Cherry Hill 16 - Spies Don't Fall In Love Read online

  “Then we’ll know they’re a team and also players. Don’t worry, the guy’s name is Louis, and he totally kept looking for you.”

  “Oh God. Why am I shaking?”

  “Because you finally found something that interests you. But be careful. They are here alone. Not sure if they’re part of the same team.”

  “Well find out. Then we’ll know if we both don’t have a chance.”

  “Who said I wanted one, Faith?”

  “Honey, you’re looking at Mills as much as he is looking at you, and you let him touch your arm and even your knee,” Faith said, and gave her a sassy look.

  Genesis chuckled. “Okay, let me see what I can find out.”

  * * * *

  “So that’s the woman you guys met in the woods and made trip and get hurt? Interesting,” Louis said to Mills. “Interesting? That’s all you have to say?”

  “She’s gorgeous, and friendly, and gives off a maturity that’s for sure.”

  “You think she’s too young? How old, if you had to guess?” Mills asked.

  “Twenty four.”

  “Shit.” Louis chuckled. “Dude, look at the blonde? I’d be robbing the fucking cradle big time,” Louis said to Mills.

  “You’re right. We both would be. It’s crazy that you don’t even know the blonde, and never talked to her,” Mills said to him.

  “Faith. Genesis said her name was Faith.”

  “Well, you should talk to Faith. Maybe you’ll change your mind?”

  “Doubt it,” Louis said, and Genesis was heading toward them. Mills watched her as some guys stopped her. One placed his hand on her hip as he gave her a drink order. She nodded and smiled, but as she walked closer to their table, she noticed that guy staring at her ass and then he said something to his buddies. They smiled, too.

  “Okay, gentleman, here ya go.” She placed the Murphy’s down onto the table.

  “Thank you, Genesis,” Louis said to her.

  “You’re welcome. Do you need anything else right now?”

  “No, we’re good,” Mills said, and she smiled.

  “Okay then, just wave me over when you’re ready for another round.”

  “Hey, you work every night?” Mills asked her. Her royal blue eyes were absolutely stunning. She had her jet black hair pulled into a long ponytail, and she filled out the Harper’s tank top exceptionally well. She was good looking, and he wasn’t the only guy noticing. Feeling like he couldn’t lose an opportunity, he decided to strike up further conversation and see if she felt the attraction, too.

  “Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.”

  “Well, if you don’t have plans Sunday, any way you’d be willing to show me around town, introduce me to the best things Cherry Hill has to offer?” Mills asked her.

  “Just you and I?” she asked.

  “Maybe the others that you met in the woods. They’re part of my team. We’re staying with Louis and his team,” Mills told her, and she nodded.

  “Nice, well, I guess I could show you around. Did you see the signs for the concert in the park?” she asked, and rested the tray on her hip as she glanced around them as if to be sure she wasn’t needed at any other tables.

  Mills couldn’t help but hope she wasn’t needed there. She looked so beautiful and her eyes did him in. He was staring at her.

  “No, I don’t think he did see them,” Louis spoke up for him. She chuckled. Mills reached out and took her wrist in his hand. He stroked the inside with the pad of his thumb as he held her gaze. “Your eyes are absolutely incredible darling.”

  “Thank you. So, the event is a lot of fun. We could walk around town. I’ll show you the cool places and then we can enjoy the music?”

  “Sounds perfect. Where do you live, and I can pick you up at your place?” he asked.

  “No need to. I’m volunteering to help set up for the book sale they’re going to have outside the library. Why don’t you meet me by the library at eleven? Is that good for you?”

  “Sure thing.”

  They stared at one another and then she smiled. “I need to check on my tables. I’ll be back though.” He nodded, let her go, and she walked away. He exhaled. Louis chuckled.

  “You okay?”

  Mills pursed his lips. “The fuck if I know. Jesus, she’s gorgeous,” he said, and took a sip from his pint of Murphy’s.

