Diamonds Are Truly Forever: An Agent Ex Novel 2 by Gina Robinson Page B

need to take Mom out to lunch and tell her the good news about our reunion. The least you can do is pay.” She paused. “I’ll have to leave the condo.”
    He nodded. He couldn’t keep her penned up here forever. If RIOT really wanted her dead, they’d find her. He doubted they’d make an attempt on her in public. “As long as you take precautions and follow orders.”
    “Do you know who the shooter is?”
    He shook his head. “Not yet.”
    Seeing her pale and frightened, he remembered his reason for agreeing to the divorce when she asked for it. It was the only way to keep her safe from the danger he faced daily. And if she didn’t want him, he wasn’t going to force her to stay with him. He wanted his wife to want him.
    “I’ll need my car,” Staci said, changing the direction of their conversation. “We should run by the house tonight and get it.”
    “I’m on it already. NCS will deliver it here first thing tomorrow morning once the boys finish sweeping it.”
    You could never be too careful when someone was trying to kill someone close to you. For all Staci was nearly his ex, the thought of someone trying to take her life made him angry. Another reason he had to get this mission over with. His carefully suppressed feelings threatened to resurface.
    “And once it’s safe, what will the boys be installing in my car? Will I have any cool devices like flamethrowers, machine-gun headlights, or an automatic tack dispenser? Or will I pretty much just have a tracking device so you can keep tabs on me?” She looked resigned.
    “Pretty much just tracking.”
    “At least you’re honest about that.”
    Touché!
    “I guess I’m stuck bringing my own box of tacks to slow the bad guys down.” She paused. “Do I get my gun? I left it at the house.”
    Right, as shaken as she was, he didn’t see Staci handling her gun with the respect and restraint required. “I’ll see about it. For now, you get our protection.”
    “Great. At least this isn’t a low-budget operation.” She stared at him, looking vulnerable and scared again. “Is it?”
    He shrugged.
    “Seriously, you’re suddenly okay with me leaving the house?”
    “As long as I know your itinerary and you stick to it. No veering off plan. No going to isolated locations.” He grinned at her, trying to reassure her. “No accepting candy from strangers.”
    She didn’t laugh. Instead, she tilted her head and studied him. “What do you know about what’s going on?”
    Not enough, he thought. And too much.
    He had his theories about the shooting, none of them pleasant. But he was convinced she was safe for the moment.
    “Look, don’t worry. We’re taking care of things. Now go call Mom and set up lunch. Bring her by the Hook House Ale Café. I’ll give you my employee discount.” He winked at her.
    Staci shook her head. “Cheapskate. You just want to keep an eye on me.”
    “You always expect the worst of me,” he said, only half feigning disappointment.
    Staci stared at him in that unnerving, unblinking way she had. “I always expect you to be working and putting the job first. That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? Securing your cover? Introduce the wife around to show you’re just an average, happily married guy. And make sure I don’t screw up at the same time.”
    Drew took a deep breath. He clearly had his work cut out for him melding Staci to do his bidding unaware. Good thing he no longer had to pretend to win her back, too. He simply had to resist the urge to strangle her. Or make love to her.
    “Hook House makes a mean pale ale ice cream and some very pretty Imperial Stout cupcakes. Your mom loves cake and ice cream. It’s a win–win.” He stood, grabbed the phone from the counter, and held it out to her. “No time like the present.”
    *   *   *
     
    Staci hesitated as she reached for the phone, overwhelmed by a sudden storm of panic over the thought of lying. Successfully. To her mother, of all people.
    Since