Her Irresistible Protector. Michelle Douglas

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      He frowned and cleared his throat. ‘Tash, I think you’ve misunderstood the situation.’

      She straightened from surveying the titles in the bookcase. Not that she’d taken in a single one of them. ‘Oh?’

      ‘I’m not leaving you here alone. I’m your bodyguard for the duration of the operation.’

      She dropped down onto the sofa. It really was very comfortable.

CHAPTER TWO

      TASH’S EXPRESSION TOLD Mitch more than words could that she’d rather face whoever was responsible for hurting those women than spend any more time in his company.

      He swung away, biting back a curse. They both knew the person responsible was Rick, and no doubt she still thought she could save him. Just as she’d thought eight years ago. He wasn’t going to let that happen. He wasn’t giving Rick the chance to hurt Tash again.

      He waited for hysterics.

      And kept right on waiting.

      He should’ve known better. Tash didn’t do hysterics. Not anymore.

      Eventually he rolled his shoulders. She might never forgive him for putting Rick behind bars, but she was right—she wasn’t the sweet, easily-rocked young girl she’d once been either. His heart bled a little at that, knowing he’d been partly responsible for that hardening, for her toughening up. He’d tried to apologise back then, but she hadn’t wanted to listen. A part of him hadn’t really blamed her.

      He rubbed the back of his neck. Ancient history—that was all it was, and that was how it should stay. He pulled his hand back down to his side and bit back a sigh. It’d help if he didn’t remember the events of eight years ago as if they’d only happened last week. His lips twisted. And how those events had changed his life forever.

      For the better.

      And for the worse.

      ‘Is that really necessary—a bodyguard?’

      He turned back and aimed for neutral and professional. He’d found that difficult eight years ago and he didn’t find it any easier now. ‘I don’t make the rules, Tash. I just follow orders.’

      ‘To the letter.’

      He ignored her sarcasm. ‘Naturally, you’ll have the bedroom.’ He gestured. ‘I’ll be on the couch.’

      One quirk of her eyebrow told him that had never been in doubt.

      A reluctant grin tugged at his lips. He had to admire her spunk. ‘Let’s get a couple of things out of the way and then we can relax.’

      ‘Relax? You really think that’s going to happen?’

      Her hazel eyes, a bit too large for her face, mocked him. They wielded the same power, the same kick of awareness now as they had eight years ago. When she’d been a slip of a girl and he’d been a hungry young constable eager for promotion. Seventeen. He’d had to keep reminding himself of that fact at the time.

      She’s not seventeen any more.

      His chin shot up. He had no intention of letting his guard down while they were out here in the wild. None! He wouldn’t relax until Bradford was in custody. There might be history between him and Tash, but he refused to be distracted by it. Or by her.

      Besides, his lips twisted, she’d rather drink poison than become involved with him again.

      It didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try and make this as easy on her as possible, though.

      ‘What do we need to get out of the way?’

      Her question hauled him back. ‘First I’ll show you the amenities.’ The sooner she’d had a chance to rant about those the better.

      She sighed when she saw the small outbuilding with its pan toilet and the bucketful of dirt and small spade beside it. ‘At least it has a door.’ She glanced in. ‘And seems to be relatively spider-free.’

      He remembered her reaction to the bull ants and made a mental note to make sure it remained spider-free. ‘And this is the shower.’ He gestured to the canvas hut nearby. A camp shower he’d only erected yesterday.

      ‘Hot water?’

      He shook his head. Her shoulders drooped a little and he had to fight the urge to swear. Tash might act tough—as if she could take on anything the world wanted to throw at her—but beneath it all he knew how vulnerable she was...and how gentle. If he found Rick first...

      His hands clenched again. He would keep her safe. He swore that much.

      No one would find them out here.

      And the undercover detectives would deal with Rick with their usual efficiency. It suddenly occurred to him that he didn’t envy them their job. Arresting Rick again would give him no satisfaction. Other than to know Tash was safe, that was.

      Instead of a stake-out he got to spend the next few days in paradise with a beautiful woman. Who hates your guts. He planted his hands on his hips and glared up at the sky. Professional, keep it professional. It was all he had. In his bones he knew that as long as they stayed out here they’d be safe. All he had to do in the meantime was maintain his professionalism.

      He turned back to find her surveying him with narrowed eyes. She pointed to the shower. ‘When did you put that up?’

      ‘Yesterday.’

      ‘So you knew—’ She broke off and folded her arms. ‘No, you didn’t.’

      ‘I was spending a few days on leave out here.’

      The brown flecks within the brilliant green of her irises gleamed like amber. He’d never seen eyes like them before.

      ‘So I’m interrupting your leave.’

      ‘It’s no big deal.’

      ‘Well, it only seems fair as you’re interrupting my holiday,’ she drawled. But the way she gripped her hands in front of her was at odds with the tone of her voice. The space between them filled with an edgy silence.

      He cleared his throat. ‘I’m impressed,’ he managed, suddenly thirsting for an ice-cold beer and it wasn’t even lunchtime. But her hair gleamed a dark rich brown and the sun bore down on his uncovered head. ‘You don’t seem too horrified by the amenities.’

      She smiled. It was sudden and unconsciously sweet and it jammed his breath in his throat. ‘I’m just thankful I don’t have to relieve myself behind a bush. Rick and I would sometimes take off to the National Park for a couple of days and that was usually the case there.’

      The moment the words left her mouth she looked as if she’d like to call them back.

      He should change the subject, try and put her at her ease. But... ‘You want to talk about it? Clear the air?’

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