And Able. Lucy Monroe

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      “And this switch turns the outer lights on steady illumination.” Hotwire pressed the small button and the backyard lit, exposing every shadowy recess.

      He’d driven Claire home so he could go over the new security system with her.

      “Great,” Claire enthused, though he got the distinct impression she was humoring him. “I’m amazed you got it all done so quickly.”

      He shrugged. “No sweat. It’s what we do.”

      She cocked her head to one side and looked at him. “Not exactly. Your new company specializes in hi-tech security on a much bigger scale.”

      “It’s the same principle.”

      “There’s nothing dangerous about installing outdoor lighting in a residential neighborhood.”

      “We’re not mercs anymore, Claire. Our day jobs aren’t that dangerous, either.”

      “Right. According to Josette, your latest client is an international politician who requested your expertise in keeping him alive because he’d received so many death threats in the past year.”

      “Coordinating protection for one politician is nothing compared to going into a war zone to bring out hostages.”

      “Agreed. But then, securing Josette’s rental house is nothing in comparison to the politician, either.”

      “But no less important.” Her safety mattered to all of them.

      “Thanks.” She smiled, her pretty pink lips void of the gloss she’d worn earlier.

      The thought that he had kissed it off tormented him. He could still taste her on his lips, and the desire to kiss her again grew with every breath he took in her radius. Coming to her house alone had been a really bad idea. He hadn’t reacted to a woman like this since Elena, and even then, he’d had more control of the physical desires riding him.

      Her brown gaze was warm. “You did a great job. I really like the way you set up remote access capability from my laptop.”

      “I figured you would.”

      “You know me so well.” Which made her look wary, for some reason.

      The temptation to touch her about overwhelmed him and he took a quick step back. “If you don’t have any questions, I’ll head back to the hotel.”

      “No questions, but if you don’t mind waiting for just five minutes…” She smiled tentatively. “I would really appreciate a ride to the Max station. It’s on the way, or I wouldn’t ask.”

      His brow furrowed. “Why do you want a ride to the light-rail station?”

      “Because it will save me a bus ride and two transfers. I’ll only take a minute changing clothes. Really.”

      He didn’t doubt it. Claire did not primp, but his libido rebelled at the thought of her changing out of the entirely feminine and extremely sexy dress she’d worn in the wedding. Though he didn’t mind the idea of her taking the pins out of her silky red hair. The style was elegant, but not her. He liked her wild mop of auburn curls.

      “I don’t mind waiting for you, but if you need a ride somewhere, I’ll take you.” He wasn’t dropping her off at some mass transit station at night.

      “That’s not necessary. It’s only a short ride on the Max to Belmont Manor.”

      “Why are you going to the nursing home?”

      “It’s not a nursing home. Belmont Manor is an assisted living care facility.” She grimaced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get all politically correct on you, but the management has been really cracking down on how we refer to it.”

      “No problem, but you still haven’t told me why you’re going to the assisted-care facility tonight.”

      “I have to work.”

      “Josie didn’t say anything about it.” And that surprised him, almost as much as her not sending Claire home from the reception in time for her to take a nap before going in to work.

      “I didn’t tell her.”

      “Why not?”

      “She would have insisted I take the night off.”

      “Considering the circumstances, that would have made the most sense.”

      “Maybe, but I can’t afford to take off two nights in a row without pay. If I’d told Josette, she would have offered to pay me and then we would have argued. I didn’t want to have a fight with her before her wedding.”

      “But you haven’t slept.” And if he knew women as well as he thought he did, she hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, either.

      Her mouth curved in a quirky smile, though the shadows around her eyes betrayed her weariness. “Well, no…but sleep is overrated, anyway.”

      “Like hell it is. You have to take care of yourself.”

      “Oh, come on…don’t tell me you’ve never gone without sleep on a mission.”

      “That’s different.” He’d trained his body to function on very little rest.

      Claire was a civilian and a sweet, fragile one at that. Even if she didn’t seem to realize it.

      “You’re right. It is different. Your СКАЧАТЬ