Mark Vincent has risen from senior special agent to Director of Interior Affairs in the WBIS. Lately, life has been sweet for him -- in addition to his promotion, he's found a partner in Quinton Mann, who can almost match his ability in the intelligence field, in spite of the fact Quinn's CIA. Mark has also found a condo in Alexandria with the help of Portia Mann, Quinn's mother, and it's closer to Quinn's town house than Mark's present apartment. Sweetest of all, Mark plans to take Quinn to his island in the Caribbean for the holidays.<br><br>Quinn's glad he has the holiday with Mark to look forward to -- something is going on at Langley, and he feels he's being kept out of the loop. To make matters even worse, useless missions and sleepless nights filled with nightmares are leaving him exhausted. But then his mother's life if threatened, and Quinn discovers the accident that resulted in her hospitalization was no accident. The obsessively self-absorbed Senator Wexler is involved, and while Quinn considers himself a civilized man, now he's out for blood.<br><br>Up until this point, Mark has stayed out of Quinn's CIA business. But hurting Quinn and those he loves isn't a smart move, and Mark has every intention of seeing Wexler pays. Quinn demands to come along, and while Mark isn't happy, he finally agrees, and they set out together to deal with the senator. There's just one catch: this will be the first time Quinn sees Mark at his deadly best, and Mark isn't sure how his lover will react.

Forever

Even more pink. Why wasn’t I surprised? It contained an overstuffed easy chair and ottoman, an artificial fireplace, a floor lamp, and a small table with Elle, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan fanned out over the surface. The most current issue was at least ten months old.


“It’s a nice use of space,” Mrs. Mann was saying. “I assume the fireplace is included?”


“I think the…owners might be persuaded to include it. Now, the guest bathroom is right through here. Shall we?”


The door to the bathroom was beside the closet. It opened to reveal a single vanity with marble top and chrome fixtures, the john, and a tub and shower with a glassed-in enclosure.


“It’s a little small, don’t you think, Mark?”


I shrugged. I wouldn’t be using it. She frowned at me, and I realized she was setting up a bargaining chip.


“You’re right, hon. Mrs. Mann. What, no bidet?”


Chapter 21