  Louis smiled. “Well, how do you think Zedock and the gang are going to feel about the date you just planned?”

  “They aren’t going to be interested in coming along.”

  “Their loss.”

  “We’ll see.”

  * * * *

  “Well, what happened? Is Mills nice or what? You keep talking to him,” Faith asked.

  “Very nice, and also not part of Louis’s team. They’re all friends though, and are staying together.”

  “Hmm, are you sure?”

  “Pretty much, because Mills just asked me out, well to show him around town Sunday, and didn’t include Louis, but mentioned his team, the guys I met in the woods.”

  “Oh my God, that’s awesome,” Faith said, and then looked back at the table.

  “You want to bring over the other round of beers for them, to see if Louis says something to you? Or I can just introduce you?” Genesis said.

  Faith shook her head. “I don’t want to come across as easy, you know? If Louis is interested, then he’ll strike up a conversation with me.”

  “That’s smart. Okay, let me know if you change your mind,” Genesis said, and then headed over to deliver more drinks, her mind now on the potential date, and whether she really could have a normal relationship. After all, her last lover was violent, abusive, and not out of choice, but out of survival. Maybe she couldn’t let down her guard and be intimate again? Maybe she should rethink this attraction and taking a chance?

  Chapter 2

  “The election is less than six months away. I need major results. I need exposure and concrete arrests here. Undercover operations, agents working for the US government going into the danger zone and retrieving information imperative to destroying terrorist cells are big time votes. The people want to see terrorists being eliminated. Actions of violence being stopped before it happens, or before it reaches U.S. soil. Where are you at with that inside job you’re working?” Senator Rangles asked Kent Mogen.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “That isn’t what I want to hear.”

  “I know it isn’t, but considering the body count of recent events, it may be wise to pull back a little and negotiate.”

  “God damn it, Kent, you said you had this guy, had a sure thing. Are you telling me that isn’t the case? That you lied, and that I should have gone with Kelly on this?”

  “Kelly is nothing. A nobody, and he claims to have connections, but he doesn’t have anything.”

  “He has an in with a certain individual that can make certain events happen. Events that my department can find out about and stop them. Now I want what you promised. You have two weeks, then I give the job to Kelly.” Senator Rangles ended the call.

  “Asshole,” Kent said, and then shook his head and clenched his teeth. He really needed to move operations along. Maybe give a little bone to entice the senator and keep him under Kent’s thumb. If Kent pulled this off, he would be putting away a pretty penny for himself. A payoff from Reynolds, one from Kasmul, and who gave a fuck about collateral damage. It was a win-win situation. He had to be smart here and really cover all his bases. Limiting who was kept in the loop. He could do this. He picked up the burner phone and made the call. “I need that small situation to take place a little sooner than later. My intel says Volchen’s main supplier will be in the vicinity next week. Thursday in person. Grab him, run him through the process, make it look good. I need photos of the product, arrests, no faces, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

  He couldn’t help but smirk. Buying time and even creating usable events was something he was pretty damn good at. Once this all ha
ppened, he could send the details to the senator, keep him happy, until the real deal happened. That was still a plan in the making, but when it all went down, he would be one rich man, and the senator would get reelected no problem. Who cares what it really cost the American people, or even American soldiers?

  * * * *

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come along?” Mills asked Zedock and Denzel. Freeman was game, and he was looking forward to getting to know Genesis.

  “You’re foolish to be acting like we’re staying here permanently. We can get the call at any time,” Zedock said to them.

  “It’s been three weeks and counting, I doubt the call is coming, and when it does, we’ll go do what we need to. I’m not missing this opportunity, man. She’s gorgeous, friendly, and I like her. A lot,” Mills said.

  “Plus, she didn’t shy away when he mentioned all of us coming along. That has potential for something,” Freeman said to them.

  “Yeah, potential for trouble. You two think with the right heads. We don’t need any additional aggravation,” Denzel added as he leaned back against the doorframe of the kitchen with his arms crossed and looking like he really wanted to go along.

