He didn’t know why she’d agreed to make love with him last night. He’d told her about the dream; he’d bared something close to the truth about who and what he was. And yet she hadn’t run away. Maybe she hadn’t figured out what it all meant. Maybe that would come later.
He didn’t want to think about that. He didn’t want to see her features tighten in disgust or fear. He didn’t want her backing away from him when he entered a room.
And yet, despite all that could still go wrong, he wasn’t sorry. How could he be? Last night had been perfect.
He stepped into the research room and settled at one of the computers. Even as he typed on the keyboard, he thought about what it had been like to be with her. How she’d looked and felt and tasted. How she’d sounded. The way that she’d clung to him, losing herself in the moment.
No, he couldn’t be sorry about that. Even if it meant that he could never sleep again.
He frowned slightly. The dreams lurked in the back of his mind, an ever-present enemy. He knew that they would extract their revenge for his temporary assumption that he could be like everyone else.
“Where’s Brenda?”
The question came from behind him. Jeff turned and saw his partner lounging in the doorway to the research room. Zane raised a questioning eyebrow and continued, “Did she call in sick?”
“No. She’s around.”
Zane sauntered over to the chair next to Jeff’s and took a seat. “So why are you in here?”
Jeff shrugged. “I had the time.”
Zane didn’t look convinced. “Are you all right? You haven’t been yourself for the past few days and today it’s worse.”
“What are you talking about? What’s worse?”
“I’m not sure.” Zane studied him. “It’s the woman, isn’t it? The one staying at your house.”
Jeff didn’t think he’d been acting any differently, but obviously he’d been wrong. Zane was observant and he didn’t make mistakes.
“Nothing’s changed,” he bluffed, knowing it was a lie. Having Ashley and Maggie come live with him was just the first of many changes.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Zane told him. “I think you having a woman around is a good thing. I’m all in favor of that. You need some normalcy.”
Jeff didn’t agree, but he wasn’t about to argue. Ashley was dangerous to him because she distracted him. In his line of work, a distraction could cause a mistake. Just one misstep, one unnoticed detail, would mean the difference between living and dying.
Zane jerked his head toward the open door. “You ready for the meeting?”
Jeff glanced at his watch, then nodded. They had four new recruits going through orientation. A quiet, competent woman in her early thirties, and three ex-military men.
“What do you think?” he asked his partner as he closed his folder and followed Zane out of the research office.
“They’re all right. The youngest of the three, Sanders, is a little gung ho for my liking. He still thinks the protection business is glamorous.”
Jeff grimaced. “Just what we need. Someone stupid. How’d he get this far?”
“Great credentials and impeccable recommendations. They’re genuine,” Zane continued as he paused just outside the conference room. “I checked them myself.”
Then they hadn’t been faked, Jeff thought. Zane didn’t make those kind of mistakes, either.
Jeff stepped into the conference room with Zane on his heels. Jack Delaney, former Secret Service agent and arms expert, nodded as his bosses walked to the front of the room. The four recruits sat at a conference table facing the podium. Jeff looked them over, noticing the even gazes that met his own. The woman sat a little apart from the rest. She had long red hair and a body that would make traffic stand still. He briefly wondered what had brought someone that good-looking to this line of work, then dismissed the question. Her appearance didn’t matter if she was the best.
He glanced at the three men. The youngest was easy to pick out. He wore a grin the size of Texas.
“These are the men who sign your paychecks,” Jack said easily. “Jeff Ritter and Zane Rankin.” He nodded and stepped away from the podium.
Jeff took his place. He looked at each of the recruits, trying to size them up. Only two people would be hired and that decision wouldn’t be made for at least a month. He and Zane were particular about whom they worked with. After all, the team members risked their lives together. To trust that much, everyone had to depend on each other.
“There is no room for mistakes,” he said by way of introduction. “Nor do we bring our egos, our tempers or our prejudices to any assignment. Every job puts it all on the line. Before we invite you to join our company, we will attempt to find out your weaknesses, your faults and what makes your skin crawl. Because the kind of clients who employ us expect the best.”
