Page 14 of Too Lethal to Love
Kane nudged her to face him. “Your work on Triple X, the intel we have about the Diablo’s deadline, and a known enforcer messing with you adds up to no good. Not to mention the timing of your stalker’s return. He could be working with the Diablos. They have accomplished hackers on their payroll. And you can be sure Chavez has a motive for his actions. You need protection while we uncover more intel.”
Edgar nodded. “One of you needs to be her security detail.”
Beth held up her hand. “Does anyone care what I have to say on the matter?”
Scarlett touched Beth’s arm. “Of course. Chris and I will cancel our trip so you can stay with us.”
“No way.” She waggled her finger between the bride and groom-to-be. “You two can’t cancel your engagement-moon because I’m in trouble again.”
“They won’t.” Kane knew how important it was for Beth to give her bestie a perfect engagement experience. “Admiral, I’ll stick with Beth until we get more information.”
“No.” Beth backed up a step. “That won’t work. I’m going to a Christmas party tomorrow in my hometown. I won’t be back until the twenty-fourth.”
“Then I’ll go with you.” He turned on his grin that charmed women from West Virginia to Washington, DC. “I love a good party.”
“You can’t come to North Benson with me.”
He shrugged. “Then we’ll stay home.”
“No way. I missed the party last year and won’t miss it again.”
“A word in private, please.” He nudged her to the backdoor. To his surprise, she obeyed and let him lead her outside. His earlier search of the property revealed high fences and a large awning. Both created a space safe from anyone watching. The barriers, however, didn’t block the view of her bare legs as she jutted her hip and glowered at him.
“I don’t want you as my bodyguard. Nic or Linc can do it.”
He backed her into the wall. “You barely know them.” And no way was he giving his brothers the opportunity to get to know her better. Hell,heshouldn’t want to get to know her better, not when he couldn’t offer anything beyond protection. If a relationship was in his immediate future, he’d already be a dozen dates in with the brilliant, beautiful scientist, who he found even more attractive since learning she’d been working to save millions of lives. But their timing sucked and his scars ran too deep to alter his life plan. Besides, he’d promised Chris he wouldn’t act on his filthy fantasies.
She jutted her chin up. “I barely knowyou.”
“You know how I taste.”
Her soft hiss escaped through her gritted teeth. “You’re a bastard for bringing that up.”
Maybe it did make him a bastard for discussing their ill-fated kiss in her bedroom during their not-quite-date. But watching the gold flecks in her eyes ignite into flames set his adrenaline racing faster than a dangerous mission.
Stepping back but still close enough to shield her from the cold wind, he eyed her from head to toe. Despite his timeline to serve in the military first and settle down later, thoughts about making Bethhisraided his mind. All night, he’d been fighting the urge to unwrap the pretty package before him, starting with her soft sweater and slowly working his way down to her red shimmery heels. Feeling them diginto his ass while he filled her topped his list of things he shouldn’t want for Christmas, along with visions of enjoying future holidays together.
He took her hand and turned her wrist. With his fingertips, he brushed her scar. “You’re Scarlett’s bestie, which makes you part of the VIPER family. Accept my protection, sugarplum.”
She waved her finger at him in a circle. “You’re doing it again. I can see it in your eyes and it’s not going to work.”
He stepped closer until the tips of his worn cowboy boots hit the toes of her dainty heels. “Doing what?”
“Switching from charming and sexy but sometimes annoying cowboy to intense, sometimes scary, but always bossy warrior.”
He winked. “I knew you liked me.”
She pressed her fingertips into her temples. “Have you heard anything I’m saying? I agree protection is warranted, but it can’t be from you.”
No, it shouldn’t be from him. She was a danger to the life he’d built around not falling in love until it was time, but even that cold truth wouldn’t stop him from convincing her that he was the super soldier for the job.
Beth speared her hands into her hair and tugged. Her scalp stung from the pressure. “I don’t want your protection.”
“Why?” He seized her chin in his big hand. The hardness in his gaze sharpened to icicles.
A chill seeped from the brick and permeated her thin sweater. “You know why.”
“I have an idea, but I want to hear it from you.”