O'Shea, Patti - The Power of Two

Title: The Power of Two
Author: Patti O'Shea
Series: Book 4 of the 2176 series
Pub: Love Spell
Pub Date: November, 2004
ISBN:
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Setting:
Hero: Jacob Tucker
Heroine: Cai Randolph

Summary:

The UCE: In the 21st and 22nd Centuries, the United States changed and grew. Now the United Colonies of Earth dominate the globe. But a mysterious voice is broadcasting treason, inciting revolution and referring to the “ideals of 1776”—and to an enigmatic figure named Banzai Maguire.

To find Banzai, the UCE assigns Cai. She’s the “anchor,” the techie half of a Quandem: a pair of elite operatives intended for just such covert action. Neural implants allow her to sit back in a control chair and feed information to her partner, the dark-souled Jacob Tucker. He’s as rigid as he is deadly…or handsome. But this time, it can’t be business as usual.

This time, Cai needs Jake to trust her completely. Whether he likes it or not, she can’t sit back while he fights the bad guys. Wherever this mission takes her, Cai is gonna be the one kicking a little tail.

Excerpt:

     Cai bit her lip. Ignoring the tension building between her shoulders, she perused the crowd. She wasn't wrong. Now that she was looking, she found Jake easily. He sat at a round table in the corner with two other soldiers. Her hands clenched at her sides as she studied his profile. Though deep shadows concealed his face, she could see he was watchful, his eyes never still.
     She took a step forward. Stopped. Squared her shoulders and walked toward him. She could do this.
     Though he didn't react as she came up beside him, Jake was aware of her presence. He had to be. Even if he hadn't sensed her approach, which she doubted, his friends were staring at her. Cai stared right back until Jake turned.
     His expression said get lost, but it quickly became neutral. She knew he was waiting for her to explain why she'd come over, but she took a moment to study him anyway. The first thing she noticed was that he was coiled, ready to spring if she posed a danger. And he was even better looking in person.
     His glacier blue eyes were striking with his dark hair and tanned face, but it wasn't the color that prompted her to gaze deeply into them. She was trying to find the man she knew. The man who was always tender and thoughtful with her, the man she talked with and comforted in the aftermath of his nightmares. Cai's stomach twisted when she couldn't find anything familiar in this stranger's hard face.
     Part of her wanted to excuse herself, but she couldn't. She needed to talk with him tonight. There were no other options.
     "Hello, Jake."
     He lifted an eyebrow. "No one calls me Jake." He sounded different to her ears. Harsher than she'd thought he would.
     A shiver began deep inside, but she fought it off before it became noticeable. "I do. I always have."
     She held her breath as he pushed slowly to his feet. In her peripheral vision, she saw him slide the chair out of the way with his foot. This had been the wrong approach, she decided, exhaling with a silent sigh. Perhaps she'd have been wiser to wait till he'd left Hell to talk to him. If she'd thought it through longer and not let her impatience get in the way, she would have realized he'd be on his guard here.
     "Always?" he asked menacingly. "I don't know who you are."

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Comments:

The 2176 series

Book 1: The Legend of Banzai Maguire - Susan Grant
Book 2: Day Of Fire - Kathleen Nance
Book 3: The Shadow Runners - Liz Maverick
Book 4: The Power of Two - Patti O'Shea
Book 5: The Scarlet Empress - Susan Grant