Read Online His Reluctant Bodyguard by Loucinda McGary - Free Book Online
Authors: Loucinda McGary
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ate the rest of the fruit and cookies. Tension stretched so thickly between them that they gave up any pretense of small talk. The phone finally rang at a quarter of two and an apologetic Nadeesh arrived five minutes later with burgers, a huge container of potato salad, and more fruit.
With minimal conversation, they dispatched everything but two oranges. At one point, Rip broke into spontaneous exercise again. When Avery tried to join him, he turned his back to finish his third repetition of crunches, then dashed into the shower again. At this rate, she'd have to use one of the pool towels. She checked the top shelf in the closet just to be sure the two supplied in every passenger cabin were there.
The phone signal rang at half past six, and Smith himself delivered dinner, carrying the tray inside when Avery opened the door. She noticed that although he still limped, Smith had managed to get a shoe on his injured foot and walk without the cane he'd used the day before.
"Now this is more like it." Rip declared when he lifted the cover to reveal a thick slice of prime rib, an over-sized baked potato and some steamed veggies.
"I've eaten already, so don't let me stop you," Smith said, sitting at an angle on the couch so he could rest his foot over the arm.
Avery took the meal Rip passed her and backed up to sit on her bed and balance the plate on the nightstand.
Smith looked from her to Rip, who sat across the room using the vanity top for his table. "Guess I'm not interrupting anything."
"I wish," Rip muttered, chewing a big bite of meat. "No horseradish?"
"Be grateful the stuff is warm," the other man advised. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out two dinner rolls. He tossed one to Avery and the other to Rip . "And no extra butter either."
"No tip for you," Rip retorted.
"Then maybe I'll give Miss Knox both desserts."
"You and what army?"
To Avery's surprise, Smith didn't utter a comeback. He waited until they'd eaten most of their meal before he spoke again.
"So here's the plan when we arrive in Martinique tomorrow." His serious tone made Avery pause in mid-bite. "We have to assume that the main gangway will be watched, so we'll have to exit with the crew. Nadeesh will bring you some work overalls when he delivers your breakfast later tonight."
His plan made sense to Avery, but her bite of roll suddenly went dry and tasteless at the thought of Rip being shot at again. She couldn't stop coughing until Rip handed her a bottle of water from the fridge.
Smith gave her a censorious look before turning his attention back to Rip. "Meet me at the freight elevator at the end of the hall at 0700."
"What about me?" Avery blurted, then twisted her napkin nervously when both men stared at her.
"I'd appreciate if you'd stay in this cabin until at least 0800," Smith said in his same all business voice. "Once Pollendene and I are safely off the ship and on our way to Benezet , you should be able to resume your regular activities."
"But I thought the morning ferry didn't leave until 9:30," Rip protested.
Avery knew he meant the twice daily ferry service between Martinique and the smaller outlying islands, which included Benezet . Apparently he and Smith had discussed this before.
The agent's voice sounded tight with restraint. "We're no longer taking the ferry."
"Still, maybe Avery needs to stay put until 9:30," Rip insisted. "Better yet, until after the last ferry leaves at 1:30. Just to be sure."
"I leave that to your discretion, Miss Knox." Smith's tone dripped condescension. "Since I obviously can't force you to do anything."
She fought the urge to give him a tart answer. But the truth was, she suddenly felt swamped with worry for Rip's safety and couldn't think of a thing to say. Sopping up the last bit of au jus, she popped the final piece of meat into her mouth, chewed and swallowed, even though she didn't taste a thing.
"I'll leave the dessert for the two of you to sort out." Smith rose to his feet and
With minimal conversation, they dispatched everything but two oranges. At one point, Rip broke into spontaneous exercise again. When Avery tried to join him, he turned his back to finish his third repetition of crunches, then dashed into the shower again. At this rate, she'd have to use one of the pool towels. She checked the top shelf in the closet just to be sure the two supplied in every passenger cabin were there.
The phone signal rang at half past six, and Smith himself delivered dinner, carrying the tray inside when Avery opened the door. She noticed that although he still limped, Smith had managed to get a shoe on his injured foot and walk without the cane he'd used the day before.
"Now this is more like it." Rip declared when he lifted the cover to reveal a thick slice of prime rib, an over-sized baked potato and some steamed veggies.
"I've eaten already, so don't let me stop you," Smith said, sitting at an angle on the couch so he could rest his foot over the arm.
Avery took the meal Rip passed her and backed up to sit on her bed and balance the plate on the nightstand.
Smith looked from her to Rip, who sat across the room using the vanity top for his table. "Guess I'm not interrupting anything."
"I wish," Rip muttered, chewing a big bite of meat. "No horseradish?"
"Be grateful the stuff is warm," the other man advised. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out two dinner rolls. He tossed one to Avery and the other to Rip . "And no extra butter either."
"No tip for you," Rip retorted.
"Then maybe I'll give Miss Knox both desserts."
"You and what army?"
To Avery's surprise, Smith didn't utter a comeback. He waited until they'd eaten most of their meal before he spoke again.
"So here's the plan when we arrive in Martinique tomorrow." His serious tone made Avery pause in mid-bite. "We have to assume that the main gangway will be watched, so we'll have to exit with the crew. Nadeesh will bring you some work overalls when he delivers your breakfast later tonight."
His plan made sense to Avery, but her bite of roll suddenly went dry and tasteless at the thought of Rip being shot at again. She couldn't stop coughing until Rip handed her a bottle of water from the fridge.
Smith gave her a censorious look before turning his attention back to Rip. "Meet me at the freight elevator at the end of the hall at 0700."
"What about me?" Avery blurted, then twisted her napkin nervously when both men stared at her.
"I'd appreciate if you'd stay in this cabin until at least 0800," Smith said in his same all business voice. "Once Pollendene and I are safely off the ship and on our way to Benezet , you should be able to resume your regular activities."
"But I thought the morning ferry didn't leave until 9:30," Rip protested.
Avery knew he meant the twice daily ferry service between Martinique and the smaller outlying islands, which included Benezet . Apparently he and Smith had discussed this before.
The agent's voice sounded tight with restraint. "We're no longer taking the ferry."
"Still, maybe Avery needs to stay put until 9:30," Rip insisted. "Better yet, until after the last ferry leaves at 1:30. Just to be sure."
"I leave that to your discretion, Miss Knox." Smith's tone dripped condescension. "Since I obviously can't force you to do anything."
She fought the urge to give him a tart answer. But the truth was, she suddenly felt swamped with worry for Rip's safety and couldn't think of a thing to say. Sopping up the last bit of au jus, she popped the final piece of meat into her mouth, chewed and swallowed, even though she didn't taste a thing.
"I'll leave the dessert for the two of you to sort out." Smith rose to his feet and
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