Free Undercover Engagement by Lucy McConnell Page A

eyes, threatening to ruin Tiffany’s hard work. I dabbed them with the pads of my fingers. Jason pulled my chin up. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
    “I know. It’s just all happening so fast.” I sniffed, wishing for a tissue to appear. Jason reached across me, opening the glove box. Poof, tissues. “Thanks.”
    Checking his super-hooty spy phone, Jason continued, “We are headed to Temple Square. The LDS church has their own security – cameras, motion sensors, guards – the works. No one breaks into their system and it’s impossible to bribe your way in. We know their property is invisible to Devin and his crew and we’re going to use that to our advantage. You know the rules they have about PDAs on Temple Square?”
    I nodded. The LDS Church owned the street next to the temple. Because it was private property, they could make their own rules, like no demonstrating, no smoking, and no making out in the area surrounding the reflection pool. If people did lock lips, they were asked by church security to leave.
    “We have seven minutes to get you to the rendezvous. Once there, I’ll kiss you and an agent will come by and tell us we have to leave the grounds. I'll ask you to come with me and you refuse – call me a name or something, it will sound better. He'll haul you away and deliver you to another safe house and I will deliver the information to Mr. Stone.” He held up the flash drive.
    Two deep breaths. “Okay.”
    “Don’t worry. You look completely different. I don’t think I would recognize you if you walked up and kissed me.”
    Insert high-pitched giggle. I was more nervous about the drop off than I was about kissing Jason. That I could do all day long. This felt more like a kiss goodbye and I was having a hard time keeping the hysteria down.
    He shook his head at my insanity. “Let’s go.”
    The walk wasn’t long. We were sitting in front of the reflecting pool across from the Salt Lake Temple before my stomach registered that it should be upset. Staring up at the spires, I held tight to Jason’s arm. Usually, when I sat near the temple, in December when all the Christmas lights were on and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s latest Christmas album pumped through the air or during my lunch break, I found calm. Today, my emotions were all over the place. I couldn’t seem to settle my mind any more than I could slow my wildly beating heart.
    “Hey, do you have to cut off my circulation?” Jason extracted my nails from his forearm.
    “Sorry.”
    “Relax.”
    “I’m trying,” I snapped.
    “What is your deal?”
    I shook my hands, keeping my fingers loose. “I don’t feel right.”
    Jason hooked his hand around my waist and kissed me like it was our last moment on earth. I melted into him. Who knew kissing was a great way to relieve stress? Okay, someone probably knew, but this was the first time I’d thought about it. Except at that moment, I wasn’t thinking about anything except for the way his love poured into me, as if he was trying to say everything we didn’t have time to say before. I answered, grabbing his shirt and holding him in place.
    “Excuse me, Sir, public displays of affection are not permitted on the grounds. You two will have to leave the premises.” A large man in a dark business suit stood before us.
    Jason feigned anger. “This sucks!” His arms fell away and he puffed out his chest. I had to admit, his posture was intimidating and that snake on his neck pulsed as he clenched and unclenched his jaw.
    “Maybe we should go,” I said quietly. My hot cheeks and lowered chin weren’t part of an act. I was completely embarrassed to be caught kissing that way on Temple Square. What we’d shared in that moment was private and I didn’t think twice about broadcasting it to the world.
    “You can’t make us leave.” Jason jutted out his chin. I knew he was just putting on a show, but the looks from the elderly couple to our left and the photographer to our