Match Play by Merline Lovelace

wine or something stronger?”
    â€œA beer’s fine.”
    She could do this, Dayna told herself as she crossed to the well-stocked minibar and removed two bottles of ale from the fridge. She could bury the past, forget how hungry she’d once been for this man, stay focused on the job ahead.
    â€œHere, let me do that.”
    Taking the bottles from her hand, he twisted off the caps and passed one back. His eyes held hers as he offered a neutral toast.
    â€œHere’s to another round like the one you shot this morning.”
    When they clinked bottles and he tipped his to his mouth, the past crashed right through Dayna’s firm resolve to remain in the present.
    Her ale halted halfway to her lips. With a sudden wrenching in her belly, she watched the smooth play of muscle and tendon as Luke took a long swallow.
    Oh, God! How many times had she nuzzled that warm niche just under his chin? How often had she licked her way up, then down the strong column of his throat? And how many times had she kicked herself for falling for someone who could put her out of his life so easily?
    Never again, she vowed fiercely as she downed the dark, fruity ale.

Chapter 5
    W hat the devil was Dayna involved in?
    The question ricocheted around in Luke’s head as she waved him to a seat with the same lack of enthusiasm she’d shown when she’d offered a drink.
    He took one of the overstuffed chairs. She sat across from him on the couch. Her white sweater and gray slacks formed a stark contrast to the colorful flowered cushions. Exercising iron will, Luke ignored the shadowy swell of her breasts displayed by the V-necked sweater and kept his gaze on her face.
    â€œI’m sorry about yanking you out of the B-2 detachment. I know how much your career means to you.”
    She should, her tone implied. He was the one who’d suggested they put their relationship on hold so he could focus on his flying.
    Luke let the dig slide. This wasn’t the time to rehash old hurts. “Yeah, well, I probably didn’t help matters by grabbing you on the street yesterday. Or by showing up at the practice round this morning.”
    â€œNo, you didn’t.”
    He waited while she worked through her way around to the explanation he’d demanded. It was slow in coming.
    â€œI told you Mike and I work special projects for the government.”
    He tried to imagine what kind of special project would involve a charity golf tournament, an Olympic gold medalist and a military sharpshooter. The possibilities put a kink in his gut.
    â€œWhat are you? CIA? FBI?”
    â€œNeither. We’re employed on an as-needed basis by a small agency, one you’ve never heard of. Our boss reports directly to the President.”
    Good God! Was that Dayna sitting there, calmly informing him she operated only one step removed from the President of the United States?
    â€œOkay, here’s the deal.” Leaning forward, she deposited her ale bottle on the coffee table. “Our government thinks there’s a possibility Wu Kim Li and her father may want to defect.”
    â€œTigress Wu?”
    Luke gave a low whistle. Like everyone else in the universe, he’d been bombarded by visual images of the teenage megastar since she’d first exploded onto the international sports scene. North Korea touted her as their biggest export since white rice. Luke could only guess at the millions she brought her country in terms of PR and cold, hard cash. They’d lose more than face if the girl jumped ship.
    â€œMike and I are here to determine if the possibility has basis in fact,” Dayna said crisply. “If so, we’ll make it happen.”
    â€œJust like that? The two of you will simply whisk the Wus away from their entourage?”
    â€œWe’ll have backup available if and when we need it.”
    Luke was struck by the difference between this contained, self-assured woman and the girl he’d known.