The Midnight Hour - Brenda Jackson [14]
anger.
She would always remember the first time he had approached her in boot camp. Instead of formally asking her out, he had merely informed her where he would be taking her that night, and had looked at her like she'd lost her mind when she had told him in a nice way that she wasn't going anywhere with him and that he could go to hell.
She had discovered early that the best way to handle Drake's brash attitude was to respond likewise. He hadn't been able to handle a cocky, smart-ass, streetwise woman who could hold her own with him; especially one who almost, and she meant almost, could best him in martial arts. And from the way he was now acting, it seemed she to bring him down a notch again.
She held Drake's gaze and her heart began beating furiously within her chest. She took a deep breath as she tried to calm her breathing as every emotion she possessed suddenly centered in the depth of her heart. Only someone who'd been as close to him as she had could read his emotions. There was curiosity in his gaze as well as the anger, but she also felt something else; it was something that made a heated sensation flow lower through her body. Attraction.
She felt it deep in her bones. Drake Warren was attracted to her as a woman. She didn't misread the desire she saw in the dark depths of his eyes or the way his nostrils flared in heated lust. It only proved that he was still a man who appreciated what he perceived as an attractive woman. A part of her couldn't help but feel good about that but another part made her cautious.
Although he didn't recognize her physically, being in close proximity with him for any amount of time might trigger something where he would make mental comparisons between her and Sandy. Although she had worked on changing her mannerisms, she knew from experience that Drake was a very observant man.
"I don't understand what's going on," she finally said to both men. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Drake moved across the room to stand at the window. Instead of staring out of it, she felt the intensity of his gaze focused on her.
And for the first time in five years, her body was responding to the interest of a man.
For the next few minutes Drake listened as Casey briefed Victoria Green on the situation. Drake tried like hell to keep "is expression neutral while doing a slow study of her.
While her full attention was on Casey, Drake's full attention was on her.
He leaned tensely against the windowsill and studied her. She was no longer wearing the khaki shorts, tank top and sandals, but had changed into a business-casual attire of dark brown dress slacks and a beige blouse. There was no doubt about it, the woman was stunning and up close she was more ethereal than real and her dark eyes were even more beautiful. Her dark brown hair flowed around her shoulders in a healthy, glossy glow and her lips were more than just full and luscious, they were also inviting.
His gaze slowly moved to her chest. She wasn't large-breasted, but she wasn't small either. In his opinion, the size of her breasts was just right and looked firm pressed against her blouse. There was something that was too graceful about her to be a CIA agent and he couldn't imagine her dodging bullets or roughing it. The thought of that shook him to the core. To him, she was more suited in some man's bed and not going on missions hunting down the bad guys.
He angered at the thought of her life being in danger and was amazed at his reaction to her and her well-being. But the one thing he knew for certain was that she would not be going with him on this mission, no matter what Casey said. The last thing he needed was a partner who was a woman… and an incredibly beautiful woman at that.
After Casey finished talking, Tori glanced at Drake and tried to ignore the flutter that went through her body when their eyes met. A warning