Free Conard County Spy by Rachel Lee Page A

pain?”
    â€œI need my head,” he said, but he smiled. “Half a dose mixed with a heavier dose of caffeine, if you don’t mind.”
    She waved a hand. “I have plenty of coffee, and if you want stronger I once splurged on an espresso machine. I can light you up, baby.”
    That drew a laugh from him and brought a twinkle to his brown eyes. “You light me up more than you know, and no caffeine required.”
    She felt her cheeks heat and headed quickly to make that espresso. So she wasn’t the only one feeling it. A warm glow settled deep inside her. She liked it.
    * * *
    Much as Trace tried to keep his head on his problem, Julie took up space. While he sipped the double shot of espresso she’d made for him and waited for the pain pill to kick in, he decided she was not at all what he would have expected from a kindergarten teacher. Not that he’d ever spent a lot of time thinking about it.
    She’d have to be lively to some extent to deal with children of that age all day successfully. But it was more than that. Cusswords? He still wanted to laugh over that. But it was yet more. Most people would have wanted nothing to do with him and his dangerous problems, but she’d dived right in to protect her friends. Loyalty was a quality he valued above almost anything. She had quite a tongue on her when she chose, she didn’t hold back, and her face was entrancing to watch as expressions continually flitted across it. Always having a sense of what she was feeling and thinking would be a comforting quality to him after all the years he’d spent in a world where everyone tried to conceal everything. How relaxing to be with someone who had no secrets, and who couldn’t really conceal them if she wanted to.
    She turned from her desk and found him watching her. “See something you like?”
    He had to grin. “Very definitely.”
    She smiled back. “Me, too. So tell me something?”
    â€œIf I can.”
    â€œWhat did Ryker mean when he said the police traced your vehicle back to one of you?”
    He probably wouldn’t be telling her anything she couldn’t guess if she thought about it. “I have a number of identities.”
    â€œAh. Will the real Trace Whoever please stand up?”
    â€œSort of like that.” For once he threw caution to the winds. “My real name is Trace Archer. I don’t use it very often, but that’s pretty much what’s on my paychecks.”
    â€œSo you assume that’s the real one.” A smile danced around her lips.
    â€œThat same guy pays my taxes, too.”
    She laughed. “I’ve never had an alias. Maybe I should get one. Except that I can’t imagine who else I could be.”
    â€œI think,” he said, meaning it, “that you could be anyone you want to be.” Beauty, intelligence and a quick wit, all in one package.
    â€œIf it’s just about a piece of paper, probably. Changing other things about me would be harder. Do you have to do that?”
    Again he weighed the question. He wasn’t in the habit of talking about these matters, and every question posed the possibility of revealing something he shouldn’t. “Yes,” he said presently. “Sometimes I’ve had to. It’s like being in a play, except that you can’t afford to drop your character, ever. You have to live it, breathe it, even sleep it.”
    She chewed her lower lip, nodding slowly. “How do you find yourself in all that?”
    Shock shook him. He was amazed that she’d even thought of that part of it. “It’s not always easy. When you start to forget, it’s time to come in for a while. Repatriation, they call it.”
    â€œWhat do you call it?”
    â€œFinding my feet again.”
    She stood up. “More espresso?”
    â€œThanks, yes.”
    Halfway to the kitchen she stopped and looked straight at him. “How well did you know