Dangerous Curves Read Online Free Page A

potential danger to her mission. It was a jarring concept.
    She slid into her seat. “Thank you for the compliment,” she said, still struggling to reset her equilibrium even now that his hands weren’t on her. “But we need to remember why we’re on this plane and heading out of Los Angeles.”
    “The Ghost,” Max growled. “I was getting close. I could feel it.”
    “It sounds personal.”
    “It is. And it’s professional, too. And how about you? What got you into hot water in Colombia? Sounds like you made a bad decision, or worse, one that didn’t involve intellect, but emotion.”
    She was silent for a moment, and then said, “Touché, Max.” Her personal agenda regarding her stepbrother was her business. She didn’t share with people and she certainly wasn’t going to share with Max. She tightened her resolve. She only had to distract Max for two weeks. Then she would be healed and ready to tackle Fuentes again.
    “What were you after there?” Max asked.
    “I was on a mission.”
    “For the DEA?” Max shifted his broad shoulders so he was turned toward her.
    “I can’t divulge any information about why I was there,” Rio said, crossing her legs and looking away from his bright blue eyes. She had no intention of getting into this type of discussion with Max. Keep It Simple, Stupid was her motto.
    “Evasive answers, but I didn’t expect any less from a field agent.”
    “And your pursuit of the Ghost. Is that sanctioned?” Rio opened up her packet of peanuts and popped one into her mouth.
    “You are aware I can’t divulge any information about an open case.”
    “Good answer,” she said. “But I didn’t expect any less from a field agent.”
    He smiled then, and it wasn’t any less powerful this time around than it had been in the lavatory. His entire aura changed when he did that. He looked like a troublemaker and those types always dragged the unsuspecting into their shenanigans.
    “I guess we know where we stand here.”
    “I guess we do,” she agreed. He was already sorely testing her sense of balance. Their chance bond was as unexpected as it was unwanted. At least on her end. She didn’t mind him being more approachable, but she could ill afford to let herself become more attracted to him. Letting anyone get close right now would be a major risk. Besides, her time here was limited, so what was the point? All she had to do was resist temptation. Very potent temptation.
    Putting the mission at the forefront of her mind, she worked to keep the conversation teasing, but controlled. “If you were going to Hawaii on vacation, what would you do?”
    “Windsurf, surf and snorkel.”
    “Water sports. Did you spend a lot of time at the beach?”
    He laughed, and she had to note his charm was much more lethal when he was amused. “I wish. I come from a small town you’ve probably never heard of—Covina.”
    “I know that city. It’s just outside L.A. and isn’t connected to the freeway. So that would mean you were landlocked. Bummer.”
    “How did you know that?”
    “Big fan of Joan Jett. She went to high school there.”
    “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a hard-rocking babe.”
    “I was, to the detriment of my parents. Shane didn’t help. He bought me her CDs.”
    “Where is your family now?” Max asked.
    “Gone. Car accident, almost four years ago now, during a trip to Monterey. Bad brakes.”
    “I’m very sorry,” he said, quite sincerely. For all his dark intensity, he had a very warm, soothing tone to his voice. It made a person want to lean closer.
    She nodded and shifted away. It was an easier physical shift than the mental one she really needed to make. “Thank you. I am, too. I miss them very much.” She put on a smile.
    Thankfully, he didn’t press any further. It was going to be difficult enough being around him and keeping her guard up. The less they shared the better. It was just…a lot harder than she’d expected it would be. In less than a few