Chapter 9
�You�re not going there alone Cyd.� Kevin said stubbornly jutting his chin out in protest, he placed his hands on his hips to
emphasise his point. They had exchanged some sharp words with one another in disagreement.
�I�m quite capable of taking care of myself Kevin.� Cydney who was rummaging in her bag for her cell phone replied evenly as
she swung herself around in the chair to face him. She wasn�t really surprised by his reaction to her plan to visit the bar alone. In
fact she had been expecting it. She placed her phone on the desk in front of her.
Kevin�s green eyes were mutinous. �I�m fully aware of that fact Cyd, but I�m coming with you whether you like it or not.� He
perched himself on the desk before her chair glowering at her from under his dark heavy brows. His face wore a fierce dour look
but she wasn�t intimidated. His insistence prompted the devil to come over her.
She leaned back in the chair with her arms folded and studied him thoughtfully out of speculative grey eyes.
�And if I order you to stay behind?� she challenged with a raised eyebrow but immediately regretted her words the moment they
left her lips.
Kevin straightened in shock and looked at her in disbelief. Hurt flickered in his eyes and she sighed. She knew she was being
unfair to him, but she wasn�t used to having a man wanting to be so protective of her, and she knew it wasn�t Kevin�s fault. Her
fellow agents from her branch of the EPA just accepted her as one of their own, one of the boys and they knew her capabilities.
But to Kevin she was still a woman and because the case so far had not turned up anything remotely dangerous, he had yet to
learn just how well she could take care of herself. It wasn�t an idle boast on her part either.
Laying a hand against his leg she relented. �Ok Kevin you can come. But you will have to let me do my job as I see fit. I want you
blending into the background as backup. I think it will be best if we don�t arrive together.� She watched his face intently. Although
he had relaxed somewhat, the hurt still lingered in his eyes. She sighed and patted his leg. Here was the first real test of their
partnership and maybe their friendship. Looking him directly in the eyes she took hold of his hand. �Kevin, I�m really sorry if I�ve
hurt your feelings. But what you have to realise is, this is my job. And without being big headed about this, I do my job well. There
will be things that you can�t help me with, things that no matter how much you want to, you won�t be able to control. And at times
you will have to forget that I�m a woman and think of me as Agent Wade. You�ve got to separate the real me from the agent,
who in all probability could do things that both of us wouldn�t think of as normal behaviour. But what I do Kev, will be in the line of
duty. I just do my job Kevin.� Her grey eyes pleaded with him to understand and she felt oddly unsettled that his opinion of her
mattered so much. But she also knew she wouldn�t compromise on what she saw as her duty to get the job done. For all that he
was intense and she reasonably laid back they were both driven people. She recognised that both Kevin and her could be very
single minded and determined with a goal in sight and they would both have to come to some sort of acceptance of this shared
personality trait within each other if they were to get the job done. And hopefully not at the cost of the friendship they had begun
to cultivate either. And what if the price she might pay was too high? Well she would have to cross that bridge if and when she
got to it. Butting heads with each other wouldn�t work, so in this instance she was prepared to give into him. It was little enough to
do, because there would be times in the future when compromise would be out of the question and Kevin would just have to
accept that. She looked up into his face and watched the conflicting emotions pass across his expressive features as he digested
her words.
Kevin stood up and she let go of his hand. He pushed the hair back from his face and looked down at her. �I did it again didn�t I?�
He said ruefully.
Cydney leaned back in her chair. But she smiled slightly and folded her arms. �Yep country boy you did.�
He sat back down on the desk in front of her. �I�m sorry Cyd. I just didn�t think.�
�No damage done Kev and I probably shouldn�t have baited you.� She admitted. �The devil came over me.�
He grinned suddenly. �This was our first fight.�
�And probably not our last one either country boy.� She told him wryly.
�No it probably won�t be. So what�s the plan? What do you want me to do?� He asked as his lips twitched into a grin. There was
something about this woman in front of him and how she managed to get under his skin but no matter what happened she always
managed to make him laugh and smile.
�Well I�m going to have a little chat with our out of toweners.� She said quoting Earle. �I want you sitting in the background as my
backup. I take it you�ll be able to blend in with the local folks?� she teased with a grin of her own.
