Chapter 45

"I have just the agent for you," Grey assured Shannon. "He won't even look at you as a woman. I promise."

"No?" Shannon had a brief flash of manic hysteria. Not look at her as a woman? "Is there something wrong with him?"

"Not at all. He's just the consummate professional. Polite, alert, ready for anything."

Athena nodded. "He served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. If I tell you it burned out much of his soul, I know you'll understand. He's been through some very tough times, a lot of which he continues to deal with, and he's still isolating himself from people on a social level. We have no idea how dangerous this person we're dealing with here is. Or persons, for that matter. If I were in your situation, Owen Cormier is the one I would want watching my back. Also my front and every area around me."

Shannon felt a stab of sympathy for the man she hadn't even met yet. She had to wonder if he was anything like—

Stow it. He's gone and you'll never see him again. Time to move alo