Spy Girl (Spy Girl #1)

“Ari, we didn’t really inherit it. It’s just our cover.”


He shakes his head. “No, it’s our new life.”





I ponder that as we’re being herded into the rotunda where we will dine. We’ve yet to meet our dining partners for the evening, but I have been given numerous business cards so I can invest some of my new money and was told I should consider a career in politics. I met a famous actor and had my ass grabbed by a lecherous old senator, whose wife informed me that he meant no harm.

The man’s lucky he still has an arm.

When Ari and I arrive at our table, Peter Prescott and his date, a model named Allie Peterson, are already seated. Ari and I introduce ourselves as the Von Allisters.

“Sorry to hear about your father,” Peter says. “He and my dad worked together back in the day.”

Really? Why the hell wasn’t this in my packet? But I just found out he was my father. I shouldn’t know anything about him. Other than his net worth.

“I’d love to hear about that. We never knew him.”

“You never knew your father?” the model asks.

“Haven’t you seen the papers?” Peter asks, squinting his eyes at her like she’s an idiot. I’d wipe that smug look off his face if I were dating him. Of course, I probably wouldn’t date an arrogant asshole.

She kisses him on the cheek. “You know I don’t read them. All bad news. It’s depressing.”

I decide to fill her in. “Ari and I just met at the reading of our father’s will. We didn’t know he was our father until we were notified by his attorney.”

“You’re looking at our country’s two newest billionaires,” Peter proclaims.

Her eyes brighten. “Oh. Well, congratulations.”

I wince. So do Ari and Peter. But secretly I love this clueless, beautiful girl.

Peter whispers something to her. She frowns then looks at Ari and gives him a dazzling smile. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. I’m sorry for your loss.”

We are joined by Senator Bill Callan and his wife, Sissy. He chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee and is known as a good friend of the director of the CIA, Mike Burnes. He shakes my hand, also offers his condolences, and introduces us to the actor Rob Howden and his wife, Angie. Bill’s secretary apparently doesn’t warrant an introduction. She sits silently at the table on her phone with the air of someone doing something very important, but she blushes when I catch her scrolling through her Instagram feed.

We are all seated at the table making small talk about the new exhibit we toured.

The chair to my left is still empty when I get my first glimpse of Daniel.

He’s rushing toward us, buttoning his jacket, his cheeks flush. I half expect him to be zipping his pants. He looks like he’s been involved in a coat room quickie. His hair is mussed. His blue eyes sparkling.

“Sorry, I’m late,” he says to the table. “My parents decided last minute to attend the event and made me ride with them. Traveling with the Secret Service is a bitch.”

He shakes his buddy Peter’s hand and gives him a slap on the back, air kisses Allie, and then works his way around the table shaking everyone’s hands.

When he gets to me, he says, “I’m Daniel Spear.”

“I’m Huntley Von Allister, and this is my brother Ari.”

A speaker on the stage addresses the group, so we all quickly take our seats.

Daniel’s piercing blue eyes continue to hold mine, occasionally flitting across the curves of my red gown. His eyes are mesmerizing, a warm lush shade of lapis with lighter flecks of cerulean. His eyes speak of oceans and tropics, and it’s not surprising he’s talented in the water. I imagine that Neptune, the Roman God of the Sea, would have had eyes just like his.

We toast to the event and let the senator and his wife carry most of the table’s dinner conversation.

After dessert, the talk turns to travel spots of the rich and famous. Sissy and the senator are vacationing at their six thousand square foot “cottage” in the balmy Cayman Islands in a few weeks, and Allie is headed to Puerto Rico tomorrow for a popular sports magazine’s bikini shoot.

The senator and his wife excuse themselves, along with the actor and his spouse.

“We’re going to Montrovia,” Ari says.

“Montrovia?” Daniels replies. “I just happen to be pals with the Prince of Montrovia. Haven’t seen him in a couple years. I’ll tell you what, though. He knows how to party. I never thought I’d recover from our night out.”

“A prince, huh?” I tease.

“Don’t start dreaming of a royal wedding just yet,” Daniel teases back. “You’d have a lot of competition. Me, I’m easy.”

“So I’ve read in the tabloids.”

“Who is accompanying you on this trip?” Allie asks.

“It’s just me and Ari. We’re going to have some brother-sister bonding time.”