Read Online License to Love (An Agent Ex Novel) by Gina Robinson - Free Book Online

links, a way to get at agents. Liabilities. And ex-spouses, well, they’re simply security leaks waiting to happen.”
    “I’m the exception. I’m a master at keeping secrets.” He grabbed her arm. “Consider this. Magician or not, hypnotic powers or not, I can’t force you to act against your will. Never could. Even if I had drugged you, I couldn’t get you to recite the vows.
    “I didn’t brainwash or coerce you into marrying me. There was a part of you that wanted to, whether you’ll admit it, even to yourself, or not.”
    She shook her arm free from his grasp and took a step back from him. When she spoke, she stared past him, not at him, looking over his shoulder out the window.
    “Spies lie,” she said simply. “Innocent people sometimes get hurt by friendly fire. Sad to say it’s an occupational hazard of keeping the free world free.”
    Her voice became soft, sounding more like the Lani he knew. “I never wanted to hurt you. I never meant to hurt you. We had fun together. Let’s leave it at that. I haven’t returned to make things worse for you—”
    “Then why did you come back?” Call it vanity or denial or instinct, but he didn’t believe she’d never loved him. He didn’t believe her now. He knew his business well enough to recognize real magic when he saw or felt it. What he and Lani had had was magic pure and simple. The electricity rippling between them now, heated, frustrated, and denied, was simply more evidence of it.
    “To save the world, Rock, just as the chief said.”
    “And I’m collateral damage.” He stepped away and turned his back to her, setting his jaw as disturbing images from the night she’d disappeared came flooding back to him. “Do you know what that night was like for me?”
    “I can imagine—”
    “You can’t.” He took a deep breath, trying to wash the visions away. “No one can.” He swung back around.
    She started. Good, he’d caught her off guard.
    “Do you know how worried I was when Clara showed up in the prestige? I nearly botched the act. Something in her eyes told me she was worried about you, too.” He shook his head. “Clara wasn’t reassuring, Lani. You scared her. I had to finish the show worried sick about you. I was crazy trying to figure it out, thinking maybe a sudden case of food poisoning, or hell, nauseous headache. I don’t know.
    “I didn’t in my wildest worries think for a minute you’d disappeared on a dangerous mission for the CIA.” He ran his hands through his hair.
    Her laughter stopped him short. “Listen to yourself, Rock. You’re implying I’m all about my career, but you had to finish the show.
    “It didn’t occur to you, I suppose, to take a quick break to check on me? Your beloved new bride who for all you knew might have been mortally ill.” She shook her head, looking almost as bitter as amused.
    Her expression caught him up short. Maybe there was hope.
    “Good luck for me, I suppose.” She leaned forward and whispered. “Or was it? Maybe I knew you well enough to know you’d finish the show, even if you were the one dying. And I was in no danger of being caught as I escaped and ran for my life. You wouldn’t leave that stage until the last encore was over. Not even if the world was ending.”
    “Damn it, Lani!” He clenched his fists again to keep from grabbing her. He wanted to pull her to him, make her see reason. Hold her to his heart. Make her his again.
    She was staring at him, but it was his turn to look past her for fear of giving himself away. “Don’t accuse me of putting my career before you. I was concerned about you, but I trusted my staff to take care of you. You of all people know how well-trained they are. You know I have medics waiting in case of an accident. I believed you were in good hands. The best.” He took a deep breath, struggling to maintain some control over his ragged emotions and hang on to his dignity. What was left of it.
    “You left me in the worst possible