Quinton Mann is CIA through and through. Mark Vincent is WBIS for life. There is no way they could end up as anything other than adversaries -- and yet, Quinn takes Mark out to dinner on his birthday -- the one no one is supposed to know about -- and gives him one hell of a present in the restaurant's restroom. Mark, not to be outdone, has decided to escalate this game, because it has to be a game, right? There's no way it can be anything else.<br><br>But as the game continues, as Quinn shows up to a WBIS funeral, as a friend of Mark’s penetrates the CIA computer network to get information on Quinn, as Mark breaks into Quinn's house and gives Quinn a very interesting encounter, both Quinn and Mark realize that this is becoming the most real thing in their lives.<br><br>Can they find a way to do their jobs and keep this surprising, intriguing connection?

Houseboat on the Nile

“I appreciate it. Oh, and Happy New Year.”


“Same to you, Quinn. Flint.” He nodded curtly. What bug crawled up his ass and died? Oh, wait. Did he have a thing for Mann?


“Happy New Year.” This time I gave him a saccharine smile and batted my eyes. I’d have kicked his ass, but Kane Flint wouldn’t.


Cooper stalked off, and Mann smiled at me. “Shall we?”


I handed off my drink to a passing waiter, and we left the ballroom.


All the tables had been cleared off and replaced with fountains of white, milk, and dark chocolate surrounded by strawberries, pineapple chunks, banana slices, and marshmallows. Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream was offered, as well as yogurt for the diet-conscious. There was a make-your-own-sundae station with mounds of whipped cream, nuts, cookie crumbles, M&Ms, chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, more pineapple, and hot fudge, mango, and caramel toppings, as well as all manner of cakes, cookies, and pastries.


Chapter 7