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  IMPETUOUS

  An Ellora’s Cave Publication, April 2005

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

  1337 Commerce Drive, #13

  Stow, OH 44224

  ISBN MS Reader (LIT) ISBN # 1-4199-0197-4

  Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned):

  Adobe (PDF), Rocketbook (RB), Mobipocket (PRC) & HTML

  IMPETUOUS Copyright © 2005 DENISE A. AGNEW

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. They are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Edited by Martha Punches.

  Cover art by Syneca.

  Warning:

  The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers. Impetuous has been rated E–rotic by a minimum of three independent reviewers.

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romantica™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (E-rotic), and X (X-treme).

  S-ensuous love scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination.

  E-rotic love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall word count. In addition, some E-rated titles might contain fantasy material that some readers find objectionable, such as bondage, submission, same sex encounters, forced seductions, and so forth. E-rated titles are the most graphic titles we carry; it is common, for instance, for an author to use words such as “fucking”, “cock”, “pussy”, and such within their work of literature.

  X-treme titles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storyline execution. Unlike E-rated titles, stories designated with the letter X tend to contain controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.

  Special Investigations Agency:

  Impetuous

  Denise A. Agnew

  Dedication

  As always, for the love of my life, Terry.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Aragorn and The Lord of the Rings: Property of the estate of JRR Tolkien.

  Chapter One

  Special Investigations Agency

  Location: Top Secret, somewhere in Colorado

  “Perhaps you should just do him.”

  Over the din of the crowded cafeteria, Synna MacDell stared at her new coworker Heidi Swearengen in disbelief. “What? Who?”

  “You know who I mean.” Heidi winked. “Every day since I started here, it’s been the same thing.”

  Puzzled, Synna took a sip of her decaf coffee to stall for time. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

  Heidi’s toss of long, black ringlets and cocoa skin reminded Synna of an African American Shirley Temple. Cute and sometimes perky to the point of nails-over-the-blackboard irritation, Heidi had the reputation of nosy busybody, and she’d been in this new position less than a week. She’d transferred from another division where she’d worked for several months. Generous cleavage and ample hips, plus a plucky attitude seemed to attract men to Heidi like starving hogs to a trough. Men in Division Two made a point of stopping by the cubicle far more often than they did when Synna had been there alone.

  Heidi smirked. “We hit the cafeteria after training and less than a half hour this tall, blond Adonis goes by and you stare at him like he’s chocolate. It’s not a passing look either. More of a hot, greet ‘em and eat ‘em.”

  A deep blush swept into Synna’s face and she shoved away her almost finished salad. Since she’d agreed to train her replacement at Division Two, she’d spent time in the cafeteria at lunch. Usually she ate a brown-bag lunch, but Heidi said she hated to make lunch and wanted to eat in the cafeteria every day. Conceding to the stubborn woman’s wishes eroded Synna’s hard-won confidence. She knew better than to let pushy individuals control her actions. Add this to Heidi’s obsession with Synna’s lack of love life and Synna had about enough. She’d let things get out of control and needed to salvage what she could.

  “Ah, come on.” Heidi leaned over the round table, her cloying perfume wafting under Synna’s nose. “You’re blushing. You know what I’m talking about. He’s due to walk in any moment.”

  Oh yeah. Synna knew who she meant all right. Every woman at Special Investigations Agency knew the Big Kahuna. The Boss. Da Man. All women with half a hormone left recognized former soldier Ian Frasier. The youngest man to become head of SIA, the thirty-six-year-old Frasier started the job about a month ago. In that time, he’d single-handedly conquered the hearts and minds of females from Division One all the way up to Level Ten.

  “Mr. Frasier is good-looking.” Synna shrugged. “So what?”

  “Pfft! He’s more than good-looking. He’s gorgeous and has a great personality, from what I hear.”

  “He probably has a significant other or twenty women after him all at one time. I don’t think I’d like the competition.”

  Heidi snorted softly. “Come on, girl. Where is your sense of adventure?”

  Good question. Buried under work most of the time, she’d allowed life to morph into dreary routine over the last year. She knew it was nobody’s fault but hers. She needed to resurrect her social life and break the pattern. Her first move meant leaving the SIA to pursue what she’d wanted to do all her life. Two more weeks and she’d be dust in the wind. Gone. Out of here.

  “Wait a minute. There’s Tyler. You could always take him as a second choice,” Heidi said.

  Synna’s gaze swung to Tyler Hessler moving toward them from across the room. While tall, dark and good-looking, he did nothing for her gonads. In fact, he drove her to within an inch of screaming. He strode up, his grin wide and almost boyish. He wore an attractive navy blue sweater and dark cords. Although thin as a giraffe, his male beauty showed in rumpled cappuccino hair and finely cut features. He just didn’t do diddly for her.

  Unfortunately, she did something for him. He’d hounded her for three weeks asking for a date, and his unrelenting attention made her more nervous by the day. He didn’t know when to quit.