�Yeah I think I should be able to manage that. I can do yokel.� It was his turn to speak wryly but his eyes danced.
She gave him a satisfied nod. �Ok, well I think you should arrive before me. Take up a position by the door, that way you see who
comes and goes. And it�ll keep an exit route open. You have to be prepared for any eventuality. I�ll find my own way to the bar, it
won�t do for us to be seen arriving together.�
Kevin reluctantly agreed suppressing his protective instincts. He could see the sense of her arguments.
But the truce between them lasted only a few hours. It wasn�t till Cydney emerged from her bedroom dressed and ready for
action that Kevin had an apoplectic fit. As she walked gracefully down the stairs, he felt his jaw drop in surprise. This was no
calm efficient EPA agent who in her normal every day clothing was an attractive woman appearing in front of him. This woman
exuded sexuality and sensuality from every pore and the transformation in her shocked the hell out of him. He could hardly believe
it was the same woman. Tall and long legged she wore tight black leather pants teamed with high heeled boots and a halter neck
top that showed off her curves to perfection. She wore her shoulder length fair hair loosely about her face and a straw cowboy
hat perched cheekily on top of her head. For some reason that hat made her look incredibly sexy and he felt his blood heat and
burn through his veins like liquid fire but his protective feelings overrode the fact that she was dressed this way for a purpose. And
before he realised it, he was acting irrationally and without common sense. He stood gaping, eyes bulging and mouth working but
no sound emerged. His finger pointed and waved aimlessly in her direction.
�Close you�re mouth Kev, you�ll catch flies.� Cydney told him as she made her way confidently past him to the front door.
�Damn it Cyd� you are not going out to that bar dressed like that. No way! You�ll have those guys all over you like a rash.� He
grabbed her wrist as she passed and yanked her around to face him. He realised she would be furious with him now but he
couldn�t help it. He couldn�t explain this sudden unreasonable wave of jealously that washed over him at the thought of other men
ogling her. Without thought the words left his mouth before he could still his wildly beating heart, caused no doubt by the effect
that her surprise appearance had stirred in him.
Cydney�s face as she stared up at him was carved from stone. Her grey eyes froze like the tundra in winter and he took a step
back from the glacial look in her eyes. Was this how she looked at those criminals she apprehended and placed under questioning?
She glanced coldly down at his hand that still gripped her arm causing him to let her go.
�I beg your pardon Kevin.� Her voice was freezing but the ice in her eyes melted to a hot fury that scalded him.
All Cydney�s anger did was fire his ire more, because he knew he was in the wrong and that he had overstepped the mark. He
had no right to be querying her and the more he knew he was being irrational, the angrier he got. But Kevin plunged ahead
anyway. �You can�t go out looking like that Cydney, be reasonable.�
�Looking like what exactly Kevin?� she asked scathingly as she stood her ground in front of him.
�Like that� like you�re out for some action.� He glowered at her with his green eyes on fire. Conflicting emotions ran through
him.
�That�s the general idea Kevin. I want those men looking at my boobs and not thinking about my brains.� She poked her finger in
his chest and with each word she jabbed at him. �I have a job to do, and I told you this afternoon that I sometimes have to do
things I don�t like in the line of duty. Things that have nothing to do with my personality and tonight is one of them. Tarting myself
up so I look like a blonde bimbo on the make. I don�t care what you think I look like. I will use all the resources I have to get my
job done.�
�But you could be putting yourself in danger.� Kevin tried to persuade her to see reason.
�Kevin when I�m undercover I�m always in danger. It comes with the territory. You can�t baby me. My boss doesn�t baby me. I
don�t let anyone baby me.�
�You boss hasn�t seen you dressed like this. He would freak.� Kevin muttered and Cydney took a step back and stared up into
Kevin�s face as an idea tugged at the back of her mind.
�You�re jealous.� She challenged him in an incredulous voice.
Kevin threw his head back as he scoffed at her. �That�s the most stupid statement I�ve ever heard. I am not jealous. I�m just
concerned for your welfare.�
�Yeah sure country boy. You�ve normally been so sensible and now you�re spouting a load of horse shit. Why are you being so
unreasonable then?�
�You�re the one full of horse shit Cydney.� Kevin turned and snatched his hat off the hat stand that stood in the hallway. He
jammed it on his head and turned and opened the door. �But you know best, you�re the professional.� He tossed angrily over his
shoulder.
