A Spy for Christmas Read online

  A Spy for Christmas

  What’s more dangerous? The Oregon wilderness? Hit men?

  Or the heat in Grayson’s arms?

  © 2012 Zulu 7 Productions, LLC. and Kristen James

  Special thanks to:

  Rob Markovich, Vice President of Original

  Programming Starz Entertainment,

  Viracola Productions,

  And Chris (STS Commander) Wilson and his wife, Angie Wilson

  From the author of A Cowboy for Christmas

  Kristen James

  www.writerkristenjames.com

  www.facebook.com/WriterKristenJames

  Other Novels by Kristen James:

  Embers of Hope, Book 1, Second Gift Series

  More Than a Promise, Book 2, Second Gift Series

  More Than Memories

  A Cowboy For Christmas

  The Enemy’s Son

  The River People

  The Fairy and her Giant

  Amazon Author Profile and Full Book List:

  http://amazon.com/author/kristenjames

  Chapter One

  Robin Holliday watched the pristine blue Pacific Ocean fade away under the clouds through the plane window as they flew out of Honolulu. She was flying home to Portland, Oregon, for a cold and snowy Christmas. To tell the truth, the foggy weather in the Pacific Northwest seemed better suited for the holiday. At least this year.

  Spending a week in the sun, sand and ocean had taken her mind off things, which had been clear until takeoff today. Actually, it had been fun to visit with people from all over the world, drink fruity drinks and eat shrimp to her heart’s content. Her ex, Alex, was allergic to any and all seafood so she’d given up for favorite fare for the last four years. Not anymore!

  Her seatmate, a petite teenager with multicolored hair, leaned toward the window and sighed. “I miss it already. I just spent two weeks for my honeymoon.”

  The girl—Arianna, now Mrs. Berkley—kept talking while Robin took in that statement. It seemed strange that a woman would return from her honeymoon alone, but she really didn’t want to discuss anything wedding related. Robin was the one who sighed this time.

  “I know, right?” Arianna almost giggled.

  “Excuse me.” A man—an extremely sexy man—leaned down toward the girl with a dashing smile on his strong face. “Your husband told me you were back here by yourself, so… I said I would trade seats. I can’t let you two be apart on Christmas.”

  For a second, both women stared up at him in silence. A radiance in his eyes drew Robin in; even more than his rugged, strong features. Well, okay, she could stare a while at those brown eyes and that mouth…

  “Oh, thank you! And Merry Christmas!” Arianna gushed, then threw her arms right around his neck, but quickly released him to grab her bag from the overhead. She hurried off with a little finger-wiggle wave and grin.

  The man offered Robin a tentative smile and yet still appeared confident. “I hope you don’t mind.” His voice was deep, but not too deep, and very soothing.

  She shook her head. “Of course not.” She didn’t mind at all, and wouldn’t mind having a few fantasies about his full lips, either. The problem would arise if he figured out what she was thinking about. Duh, every woman watching right now was thinking the same thing!

  He sat down and smiled at her, extending a hand. “Grayson.”

  “I like your name.” She shook his hand, pleasantly surprised at his manners. “I’m Robin. That really was nice of you.” He was leaning toward her so she could see specks of hazel, yellow and red in his dark brown eyes.

  “It wasn’t much…but can you imagine not getting a seat with your new spouse? On Christmas Day no less?” He settled in and added, “I bet you get a ton of compliments on your hair.”

  She glanced over to find him tracing his eyes down her red locks. For some reason, it made her blush like a school girl. “I bet the same is true for your eyes.”

  Oh. My. Word. Was she flirting? The heat in her cheeks grew worse as his smile grew broader. The direct flight from Honolulu to Portland was at least five hours. How was she going to handle sitting next to him all that time?

  “So, Robin,” he started, leaning even closer as if they were discussing juicy gossip. “Do you have a boyfriend, fiancé or significant other somewhere on this plane too?”

  The blatant question took her off guard. She willed herself to breathe and raised a shoulder while giving a playful shake of her head.

