Spies Like Us (New Orleans Connection Series Book 9) by Kathy Ivan

Author:Kathy Ivan [Ivan, Kathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romantic Suspense, DEA FBI and CIA action and adventure, Mysteries and thrillers with intrigue and betrayal, Christmas, M5 and British Intelligence, New Orleans bayou and French Quarter, contemporary romance
Publisher: Kathy Ivan
Published: 2017-01-28T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Dean Westin walked around the lobby of The Great Escape, studying the displays in a casual fashion, watching the employees wander around in their holiday costumes. It was an extravaganza of reds, greens, and golds. Though there were still a couple of weeks before Christmas, people here seemed to embrace the festivity of the season wholeheartedly.

Remaining several feet away from Holly Jolly’s shop, which he’d been surveilling for the last thirty minutes, he watched the pile of toys grow, as families dropped off their donations. A pretty blonde in a figure-hugging elf costume dragged the bin inside, before putting an empty one in its place beside the front door. She must be Patti, the girl Ms. Willie told him about, also known as his current mark.

Tossing aside the half-empty cup of hot cocoa, he headed for Holly Jolly’s storefront. Christmas music poured from overhead speakers, adding another layer of holiday cheer. Damn, he liked the holidays as much as the next guy, but he’d be stuffing his ears with cotton-balls after about half an hour of that nonstop jolliness.

With a surreptitious glance through the frost-edged windowpane, he spotted the pretty blonde busily giftwrapping a board game. Otherwise, the interior of the shop stood empty. He’d been watching for the last thirty minutes or so, and rarely did anybody go inside; simply adding toys into the collection bin and heading on to other stores, ready to fritter away more of their hard-earned dollars on stuff nobody really wanted.

He strolled inside, shooting a bright smile toward the perky blonde. Yep, her nametag read Elf Patti in glittery red letters.

“Morning, ma’am.” He tipped the brim of his cowboy hat, and stepped a little closer to her table. “Looks like y’all have gotten quite a haul for the kids.”

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? People have been so generous.” She shot him a look he was all too familiar with, starting at the top of his head, and moving downward, before slowly heading back north. He’d deliberately dressed down, wearing old faded jeans, his favorite cowboy boots, and a black pullover sweater, since it had been in the mid-thirties when he’d headed out that morning. Her smile dimmed the tiniest bit, and he knew precisely what she saw when she looked at him. What he’d wanted her to see—a down-on-his-luck cowboy without two nickels to rub together.

Wouldn’t she be surprised if she knew my real net worth? Appearances can be deceiving, after all.

“Well, now, I’d like to add a little to that generosity, in the spirit of the season. Just got my Christmas bonus, and thought I’d donate a hefty chunk of it to a worthy cause. And you definitely look like a worthy cause, darlin’.”

The blonde blushed at the double entendre, and ducked her head. Hmm, that was interesting. He’d have expected her to have a ready comeback.

“Holly Jolly Holiday Helpers appreciates your generosity, sir.” She slapped another piece of tape onto the wrapping paper, and hastily added a premade bow. Her movements spoke volumes.

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