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“What?” Trace asked jokingly. “No torrid affair?”
“I’m not sure I could carry that off without actually having had one.”
Julie’s honesty was touching, but her statement fell into the room almost explosively. He tried to lighten the moment when he saw her cheeks start to color. How many women still blushed? he wondered. “We could always have one now.”
He gave her a few seconds to stare at him wide-eyed, then he laughed. “Just joshing you. I mean, sure, I’d love to, but under the circumstances, it wouldn’t be wise.”
Not when someone was trying to kill him. Not when he might have to leave at the drop of a hat. He had limits, and taking advantage of a woman was a hard line for him. He had few hard lines left, and not crossing them was all that kept him from feeling he was simply scum.
Then she stunned him. “What makes you so sure it wouldn’t be wise?” she asked pertly as she slid off the bar stool. She headed for the bathroom, saying she’d be back in a minute to work on the story.
For the first time, Trace wondered if he’d wandered into a new kind of quicksand.
* * *
Be sure to check out the rest of the Conard County: The Next Generation series!
Conard County Spy
Rachel Lee
RACHEL LEE was hooked on writing by the age of twelve and practiced her craft as she moved from place to place all over the United States. This New York Times bestselling author now resides in Florida and has the joy of writing full-time.
MILLS & BOON
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For all my readers who help bring Conard County to life, and many thanks to Ashley Granger who volunteered the use of her name for a character. Hope you’re pleased, Ashley.
Contents
The hotel room was opulent, befitting an important man, one on a diplomatic mission for his country. But there was not a diplomatic discussion taking place within its confines. Deadly business was on the table.
The gray-haired man sitting near the window in a very expensive tailored suit looked at the dossier in his hands. He appeared to be extremely fit and when he moved, did so with fluid ease.
The man who faced him was decades younger, dressed in much less expensive garb suitable to a government clerk. He was also a little nervous, no matter how calm he tried to be. He was the cover for the people helping the older man. They both knew it. They both also knew it could end badly for this young man if this meeting became known to the wrong people.
The gray-haired man had a lot of experience judging people, and he knew that this one knew only what he needed to in order to complete this task. “So this is the one who betrayed me? Trace Archer?”
“Yes, sir,” said the other. “We told you that several months ago.”
“Where is he now?”
“We sent him on his way to recuperate away from here. We’re tracking him.”
“So you know where he is?”
The younger man nodded. “What he did put you in great danger, General. My superiors understand.”
“My man did a poor job of taking him out in Bulgaria. It will be harder here.”
“It will be cleaner here. You know we value you highly. But if something happens to him on his trip, no explanations will be needed from anyone. That’s how we all want it.”
The general put the dossier aside and went to stand at the window. “In Ukraine, the situation is very delicate. Now it is even more delicate because of this man.”
“I