Read Online Rival Forces by D. D. Ayres - Free Book Online Page B

he’d left the country.” Her gaze flicked beyond to the man by the car. “Has something happened? Do you know something more a-about him?” Damn. She didn’t expect that beat of emotion.
    A muscle jumped in Agent Glaser’s cheek. “Have you seen or heard from Dr. Gunnar in the past few days, ma’am?”
    â€œI think I just answered that question.”
    Beneath Kye’s touch Yard was stiff with anger and, knowing her, about to do or say something that wouldn’t go down well. Kye slid his hand around to her front, spreading his fingers across her abs to draw her back against his body. “Go ahead, Yard. Tell them.”
    â€œNo, Agent. I haven’t heard a word.”
    â€œYou’re sure?”
    Yardley brushed away Kye’s touch and stepped forward. “Unless you’re here to tell me exactly where Dr. Gunnar is or that something has happened to him, I’m not answering any more questions.”
    â€œWe have no further information to share on Dr. Gunnar. If you do hear anything, we’d appreciate it if you’d be in touch.” He handed her a card.
    Yardley watched the two men reenter their car and drive away. Behind her she could hear Kye playing with Lily while Oleg sat at perfect attention at her feet.
    Finally, she turned to Kye. He stopped playing with Lily and offered her a smile that really shouldn’t do what it was doing to her insides, softening and melting her anxiety about David. So she heaped it all into her voice to push those feelings of thankfulness toward him away. “What do you think you were doing, provoking that agent?”
    â€œGlaser? Force of habit.” He returned to petting Lily. “My work brings us into occasional contact with the feds. When that happens, they often try to muscle their way into my business. They take but they don’t share. I’ve become pretty territorial. Didn’t want you to get pushed around.”
    Her dark brows drew together at his admission that he was trying to protect her. “What kind of business are you in, exactly?”
    Kye glanced up at her tone and broke into laughter at the look on her face. “Not whatever you’re thinking.” He pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to her.
    Yard looked at it. “You own BARKS?”
    â€œHeard of us, huh?”
    Yardley gazed at the card again. Yeah, she’d heard of them. BARKS was a big fucking deal. Known worldwide for their skill and toughness. Why didn’t she know about Kye’s place in it? “You really own the business?”
    â€œYeah. Along with my partner, Oliver Kelly. He’s an Aussie. Big strapping guy. Hairiest legs you ever saw. Knees like cannonballs. Loves the media. Me, not so much.”
    He stood up and squared off before her, folding his arms over his massive chest. “You really thought I was a ski bum? Had never amounted to anything?”
    â€œNo, of course not. You were great with dogs. It’s just that—”
    â€œYou hoped I’d fail at everything I did because I failed you.” There. He’d put it out there, the reason they were circling warily around each other twelve years after a past that should have been behind them. But wasn’t.
    â€œI need to find something. We’ll do this later.” She stared at him, daring him to say more.
    He shrugged. “It’ll keep.”
    She turned and walked away, Oleg trotting along meekly in obedience. Even a dog knew that when a woman was pissed, it was better to not make waves.
    Kye stood a moment longer staring at the back of the woman he’d been sent to protect. She was still a pain in the neck. Her attire and parade-ground voice hadn’t changed. But there was something in her posture, a slight rounding of her shoulders when she turned away, that made him pause. She was more than tired. She looked like the weight of the world was balanced on her shoulders. Was this the