She pivoted in place and strode toward Dell as he stood leaning against the back
of the sofa, his ankles crossed in front of him in a deceptively casual stance.
His muscles tensed when she stopped all too close for his peace of mind to stare
at him with her sharp, fixed gaze.
“I need to be certain she is not still in some sort of trouble. I must be
assured she is safe.”
Instinct urged him to refuse. One thing he had learned was that when people
spied on loved ones, they often discovered things they were better off not
knowing.
Still, there were only a couple of things he would never agree to do regardless
of the profit. Outright murder was one. Harming a child was the other. Beyond
those two rules, he was willing to do anything as long as it paid right. He had
spied, stolen, threatened vile consequences to get what he needed, and
infiltrated gangs and crime rings. He had used physical force to make a point
and to save his own hide, and had occasionally been forced to do things he was
not particularly proud of. But it was the purse that mattered, not the job. His
success was based on his ability to remain passionless and unattached. That
philosophy had done well for Dell over the years.
There was no reason to change now.
“Once her well-being and security are confirmed, you will pay the remainder of
the fee?” he asked.
Her eyes narrowed just slightly, triggering a subtle alarm in Dell’s head.
“Of course,” she replied in a flippant tone.
Dell scowled. The girl had better intend to pay him. He was about to say
something to assure himself of that when she took a disconcerting step even
closer to him. Her skirts brushed his shins as she tipped her head back
to better look into his face.
Dell fought to retain his ground. She carried with her the subtle essence of
warm vanilla mixed with something unidentifiable that made him think of moonlit
summer skies. The scent went straight to his head.
“Are you always in disguise?” she asked.
“When I’m working.”
Her smile then was a delightful quirk of her full lips that had Dell’s mouth
going suddenly dry.
“Why do I get the sense you are always working?”
He didn’t reply.
“When do you get to be simply yourself?”
“We are done here,” he stated as he straightened to his full height. He expected
her to step back.
She didn’t.
“Oh, please don’t be that way,” she said with laughter in her voice. “I am
curious. I find what you do extremely fascinating.”
“Well, I find you extremely annoying,” he grumbled as he stepped around her and
headed for the door.
“I hear that often,” she replied ruefully as she followed him into the small
foyer.
Dell ignored the way her self-deprecation caused a strange tug inside him. He
strode to the front door and opened it. Looking back, he saw her standing there
in his hall, her cloak draped over her arm. Her expression was open, and a tilt
of her head brought his attention to her strong little chin.
When he continued to glare at her, she heaved a labored sigh and swept her cloak
around her shoulders, lifting the hood to conceal her face. But of course, the
woman would not leave so easily. Once again, she stopped in front of him before
passing over the threshold.
Dell gritted his teeth.
Stupidly, he had placed himself right in the doorway where he had no room to
step back from her. The fall of her cloak hit his boots as she narrowed her gaze
on his face. Her focus traveled intently over his features. Her silvery gaze was
unnerving.
Dell’s main skill was in blending into his environments as though he belonged.
He had spent years learning to become a part of whatever world he entered so he
did not draw attention from those around him. His disguises worked well enough
for the casual observer, but were not exactly designed to hold up under close
and constant scrutiny.
His scalp began to itch beneath French’s blond wig, and the clump of putty he
had shaped into French’s prominent nose started to feel heavy and awkward on his
face. Again, her scent, warm and mysterious, distracted him. He tensed his
stomach muscles and pulled his shoulders back as he tried to keep from breathing
too deeply.
Aside from physically forcing her through the door, which would require he place
his hands on her, he had no choice but to endure her rude inspection.
The longer it took, the tighter he wound up inside.
When she finally looked into his eyes, he felt her gaze like a steel-pointed
spear.
And when she smiled, that spear drove down through his center, searing his
insides.
“Fascinating,” she whispered softly. Her voice was smooth and sultry.
Lust ignited, hardening his body with fierce and near-painful desire. “Are you
finished?” he asked through tightly clenched teeth.
Her smile turned to a smirk as one corner curled up in a way that made him want
to touch his tongue to it. “For now,” she said. “You will watch over Lily?
Ensure she is at no further risk?”
Dell already regretted it, but he gave a short nod. “Do not come back here, Miss
Chadwick,” he added sternly.
With another smile, she stepped out into the early morning light.
He remained in the doorway until she was safely back inside her hired hack. Then
he closed the door with a muttered curse.
“You do strange things to me, Dell Turner. Tell me I am not alone in
what I feel.”
His voice was low and rough. His eyes burned. “You are not alone,” he
said.
Portia Chadwick longs for a life of adventure. When a dangerous moneylender
kidnaps her sister, she dares to seek help from a man known only as Nightshade.
Soon she finds herself charging headfirst into his world of intrigue and
danger—and unexpected passion.
Dell Turner grew up in London’s back alleys and gin lanes. Vowing to escape his
low beginnings, he hires himself out to society’s elite. When he accepts a job
from a beautiful debutante, he doesn’t anticipate her relentless determination
to join his mad occupation…or her unnerving ability to inspire emotions he
thought long buried. She’s as dangerous to him as his world is to her, and yet
Dell can’t bring himself to turn Portia away—even if it means risking her life.
Romance Historical
[Sourcebooks Casablanca, On Sale: July 1, 2017,
Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781492618782 / eISBN: 9781492618799]
USA Today Bestselling author Amy Sandas’s love of romance
began one summer when she stumbled across one of her mother’s Barbara Cartland
books. Her affinity for writing began with sappy preteen poems and led to a
liberal arts degree from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She lives with
her husband and children near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
I have enjoyed Jacki Delecki's spy characters... (Colleen Conklin 12:57pm July 5, 2017)
My favorite spy would be Percy Blakney(the Scarlet Pimpernel) (Cecilia Rodriguez 10:50am July 6, 2017)
Cecilia beat me to it, I have to pick Sir Percy Blakeney! (Mary McCoy 5:30pm July 6, 2017)
I don't really have any. Would Paul Revere count. I am looking forward to reading your book. Sounds interesting and a strong female lead. (Melody Gonser 6:06pm July 6, 2017)
This is not a man but all I can think of at the moment is Mati Hari. Hope I spelled her name right. :) (Sharon Shearouse 12:46pm July 7, 2017)
Mata Hari was an interesting one (Joy Isley 5:07pm July 7, 2017)
Scarlet Pimpernel (Judy Gregory 6:10pm July 7, 2017)
I would say Sir Percy Blakeney!Thanks for the giveaway (Julie Parrish 4:24pm July 8, 2017)
James Bond was the first spy I thought of, then Melissa McCarthy in her movie 'Spy'. (Diane Sallans 8:59pm July 8, 2017)
The Cold War was one of my favorite times in history to read about. I'll bet there were many American spies who risked their lives every day behind the Iron Curtain to keep us safe. (Nancy Marcho 3:42pm July 9, 2017)
I don't really have a favorite. However, I do enjoy the animals that pick up details in some of the cozies. Since I like variety, my favorites are always changing. (Nancy Luebke 11:00pm July 9, 2017)
The first historical spy I remember reading and hearing about while attending elementary school was the Revolutionary War American spy Nathan Hale, the man who made the famous quote "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." (Anna Speed 1:02pm July 10, 2017)
Harriet Tubman a slave who saved other slaves. (Deb Pelletier 10:29pm July 10, 2017)
Anna “Nancy” Smith Strong Member of the Culper Spy Ring. (Revolutionary War) Worked from her farm in the New York area. Used laundry on her clothesline to secretly signal other undercover operatives. (Beth Elder 7:57pm July 11, 2017)