AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Besides the fact I’m the best in the business?”
“Your lack of confidence is a shame.” She gave him a small smile, then traced her finger down his résumé, one brow raised. “Your credentials look impeccable. Four tours of duty in the Middle East? Really?”
“Yes, ma’am.” That part was true enough, even if the résumé claimed that he’d left the service a year ago.
“And it says here you’ve won awards for marksmanship.”
“Yes, ma’am.” True as well—he was his team’s sniper.
“What about hand-to-hand combat training?”
“I hold black belts in jujitsu and Krav Maga.”
“Very good.” Her smile grew a tad warmer, and… Crap. Now he couldn’t stop staring at her soft-looking, pink lips. “I know some martial arts myself.”
“Great. That’s great. Even with security personnel, I think it’s important to know how to take care of yourself.” He pictured her on the mat, doing a martial arts demonstration with that confident, determined look in her eye, and shifted his position slightly as his traitorous body responded to his thoughts. So he thought tough, capable women were hot—sue him.
“Me too. Unfortunately, I find myself in a situation where I need outside help.” She stared at him a long moment, then set his résumé aside and folded her hands atop the desk. Nice hands, he noted. Long fingers, neat French manicure. “I’ve received several threats recently,” she said.
Her mention of danger brought his focus back to the seriousness of the situation. Were the threats tied to SHEEPSKIN? Had her father dragged her into his mess? He frowned. “What kind of threats?”
“Abduction, beheading, other bodily harm. The usual.” She shrugged as if she’d just read him her grocery list for the week. She was either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish.
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re often threatened with beheading?”
“It’s pretty common, actually,” she said with a shrug. “Our organization believes in spreading opportunities for education and enrichment to the underprivileged. That doesn’t go over well in places that thrive on repression.”
“And those threats don’t bother you?”
“I’m not a fool, Mr. Nixon.”
“Spencer.”
“Excuse me?”
“Please call me Spencer.”
“All right.” She tucked a lock of her chocolate brown hair behind her ear, and her voice quivered slightly as her confident shell fractured a tad. “As I said, Spencer, I’m not a fool. I take the danger seriously—that’s why I’m hiring a bodyguard. But I’m not going to let the threats sway me from my work. Nothing ever changes for the better until someone shows they’re willing to take a stand.”
“Have there been threats specifically about your upcoming travel plans to Jubail?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You read the press releases about my trip? Yes, there have been threats—and no, they aren’t going to deter me. The trip is extremely important to my foundation.”
“You’re very calm about this.” He sat forward.
“I’ve lived in my father’s shadow my entire life, Mr. Nixon.” He raised a brow, and she frowned. “There have always been threats. I’m used to dealing with them by now.”
His admiration for her rose along with his interest at her mention of her father. “Will your dad be going with you on this trip?”
Toni snorted. “He’s too busy to talk to me most of the time, let alone fly halfway around the world.”
“So you don’t have regular contact with him, then?”
“Why is that any of your business?” She gave him a pointed look, and he sat back in his chair.
“I’m just wondering about the scope of my duties,” he said. “If I’m going to be coordinating with your father’s security team during times when you’ll be together, I’ll need the contact info for whoever heads up his detail so I can put some plans in place.” It seemed Ms. Williams was sensitive on the topic of her father. He’d have to tread more lightly when fishing for information next time.
She relaxed slightly at his explanation. “That won’t be necessary. Our paths rarely cross. Do you have any other questions for me?”
