Ashley nodded. The knot of tension tightened in her stomach. Did Jean know about that dark, painful part of her life? Is that why she was selected for this assignment?
There was a light knock on the door.
“Come in,” Jean called out.
All heads turned in the direction of the opening door.
Chapter 2
Elliot Morgan’s trained dark eyes took in the room and its occupants all at once. He was still tense and edgy from his undercover assignment in London where he was on the trail of a serial bomber. His senses remained on high alert, expecting the unexpected at any moment. In his shady world where no one was who they claimed to be, everyone was suspect. He’d seen more in his thirty-six years than most people had in a lifetime.
Ashley’s breath stopped somewhere in her chest and wouldn’t budge. The new arrival had virtually sucked up all the air in the room. Tall, dark, athletically muscular, he brought to mind the sleekness and danger of a predatory panther. His features were hard and chiseled with deep probing eyes and full lips. His closely shaven hair was more of a shadow than anything else. But it was more than his physical presence that was breathtaking. It was clear by the way he moved, the way he looked at each of them that he wouldn’t hesitate to make them a distant memory without hesitation. His body and demeanor was as much a weapon as anything that could be put in his large hands.
“Elliot.” Bernard stood. “Come on in.”
Elliot closed the door behind him and came fully into the room. His expression was unreadable as he approached the trio.
“Elliot Morgan, Jean Wallington and Ashley Temple.”
Jean extended her hand, which he shook. “Ashley is one of our most skilled Cartel members,” she said.
He turned slightly to his right. His jaw clenched. He extended his hand. “Pleasure,” he murmured taking her hand.
Ashley offered a tight-lipped smile and a short nod of her head.
Elliot pulled up an available seat.
“We were briefing Ashley on the situation and the plan that we’ve designed. I want you both to know that we understand perfectly that this assignment is out of the norm for you. I know you had your reservations, Elliot about working with someone.”
“It’s not what I do,” he said tersely. He turned to Ashley. “No offense, but I work alone.” His hard gaze dared her to refute him.
Ashley lifted her chin. “I feel the same way,” she tossed back ready to go toe-to-toe.
“But as you both know,” Jean cut in, “in this business it’s what’s best for the operation and not our personal preferences.” Her stern green gaze went from one tight face to the other.
“If we didn’t think the two of you were the right ones for this assignment we could have easily gotten someone else,” Bernard firmly stated. “Your expertise with uncovering information and taking on whatever persona necessary is going to be an asset,” he said to Elliot. Then he turned to Ashley. “You have an excellent record of getting suspects to trust you. That was apparent on your last assignment. Those are some of the skills we need,” he added, addressing them both.
“And we needed two operatives who didn’t have any personal attachments that would hamper the assignments,” Jean said.
“You mean, ‘Who didn’t have a life,’” Elliot said, his tone sarcastic as he tossed a meaningful look at Ashley.
Her eyes flashed. She pushed up from her seat. “Look, I’m sorry that you went to all of this trouble, but I’m not the one for this job.” She snatched up her purse.
Bernard caught her wrist. “Wait. Please, sit down.”
She drew in a long breath, cutting her eyes at Elliot before returning to her seat.
“Short temper is a hazard in the field,” Elliot said in that low-key timbre, as he fingered the stud in his ear.
“Elliot,” Bernard said, the one word more a warning than a salutation.
“I don’t see how this is going to work,” Ashley said, crossing her long legs. “It’s clear that we won’t be able to get along.”
“You’re going to have to find a way to work it out,” Jean admonished. “This can’t be about the two of you. This is about saving families from tragedy and young children from a life of misery or worse. So put your personal differences aside and keep your eyes on the prize—finding out who is behind the black-market baby operation in New York City. Are we clear?”
Silence enveloped the room.
“Well?”
“Fine,” Elliot conceded.
Ashley smiled inwardly over the fact that he caved first. “Of course.”
“You’re both professionals. You’ll work it out,” Bernard said. “You’re going to have to, especially since you will not only be working together, but living together as well.”
“What!” they yelled in harmony, simultaneously leaping up out of their seats. Their choreography was so perfect, if the situation weren’t so absurd it would be funny. They glared at each other.
“Sit down!” Jean slapped her palm against the desk. She snatched her glasses off and pinned them both with a withering gaze. “Enough. If the two of you thought this was some sort of democracy, you’re wrong. It’s not. You are a federal agent, Mr. Morgan. You don’t get to pick and choose. Ashley on the other hand is not.” She looked at Ashley. “So if you think you can’t handle 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