  His eyebrows rose in what she took for surprised pleasure. His smile tilted up on one side. “So, you’re the teasing type.”

  “Well, I could use some practice,” she admitted. Luckily, the words came out sounding a little bit daring instead of embarrassing, as she feared.

  His eyes narrowed a bit in curiosity, but they also held a knowing look. “You were on one of those get-your-mojo-back kind of trips.”

  She halfway expected him to nod and lean back in his seat, ready to ignore her, but he didn’t. Grayson titled his head and kept his gaze on her face, waiting for her answer. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

  “So Mr. All Wrong was either incredibly stupid, a jerk—

  She shook her head sadly. “He wasn’t a bad boyfriend, for the most part. I’ll give him that, but he wasn’t interested in moving our relationship forward, either. When he said he was happy with the way things were, I realized I wasn’t.” That had been the wake up call. After waiting for him to propose for a year, she learned he “wasn’t into marriage.”

  “You wanted more,” Grayson said.

  “Yes!” Like passion, excitement, shared dreams. Suddenly, she wondered why she was sharing all this with a stranger. It was as if her thoughts wanted to pour out on their own accord. Grayson put her completely at ease with his smile, charm and thoughtfulness.

  She felt so at ease, in fact, that she openly asked, “What about you? Are you hiding from someone?”

  That made him laugh, and she immediately liked the dimple in his right cheek. “Hiding from someone? Hmm, that’s a telling comment about relationships.”

  “Oh, you’re secretive, aren’t you?” she prodded, trying not to smile but failing. “Maybe you have a girlfriend who is now stuck sitting with the newlyweds.”

  He laughed too and then rested his elbow on the armrest so he could lean on it, bringing him even closer. “I’ve been traveling all over for work, but this is my last trip. Last work trip, that is.” He spoke slowly, considering his words. Instinctively, Robin knew there had to be quite a bit more behind that story.

  “Downsizing?” she asked.

  “Oh, no, I put in my resignation so I can move on to something else.” After a pause he smiled and added, “And now I can figure out what that something else is.”

  He let his gaze fall over her face, the way water slides down a naked body in the rain. She really had to fight her smile now. “You must be a risk taker.”

  “Aren’t we all?” Excitement warmed his voice. “Here we are in a big, metal bin a few miles up in the air. We take risks every day. I just pick my risks and decide what I want.”

  His gaze did that thing again as he said what I want. Her body temperature was quickly reaching dangerous levels, from attraction and his contagious fervor for life.

  Chapter Two

  He should have kissed her right there on the airplane. They were both thinking about it, and watching each other for the entire flight. What an intriguing woman—she’d treated herself to a week in paradise for her birthday, the 15th of December. That took initiative. He guessed it might also be nice for her to get away from the yearly jokes about her December birthday and last name of Holliday. Fate had played with her, but it’d brought them together for a few enticing hours
too.

  Then, at least for him, the situation changed. When they touched down, something else grabbed his attention on the plane. Grayson thought he caught a glimpse of a familiar and not welcome face. A foreign clandestine agent coming into the US was a serious matter… and it brought him back to the reality that he couldn’t afford a relationship, even as a private citizen. So he didn’t get her number. Instead, he left her presence with a vague, “It was so nice to meet you, Robin.”

  “Likewise,” she’d said, almost purring. If nothing else, he’d made her day by flirting with her, and she didn’t act hurt that he didn’t ask for her number. Still…

  Grayson waited around so he could follow her out and also to check that it hadn’t been anyone he recognized on the plane. He didn’t make out anyone from all the red and green clad passengers.

  He watched her red hair through the crowd, wishing he could run after her. The urge led him down the airport concourse, trailing her. Maybe he could “bump” into her outside and get her number, but was it worth putting her in danger? He 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 police. We need to put some space between us and make sure no one else sees us together.”

  He began walking without giving her the choice of staying or going. She pulled back against his grip on her sleeve. He was trying to be gentle but needed to make her listen.

  “Don’t you think the best way to not be seen together, is NOT to be together?”

