“I ran out and got a breakfast sandwich, then went to finish the hole.”
“Somebody left the gate open.”Ben let the hammer down and his glare turned into a glower.“That’s a breach in operational security.A bunch of scum-sucking journalists and paparazzi got in.Made themselves at home around the place.”
Willie looked horrified.“I didn’t see anybody.Guess I was too far away.”
“It looks like you left the gate open.”
Willie’s hesitation in answering was telling.He screwed up one eye and looked skyward.“I think I closed it.”
“You think you did?”Ben set his hands on his hips.“What if the really bad guy had gotten in, Willie?”He pinned the other with a hard gaze.“We still don’t even know if he could be inside the fence, hiding somewhere on the property.”
Willie’s eyes grew big.
“This security breach is unacceptable.”Ben continued to stare at the younger man with all the authority of a military commander displeased with his underling.
“I’m sorry, Sir,” Willie got out, digging his toe into the dirt.He looked at Sarah.“I’m sorry, Miss Sarah.Won’t happen again.I swear it.”
Ben didn’t shout, but there was no mistaking his authority.“We can’t have strangers wandering the property.That gate will be closed each and every time any of us goes in or out.Understood?”
“I do.”He kept digging at the dirt.“Sir.”
“Today we’re forming a new team.It’s called Team Sarah.We’re going to make certain that she remains safe and sound.I don’t have a lieutenant for the team.I need a capable man to be my eyes and ears where I can’t be, and report to me.”
Willie looked up hopefully.“I—I could do it.”
“It’s an important role for Team Sarah.We can’t afford mistakes.Not one.”He studied the youth as though carefully calculating the odds of success.“A single error could put Sarah in danger.Are you sure you’re up to this?”
Willie cast adoring eyes at Sarah.“Yes,” he said.“Sir.”
Sarah smiled at the youth.“Thank you, Willie.”
She watched as Ben finally relented and clapped the young man on the shoulder.She’d seen how tough he could be, and she’d watched while he dressed down the immature Willie.He’d then secured a promise from him to act more responsibly, and finally drafted him to help.And Ben had done it all without shouting, without threats of punishment, or other unsavory methods.She was impressed.
Now he had a devoted partner for what he’d called Team Sarah.
No wonder he’d been a successful military commander.It could be no surprise that he led men in a growing security company.Curious about his business, she figured that soon she’d ask him about it.Her estimation of him rose and she found herself smiling softly at his profile.
At that moment, he glanced at her and caught her expression.
Ben stilled, held her gaze.
Quickly, she realized she was gazing at him moon-eyed, and she busied herself with rummaging in her shoulder bag.She shouldn’t be giving him the wrong idea.After all, it had been her decision to halt any romantic notions between them.
He continued to study her, masculine speculation in his expression.
“Can I have my gift now?”Sarah asked to distract him.
He smiled.“It’s in my truck.I’ll get it.”
Together they left Willie to his work and walked back to the yard.She waited while he took a package out from behind the front seat.
Opening the bag, he withdrew a leather sheath and a knife.The knife was similar to his Ka-Bar, only smaller.
“This is for you,” he said, approaching.
Her mouth fell open.“I’m going to carry a knife?”
“Why not?You’ve begun to learn how to defend yourself with one.Everyone who works for me carries a weapon, a secondary weapon, and a knife.Just imagine you’re my employee, tasked to protect a client.”His hands going to her belt buckle, he held her eyes while he unbuckled the leather and slowly drew it from her jean’s belt loops.“We’ll just take your belt off and see where the sheath will fit best.”She felt the slow slither of the leather sliding over the denim, and suddenly it seemed as though he were disrobing her.