�Yeah I am and don�t you forget it Kevin. What I say goes, I call the shots as I see it. If you don�t like that, you know what you
can do.� she yelled at his retreating back as he stormed off towards his truck.
He turned as he opened the driver�s side door of the truck�s cabin. �Yeah I know exactly, but as you�re so fond of saying,
you�we have a job to do. And if you want to go out looking like some groupie out for a conquest, who am I to stop you. So I�ll be
there tonight doing my job, just in case I have to pick up the pieces.� He revved the engine and accelerated out of his driveway in
a storm of gravel.
Leaving Cydney standing there alone shaking her head in disbelief at the storm of anger that had just engulfed the pair of them like
a fireball.
�Friggin� men.� She muttered as the dust from the gravel receded. She looked to the heavens and fumed. �And out of all the god
damn men here in Kentucky, I have to find myself working with Sir frigging Lancelot. What gives with him?� She asked herself.
She jammed the keys for her hire car into the ignition and did a good impersonation of Kevin�s exit. She turned the radio on to
soothe her frazzled nerves. A Backstreet Boys song filled the air, with a curse she switched the radio off. � Shit, like I need to
hear him right now.� She sighed deeply and leaned back into the car seat as she drove playing back the angry scene over and over
in her mind.
Kevin�s reaction to the way she was dressed had taken her aback and stunned her. His anger was unexpected, but even more so
was the look of naked desire she was sure she had witnessed on his face when she had first made her way downstairs. He had
the most expressive eyes she had ever seen in a man and in that fleeting moment she could have sworn there was a longing and
need in their green depths. Now as Cydney thought more about it, there could be no mistaking it, at that moment he had wanted
her. And Kevin feeling like that would go a long way to explain his reaction to the way she was dressed. Ever since that night
when she had felt her grief at Nev�s death, she had felt, no sensed that there were subtle changes and shifts in her relationship
with Kevin. If she was honest with herself, she realised that she was very attracted to him. And that his good opinion of her
mattered, a lot more than she would have acknowledged to anyone. There was a definite building of tension between the pair of
them. She could feel it in the air when they were together. Biting her lip she pondered this. As Kevin was an open and expressive
person, who's thoughts showed so clearly on his face for all the world to see, she knew that she could hide her feelings if not
easily, but well enough to keep him at arm�s length. If she had learnt anything in her years with the agency, it was that hiding her
true self was at times a necessity. And she was quite adept at using this skill to hide and retreat behind the Cydney Wade she
wanted to show the world. But did she want to keep Kevin at arm�s length? That was the problem. She half knew herself to be
falling in love with him and the contrary emotions within her didn�t know if she was pleased or displeased with that admission.
�Damn and curse him.� She thumped at her steering wheel. �Damn those frigging green eyes of his, damn that frigging smile of
his, damn, damn, damn. And damn you Cydney Wade for letting him get under your skin.� The bar came in sight and she indicated
to turn into its car park. �Well you�ve no time to think on this now. It�s time to go to work girl.� As she parked she saw Kevin�s
truck. So he was already here. Good. Despite their fight, she knew he would back her up if needed. She trusted him, and that was
another thing she liked about him. It didn�t escape her notice the flashy convertible parked off to the side. So looks like her quarry
were here already, even better.