  “Listen, if you change your minds, we’ll be by the center of town where there’s a concert going on. Come hang out. Check out the town. It’s better than just sitting around here,” Freeman said, and then he and Mills headed out of the house and made their way to town.

  Mills drove the truck, and instead of heading closer to the center of town and the library, they parked by the park, where they could sit on the back—maybe with Genesis—and enjoy the concert. As they got a good spot up front, they saw the band setting up and people putting out their chairs and blankets along the grass getting ready to enjoy the event. “This is nice, huh?” Mills asked Freeman.

  “A huge change from only a few weeks ago.”

  “I know, man. It’s crazy when you think about it. How when we’re on a mission it’s like we’re in a completely different world. We’re risking our lives, dodging bullets, sucking in sand and dirt, and meanwhile, this, right here, is going on,” Mills said, and Freeman mumbled in agreement.

  “Oh my God, there she is,” Mills said to Freeman.

  Mills caught sight of Genesis immediately. She stood out in a flair navy blue skirt, and blue and white tank top that accentuated her large breasts. The white sweater she wore over it, currently hung off her shoulder as she carried a box. Freeman and Mills got to her quickly.

  “You need help?” Freeman asked, coming up by the side of her to take the box from her hands. “Oh, thanks so much,” she said, pushing her long black hair behind her ear and smiling at him, then at Mills.

  “You look gorgeous, sweetie,” Mills said to her, sliding his arm around her waist before he leaned down and kissed her cheek. She lay her palm against his upper arm and he felt the warmth run through his body and straight to his cock. She looked so feminine, and smelled incredible.

  “Oh, right there. Thanks,” she said to Freeman.

  “You remember Freeman, right?” Mills asked her, keeping his hand at her lower back.

  “Yes, of course I do. How are you?”

  “Good,” Freeman said, and eyed her over. “You look beautiful.”

  “That’s so sweet. Thank you. Did you get to look around yet?”

  “No, we just got here, and in the nick of time, too. The parking lot by the park is filling up,” Mills told her.

  “It usually does. People park there and sit out in the back of their trucks and drink some beers.”

  “Shoot, we didn’t bring beers, but we did park close,” Freeman told her.

  “That’s okay. We can go pick some up, and maybe something to eat, and have it at the park. I keep a few blankets in the back of my car. Just in case.”

  “Genesis, we’re good if you want to go enjoy the concert. Thanks so much for the help,” a woman said to her.

  “Are you sure that you all don’t need anything else?”

  “No way, you really hustled this morning. Thanks, and have a good time.”

  “Thank you, Claire,” Genesis said, and then excused herself a second to grab her bag from under one of the tables. There were a bunch of people and kids checking out the books on display, and Mills and Freeman stepped back a little. Both watched Genesis bend over to grab her bag. The sight of her long, sexy, tan legs aroused Mills even more.

  “We’re in trouble, you know that, right?” Freeman asked. “For some damn reason, I don’t care. She’s gorgeous.”

  “Yes, she is,” Freeman said, and when Genesis turned around to face them, she smiled and headed right for them.

  “So, what do you want to see first?” she asked.

  Both men took position on either side of her. “Why don’t you show us what you like most about Cherry Hill?” Freeman suggested. She tilted her head up to the right to look at him. Freeman held her gaze and placed his hand at her lower back. Mills smiled.

  “Do you mind a little dessert before lunch?” she asked him.

  Freeman brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Are you part of dessert?” he asked her.

  She chuckled and pulled her hand free. “Nice one, but no, I’m not. Come on. I guarantee a pleasurable experience,” she said, and winked.

  Mills absorbed the sight of her abundant breasts, pushed together in a deep cleavage in the blue and white tank top she wore. She pulled her sweater tighter as if noticing him staring at her breasts like they were part of dessert, then cleared his head. “This better be good,” he stated.