  She plastered on a pleasant smile and greeted him. He shuffled his feet like an embarrassed schoolboy. Heidi grinned, but her friendliness ended there. The woman’s gaze scanned the crowd of lunching employees as if she scouted for a more tasty meal. Synna wanted to brain Heidi with something heavy. Preferably with a long and boring regulation manual.

  “Excuse me,” Heidi said as she stood up and took her tray. “I need to get rid of this. Be back in a minute.”

  Tyler slid into an empty chair across from Synna. “I’m glad I caught you.”

  I’ll just bet you are.

  “You know the Halloween party that Mr. Frasier is having Friday night? Do you have a date for it?”

  Oh boy. “Um…I’m not going with a date, Tyler. I’m going alone.”

  A flicker of self-consciousness darted through his olive green eyes. “Go with me. I’ve got this cutting-edge pirate costume. What are you wearing?”

  She spilled the beans before she could stop herself. “A serving wench.”

  She’d been uncertain about the daring costume at first, aware that her cleavage would be well-exposed.

  His eyes danced with appreciation. “Hey, that sounds sexy.”

  She took a deep breath. “I’m going alone, Tyler. I’m not taking a date.”

  He shrugged, clear disappointment reflected in his frown. “No problem. I can take the hint.”

  She didn’t like being mean to him, but she’d turned him down three times. Before she could speak, he
shoved his chair back and left without a word. He’d taken her other rejections with more good-hearted understanding. Now he looked pissed off. What could she do? Nothing. Something about him made her uneasy. She couldn’t define it but the feeling stayed with her.

  Heidi returned less than three minutes later. She plopped back in the chair. “Thank goodness. I’m sorry I left you like that, but he annoys me.” Heidi perked up and then patted her hair. “Oh my God. Now there’s a real man.”

  Ian Frasier strolled into the cafeteria. Synna glanced at the clock on the wall. Yes. Twelve-thirty to be exact.

  Over six feet tall, with a distinctive stride that spelled confidence, Ian Frasier didn’t look like a soldier. His thick, wavy champagne blond hair grew down to touch his shoulders. Some days he wore his hair pulled back. Today he’d left it loose.

  His dress code was more relaxed than the former head of the premier intelligence agency. Sweaters and dress pants, rather than suits, ruled the day. Today he wore a Fair Isle burgundy sweater and dark blue pants that fit him as if tailored. Since the first day she’d seen him, Synna admired his slim but powerful body. Broad shoulders, strong arms and flat stomach defined most of the male agents at SIA because of physical fitness requirements. With Ian, she felt something different when she looked at him. Her pulse fluttered and her heart skipped beats.

  Heidi’s voice went down to a low purr. “What I wouldn’t do to try that man on for size. He looks like he knows what he’s doing when it comes to sex.”

  Synna resisted the temptation to kick Heidi under the table. “How can you tell by looking at him?”

  Heidi laughed. “Girl, I just know.”

  Ian bypassed the cafeteria line where he often picked up a salad or sandwich and then left. Instead, his gaze found Synna and Heidi and he headed right for them.

  “He’s coming this way,” Synna said, a little out of breath.

  Heidi went silent, much to Synna’s surprise. No time to prepare, no time to primp or arrange anything witty to say. Ian stopped at their table. His eyes sparkled like clear, cold lake waters, but with a heat and intent Synna found arousing.

  He caught her gaze for a heart-stopping moment and his smile held so much warmth and friendliness she couldn’t think straight. She realized he always looked at her like this. Whenever he had popped into Division Two and said hello, his azure eyes twinkled and a roguish smile curved those well-carved lips. His attention made her feel extraordinary. As if he just might feel an attraction to her, too.

  The critic on her shoulder snorted with disdain. Who are you kidding? He’s friendly to everyone. The way he looks at you isn’t special. Get over it.

  “Afternoon, Synna. Heidi. How are you?” His voice, whisky-potent and satin-rich, was deep and intoxicating.

  “I’m fine.” Synna kept her voice pitched evenly, though her stomach filled with annoying butterflies. Her pulse started a frantic pace.

  Before Synna could say more, Heidi broke in.

  “I’m wonderful.” Heidi’s toothy smile went so wide it looked like she might stretch her face out of shape. “How are you, Mr. Frasier?”

  He crossed his arms. “Never been better. Are you ready for the Halloween party coming up?”

  Heidi tossed her hair back. “I’m so ready. I’m considering wearing a mask.”

  “I can’t wear a mask. People will get nervous if they think the boss is lurking around incognito,” he said.

  She admired how nothing seemed to faze him. Not conflict, not concern. She often wondered, as she went to sleep at night, what the real Ian Frasier would be like one-on-one. Would he reveal deeper sides to him? Darker nuances she wouldn’t admire so much? The idea of finding out was both petrifying and delicious.

  “My costume is easy. A-a serving wench,” she said without thinking. Another flush headed her face. God, that sounded lame as hell.

  She hated to stutter, and although she didn’t do it often anymore, it happened in moments of sheer confusion or if she became flustered.

