Tropical Safeguard (Men Of The Secret Service) by Stella Kelly Page A

yet the other agents have nicknamed him Agent Prickly .
But I shouldn’t really be talking about him like that. It’s rude of me.”
    “You’re so polite. It’s strange to hear
someone from New York so reserved and dignified, but I suppose it’s a
reflection of your Uptown upbringing. I won’t hold that against you.” Her smile
stretched wide and it put him at ease a little. “So, Agent Prickly , huh? The name suits him
from what I can tell. And what’s your nickname then?”
    “Hmmm…” Cole thought about it. He doubted
he had one.
    “Could it be Agent Prim and Preppy ?” She seemed to
gauge his reaction with raised eyebrows before bumping into him with her
shoulder. He could have sworn she   was flirting. “You know, you and I are very similar. I get the
impression you value your independence here as much as I do.”
    “You’re right.” Cole noticed that she had
relaxed a little and it pleased him. Maybe she was coming around, or perhaps
she felt sorry for what he’d just gone through with Noah. Whatever the cause,
he liked it. “Okay, Spitfire, since we’re throwing around nicknames. If you
think I should be called that, fine. But I think you overestimate my rigidity.”
    “Spitfire? And who pray tell came up with
that one, you?”
    “As a matter of fact, I did, from our
first meeting on the beach. That name seems perfect.”
    Katrina smirked. Now on the beach, she
picked up her backpack and Helene’s belongings, but Cole intervened and helped
her carry everything.
    “A lady never spits, and I’m a lady.”
    “Oh, I’ve seen you spit fire when you
confronted me in your room. But that’s just my opinion. And am I really so
tense? Come on, Agent
Prim and Preppy? Really?” Once again, Cole took the name personally and was
self-reflecting.
    “Okay, how about a superhero nickname?
You are a hero, you know.”
    “Just doing my job, ma’am.”
    “Wow, did you just call me ma’am?”
    “Sorry, it’s automatic.”
    “Hmmm. You know, it’s okay to be upset
about what you just did back there. It’s only human.”
    “I have to stay strong and portray myself
as a steady, unwavering rock. That’s what people expect from the Secret
Service.”
    “Expectations can be heavy, can’t they.”
    “Yes.”
    “I guess I’m unaccustomed to manly men
being so humble. My ex-boyfriend equated manhood with power, aggression, and
money. He would never have stood up and taken charge of saving that boy the way
you did. I get the feeling you would have saved Noah regardless of your
profession.”
    “You may be right. Though it was
extremely stressful on me mentally…and physically.” Cole rubbed his bicep,
certain he had strained something when pulling Noah up.
    “I know a way to relieve those tensions
if you’d like,” Katrina offered as they climbed the switchback staircase, the
shortest way back to the mansion.
    Cole shot her a discrete look of
surprise. Although her words could easily be misconstrued as something sexual,
her tone conveyed a girlish innocence. Still, he was intrigued. “And what might
that be?”
    Katrina giggled, probably realizing how
it might have sounded, “I just meant I could give you a massage,” she winced.
“Okay, so maybe that does sound a little forward. Sorry.”
    “Um, I…” Cole was at a loss, again. This
was the second time this woman had made him speechless.
    “When does your shift end?”
    “About now actually. I just have to
switch off with Kensing. I’ll have to fill him in on Noah’s accident too.”
    “So, are you up for a massage? I
specialize in massage therapy as well. This isn’t some random pick-up line,
Agent Nielsen. After what you’ve just gone through, you deserve a little
relaxation.”
    “Um, I just have to talk with Agent
Kensing and then I want to question Trudy regarding her whereabouts during
Noah’s incident. So…”
    “Are you avoiding my offer, agent?”
Katrina asked head on.
    “No, I just, well…” Cole hesitated.