  “Shh, shhh.” He turned and placed one finger gently on her mouth. It wasn’t enough physically to quiet her, but it worked. “I’ll keep you safe. Please trust me. I know that’s asking a lot, but you don’t know what those men and their counterparts will do for simple information.”

  A small sized blue SUV pulled up next to them and a man got out. He nodded to Grayson and walked away in another direction.

  “What on earth…” Robin looked between the men.

  “Get in,” he said, opening her door. She surprised him by getting in without a fight or even argument.

  That didn’t last too long. As he drove off, she said, “If you take me across state lines, it’s a federal offense.”

  Grayson chuckled and laid a hand on her leg. “I can’t believe I forgot the handcuffs!”

  Chapter Three

  Robin watched as he took Airport Way to 205, which headed south to connect with I-5. Of course, they could swing back into the city too. Maybe he was trying to shake anyone following them. She clutched the hand grip in the door with one hand and her stomach with the other as he whipped through highway traffic. The white sky produced a slush/snow mix that would make the road dangerous.

  The man driving next to her was still ruggedly handsome and fit as far as she was concerned. But instead of charming, Grayson looked extremely focused and business-like. Seeing him in this light left her feeling cold on top of scared to death.

  And, to make matters even worse, she felt humiliated for falling for him. Dreaming about him. Tingling over him. She now understood that she’d been waiting for Alex to wake up and sweep her off her feet – take over and to act like a man who desperately wanted her. Grayson was that kind of man, and she’d fallen for him in two seconds flat.

  Damn his hot body!

  Damn his sexy, smooth voice and flirty words!

  Damn those warm, complex brown eyes that melted their way right into her heart.

  “Where do you live?” he asked, glancing in the mirror. But then he gave her a direct—and reassuring—look. Thank goodness he didn’t know what she was thinking. Hopefully he didn’t know.

  “West of Portland in Beaverton. We can take 84 right up here.” She relaxed back into her seat and forced herself to take deep breaths. She could call for help from home. Grayson might have saved her from those two creeps but that didn’t make him safe. He took her cell phone! Right out of her hand!

  She was riding giant waves of adrenaline up and down, making her mind turn the wrong way inside her head. But she could tell they were about to go the wrong way.

  “No, this is 84 East. The next one heads west.”

  He calmly veered the SUV onto 84 East. “We’re not going an
ywhere near your home or anywhere you’re connected to. I want to avoid it in order to keep your people safe.”

  She shook her head, her back muscles knotting up again. “This is crazy. We need to call the authorities and get help.”

  “Listen, if we make any call like that, they will know our location.”

  “Who are THEY?” She turned to him, ready to slap his arm.

  “They are the men who saw us talking and decided you’re a person of interest.”

  That didn’t tell her anything. “I can take care of myself. I want you to stop soon and let me out.”

  “I can’t release you until I have the okay that you’re clear.”

  “Clear?”

  “Clear of danger. We need to know if those two men sent your picture or name out.”

  Grayson’s cell buzzed and he answered without a hands-free set. Maybe he’d get pulled over for it, since it was illegal in Oregon, and she could get help that way.

  The other speaker was loud enough for her to catch most of what was said. The first part didn’t make sense, though. These people didn’t seem to speak normal English.

  “I need answers now,” Grayson bit out. “I can’t hold her hostage.”

  “Keep her safe and out of sight. Let us sort this out, and we’ll let you know when you’re clear.”

  “Any ETA on that?” Grayson sounded like he didn’t like it one bit.

  “Let’s say a week. Now go enjoy your Christmas vacation.” The line went dead.

  “Damn it!” he tossed the phone into the middle console.

  Robin realized she was completely tensed up and holding her breath. After watching him grip the wheel hard and grit his teeth, she offered, “You know…they don’t have to know if you let me go. It’s obvious you want to part ways too.”

  He turned his head her way, his eyebrows raised. “Please don’t take my behavior personally, Robin. I’m not angry that I have to spend time with you. You’re an amazing woman. I’m upset because I don’t like doing this to you.”