the water tower, the plan had changed from checking out a lead to figuring out how to please her. He told himself it was because she had information that might be helpful to him, but even the most deluded part of his brain wouldn’t allow that fallacy. As unusual as it was for him, it appeared he actually liked her.
But he still had to maintain some semblance of professionalism.
He whipped out his cell phone and texted Yates, hoping he sounded professional and detached. I ran into the teacher Jones at rooftop party at my building. Currently trying to see if the lead is viable.
Are you serious? Stop messing with me on my day off , was the initial reply, followed by Wait, if this is true does that mean you’re going to harass her on the first night she’s worked up the nerve to go out in weeks, and probably ruin her entire night? Awesome.
Julian frowned, fingers flying over his phone’s small keyboard. I’m not going to interrogate her, just see if I can gather any intel relevant to our case.
He thought that was vague enough to sound believable.
So you haven’t told her who you are , came the rapid reply, instantly followed by another. You do realize you’re not James Bond, don’t you? And then another. This should go well. Don’t do anything stupid, Tamali.
Julian searched the crowd and homed in on Salomeh’s white dress. He had spent some time in Saudi Arabia, where modesty police could chastise women for revealing the smallest amount of hair or skin. Salomeh’s dress would cause those guys to spontaneously combust. The way the halter top cupped her heavy breasts taunted him with how easy it would be to release those twin beauties. The dress draped over her curvy hips and stopped right below her ass, revealing long, long legs.
She held two drinks in her hands but been had stopped by his matchmaker neighbor. The woman seemed to be doing an interrogation of her own as a small group of guys began to advance on them. Given the smooth expanse of dusky skin that was exposed to the night air, he was surprised the guys weren’t moving faster.
I never do anything stupid. Why would I start tonight? he texted Yates before slipping his phone back into his pocket and heading for Salomeh.
“I’m fine. I was just getting a drink for someone,” she was saying to her friend as he approached. Her voice was shy again, and Julian felt a stab of guilt as he saw Salomeh’s small, hopeful smile.
“Who is someone? Is this mystery friend the reason you pulled a Usain Bolt across the rooftop earlier?” Marta asked, crossing her arms under her ample bosom. The men milling about them leaned closer expectantly, as her shirt was already dangerously low-cut.
“She’s not allowed to make new friends?” Julian inquired easily as he stepped in front of their other admirers, a smirk lifting a corner of his mouth. “Is there something I should know about you two?”
Salomeh rolled her eyes
“Well, Salomeh is just one of my many aliases,” she countered, poking him in the ribs, “so you’d best keep your guard up.”
Julian wondered at the transformation in her behavior. She had gone from standoffish to flirtatious, but clearly wasn’t too swayed by his allure, judging by how she swatted away his compliment.
“You’re pretty bad at this whole sleeper-cell business,” he said. “Rule number one: never confirm you’re not who you say you are. Rule number two: if you do blow your cover, make sure to take out whoever knows your secret.”
“What makes you think I’m not going to take you out?” she asked, batting her eyelashes at him. “Enjoy this drink I’m getting you. It may be your last.”
“I’ll take a rum and Coke, then,” Julian said as she moved away from him.
“I know,” she said and merged into the crowd.
Julian didn’t know why he was turning the charm up to eleven instead of asking her more productive questions, but somewhere between his first sighting of her and their exchange under the water tower, the plan had changed from checking out a lead to figuring out how to please her. He told himself it was because she had information that might be helpful to him, but even the most deluded part of his brain wouldn’t allow that fallacy. As unusual as it was for him, it appeared he actually liked her.
But he still had to maintain some semblance of professionalism.
He whipped out his cell phone and texted Yates, hoping he sounded professional and detached. I ran into the teacher Jones at rooftop party at my building. Currently trying to see if the lead is viable.
Are you serious? Stop messing with me on my day off , was the initial reply, followed by Wait, if this is true does that mean you’re going to harass her on the first night she’s worked up the nerve to go out in weeks, and probably ruin her entire night? Awesome.
Julian frowned, fingers flying over his phone’s small keyboard. I’m not going to interrogate her, just see if I can gather any intel relevant to our case.
He thought that was vague enough to sound believable.
So you haven’t told her who you are , came the rapid reply, instantly followed by another. You do realize you’re not James Bond, don’t you? And then another. This should go well. Don’t do anything stupid, Tamali.
Julian searched the crowd and homed in on Salomeh’s white dress. He had spent some time in Saudi Arabia, where modesty police could chastise women for revealing the smallest amount of hair or skin. Salomeh’s dress would cause those guys to spontaneously combust. The way the halter top cupped her heavy breasts taunted him with how easy it would be to release those twin beauties. The dress draped over her curvy hips and stopped right below her ass, revealing long, long legs.
She held two drinks in her hands but been had stopped by his matchmaker neighbor. The woman seemed to be doing an interrogation of her own as a small group of guys began to advance on them. Given the smooth expanse of dusky skin that was exposed to the night air, he was surprised the guys weren’t moving faster.
I never do anything stupid. Why would I start tonight? he texted Yates before slipping his phone back into his pocket and heading for Salomeh.
“I’m fine. I was just getting a drink for someone,” she was saying to her friend as he approached. Her voice was shy again, and Julian felt a stab of guilt as he saw Salomeh’s small, hopeful smile.
“Who is someone? Is this mystery friend the reason you pulled a Usain Bolt across the rooftop earlier?” Marta asked, crossing her arms under her ample bosom. The men milling about them leaned closer expectantly, as her shirt was already dangerously low-cut.
“She’s not allowed to make new friends?” Julian inquired easily as he stepped in front of their other admirers, a smirk lifting a corner of his mouth. “Is there something I should know about you two?”
Salomeh rolled her eyes
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