Jenna Petersen - [Lady Spies] Read Online Free

He had this case to consider and he was no longer able to pretend Emily wasn’t nearby. So he took a good, long look.
    And the attraction roared to life, as though he’d never muted it at all.
    She was, quite possibly, the most beautiful woman he’d ever set eyes on in his life.
    Her blond hair caught the light like waves of spun gold. Those bright blue eyes watched everything and everyone like she was on the hunt. She had lost a little weight since he last saw her, which made sense after her long illness. Where she had been more athletic before, she was now slender…almost fragile.
    He had the strangest, strongest urge to protect her. Of course, that was likely because of his case. She was reportedly in danger, after all. Of course he would want to ensure her safety. That was his assignment.
    It was his other reaction to Emily that was more unwanted.
    Desire. Potent and powerful. Guttural and purely visceral. He wanted to walk across that room, back Emily into a dark corner, and press his body against hers until there was no space between them. He wanted to fill himself with the scent of her hair. Taste her skin until he was drunk on its flavor.
    All those thoughts rushed through his head, strange and gripping reactions that made his knees quake like some green boy. Thankfully, those thoughts were interrupted when his mother spoke again.
    “You asked for her to be invited especially, didn’t you?”
    Grant shook away the sudden desire Emily inspired before he met his mother’s eyes. “Don’t start your matchmaking, Mama. I didn’t ask for Lady Allington to be invited in order for you to throw me into her arms or vice versa.”
    Though the idea was not entirely unpleasant, despite the fact that such an encounter was doomed to be brief.
    His mother’s lips tilted in a smile. “I would do no such thing, Grant!” Then she placed a hand on his back and gave him a shove toward Emily. “But since you invited her, you should go say hello. Before Andrew Horne reaches her first.”
    Grant shot his gaze to the left to see Andrew Horne, a well-known rake, eyeing Emily with undeniable interest in his eyes. Grant clenched his fists. If Horne got hold of her, Grant would have no chance to speak to her all night. And he needed to do that in order to feel out the situation. Get to know the woman in order to uncover more about the kind of man who would stalk her.
    “Excuse me, Mother,” he said, giving her a brief glance. “I shall see you later, I’m sure.”
    He heard her murmur some kind of reply, but he was already off into the crowd, his focus now entirely on his case. Entirely on Emily as he weaved around party guests and past servants with their trays.
    She looked up as he moved ever closer, her stare focusing on him as if she had sensed he was coming to her. For a brief moment, her expression changed. Her face flashed an emotion he didn’t recognize, yet it seemed familiar. But then it was gone, replaced by a bland yet friendly smile as he drew up beside her.
    “Good evening, Lady Allington,” he said with a short bow. “I’m so pleased you could join us this evening. My mother was otherwise engaged, and I was sent to welcome you.”
    Emily’s lips parted in a wider smile, but Grant was still struck by something…odd. Like she was holding back. Not in the coquettish way of some women, but something more. Something deeper.
    Why, he couldn’t guess. Certainly, they shared no relationship where she would feel the need to keep secrets from him.
    At least, no relationship she was aware of.
    “Thank you, Lord Westfield, I appreciate your kindness. And I look forward to saying hello to your mother to thank her for the invitation.”
    Despite her polite words, her entire demeanor was still false. Grant tilted his head. Damn, he wished he’d paid closer attention to Emily in the past, rather than trying to pretend she didn’t exist. Then he would know if she’d always kept herself at such a distance, or if it was a