this assignment, leave now.”
Ashley was so furious that her insides shook. He was an arrogant bastard! And it was clear from everything he’d said and the way he’d addressed her that he didn’t think much of her or her abilities. How in the world were they going to live under the same roof? But she wouldn’t let him get the best of her. And she certainly didn’t want Jean to think that she couldn’t handle the likes of Elliot Morgan. If she did, it would compromise anything she was assigned in the future.
“Two separate bedrooms,” Ashley demanded more than stated.
“Fine with me,” Elliot said, a twinkle in his dark eyes.
“Of course,” Jean said. “Now, can we get back to the business at hand without any more outbursts?”
Ashley and Elliot settled back in their seats and listened to the plan.
More than an hour later the meeting ended. Ashley and Elliot each had a folder of information that they had to commit to memory, because once they opened the envelope the contents would evaporate from the page after more than an hour in the open air. It detailed their cover—who they were pretending to be until the case was solved—and several possible scenarios to gain access to the list of fertility clinics and adoption centers around the city.
Before they left they were told to stop in and see Jasmine, The Cartel’s techno whiz. She would provide them with their new identification, and the dummy bank account they would share. Jean was making arrangements for the apartment that they would move into within the week. Everything was falling into step except Elliot and Ashley.
“After you,” Elliot said as they left Jasmine’s office.
Ashley looked up at him and caught the half grin on his lips. She brushed passed him. “Don’t play the gentleman for my benefit,” she snapped.
“Still testy,” he murmured as he followed her up the stairs to the first-floor exit.
She stopped in her tracks and spun around nearly colliding into his hard-muscled chest. The heady scent of his cologne clouded her thoughts. For a moment she forgot her retort then her good sense returned. “Look, the less we have to say to each other the better. Just do your job and I’ll do mine. How’s that?” She didn’t wait for a response but turned and strutted out leaving the door swinging on its hinges.
Elliot stepped outside and watched her as she walked down the street with her head high, looking neither left nor right. He leaned against the fence, took out his pack of cigarettes and stuck one in his mouth. He lit the tip and watched a curl of smoke float into the air. He’d been in enemy territory before. Ashley Temple would be a walk in the park. He strode off in the opposite direction.
Ashley gripped the steering wheel so hard her palms began to sting. She couldn’t get the smug image of Elliot Morgan out of her head. The way he looked at her. The way he moved. The way he…smelled. Her heart thudded and she frowned in annoyance.
But if she was honest with herself, it was more than Elliot that had her mind spinning. It was the assignment: missing children. Did Jean know the truth? The nightmare was still as fresh in her spirit today as it was more than two decades ago. Her throat clenched as those horrible days bloomed anew.
Chapter 3
Ashley found a parking space a block away from the office. She took the time walking to compose herself before Mia read the anxiety all over her face. Living with a man she didn’t know! Even for The Cartel that was asking a bit much. What made them think that she and Mr. Arrogance could ever in this lifetime work together?
She was going to have to do some serious meditating in order to ready herself for the assignment. Even if it was the highest of compliments to be chosen by Jean for two assignments in a row, she wasn’t sure that she was cut out for this one.
Ashley pushed open the door to MT Management, Mia Turner’s event-planning business and was pleased to see Savannah and her baby daughter, Mikayla.
“Hey! This is a surprise.” Ashley dropped her purse on one of the desks and went straight to Mikayla and scooped her up for a kiss. “How’s my girl? Look at you, looking all beautiful.” She nuzzled her neck to squeals of delight.
“Can’t a sister get some love?” Savannah asked in mock hurt.
Ashley waved her hand in dismissal. “Later.” She went on kissing and hugging the baby before finally setting her back down in the stroller. “What brings you here? Off today?” She kissed Savannah’s cheek.
“Took an R&R day. My boss was working me to the bone.” She laughed good-naturedly. “Plus I needed to spend some time with my pumpkin,” she added, stroking her daughter’s curly head. “Thought we could do lunch. Danielle is on her way.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“I hear you got another assignment.”
“Word travels fast in this town.” She plopped down into the seat opposite Savannah and stretched her legs out in front of her.
Savannah giggled. “What’s a little espionage between friends.”
“Yeah,” she said halfheartedly.
Savannah tilted her head to the side. “Problem?”
Ashley blew out a breath of frustration. “Something like that.”
“Hey, Ash,” Mia said breezing into the waiting area from her back office. “How’d it go with Jean?”
“Since we’re doing lunch today, why don’t I wait until we’re all together.”
As if on cue, Danielle came sailing in, fashionable as always and dramatically swept off her sunglasses. “Hey all.” She looked from one face to another. “Gee, I feel like I walked into an intervention. What’s up?”
“Ashley said she’d tell us over lunch,” Mia offered.
Danielle arched a brow. “Sounds serious.”
“Not that bad, but bad enough,” Ashley said.
“So why are we all sitting around,” Danielle said. “I want to hear this.”
The stunning quartet, gathered purses, keys, cell phones and stroller and headed out.
They arrived at their favorite eatery, The Shop. They’d been coming as a group for so long, they had their own booth and the waitstaff knew them by name.
The quartet settled down in their seats and flipped open their menus.
“Does this little gathering call for drinks?” Danielle asked.
“I could sure use one,” Ashley said. “But it’s still early. Oh, what the heck. Let’s order a round.”
“That serious, huh?” Savannah asked.
Ashley sighed and leaned back against the worn brown leather seat. “I’m probably making more out of this than necessary, but the whole thing just rubs me the wrong way.”
Phyllis,
