Read Online Midnight Pursuits by Elle Kennedy - Free Book Online

coming out raspy, “I’m choosing option number three.”
    Her mouth had gone dry, so she had to clear her throat before speaking. “And what’s that?”
    â€œThe shadow method.” Now he was the one smirking. “I’m not leaving your side until you tell me what happened. I’ll stick to you like glue. Wherever you go, I’ll go, until you’re so sick of me you’ll be begging me to
let
you tell me the whole story.”
    Fighting her annoyance, Juliet stared longingly at the cell phone on the bedside table. It was practically screaming for her to use it.
    â€œGo ahead,” Ethan cajoled. “Make your calls. I promise to stay quiet as a mouse.”
    She scowled at him. Goddamn it. She didn’t want to bring him into the loop, but at this point, what other choice did she have? The guy clearly wasn’t going anywhere. To make matters worse, he’d asked his colleague to procure a startling amount of supplies—enough for them to hunker down in this room for weeks without ever having to step foot out of it.
    Except now it was a matter of principle. She wasn’t going to spill her guts just because he demanded it. Maybe that made her petty, but she hated taking orders from anyone. She followed Noelle’s commands only because she trusted the woman implicitly and liked the arrangement they had, but there’d been times when even Noelle couldn’t push her around.
    â€œNah, the calls can wait.” Setting down her cup, she picked up the remote control and turned on the small flat-screen that was mounted to the wall over the dresser.
    The TV screen came to life, turned to a local news channel, but the lead story was of no interest to her. Something about a piece of legislature a senator was lobbying to pass, and it sounded so boring she promptly pressed the MUTE button.
    â€œYou’re ridiculously stubborn. You know that?”
    She glanced over at him. “Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
    â€œHey, I don’t think it’s unreasonable of me to ask how you ended up with a bullet in your gut. You’re the one who’s being difficult.”
    She shot him a sugary sweet smile. “You know, if you hadn’t given me the whole shadow speech, I probably would have told you.”
    â€œThat’s bullshit and you know it.”
    Ignoring the accusation, she reached for her coffee and took another sip. “So, how’s the new compound working out for you?”
    â€œWe’re making small talk now?”
    â€œWhy not? It’s better than sitting in silence.”
    â€œFair enough.”
    He leaned back in the armchair, drawing her attention to the defined muscles beneath his navy blue polo shirt. He’d removed that heavy sweater a while ago, and, she had to admit, she was thoroughly enjoying the view provided by this tighter shirt. His chest was rock hard and rippling with power, a clear reminder of what he did for a living. He was a soldier. A warrior.
    Jeez, why was she always attracted to dangerous men?
    Wrong on both counts,
she had to remind herself.
    Yup, because Ethan was neither dangerous nor a man. He was a twenty-five-year-old kid, and, sure, he had the skills necessary to excel as a mercenary, but he certainly didn’t throw off any danger waves. At least none that she could see.
    â€œThe new place is pretty nice,” he said. “It’s a damn fortress, totally impenetrable. And Costa Rica is hot. Humid as hell down there.”
    She arched a brow. “Can’t handle the heat?”
    â€œOh, I can handle it. Doesn’t mean I like it, though. I’ve always been more of a winter person.” He offered an adorable shrug. “I like the snow.”
    She jerked her thumb at the window. “Well, there’s plenty of snow out there. Why don’t you step outside and enjoy it?”
    He rolled his eyes. “Nice try.”
    She sighed. “Why do