It Takes a Spy...: A Secrets and Seduction book by Sheridan Jeane Page A

so perhaps it had blown itself out.
    Devin looked surprised and then slowly nodded. “Is there a ledge?”
    Cecilia opened the set of doors leading out to the small balcony that was barely a foot deep. She leaned forward and peered over the railing, assessing the situation. “The room below us has a similar balcony. I’m afraid that if you dangle off the side, your legs could be seen through the window below us.” She leaned a bit farther out to inspect the exterior wall below her. “I think you could rest your feet on the top ledge of the window beneath us, but it’s narrow. You’d have to hold firmly to this railing,” she said, sliding her hand along the black-painted metal. She bit at her lip as she peered down. They were four floors up, and the hotel gardens were a long way down. If Devin fell…
    Devin joined her on the balcony and peered over the side as well. “The ledge looks solid,” he muttered. “But what if someone down below sees me dangling off the side of the building?”
    “It’s quite dark tonight. Perhaps no one will notice you.”
    He gave a sigh. “At least your room doesn’t overlook the main street.” Despite his obvious reluctance, he lifted one leg over the railing and lowered himself down the black cast-iron bars until all she could see were his hands gripping the railing.
    “Can you put your feet on the ledge?”
    A scuffling of feet accompanied by a grunt of exertion. “Only the tips of my shoes,” he said, sounding slightly out of breath. “If I’d known I’d be scaling buildings, I would have chosen more appropriate footwear.”
    Cecilia was relieved he could make light of the situation. As she peered over the side, doorknob rattle behind her. She stood bolt upright, her eyes widening. At the sound of the knob turning, Cecilia let out a hissed warning to Devin and half-leapt into the room to distance herself from the balcony.
    It was the police. It had to be. They’d come to search the room. She was a terrible liar, so how on earth would she be able to pretend that Devin wasn’t dangling off the side of the building?
    As the door swung open, Cecilia recognized the pale green dress even before she saw her sister’s face. “Evangeline! You gave me a fright. Hurry and shut the door.”
    With a swift, sure movement, Evangeline closed the door. She immediately began peering around the room. “Where is he?”
    “Who?” Cecilia opened her eyes a bit wider.
    “Don’t be coy,” Evangeline said as she began to move toward the balcony.
    Cecilia took a small sidestep to block her progress. “What do you mean?”
    Evangeline raised one eyebrow in suspicion and leaned around her sister to peer out the open double doors. “That will never work. I can see his hands holding onto the railing.”
    “Oh, bother!” Cecilia dropped all semblance of deception and hurried back over to the edge of the balcony and called down to Devin, “It’s only Evangeline. She says she can see your hands. Can you let go?”
    “Blast it, no! If I let go, I’ll fall,” he said in an irritated tone.
    So much for his positive attitude. “Then there’s nothing else but for you to climb back up. We’ll have to come up with another solution.”
    “It wasn’t a very good place, anyway,” Evangeline commented. “Haven’t you noticed that a storm is coming? He’d have been soaked.”
    Devin moved his hands up the balusters, climbing them as one might climb a rope. He did it with the ease of a sailor. Once his hands reached the top, he grasped the wider top rail like a lover, pulled his entire body up so that his chest rested upon it, and swung one of his legs over the balustrade.
    Astonished by his show of strength, Cecilia froze in place for a moment, but as he put a foot on the floor, she stepped closer to assist him. He was fast, and as he planted his other foot on the balcony and straightened up, she collided into him.
    “Oh,” she said, bouncing off his chest and ricocheting back toward