More Than a Mission by Caridad Piñeiro Page A

yanked her from the mood.
    â€œThat was—”
    â€œNice?” he filled in for her, a hopeful look on his face as she realized he was still holding her hand.
    Too nice. “I’ve got to go.”
    He released her and with a nod, she returned to her table of friends.
    Instead of going to the bar, however, he followed her, his hand at the small of her back, as if to remind her of his presence. Not that she could drive away her awareness of him no matter how she tried.
    At the table, she glared at him, hoping to make it clear that she wanted him gone, but he obviously either didn’t get her hint, or more than likely, the rebel chose to ignore it. “Mind if I join you ladies?”
    Her three friends, or maybe it was better to say three ex-friends, shifted to make room for a chair he secured from another table with an irresistible smile.
    Elizabeth stood there, reluctant to stay, but unwilling to let Aidan spoil her night. For that matter, she was unwilling to acknowledge that she was attracted to him. He was probably used to women falling all over him constantly. And she suspected he was All-Access Aidan to anyone who was willing.
    Which she wasn’t.
    Hesitantly, she took a seat next to Aidan and allowed her friends to engage him in conversation while she sat back, trying to gauge whether he was as he appeared—a happy-go-lucky guy, intent on just having fun as he drifted from place to place.
    But when he leaned away from the table and their gazes locked, there was something else there. Something painful. She noted it as his glance fell on her, as if he, too, was trying to decide just what she was.
    She realized then that he wasn’t what he appeared to be.
    Which was fine. She wasn’t as she appeared to be, either.
    Â 
    The WAC closed its doors at two, Aidan discovered.
    What amazed him was that after a long day of work, none of the women at the table seemed inclined to leave until that hour.
    And so he stayed until the announcement was made for last call, and, after, he walked out of the club surrounded by Natalie, Samantha and Kate. Elizabeth was directly behind them as they ambled up the block.
    Samantha and Kate lived along the town’s central road. He bid each woman goodnight at their doors. That just left Natalie, her arm looped through his, and Elizabeth, who had finally moved up to walk beside them. At a street directly in front of the hotel, Natalie paused.
    â€œThis is my stop,” she teased and gave him a playful kiss on the cheek. “See you later.”
    Aidan waved as Natalie crossed the street, and then faced Elizabeth. “Guess it’s just the two of us.”
    Elizabeth immediately protested. “There’s no need for you—”
    â€œA gentleman always walks a lady home,” he said and offered his arm.
    Ignoring him, she walked in the direction of the restaurant, but Aidan followed, matching his paces so that they were side by side. He was silent, since he knew that to say anything would just drive her further away, something he didn’t want to do given that he had made some inroads this evening.
    Although he had watched her tonight much as he had watched her all week, he was still uncertain. Maybe even troubled by what he had seen. The Elizabeth he was getting to know didn’t jibe with what he knew her to be—a ruthless killer.
    The Elizabeth he had discovered had been kind. Patient with the staff and the sometimes demanding patrons. Determined, but at times—and he didn’t want to admit that those times had been around him—decidedly insecure.
    But of course, in his line of work, deception was a way of life.
    Elizabeth had to be very very good at it, he thought, as they continued walking onward silently, moving closer and closer to the restaurant. When they reached the low stone wall marking the boundary between her property and the main road, Elizabeth stopped and faced him.
    â€œAlthough I didn’t ask you