Sydney Ryan - High-Heeled Alibi (Part 4)

When last we left our Intrepid Heroine and her Vision of Golden Maleness, their faces were plastered all over the media and they were being accused of assorted crimes (including the murder of a Congressman), which means it's time for:


Chapter 10: In which there is A Wholly Inexplicable Kiss


The issue of the one bed tucked firmly behind us, it is suddenly dawn and Our Intrepid Heroine has donned her latest disguise - red hair dye and a fake baby belly (is it wrong that I'm totally picturing that scene from Ten Things I Hate About You right now?) to play the very pregnant wife of the Vision of Now-Dark-Haired Maleness. Cute Banter regarding the circumstances of their wedding/baby-timing ensues. Who is this? Did the hairdye remove Mick's Idiot Gene? This is the only reason I can see for all this disguising as they encounter Absolutely No One on the trip to Mick's Secret Lair of Secretness in the mountains of Oregon.

Well, also, to give Mick a reason to dwell on his Issues. Let's not forget, y'all, Mick's Wife was Shot While Pregnant and he Couldn't Protect Her and he has Avoided All Emotional Commitment (though not his Manly Physical Needs - did I need to know that?) Ever Since. And now he's feeling weird FEELINGS. Like protectiveness and stuff towards his hostage. Is there such a thing as Reverse Stockholm Syndrome (wikipedia says yes: Lima Syndrome!)? Because Mick is bonding up a storm here with his hostage. In fact, they have a very odd conversation where Bitsy, Our Formerly Intrepid Heroine, asks him whether he's an elite spy machine *waggling eyebrows* (umm, Bitsy? This is not sexytalk...) and then pants at him so he can prove to her that he is in fact ALL MAN, BABY. By which I mean he kisses her. And I am hoping that this kiss will lead to her cracking him over the head and making a run for it on her Only Sometimes Painful Torn Hamstring. But it is not to be.

Instead the Man who has had no sleep since the beginning of this book (aside from a quick nap in an armchair) continues to drive all the way to Oregon to his Secret Lair of Secretness, where he busts out some Spy Movie checking-to-make-sure-no-one-has-invaded His Fortress of Solitude. No one has, so there are Showers All Around and Our Formerly Intrepid Heroine wears some ill-fitting delicate lacy undergarments because apparently Francine (our foul-mouthed bringer of clothing) was all about encouraging sexytimes between Mick & Co. Now, I don't know about you, but if I had the choice between a pretty lacy bra that is "snug" with bits "swelling over" or my very own, properly fitting one that merely needs to be rinsed out in the sink, I know which one I would choose. Sadly Bitsy, of the now Miraculously Almost Healed Torn Hamstring, disagrees. Also - REALLY? You tear a hamstring and 48 hours, some cramped sleep curled up in a car and a hot shower later and you don't even want pain pills?

Anyway, miraculous healing aside, Mick turns up wearing nothing but a pair of jorts and the two share heated looks while she's trying to get into his computer. And then he inserts the USB stick into the drive (and that is NOT a euphemism) and... the chapter ends...

Better luck next time, Mick!