She pushed open the bar door and entered into its smoky haze. The bar smelt of stale beer and sweaty humanity. She squinted as
her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. Already emersed in character she looked about confidently. Out of the corner of her eye she
noticed a familiar figure in black. She would know that head and hat anywhere. Kevin was sitting near the door like she had asked
of him. He raised his face from his beer at her entrance. His eyes stared blankly through her but she didn�t miss the slight shake
of his head in the direction of the bar. She didn�t acknowledge him but instead swept her eyes around the room. Spotting her
objective�s sitting at the bar she sauntered leisurely over, seating herself on a stool at the end of the bar. A young good looking
barman was there in front of her waiting to take her order immediately. Inwardly she had to smile. Amazing what being dressed
like this did for you. She ordered a beer in her husky tones, slowing down her normally rapid way fire of speaking to disguise her
voice. The tall blonde barman smiled at her as he appraised her looks while he placed the Corona in front of her. She engaged him
in conversation but she was well aware of the speculative looks and glances she was getting from the other patrons seated around
the bar. Her purpose in dressing like this was paying off. No one would associate her with the woman seen around the area with
Kevin. That Cydney, was miles away from the role she was playing now. Mick the young barman went off to take some more
orders and get on with his work. Cydney swung around on her stool and from under heavy lidded eyes surveyed the bar�s layout
and its patrons. The bar was quite crowded and music was supplied courtesy of a band over in the corner. There were several
couples on the dance floor moving close together in time with the music already. She wondered what it would be like being held in
Kevin�s arms while dancing. At that moment she happened to glance his way and found his eyes upon her. She flushed cursing
herself for her lapse in concentration but he looked away first. To hide her scalded face she took a sip of her beer and turned back
to face the bar. She took a deep breath to get her thoughts under control. A tap on her shoulder made her jump slightly. She turned
around to come face to face with the two men she wanted to pump for information. Both were obviously half drunk already and
she thanked her lucky stars, knowing that this would make her task a little bit easier.
�Could we buy the pretty lady a drink?� the taller red headed man slurred.
�Sure you can fellas� when you introduce yourself. I never accept drinks off strangers.� She smiled sexily and leaned forward
showing her cleavage to advantage. The red headed man�s eyes bulged and he stuck out an unsteady hand. �Umm, yeah..ok.. my
name.. yeah my name is Rick..Ricky to my friends.. this here is Roy.� Cydney glanced from under her lowered lashes at Roy. He
was shorter than Rick but heavier built. He wore his dark hair cropped close and he was swaying unsteadily on his feet.
�Well fellas pull up a pew.� She waved a hand indicating the empty table closest to her. �Can we get a drink Mick?� she asked the
young barman. She didn�t miss his smirk. He obviously had seen woman work this way hundreds of times before and she didn�t
know how she felt about being taken for a hooker. She finished off her beer while thinking to herself the things she would do and
had to do for this job. Mick brought over their order and placed it in front of them. He looked at Cydney with a knowing look on
his face. She ignored it and made small talk with Rick and Roy. But what she couldn�t ignore was the dagger like looks from
Kevin. She felt them scorch and sear into her naked back and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. But Cydney called on her
years of experience to concentrate on the task at hand. As the night passed and she pumped and probed Rick and Roy artlessly all
the while getting the two men drunker and drunker.
Kevin sat and moped mournfully into his beer. Now and again he would throw speaking glances in Cydney�s direction. He had
calmed down slightly and regretted his impulsive behaviour. He knew he was jolted out of his complacency by his reaction to how
Cydney was dressed and staggered by her effect on his senses. Her comment about him being jealous was a bow drawn in
speculation and that idly aimed arrow had a ring of truth about it.
�Damn it and damn her.� He whispered to himself unconsciously echoing Cydney�s earlier thoughts. He raised his beer to his lips
but was brought up short by a tall dark haired woman standing beside his booth.
�Do you always talk to yourself?� she asked breathlessly. She leaned casually against the booth and watched him with interest in
her eyes. She was a very pretty woman.
�Shit.� Kevin thought. �I don�t need this complication now.� But as he thought of ways to get rid of her quickly she sat down in
front of him resting her chin in her hands. �Well?� she asked as she studied him.
�I have been told I do.� He looked about quickly making sure he could still keep his eyes on the table where Cydney and the two
men sat drinking.
The dark haired woman followed his gaze. �She�s pretty isn�t she?�
Kevin cursed under his breath. Trying to act casual he leaned back against the booth resting his arm along its length and forced
himself to look the dark haired woman in the eyes. �Who?�
She giggled with a knowing grin. �You talk to yourself and are blind as well. Come on I�ve been watching you all night. You can�t
take your eyes off her.�
�If that�s so, why are you sitting here?� Kevin asked with a raised eyebrow.
�Maybe I like a challenge.� She leaned over and took up his hand.
Kevin pulled away like one scalded with boiling water. He said nothing but glanced again over to where Cydney sat. She caught
his eye with an ironic look in her smoky grey eyes. She missed nothing of what was happening and he knew she was amused at
his predicament. He flushed looking away and cursed her for being a contrary woman.