  * * * *

  Genesis nodded her head, smiling as both Freeman and Mills picked at the sampler. A delicious special only created by Sweet Sensation, the local candy and café shop in town. It consisted of chocolate covered Oreos, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered berries, homemade fudge in three flavors of your choosing, and a twist on the traditional S’more. Instead of graham crackers, the sandwich consisted of two homemade sugar cookies, with homemade dark chocolate and marshmallow spread. They were made small, and the sampler usually fed four people, but not with Freeman and Mills eating it. She laughed as Freeman closed his eyes and exhaled.

  “Satisfied?” she asked Freeman and winked. She felt him move his hand over her knee and thigh, giving it a squeeze.

  “Just getting warmed up,” he told her with promise.

  She shook her head. He was so flirty and sexy. She noticed how many women looked at him and Mills, but both men kept their eyes on her, their focus on her, and she loved that about them. They were seasoned men, and had this look in their eyes, in their expressions, that made her think they were kind of tired, like maybe they weren’t recovered mentally from their last mission. Her curiosity about that, and what they could have been involved in, or if they were injured or came close had Gable popping into her head. He was such a good friend, a lover several times. Her heart ached thinking about how he died. There was not only a feeling of guilt, like there could be something she could do to help avenge his death, and then there was the fear from what she went through. From basically being raped by Kasmul. She didn’t want to be his lover. Didn’t want to remain a prisoner in his bed, never mind his estate. What she did, she did to survive, but right now she felt like she might not be able to let these men into her heart. Never mind into her bed. She gulped.

  “Here,” Mills lifted a chocolate covered berry to her lips.

  “I don’t know. I may have reached my limit.”

  “One more bite,” he said, and she took a bite of the berry and he finished the remainder. It was sexy, and she licked her lower lip when she swallowed. “Oh, you missed a spot, darling.”

  She went to reach up toward her lip when Freeman covered her hand, and Mills clenched her chin before he pressed his lips to hers. It was incredible how aroused she felt. Especially as Freeman ran his palm up and down her thigh at the same time. When she felt his hand move under her skirt, she tensed up and pulled from Mills’ li
ps. But then Freeman cupped her cheek.

  “Better than the sampler,” Mills said, but she couldn’t turn to respond because Freeman kissed her next. It was short, sweet, but sensual, and she was glad they had taken the back table in the small shop. As she pulled back, both men released long sighs and completely leaned closer. The remnants of the way their whiskers felt brushing against her skin aroused her entirely too much. The scent of their cologne and the aura of their manliness did her in.

  “Oh boy, I think we need to put on the breaks,” she said, and then reached for her bottle of water to take a sip. She felt Freeman’s arm on the back of her chair, and felt Mill’s hand move over her knee and squeeze it.

  “I don’t know. I think the pace is perfect. So, what are you going to show us next, tour guide?” he asked and winked. His green eyes sparkled, and almost seemed brighter than when he and Freeman first showed up in town. She couldn’t help but wonder if spending time with her did that. A hopeful thought? Then came the uncertainty. Was she ready for this? Were they? They seemed so much older, and she wondered by how much. Then she wondered what could come of this?

  Was she asking for heartache, for trouble, especially as they left for another mission? She didn’t even know exactly who they were, what they did, what unit or specialty things they engaged in. Could she ask? Would they even tell her? Hell. She was going to be holding back, too, and not letting her guard completely down. They could be turned off if they knew what she had gone through. What she needed to do to survive. Maybe this was a mistake?

  A light tug to her hair and she glanced up to look at Freeman. “You okay?”

  She shook her head instead of nodding, and he squinted, those dark brown eyes of his holding her gaze. She stared at his face. The scruff along his firm jaw and cheeks, the tan complexion like he only recently left the dessert. She knew that color. It was a different kind of tan, of coloring than anywhere else. Again, Gable popped into her head, and then Kasmul’s touch. When Mills placed his hand on her knee at that moment, she jerked, and then quickly covered up her reaction.