  He laughed, but instead of creating embarrassment inside her, the genuine humor and appreciation in his gaze made her feel welcome. A part of the joke, not the butt of it. “Glad to hear you’re going to be there. Well, ladies, I’ve got to go. See you later.”

  He took off without another word, and Synna admired him as he moved away.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t flirt with him.” Heidi sat back in her hard plastic chair. “Unless it was me he wanted to see.”

  Disgusted and weary, Synna stood and picked up her tray. She made sure to keep her voice pitched low. She didn’t want anyone else to hear her. “I’m not going to flirt with the head of this organization. I have paperwork to do before the day is over. Enjoy the rest of your lunch break.”

  She tried to smile, but it didn’t work. She’d worn her glee muscles down to a nub this week. Heidi’s puzzled look almost made her regret her stern words.

  Her tone must have made an impression, because when Heidi came back to the cubicle from lunch, she seemed a little more subdued. The afternoon wore on with Synna showing Heidi more details of the job. Heidi seemed competent to perform the work, and Synna didn’t feel bad about leaving her position to someone who could handle the complicated filing system, the computer and various other administrative tasks. Heidi left right before five o’clock, but Synna stayed. She often remained late to finish tasks better completed without noise and human activity breaking her concentration. God, how nice it would be to finally have time for her art, for the career she’d wanted forever.

  She finished filling a box with mementos from her almost ten years at SIA. Pictures of past employees who hadn’t lasted as long at SIA. Birthday cards from coworkers. Her family photographs would go with her on her last day.

  The last day. She felt sad whenever she thought of it. Like a child afraid to go to bed at night and therefore miss anything the grown-ups might experience, part of her felt bereft. Deep silence pervaded the cubicles in the large administration area and echoed in her heart. She also felt a little empty. Was she making a mistake leaving SIA? Tonight she’d go home to her quiet condo and think about it, but the damage had been done. She’d turned in her resignation over eight weeks ago.

  She analyzed why her emotions were so untidy. The last week had been tough, but leaving SIA to pursue her dreams must be the right course of action. Tears stung her eyes and escaped before she could stop them. She wiped away the moisture with her fingers.

  A sound behind her made her start and whirl around.

  The last person in the world she expected to see stood at the entrance to her cubicle.

  “Tyler.”

  He moved into the cubicle, his cheesy grin diminishing his handsomeness. “What are you doing here so late?”

  “I’m doing some last-minute work. What about you?”

  He edged into her personal space. “I was making my way across the offices when I saw you standing there. You look like you need a friend.”

  No, no, no. Hasn’t he given up yet?

  Synna managed to plaster on a semblance of a smile. “I’m good. Thanks for checking on me.”

  “Heidi said you might need some bucking up. That you’re depressed about leaving the SIA.”

  Indignation rose inside her, but she kept her expression controlled. “S-she’s very mistaken. I’m looking forward to my career change.”

  His sickly sweet cologne made her want to back away, not to mention his unwanted proximity. His interested gaze blazed down at her, but she couldn’t feel one tingle of response.

  “I know you said you didn’t want to go out, but—”

  “No,” she said. “I don’t, Tyler. When I say no, I mean no.”

  If the man had personality to go with his looks, she would have found him attractive. As it was, his insistent bugging made her want to break his kneecaps.

  He clasped her shoulders and yanked her up against him. “I don’t think you mean that.”

  Before she could blink, his mo
uth came down on hers.

  Chapter Two

  Hot and messy, Tyler’s lips sipped at hers. Recoiling, Synna pushed at his chest and her protest muffled against his mouth.

  She shoved harder and he released her abruptly. She stumbled and her knee cracked against the sharp corner of a small table near her desk. Pain rocketed through her, and she yelped. Tears surged into her eyes at the stabbing sensation, and she clutched at her knee and sat down quickly in her chair.

  “Damn it. Tyler, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  His eyebrows drew together, but he didn’t look sorry. “Well, if you hadn’t backed away so fast this wouldn’t have happened.”

  Trembling with reaction, she pointed toward the cubicle exit. “Please get out.”

  “If it’s because you’re a supervisor, don’t worry about it. You’re leaving SIA and we can—”

  “Synna said she wants you to leave,” Ian’s deep, commanding voice came from behind Tyler. “If I was you, I’d do it.”

  Tyler jumped and turned around as Ian walked into the cubicle. “Oh, Mr…uh…sorry, Mr. Frasier. I didn’t see you.”

  Ian looked mad enough to chew uncooked yak meat. “Apparently not.”

  Tyler’s chest puffed out, as if he planned to be stupid enough to challenge the most powerful man in SIA.

  Oh my God. The weasel wants to take on the head of SIA? Is he out of his mind?

  “We were just talking,” Tyler said a hint of defiance in his tone.

  Ian’s stance, arms akimbo and feet braced apart, held a distinctive ready-to-rumble quality, overlaid by a veneer of civilization. “It looked to me like you were kissing her against her will.”

  Tyler glared. “No, you see, we’ve been going out.”