Free A Spy for Christmas by Kristen James Page B

sighed loudly—instead of swearing in the middle of a
crowd—but it still caused an elderly man walking next to him throw him a look.
    He had never connected so strongly and instantly to a
woman in his entire life. She was quick witted, funny and held her own against
his charm. Not to mention she had full, shiny, flaming red hair all around that
delicate face. Sweet but smart. Hazel eyes. Rosy lips. What a package…he
couldn’t let her walk out of his life right after meeting her!
    But he wasn’t just any man. It wouldn’t be fair to
complicate her life with his shadowy existence. Then again, who knew if it’d
get that far?
    As he walked, he went back and forth on the decision, which
wasn’t normal for him at all. On a daily basis, he made critical decisions in a
split second and acted on them without hesitation.
    Robin stepped outside and he quickened his pace; his
heartbeat picking up with it. He enjoyed the jittery feeling coursing through
him. When had he ever felt like this over a chance meeting with a woman? He
fought back a smile but it suddenly fell away on its own. A stocky dark haired
man—only 5 foot 5—and a taller, thinner blond man were right behind Robin and
stepped up; one on each side of her. 
    He pushed through the people in front of him just in time to
see the men hurrying her down the sidewalk, away from people and the shuttle.
They had a lead on him already.
    “Hey!” Someone shoved him back.
    Grayson barely glanced at the tall man on his way past, but
it slowed him down enough so that the men—and Robin—were a good sixty yards
away. Breaking into a sprint on the wet sidewalk, he watched her throw the heel
of her hand into the taller man’s nose. The stocky guy immediately grabbed her
from behind but she kept fighting, trying to kick him.
    Grayson flew fist first into the man restraining Robin,
plowing him right over and onto the ground. Either Grayson’s fist or the hard
cement knocked out the assailant. Luckily, Grayson caught her by the arm so she
wouldn’t fall too, and then quickly swung an undercut into the blonde’s gut,
ending his cursing streak. Once the perp doubled over, he threw a left swing
into his face to take him down.
    “We’ve got to move!” He took Robin’s arm and turned her so
they were walking away from the fight.
    “My suitcase!” She stuttered, trying to point back at the
scene.
    “Turn around, don’t draw attention.” Taking his own advice,
he slowed their pace to walk across the street and around the next building.
She pulled on her arm but he didn’t let go. Instead of listening to him, she
was watching behind them, clutching the purse she’d managed to keep despite
fighting two highly trained men.
    He could see fear, anger, and confusion in her face, but he
had to get her to safety.
    She looked back and forth between him and behind them. “We
have to call the police!”
    He reached over and caught her hand as she pulled her cell
phone from her purse. He shoved it in his pocket. “No, we need to get to safety
first, in case there are more.”
    “More?” She shook her arm hard. “More who? Or What? Let me
go, now!”
    They’d turned a corner and he abruptly stopped, turning them
both so they were face to face. “I’ve put you in danger. I’m sorry for that,
but all there is to do now is keep you safe.” He’d worry about her temper and
explaining things later. She stared at him, mouth open and eyes searching for
another answer.
    After he felt so drawn to her on the plane, where she was
soft spoken and sweet, it surprised him even more that her feisty spirit
tantalized him this way.
    “Are you some kind of criminal?” she asked, darting her gaze
past him.
    “No, I’m the good guy.”
    She broke into a hysterical laugh. Keeping a hand on her
arm, he used his cell to report in on the incident. She watched him during the
call, her breathing picking up pace.
    “Okay,” he said. “They’ll either pick them up or get them
from the local