The Secret Service of Tea and Treason (Dangerous Damsels #3)

by India Holton

For example, it was said B had saved Princess Louise from assassination, thanks to being in bed with her at the time. From this, Alice, an exceptional intelligence officer, deduced that B must be a woman. After all, who else would have a pajama party with the princess?

Tumbling off the bed, Daniel was on his feet again in a matter of seconds, gun in hand, blood flaring through his veins as he ricocheted from sexual arousal to homicidal arousal.

Alex clicked his tongue. “No doubt they’re searching for the weapon in efficient fashion—unlike you, who showed more interest in hanky-panky.” Upon hearing this phrase, Alice’s inner dictionary opened its pages excitedly. “What does hanky-panky mean?” she whispered to Daniel. “Witchcraft,” he whispered back.

“Is that a gun in your trouser pocket,” she murmured, “or are you—” “It’s a gun.” She stroked it through the dark wool of his trousers. “What model?” “Smith and Wesson .38. An American weapon.” Her breath caught. “Say it again.”

He smiled at her then, that beautiful, melting smile which always made her want to sigh a little, hug him a little, marry him a little, and take him away to live in the peaceful countryside.

She met with immediate success! But only if her goal had been to strain several muscles in her back, get a splinter in one finger, and not move the crate even half an inch. “Confound it,” she muttered. Then taking a determined breath, she applied her posterior to the edge, set her legs at an angle, and pushed with greater force. This time she got further! Insofar as she strained all the muscles in her legs as well as her back.

“Headache gone?” he asked. “I have a head?” she said dazedly in response.