N is for... (Checklist Book 14) by L DuBois (best classic books TXT) 📕

residences, and in the elevator a live security screen showed a guard, who greeted Autumn by name—Ms. Herrera—and then asked for her guest’s name.

He’d given it, watched as the guard typed it in. Daniel was pretty damned sure that a still of his face was being catalogued for security records.

When they left the elevator, Daniel cleared his throat. “You know, I’ve been in high security government buildings that probably had worse security than your elevator.”

“It’s a bit over the top, but it’s nice to know that if I’m ever hideously murdered, they’ll have plenty of leads.”

She opened the door and lights clicked on automatically. She took off her wrist clutch, placing it on an all glass table by the door.

“Should I be worried that it’s the second time tonight someone has taken my picture for a potential Dateline special?”

“If you say ‘not all men’…”

“I would never.” He followed her from the foyer with its honey wood flooring, white walls, glass table with a green glass key bowl, into a massive open-concept living space. A floor to ceiling glass wall showed a panoramic view of downtown, the buildings creating great steel and glass valleys. Beyond those the city spread, glittering gold and white at night.

Daniel whistled. He was highly successful, and had more money than he’d ever dreamed of, but he could still be impressed. This condo was probably worth as much as his house on the canals in Venice.

“Would you like a glass of wine?” Autumn walked behind the massive kitchen island, which had to be twenty feet long. “Or something stronger?”

“Not yet, I’d like to talk first.”

She braced her hands on the counter. “That sounds a little ominous.”

He took his suit jacket off, draping it over the back of one of the half dozen chairs that lined the living room side of the island. “I didn’t mean it to, but you have the right to hear about my past, and…” He steeled himself. “My secret, before this progresses.”

“This.” She pressed her lips together, then pushed off the counter. She tapped one of the narrow white panels that covered the wall at the end of the kitchen. It went from opaque to transparent, revealing a massive wine fridge. She pushed on it and the door popped open, allowing her to select a bottle. Reaching into a drawer in the island, she took out a small wood box. He went around the end of the island, and without a word she handed him the box while she went for a glass. As he’d expected, the box held a wine set. He opened her bottle of Riesling. When she set a delicate long-stemmed white wine glass on the counter, he poured her a generous glass, then capped the wine with the stopper from the box.

She led the way to a set of curved chaise lounges positioned to take advantage of the view. Autumn placed her glass on the floor with a click before taking a seat and reaching for the zip on the inside of her gray boots.

Daniel took a knee and unzipped them for her, easing first her boot, and then the thin black socks she wore, off of her feet. He’d seen her barefoot. He’d seen her naked. But there was something very intimate and vulnerable about removing her shoes here in her own home.

Impulsively, he cupped her heel, then leaned down to kiss the top of her foot.

“I thought you wanted to tell me your secrets before this progressed?” Her question was soft, not accusatory.

Daniel released her foot, resting his forehead against her knee. “I did. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have touched you, but…”

“I like it when you touch me. It terrifies me, but…”

She let her words trail off, matching what he said. Her fingers slid through his hair, gently scratching his scalp. If he’d been a cat he would have purred.

“It terrifies me that you’re here,” she went on. “I promised myself I would never mix the two sides of my life. I tried it, twice. Didn’t work. It’s why I didn’t want to scene with you.” Her voice turned wry. “Because you seemed like…whoops, I mean you are…the kind of guy I’d bring home from the bar.”

“And I’m…a dangerous liar.”

Her hand stilled in his hair. Daniel lifted his head from her lap, pushing slowly to his feet and then dropping onto the other chaise.

“What do you mean you’re a liar?” Her gaze was hard, sharp.

“Let me clarify. I never told you a lie.”

She reached down for her glass, tapping it against her lip before she took a sip.

“I’m a liar because…because this, all of this?” He gestured to himself. “This is all a facade. I dress the part. I have the house. But my past, and my genetics...”

“Seriously?” Autumn’s shoulders sagged with relief. “I thought you were going to tell me that you’re an undercover federal agent. Not that you suffer from imposter syndrome or have shitty parents.”

“I’m sorry, you were worried I was a what?” Daniel just stared at her

“An undercover agent.”

“In a BDSM club? Why in the world would you think that? Is that even a thing?”

“I maybe read too many Lexi Blake books. Anyway, ignore that. Go on.”

He opened his mouth, closed it. Then shook his head. Strangely, that weird little byplay made him feel better.

Right then he knew, just knew, that nothing he could tell her, except, apparently, that he was an undercover agent, would make her think less of him. Though they were so very different, they were the same, both scared to trust, afraid.

“I think I’m falling in love with you.” It wasn’t what he’d meant to say. He was supposed to be walking her through his fucked up childhood. That didn’t seem as important right now as it had when they walked in.

Autumn froze, eyes wide.

“I don’t expect you to say anything back. I don’t expect…well anything. It just felt important that I tell you.”

“You jerk,” she breathed, but she was smiling. “I’m working very hard on not falling for