Read Online The Agent Next Door by Adrienne Bell - Free Book Online Page A

not just her lips but every inch of her.
    The thought, combined with the feel of her in
his arms, stirred him. If it was just her curves that his body
reacted to, he could have easily ignored the fire building inside
him.
    But Erin glowed with a light that made it
impossible for him to turn away. Maybe it was her honesty or her
humor. Maybe it was the enigmatic sparkle behind her blue eyes that
drew him deeper.
    He didn’t just want to lose himself in her
for an hour. He wanted to protect her, to hear her laugh, to feel
the full force of her passion.
    But for right now all he could do was hold
her while she slept. He told himself it would be enough.
    It would have to be.
     
     
     
    ***
     
     
     
    Erin opened her eyes and recoiled from the
bright slash of sunshine cutting across her face. At least she
tried to, but something wouldn't let her. There was something
behind her, some kind of immovable wall, holding her fast.
    Erin looked down to see an arm draped over
the curve of her waist. It banded around her tummy. She turned her
head to see another one under her head, like a pillow.
    Not something. Someone.
    Suddenly everything came back to her. Last
night. She'd come to the living room. They'd talked, just a little,
then she'd fallen asleep...on John Ryman.
    Oh crap.
    But he'd stayed. He'd stayed and slept with
her. Why? Had she just been that pathetic last night? Had he felt a
stab of conscience? There was no way in hell that she was going to
stick around to find out the answer.
    She wrapped her fingers around his wrist
where it curled between the curve of her hip and the cushion of the
couch. But he didn’t budge. If anything his grasp grew tighter.
    “Go back to sleep,” his voice came from
behind her, so deep that the vibrations rumbled through her chest.
“It's still early.”
    Erin closed her eyes, but not from
sleepiness. Embarrassment flooded her. It looked like it was too
late for a clean getaway.
    “There are things I have to do.”
    He made a low groan behind her, and she
became aware of just how close they were on the narrow couch. The
length of her body pressed against his, her back to his chest,
their legs pressed tight, her backside nestled against his...yeah,
she definitely needed to get up.
    He didn't say a word, but, three seconds
later, he unwrapped his arm from around her waist. She expected to
feel a flood of relief. Instead, all she felt was cold.
    Erin sat up, but didn't stand. She should be
grateful. Last night she’d feared that she would never sleep again,
but ten minutes with John and she'd nodded right off. It had to
have been some sort of stress-induced exhaustion.
    It had to be.
    He patted her on the hip, and in one smooth
move, rose from the couch. “I'll get the coffee started.”
    He was in the kitchen before Erin could lift
herself up to her feet.
    Maybe he was right. Maybe she should have
gone back to sleep. Now that she was up, the reality of the day was
back in full force. She could have benefitted from a little more
time in the comfort of his embrace.
    What was she thinking? Of course, she
couldn't. It was kind of him to work whatever magic he possessed to
let her sleep last night, but now she was awake, and it was up to
her to find the strength to face the day.
    Erin ran through the list of things that she
needed to get done—call the insurance company, contact all her
clients, let her friends know that she was still alive, avoid the
FBI. Maybe if she concentrated hard enough on those things she
could keep her thoughts away from John.
    Or the hardened criminal that wanted her
dead.
    Either one.
    And she would do all of these things…right
after she had a cup of coffee.
    As if on cue, John came out of the kitchen
holding two plain white mugs. He set one down in front of her. She
looked down at the dark brew.
    “Milk? Sugar?” she asked.
    He shook his head slowly. “Sorry. I wasn't
expecting company.”
    Erin drew in a deep breath, letting her
shoulders rise and fall. Oh