that felt like a lifetime ago. She’d been wearing a blue dress that made her eyes even brighter. Her hair had been pulled back. She’d smelled like honeysuckles then, too. He’d looked at her...
And wanted.
When she’d excused herself for a moment, Cale had leaned close. “She’s not for you.” That had been all he had said to him.
But it seemed he might have said plenty more to her.
“Why’d he tell you to stay away?” Because he was curious and annoyed. The chemistry between him and Veronica was so hot it almost burned him every time she got near. For her brother to keep shoving her in the opposite direction...
“He said you were too much like him. Too dark. Too wary of commitment. You weren’t the kind of guy who’d go for the picket-fence routine.”
Because he didn’t know what the picket-fence routine was. He’d sure never grown up in that perfect world of baseball games and barbecues. He didn’t know a damn thing about that life. So how could he ever give it to a woman like Veronica?
“You always do what Cale tells you to do?”
She didn’t speak for a moment; then she said, “I’m here with you now, aren’t I?”
Yes, she was. He wouldn’t let his lips curl in satisfaction. She’s a job. Don’t forget that. But he could feel himself starting to slide down the slippery slope that would lead to lust and sex and pleasure.
Want her.
He also had one more question for her. “Just how did you know that I was going to be at Last Chance?” Another long curve, and then he could see the bar and its empty parking lot, standing stark on the barren landscape.
“It’s a small town.” She shrugged. The seat belt slid over her shoulder. “Word travels fast.”
That fast?
She slanted him a look from the corner of her eye. “I actually saw you in Tom’s Diner, but you left before I could approach you. Since there is only one motel in town, it didn’t take me long to track you down.”
He waited.
“Once I, uh, ‘confirmed’ with the clerk where you were staying, it wasn’t hard to figure out that you’d headed to the only bar in the county.”
Then she’d put on her sexy clothes—damn sexy—and come calling for him. Made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse.
Interesting. The woman was resourceful. He’d remember that.
He pulled into the lot. Checked his rearview mirror once more. No one for miles.
“You’re sure the bartender’s here?” Veronica asked as she pressed her fingertips against the dashboard.
“I scoped the place last night.” He could be plenty resourceful, too. “There’s an apartment out back. We’ll find Reed there.” Reed Montgomery. Bartender. Bar owner. Broker of mercenaries. The guy was a jack-of-all-trades. He was also wanted in about four countries. No wonder the guy had set up shop in a place called Last Chance. Of course, he was using an alias. That alias was why Jasper and his team hadn’t realized that the guy was even in this game, not until Jasper had laid eyes on the fellow last night. Reed’s real name was Thomas Jensen. Jensen was still wanted by the U.S. government...that little matter of being AWOL wasn’t just going to vanish.
Veronica shoved open her door. He waited a moment, grabbed the backup gun he’d retrieved from his bag and tucked it under the waistband of his jeans. He pulled his shirt down to cover the gun, but if anyone looked close enough, that person would see the bulge of his weapon.
He shut the door, making sure not to slam it. Reed was a facilitator in the business. The kind of guy with too many contacts. One who loved providing work to down-on-their-luck cowboys and soldiers. Dangerous work.
Cigarette butts littered the ground. Through the small windows, he saw that the bar’s interior was dim and silent. He passed the bar, not slowing. Veronica’s quiet footsteps followed him.
“Are you sure he’s our guy?” she whispered.
Jasper grunted. “You hired me for my contacts, didn’t you?” Only she
And wanted.
When she’d excused herself for a moment, Cale had leaned close. “She’s not for you.” That had been all he had said to him.
But it seemed he might have said plenty more to her.
“Why’d he tell you to stay away?” Because he was curious and annoyed. The chemistry between him and Veronica was so hot it almost burned him every time she got near. For her brother to keep shoving her in the opposite direction...
“He said you were too much like him. Too dark. Too wary of commitment. You weren’t the kind of guy who’d go for the picket-fence routine.”
Because he didn’t know what the picket-fence routine was. He’d sure never grown up in that perfect world of baseball games and barbecues. He didn’t know a damn thing about that life. So how could he ever give it to a woman like Veronica?
“You always do what Cale tells you to do?”
She didn’t speak for a moment; then she said, “I’m here with you now, aren’t I?”
Yes, she was. He wouldn’t let his lips curl in satisfaction. She’s a job. Don’t forget that. But he could feel himself starting to slide down the slippery slope that would lead to lust and sex and pleasure.
Want her.
He also had one more question for her. “Just how did you know that I was going to be at Last Chance?” Another long curve, and then he could see the bar and its empty parking lot, standing stark on the barren landscape.
“It’s a small town.” She shrugged. The seat belt slid over her shoulder. “Word travels fast.”
That fast?
She slanted him a look from the corner of her eye. “I actually saw you in Tom’s Diner, but you left before I could approach you. Since there is only one motel in town, it didn’t take me long to track you down.”
He waited.
“Once I, uh, ‘confirmed’ with the clerk where you were staying, it wasn’t hard to figure out that you’d headed to the only bar in the county.”
Then she’d put on her sexy clothes—damn sexy—and come calling for him. Made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse.
Interesting. The woman was resourceful. He’d remember that.
He pulled into the lot. Checked his rearview mirror once more. No one for miles.
“You’re sure the bartender’s here?” Veronica asked as she pressed her fingertips against the dashboard.
“I scoped the place last night.” He could be plenty resourceful, too. “There’s an apartment out back. We’ll find Reed there.” Reed Montgomery. Bartender. Bar owner. Broker of mercenaries. The guy was a jack-of-all-trades. He was also wanted in about four countries. No wonder the guy had set up shop in a place called Last Chance. Of course, he was using an alias. That alias was why Jasper and his team hadn’t realized that the guy was even in this game, not until Jasper had laid eyes on the fellow last night. Reed’s real name was Thomas Jensen. Jensen was still wanted by the U.S. government...that little matter of being AWOL wasn’t just going to vanish.
Veronica shoved open her door. He waited a moment, grabbed the backup gun he’d retrieved from his bag and tucked it under the waistband of his jeans. He pulled his shirt down to cover the gun, but if anyone looked close enough, that person would see the bulge of his weapon.
He shut the door, making sure not to slam it. Reed was a facilitator in the business. The kind of guy with too many contacts. One who loved providing work to down-on-their-luck cowboys and soldiers. Dangerous work.
Cigarette butts littered the ground. Through the small windows, he saw that the bar’s interior was dim and silent. He passed the bar, not slowing. Veronica’s quiet footsteps followed him.
“Are you sure he’s our guy?” she whispered.
Jasper grunted. “You hired me for my contacts, didn’t you?” Only she
Similar Books
