It Takes a Spy...: A Secrets and Seduction book Read Online Free Page A

know there’s no swaying her once she sets her mind to something.”
    “How was I born into this family?” Evangeline asked, not for the first time. “Not one of you is the least bit logical.”
    “But we make up for it with our charm and intuition,” Cecilia quipped.
    A man’s voice came from behind her. “And you have that in spades. I can vouch for it,” Devin said.
    As Cecilia turned to face him, a smile spread across her face. It was nice to hear him compliment her. Well, he sort of complimented her, didn’t he? “Look who we found,” she said, gesturing toward her sister.
    “Miss Evangeline,” Devin said. “This is a surprise. I thought you’d be in your bedchamber, enjoying the novelty of having it to yourself while sister was at the ball.”
    “I tried, for a while, but since I couldn’t ignore the music of the orchestra drifting upstairs, I found it hard to concentrate on reading David Copperfield .”
    “I thought you already read that,” Cecilia said.
    “It bears a second, and even a third reading. Mr. Dickens is a wonderful writer.”
    Cecilia opened her mouth to retort, but Devin interrupted her. “I believe our waltz is about to begin,” he said, cutting off the disparaging comment that was already on Cecilia’s tongue.
    She shot him a sidelong glance. He’d done that intentionally.
    Mr. Kenning cleared his throat. “Miss Paring, if you don’t mind, could Mr. Montlake escort you back to the ballroom? I’d like to walk farther down the path.”
    “Of course,” Cecilia said.
    Devin offered his arm and she took it.
    “A good evening to you both, Misses Paring, and a good evening to you too, Mr. Montlake,” Kenning said, and then took his leave.
    The buildings surrounding the garden blocked most of the cross breezes, but the brisk wind that swirled straight down on them from the sky above had changed. It was significantly cooler now, and Cecilia could sense a change in the air that suggested a storm was coming. As gooseflesh pebbled her forearms, she wished she had her wrap with her. She moved closer to Devin, pulling his arm a bit more snugly to her side. His muscular arm pressed intimately against the side of her breast, sending a tremor of sinful delight coursing through her entire body. After a moment, the heat he radiated suffused her with warmth and her gooseflesh faded away.
    As an afterthought, Cecilia glanced back at her sister, but Evangeline was already gone. She’d disappeared as though the breeze had whisked her away.
    Was that Mr. Kenning walking past one of the torches? She couldn’t be certain. He was farther away than she’d expected. A moment later, she couldn't see him at all.
    They were alone for the moment, so Cecilia paused on the path and turned to face Devin. "I'm nervous," she said.
    "Why?" He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek and tucked a stand of hair behind her ear. "Is it the auction? Are you worried about the outcome?" When she didn't say anything he continued. "I don't care about the auction. All I care about is you."
    Cecilia's jaw dropped, just a little. "But I thought…"
    He wrapped his hands around her elbows, pulled her closer, and gently kissed her. "It's you I want, Cecilia Paring," he murmured. "Remember that."
    A tingle ran down her spine. She hadn't realized how much she needed to hear him speak those words of comfort until he said them. But was he being honest?
    The door to the ballroom opened, and Devin took a quick step away from her, ending the moment of intimacy. He took her arm in his and they slowly wandered back, giving the couple approaching them a nod of greeting.
    As they stepped into the ballroom, Cecilia very nearly walked directly into Monsieur LeCompte. She’d met the tall, slim Parisian when she’d returned to London just a couple of weeks ago. He’d immediately impressed her with his knowledge of the people living here, especially the French expatriates who’d taken up residence in the city. He seemed to