Page 24 of Shadow Redemption
“Thanks.”
“Yep. Watch your back, buddy.”
“Always.” He ended the call, glanced over his shoulder, and froze. “Ruth. How long have you been standing there?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ruth drew in a ragged breath. How could Ben stand there, calm and collected as though she’d heard nothing out of the ordinary? “Long enough to know I have to fire you.”
His eyebrows rose. “Why?”
“How can you ask me that? You were talking to Zane about threats to your life. Who wants to kill you?”
A small smile. “Several people, most of them terrorists.”
“Don’t you dare joke about this. I’m in front of a camera ninety percent of my time in public. Your handsome face will be plastered all over the news media as soon as they realize you’re more than just a bodyguard.” He would always be more to her battered heart.
His lips curved into a grin. “You think I’m handsome?”
“Ben.”
He held up his hands. “I’ll handle it. Trust me.”
The man was so infuriating. “You’re risking your life to protect me.”
“Any man who serves as your bodyguard will be at risk.”
A dodge. She wouldn’t let him get by with it. “How serious is the threat to you?”
The operative shrugged. “No more than it usually is.”
“At least, not yet,” she added, her gaze locked on his.
He inclined his head.
Ruth’s heart sank. “I can’t let you do this.” No matter how much she wanted him with her in Mexico, she wouldn’t risk his life. He meant too much to her. “It’s too dangerous. I’m sorry to do this, but you’re fired and off duty as of this moment.”
“My job is dangerous all the time.” He left his vigil at the window and crossed the space separating them to stand in front of her. “You can’t protect me by firing me. Besides, you didn’t assign me to this task. You don’t have the authority to relieve me of my duties.”
“Then I’ll ask Brent to assign someone else to the job.”
“No, you won’t.”
She scowled. “You can’t tell me what to do.” Especially not this. She wouldn’t sacrifice his life for hers.
“In this case, I am. I’m not stepping down, Ruth.”
“There must be other Fortress bodyguards who can do the job.”
“Many,” he conceded. “I won’t let them take over.”
“Why not?”
Ben’s large, rough-skinned hand curled around the back of her neck and drew her forward until she stood a bare inch from him. He tipped her chin up with his other hand. “You know why,” he murmured.
“Spell it out.”
“This.” He captured her mouth with his, the touch hard and hungry. Heat spread through her veins like liquid lightning, weakening her knees. Ben closed the scant distance between them and wrapped his strong arms around her as he explored her mouth with a thoroughness that stole her breath.