Page 4 of Herding Cat

Indeed, Scott nodded. “Call it in.”

“Call what in?”

No one answered. Apparently English was not part of their secret language. Garrett stood and pulled out his cell phone and walked away, far enough away that Catherine couldn’t hear what he was saying, but she could read his expression. It was fierce.

By the time he was done with his call, the ambulance had arrived and a flurry of activity and chatter in a medley of languages ensued as the police demanded statements while the EMTs splinted Scott’s leg, eased him onto a stretcher and loaded him into the back of the ambulance.

It was hard seeing the doors close on him.

“Come on,” Garrett said, wrapping an arm around her. She hated how soothing it was, even though, all of a sudden, she really needed soothing. “Let’s get you back to the hotel.”

She wrenched away and gaped at him. “The hotel? I’m not going to the hotel.”

His brow rumpled. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

She waved at the ambulance as it threaded its way through the traffic and onto Nathan Road. “I’m going to the hospital.”

He blinked. “Are you insane?”

“No. A member of my security team was just run down by a car. I need to make sure he’ll be okay.” They weren’t interchangeable cogs, for God’s sake. And she liked Scott.

“He’ll be fine. You, I’m not so sure about. We need to get you somewhere safe.”

She set her hands on her hips. “I am perfectly safe.”

“Are you?” He glanced back at the spot where Scott had been hit.

“That was an accident.” Her pulse pounded as her annoyance rose.

“Was it?”

She glared at him. “Yes.”

“Then why did the car veer toward you?”

Chapter Two

Catherine gaped at him, her mouth slack, and while that was a fascinating vision, Garrett knew he needed to convince her. There was no doubt in his mind that the car had been aiming for her. Both he and Scott had lunged for her—Scott unfortunately hadn’t lunged far enough and was clipped by the car—but if one of them hadn’t reached her in time to push her out of the way, it would be her taking a ride in an ambulance right now. If not a hearse.

The thought made his gut churn.

And it had very little to do with his worry about this mission.

It had very much to do with her.

Catherine Hightower.

Gorgeous, snarky, savvy and cold as a fish, damn it all anyway.

He was a Grade-A maroon for being obsessed with her. She’d made it more than clear she had no interest in guys like him. She considered him a muscle-bound bonehead who didn’t have two brain cells to rub together. She hadn’t said as much, but the way her lip curled when she looked at him, the way she sniffed and turned away was a dead giveaway.

It hardly mattered.

She was his target. It was his assignment to keep her safe. And now that he was certain there really was someone trying to hurt her, he was more determined than ever.

Right now, he needed to get her back to the hotel. Into a situation he could control. This many people, this many cars, all this commotion...it made him twitchy.

“Come on. Let’s get a cab.”