Secrets in Texas

Brownsville, Texas ANGEL HARRISON squared her shoulders and entered the conference room. One look at her new assignment and she wanted to puke--the man and all he represented sickened her. But he was one of the good guys now, she reminded herself. Or so she was told. Realizing her supervisor waited for her to make nice, she forced herself to step forward and shake the visitor's hand. She also forced herself not to break all twenty-seven bones in his pale hand. Just apply enough pressure so he knew she meant business. "I'm Agent Harrison." To his credit, he didn't flinch. And he didn't try to one-up her by resorting to force. He just held her gaze, his green eyes serious as he acknowledged her greeting. "Ma'am. I'm Matthew Stone." "So when are we getting married?" He shrugged, not a golden hair out of place on his conservative head. Nodding toward the suit and the ranger entering the conference room, he said, "Whenever they decide." To give him credit, he was a cool one. And better-looking than his photos suggested. Definitely not Brad Pitt-perfect, more like Matthew McConaughey masquerading as an overgrown, utterly serious Eagle Scout. His crooked nose was the only feature out of the ordinary. Angel's inspection was interrupted by the ranger, Javier Perez. He was legendary in the law-enforcement community as tough but fair. Ranger Perez took the lead while the man in the suit positioned himself in an unobtrusive corner. He had federal agent written all over him. Angel struggled to keep her expression impassive as her supervisor went to fetch coffee. Women of her rank shouldn't fetch coffee. Women of any rank shouldn't fetch coffee. Perez took his place at the head of the table. "Please sit down, Mr. Stone, Agent Harrison." Angel longed to defy the command. But today compliance served a purpose. She sat stiffly on the edge of the chair. Ranger Perez slid a file folder to Stone, then one to Angel. "Here is the identity we've created for Agent Harrison. Since she works undercover with the Department of Public Safety gang unit, there will be no paper trail to refute the identity we've set up or cast any doubt on the whirlwind romance you two are about to begin. It's the best cover we could devise to get an agent inside." "Is it really necessary? The Vegas wedding?" Stone asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Perez frowned. "We think so. It's likely Jonathon Stone has been keeping tabs on you in recent years, possibly even the entire time you've been away from the sect. Marriage records are in the public domain, precluding a more long-term union. Hence your new redhot romance with Agent Harrison resulting in a quickie marriage. The more public, the better." Angel winced. This was so not her idea of a decent cover. How would she be able to act lovey-dovey with the Eagle Scout? Eyeing him, she decided even a bottle of tequila wouldn't do the trick. Perez cleared his throat, as if sensing she wanted to bolt for the door. "We've shaved a few years off Agent Harrison's profile because ATF surveillance indicates your stepfather, um, uncle, might be more...receptive to a daughter-in-law on the easy side of thirty. Fortunately Agent Harrison appears much younger than her age." Thanks, asshole. Matthew's lips twitched as if he'd heard her thoughts loud and clear. And agreed with her. Angel revised her earlier assessment of Matthew white-bread-bland Stone. He might seem quiet and un-perturbed, but beneath the surface he was razor-sharp. Angel's cheeks warmed with an unfamiliar wave of shame. Surely he couldn't see inside her with that steady gaze of his? Couldn't see all she'd endured and sacrificed to rejoin the human race? He averted his head, but not before she'd seen pity flash in his eyes. Damn. Did he know? There was nothing toWeaver, Carrie is the author of 'Secrets in Texas ', published 2006 under ISBN 9780373713875 and ISBN 0373713878.