�I�m sorry but I�m not a challenge that you�ll want to take up.� He muttered uncomfortably.
�Well you could at least buy me a drink for my trouble.� Kevin waved the waiter over and asked what she was drinking. �That�s
better, so what�s the trouble, you two have a fight or something?�
�Maybe�look I don�t want to get into this ok?� he squirmed taking refuge in another sip of his beer.
She laughed a deep throaty chuckle. �So evasive. But it�s no problem. I can see you�re already taken. You can�t blame a girl for
trying though.�
That brought a reluctant smile out of Kevin. �No I guess not.�
She giggled again. �By the way, my name is Lou. What�s your�s?�
�Kevin.� He told her reluctantly.
She smiled and moved out of the booth, she raised her drink in salute. �Thanks for the beer Kevin.� She nodded her head in
Cydney�s direction. �And good luck with the girl.�
Kevin sighed again. �Damn.� Had he been that obvious in watching Cydney all night? Probably not he thought. Half the men in the
bar had been looking at her all night. Again a wave of jealousy washed over him. This erratic emotion was beginning to force him
to confront his feelings. Maybe his unreasonable behaviour was the result of him caring for her more than just in friendship. He
rubbed at his eyes. The smoke was getting to him just as the woman seated drinking at the table in front of him was.
The two men with her were now hopelessly inebriated. She thanked her lucky stars that she was a good enough actor to passably
look in that tipsy state herself. The various tequila shots that she was supposed to have drunk had ended up on the floor amongst
the grime and grit. She could handle her alcohol but not while working. She had retrieved some very interesting information from
the two men while they were under the influence of alcohol and she had used her feminine wiles to perfection. While pumping for
information she didn�t miss the dark haired woman hitting on Kevin and despite the fact that she was mad at him, she was
amused. Even at this distance she felt his discomfort and uncertainty. As their eyes caught and held she shot him a look full of
irony. Her sense of humour kicked in and lessened her anger with him. She was amused at his predicament and out of the corner
of her eye watched how he handled himself.
Roy�s head followed his counterparts and hit the table unconscious. Shaking her head she grabbed Roy�s hair and inspected his
face with some distaste. Satisfied he was out cold like his friend she pushed back her chair and walked slowly over to the bar.
Catching Mick�s eye she tossed him a tip and with a wry smile shrugged her shoulders. She made her way out into the fresh air.
She breathed in deeply, letting the chill invade and clear her smoke filled lungs. The sounds of the band playing followed her to her
car. Without looking back she drove off and wondered how long Kevin would be before he followed. Or would he take up the
invitation of the tall dark haired woman? She badly needed a drink and a shower to wash the bar�s odours from her person.
�He�s a big boy Cyd he can do as he pleases, just like you�ve always stressed you can do to him.� For the rest of the drive back to
Kevin�s cabin she pondered the information she had gathered. It was intriguing to say the least.
She had showered and changed into her old sweatsuit and sitting in the lounge room drinking a shot tequila when Kevin arrived
home. She looked so far removed from the sex kitten of earlier and more like the girl he was falling in love with that he stopped
warily at the door. There he had admitted it to himself finally. His eyes uncertainly found her silvery grey ones. The dim light of
the room reflected ghostly highlights in their depths. She smiled wearily at him and shoved the bottle towards him. �Come and have
a drink.� She said huskily.
He sat opposite her and accepted the glass from her. They stared in silence at one another before both speaking at the same time.
�I�m sorry Cyd��
�Kev..�
They stopped and laughed together. Their gazes locked and held but Cydney looked away first, taking a sip of her drink. Those
eyes of Kevin�s would be her undoing. She tossed the rest of her drink down her throat. Kevin topped up her glass and his own.
�You look beat.� He looked concerned as he quickly finished off the contents of the glass. �Why don�t you go to bed, we can talk
in the morning.�
With a strained smile at him she whispered. �Yeah bed beckons, but not before I finish this bottle. Want to help me?� He
recognised her offer for what it was, a peace offering.
For his answer he offered her his empty glass. He wished instead he could take her in his arms and banish the strain between
them. Instead he settled for sharing a few drinks with her. She seemed to want his companionship and who was he to refuse her.
Chapter 10 ~ coming soon ~
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