fluently, but I only know a few words.”
“Ah, so you do, mi vida . How long will this take?”
“Breakfast or the operation?” She shrugged. “Breakfast, about thirty minutes. The operation, I have no idea. It will take as long as it takes.”
“And just how far are you willing to go?”
So much for him forgiving her. She glared knowing exactly what he was asking. In the next instant her anger turned to shame, its hot sparks burning a path straight to her heart. She’d made mistakes in the past—mistakes that she wasn’t proud of no matter how effective the results. Not that it mattered. She was a different person now, and there were lines she wouldn’t cross again—ever. “Not that far.”
“I didn’t mean it like that, Jamie. I meant how long are you willing to stay away from Sabrina?”
Their gazes met.
She didn’t believe him.
He was thinking back to the other time they’d worked together.
She’d had a choice—sleep with someone or die. She’d made her choice, right or wrong. “If you say so.”
“Look. I was a rookie then. I didn’t understand what it meant to go undercover. I didn’t know how dangerous it was. The rules of the game change when your life’s in danger. I get that now. What you did saved thousands of people. You’re a hero.”
Her heart fluttered, but she tore her gaze away. Why did Enrique have to be the one here with her? It complicated everything. “I don’t feel much like a hero.” She opened the door.
His hand grazed her shoulder. “Jamie, I really didn’t—”
“Goodbye.”
13
Jamie moved to the mirror. She was still going for the sweet look with Ryan. Having no idea what he had planned for the day made it more difficult to dress but this outfit should work for most any place. Today, she wore pink capris with a pink striped T-shirt. Casual, but cute.
She was sure Ryan had only one goal, to get her into bed, but that wasn’t going to happen. Jamie wouldn’t cross that line again even if her life depended on it. But for now she’d let him think there was a chance he’d get what he wanted until she got what she wanted—information.
“God, please let him know where Michael and Andrew Zinkleman might be. Thank you.” She spoke her prayer out loud, her heart full. Her leads up to this point were sparse—too sparse. If Ryan didn’t know anything, she had no other leads.
Michael Zinkleman had done a good job hiding and staying hidden.
Someone knocked.
Jamie grabbed her purse and went to the door. She pasted a smile on as she opened it.
Ryan’s look was one of approval.
“I wasn’t sure what the plan was so I dressed casual.” She gave a little curtsy.
“You look beautiful. In fact, you don’t look like the kind of person who would be living in this sort of place at all.”
“Well, everyone hits hard times now and then. And this place isn’t permanent. As soon as I can afford an apartment, I’ll be moving out of here. Pronto.”
“Still no luck finding a job, huh?”
“I’ve got a few prospects.” She picked up her cell phone and purse. “Who knows, maybe they’ll call me today.”
“I wish I could hire you at the bar but the boss said it was a no-go.”
“That’s sweet. Don’t worry about it. Something will turn up sooner or later. So, what’s the plan for today?”
“Ever been to the zoo?”
Surprised, Jamie smiled. “Not for many years and not here.”
“Columbus has a great zoo. It’s very famous. That guy on TV with all the wild animals used to be the zoo director.”
“Really? I love that guy.”
“Well, I think he still might be the director. At least, the honorary one. I don’t actually know.”
She looped her arm in his. “Well, let’s go find out.”
****
The flamingos, swans, and other aquatic birds were enjoying the lake in the zoo. The tranquil scene was the exact opposite of Jamie’s thoughts. She was out of practice with being undercover, and it was no longer
“Ah, so you do, mi vida . How long will this take?”
“Breakfast or the operation?” She shrugged. “Breakfast, about thirty minutes. The operation, I have no idea. It will take as long as it takes.”
“And just how far are you willing to go?”
So much for him forgiving her. She glared knowing exactly what he was asking. In the next instant her anger turned to shame, its hot sparks burning a path straight to her heart. She’d made mistakes in the past—mistakes that she wasn’t proud of no matter how effective the results. Not that it mattered. She was a different person now, and there were lines she wouldn’t cross again—ever. “Not that far.”
“I didn’t mean it like that, Jamie. I meant how long are you willing to stay away from Sabrina?”
Their gazes met.
She didn’t believe him.
He was thinking back to the other time they’d worked together.
She’d had a choice—sleep with someone or die. She’d made her choice, right or wrong. “If you say so.”
“Look. I was a rookie then. I didn’t understand what it meant to go undercover. I didn’t know how dangerous it was. The rules of the game change when your life’s in danger. I get that now. What you did saved thousands of people. You’re a hero.”
Her heart fluttered, but she tore her gaze away. Why did Enrique have to be the one here with her? It complicated everything. “I don’t feel much like a hero.” She opened the door.
His hand grazed her shoulder. “Jamie, I really didn’t—”
“Goodbye.”
13
Jamie moved to the mirror. She was still going for the sweet look with Ryan. Having no idea what he had planned for the day made it more difficult to dress but this outfit should work for most any place. Today, she wore pink capris with a pink striped T-shirt. Casual, but cute.
She was sure Ryan had only one goal, to get her into bed, but that wasn’t going to happen. Jamie wouldn’t cross that line again even if her life depended on it. But for now she’d let him think there was a chance he’d get what he wanted until she got what she wanted—information.
“God, please let him know where Michael and Andrew Zinkleman might be. Thank you.” She spoke her prayer out loud, her heart full. Her leads up to this point were sparse—too sparse. If Ryan didn’t know anything, she had no other leads.
Michael Zinkleman had done a good job hiding and staying hidden.
Someone knocked.
Jamie grabbed her purse and went to the door. She pasted a smile on as she opened it.
Ryan’s look was one of approval.
“I wasn’t sure what the plan was so I dressed casual.” She gave a little curtsy.
“You look beautiful. In fact, you don’t look like the kind of person who would be living in this sort of place at all.”
“Well, everyone hits hard times now and then. And this place isn’t permanent. As soon as I can afford an apartment, I’ll be moving out of here. Pronto.”
“Still no luck finding a job, huh?”
“I’ve got a few prospects.” She picked up her cell phone and purse. “Who knows, maybe they’ll call me today.”
“I wish I could hire you at the bar but the boss said it was a no-go.”
“That’s sweet. Don’t worry about it. Something will turn up sooner or later. So, what’s the plan for today?”
“Ever been to the zoo?”
Surprised, Jamie smiled. “Not for many years and not here.”
“Columbus has a great zoo. It’s very famous. That guy on TV with all the wild animals used to be the zoo director.”
“Really? I love that guy.”
“Well, I think he still might be the director. At least, the honorary one. I don’t actually know.”
She looped her arm in his. “Well, let’s go find out.”
****
The flamingos, swans, and other aquatic birds were enjoying the lake in the zoo. The tranquil scene was the exact opposite of Jamie’s thoughts. She was out of practice with being undercover, and it was no longer
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