Page 50 of Her Wicked Hero

“Just as soon as you’re good to fly.”

She shifted in the bed so she could see him a little better because something must be wrong with her hearing.

“You heard me just fine,” he said.

“Quit reading my mind, it’s irksome.”

“I’ve never heard anyone use the word irksome before,” Zed chuckled.

“Get used to it, SEAL-boy. What the hell do you mean do you mean I have to be ready to fly?” But she knew exactly what he meant. He thought she was going to go back to San Diego with him. The darn man had another think coming. There was no way she was just going to turn tail and run because of one little incident.

“You know what I mean,” he said calmly.

“And just what makes you think that I’m going to just dance to your tune?”

“Are you really going to put Christie and Debbie at risk? I watched the surveillance tapes. It was clear as day Raymond said ‘Marcia’ not ‘Lesley.’ This isn’t about getting the Brockman daughters anymore. He has a vendetta against you. Are you really going to put those two little girls in the line of fire?”

“Why is he doing this Zed?” All stiffness left her shoulders, the fire was gone. “I don’t get it.”

“The man is a whack-job.”

“There has to be something in it for him. He still has to want to get to Mr. B. through me, and if he does, why not his real daughters?”

Zed skooched up the chair so he could put his arm around her. “Querida, you know Brockman cares about you the same way he does his own flesh and blood.”

She shook her head. Ow. She shouldn’t have done that. Zed pressed a kiss to her temple and she melted. Looking up into his warm eyes, she could see they were the darkest chocolate.

“Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what? Don’t claim what is mine?”

Marcia shivered. Then scowled. “I’m not a ‘what,’ I’m a woman.”

Zed threw back his head and laughed.

“We are going to have so much fun together.”

10

Two days ago, they’d had a rip-roaring fight at the Brockman’s house when he’d insisted she pack. Harold had been smart enough to get him and his daughters out of the line of fire.

“I’m only packing one suitcase because I’m only going to be gone one week. There’s absolutely no way I’m going to be gone any longer. The girls need me. Lesley needs me. Mr. B. needs me. You’re lucky I agreed to a week, and I only did that because Mr. B. made such a compelling argument.”

She didn’t even come up to his chin, but it didn’t stop her from going head-to-head with him.

“Suit yourself, but I thought women liked more changes of clothes for five weeks.”

“And if I was staying five weeks, I would pack more,” she said sweetly. Marcia even batted her long eyelashes. Zed leaned against her bedroom wall and pretended she wasn’t getting to him.

“Harold’s already sent a note from the hospital to your supervisor saying you need five weeks to recover. He’s arranged to have his sister stay for the next five weeks. I’d say you’ve been outmaneuvered.”

She paused mid-fold of the red lingerie in her hand and looked at him. Her eyes glinted. “Well, I guess that means I get to take a vacation. I’m thinking Paris.”

Yep, she was fired up. Zed couldn’t take his eyes off the crimson silk she was taking her time folding and putting into the suitcase. She was doing it on purpose.

Zed grinned. “Well, if your passport is in order…”

“They reissued it after the mess in Borneo.” She strode over to her dresser and rummaged through the jewelry box. After a moment, she carefully closed the lid and turned to Zed.