From Spy to Wife: The CEO's Pretend Marriage

heart was beating really fast, and I could still feel h

y. I had to think fast. I needed a reason to come back later. While moving, I quietly

ng," I said, trying to make my voice sound shaky. Pretending to be

arrassed, then serious again like always. "I'm sorry, Ms. Reed. That w

back and glanced at my wrist. No brace

looking away. "Danie

I was supposed to get close to him, but not this fast, and not like that. Sti

ce was all serious now, like that kiss never happe

out that kiss. It wasn't supposed to mean anything. But when I thought about it, I

d, standing kind of far from me. "And

myself. Catherine Reed wouldn't forgive so easily. "

d up. Lennox walked me to the door but didn't fol

Reed," he said

h I didn't know I was holding. The mission

looking at me in the mirror. "Your face

was blushing like a teenager. "Just a little

e. "Mr. Hart can be a bit much someti

"The coffee shop on 5th is fine, thanks," I said, tryin

lway-how he looked at me, how it felt when he kissed me. I had to remind myself

t empty now-it was late. But sitting near the wall was that same "homele

car. "Thanks for

l you get a cab?" he aske

d. "I'm good. My place is

his car anymore, then looked at Shadowbird. She still loo

rd said in a rough voice as I w

t down like I was giving her money. "Bl

hen I turned the corner, I saw the taxi she talked abou

driver as I got in, even th

didn't look homeless anymore. The dirt and fake beard were gone

d he started moving. "So, how'd

ot. "I got inside, saw the security setup, and lef

at me. "You're blush

nt. He had a few drinks after dinner and got...

you?" she aske

dow. "He kissed me, okay? But I pulled

why you're there. This isn't some romance novel. You're

! I didn't kiss him back. And actually, it worked out pe

t from her pocket and pressed a b

e bracelet's signal. "It's working," she said

ere was static, then we heard

-it was Mia. "Where's

to go home," Lennox answered. He so

hen she said, "I had a bad

. He didn't sound cold like

d rustle. "Daddy, is

t know, Mia. May

"She does the voices right

use. "Try to sl

t breathing. Then footsteps ag

y. She must've found the brace

d pressed the button again. "Wel

like this didn't feel right. "What

said like it was nothing. "G

pe from her jacket. "This cam

t might vanish if I moved too fast. The agency almost never let

?" I asked, kinda s

rugged. "Read

envelope and pulled out the letter. My dad

ear

hanging here – autumn's coming early. T

stuff works. But I worry about you, little fox. Always have. That's just wh

urt when rain comes. Would be really nice to see you again.

what I taught you: trust your in

my l

a

im "Ghost" – retired three years ago after a heart attack scared both of us. Now he lives in a sm

ed, folding the le

misses you. Agency says you can vi

my dad so much.but I also knew how important this mission was. If L

could read my mind. "Get the files, confirm wha

let tracker showed it was still in Mia's room, but the audio wasn't

bird during our daily meetup at a small café. "The

. "Or maybe he's checking into y

cover was good, but nothing was

said. "Since he's not reaching ou

eel weird. "Sh

, 8 to 3," Shadowbird said, sliding a folder ove

as right. "Fine. I'll

ere, but they looked more interested in their phones than the kids. I sat on a bench across the st

bled, watching the ki

tree with a book. She looked small next to the othe

aid something. Mia pulled her book close and l

cup tighter. Kids

stopping near Mia. "Where's your

p, but I saw her

ad," the boy kept going, "

dded, "Maybe she left bec

away, I saw the tears on her face. A teacher finally no

ook in her lap. Watching her lik

, I made a choice. Lennox Hart might be my mission, b

Lennox gave me: "Mr. Hart, I think I left something

efore I coul

My daughter found it and hasn't stopped talking about you. Would you l

ed... and something else I couldn't explain.

window, I saw Mia sitting alone while the other kid

ssion," I told