Passionate Immunity Read Online Free Page B

let alone go out there searching for trouble.”
    “We’ll keep her safe,” Tristan replied. He reluctantly let go of her soft hand. The flush over Kimber’s cheeks became noticeably darker.
    “I’m not some four-year-old needing to hold hands before I cross the road,” she insisted. The glare she gave Preston indicated to Tristan this was not the first time she’d tried to persuade the man of her capabilities. She appeared so small, delicate even. A hot, exceedingly masculine part of Tristan wondered what the fuck Preston was doing letting such an intriguing, passionate woman enter into this life.
    As Tristan had so recently been reminded of with the death of Jasper, this wasn’t some game for kids or innocents. It was the harsh, cruel realities of the worst side of life. Preston had mentioned this woman was a close friend of his wife’s. What was the man thinking?
    He was tempted to give his boss a cutting piece of his mind. Lucas appeared to sense the change in undertone of the room and interjected before Tristan could get himself fired for insubordination.
    “Actually it’s a good thing you’re here, Ms Melmoth.” Lucas beamed a warm smile at the woman.
    A spike of jealousy seared through Tristan, taking him brutally by surprise. What the fuck? He’d barely met the woman and already he felt possessive? Was he losing his mind?
    “We’ve found these references to ‘subjects’, but haven’t been able to ascertain exactly what they mean. Perhaps if you could have a look…”
    Kimber reached out to take the thin file Lucas handed her and focused her attention on the two sheets of paper held within the manila folder. Preston glanced at them each in turn. Seeming satisfied, he left the room and closed the door behind him.
    “Where’s the rest of it?” Kimberly asked, glancing first at Lucas, then turned her head to capture Tristan’s gaze with her own.
    For the second time in as many minutes Tristan felt his brain fry. Forcing himself to stick to the subject at hand, he cleared his throat and answered before Lucas could. “We’re only part way through,” he explained. “The records are a mess, presumably any number of agents have gone over them. Lucas and I were in the process of chronologically ordering everything as best we could. So far we haven’t found more than those two sheets for any of the subjects mentioned.”
    “Subjects,” she repeated with an emphasis on the ‘s’. “How many have you found?”
    “Four so far,” Tristan replied.
    Understanding dawned across Lucas’ face. His partner cast him a knowing smile, sat back and began to once again go through the paperwork. Tristan easily shrugged his partner’s humour off.
    Kimber appeared unaware of the silent exchange between the two men.
    “Well, I guess I should start reading and catching up,” she said. Her light tone and happy smile clearly conveyed her excitement. Tristan shook his head. Her pleasure at such a simple, usually mundane task was contagious.
    “Are you always so thrilled by paperwork?” he asked.
    Her answering grin was enormous. “I’ve read more spy thrillers than I care to think about,” she replied. “I know Preston insists this will be boring, mundane and totally anti-climactic. But something deep inside me insists this is my big adventure. I’ve craved excitement and action since I was a little girl running around playing thieves and coppers. I can’t explain why I know this will be huge for me, but I just do. I’m thrilled to be here.”
    Lucas and Tristan exchanged a look. Despite the fact Tristan had her pegged somewhere in her mid-thirties, right now Kimber could pass for an eager schoolgirl about to go out on her first real date. She all but hummed with vibrant anticipation.
    “I hope you’re as thrilled after you’ve spent two or three hours on these uncomfortable seats, reading through mounds of this paperwork,” Tristan finally replied, unwilling and unable to squash her