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His mouth edges up. “I have a proposition for you.”
Even though I’m curious as hell, I don’t take the bait. “I’m not interested.”
He eyes me a moment longer then lets it drop. It’s like a switch flips and he changes gears on a dime. “Give me your phone. I want to plug my number in so you can call it when you’re feeling frisky. FYI, I accept booty calls at all hours. Day or night.”
“Oh, my God.” I shake my head, pull my phone out of my pocket, grateful I had taken it out of my bag earlier, unlock the main screen and hand it over. I’m glad the conversation turned lighter again because for a minute there, it almost felt like I was in a trance. Caught in the dangerous depths of those Russian green orbs.
“But only from you,” he adds with a smirk. Then he starts tapping away and I smother a smile. He’s really in rare form tonight.
Despite all his flirting, I refuse to succumb. My tarnished armor is up and even though it’s taken some beatings, it’s holding steady.
I won this battle.Thank God.Because another minute of his cajoling and I likely would’ve caved. Still though. I can’t help but wonder what his proposition was.No,I tell myself.You do not care and you need to protect yourself.No more bad boys. No more getting your heart broken by some smooth-talking pilot who’s going to love you and leave you.
Eric Finn is a flyboy. Here today, gone tomorrow.
I have to look out for myself because I’ve learned the hard way that no one else will. Time and again I’ve been let down by men. Kennedy warned me about Finn. My eyes are wide open, so if I end up getting hurt, I have no one to blame but myself.
Despite that, my rebel soul is telling me to take a leap with this man and let my wary heart free fall.
???
After flying all night, we land in San Diego early in the morning and Finn proudly announces that we’re 46 minutes ahead of schedule. I stifle a yawn as we climb into a black Range Rover and Colt drives us to the Slater Security office. Finn sits in the back with me, his long legs sprawled everywhere, and I try to keep my equally long legs from touching his. But with each turn and bump, our legs brush and I can’t ignore the jolt of awareness that passes through me.
Every. Single. Time.
God, our kids would be leggier than a flamingo. The thought hits me out of the blue and I squash it fast.Nope. Not going there.
But I love how Finn is so tall because at five-foot-nine I’m often towering over guys who are interested in me. Especially in heels. I know that’s not giant status, but I’ve always topped my other girlfriends and feel like the Jolly Green Giant around them. Finn is at least six-foot-three and his lanky build includes muscles in all the right places. My gaze drops to his yummy thighs encased in a pair of worn jeans and inevitably travels higher.Dammit.I look away as quickly as possible, pretending I didn’t notice anything.
But there’s no denying it. The arrogant pilot is clearly well-endowed. Maybe his large and most likely perfect cock is the source of his cockiness.
Finn shifts again and I swear I see a smirk as his calf brushes mine. Forcing my attention out the window, I try to ignore the fact that he doesn’t pull away, his warm leg practically burning a hole through my jeans.Shit, shit, shit.
After what seems like forever, but is probably no longer than twenty-five minutes, we arrive at the Slater Security building and park in the underground garage. I don’t say a word as we walk over to the elevator and take it up to the office. The whole situation feels a little dream-like and I’m suddenly getting uncomfortable. Like I’m freeloading.
Once the door glides open, Eden steps out followed by me then Colt and Finn. The space is large and decorated in a modern style, with plenty of natural light coming in from the skylights above and quite a few green plants. I slow down, moving up beside Finn who suddenly feels like my lifeline. I don’t know the Slater team very well and they’re an intimidating bunch. All former military, special operations and CIA.
Reaching out, I lay a hand on his arm and he immediately stops. “Is it weird that I’m here?” I ask, searching his green-gray eyes. “Because I feel like I’m a charity case and I don’t want to be.”
“Ivy, I brought you here because you need help. Two men tried to kill you.”
“I know, but—” I abruptly stop speaking when Fallon Pierce steps out of an office to greet her team. Right on her heels is Ryan Mercer, her boyfriend, and they’re both holding mugs of steaming hot coffee. With blue eyes and ebony hair, Fallon is stunning, but I also know her exterior presentation can be deceiving. She and Dash, the owner of Slater Security, used to be on the same Delta Force team. She is one serious badass.
“Hi, Ivy,” Ryan says easily with a big, welcoming smile. He’s one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever met and dotes on Fallon like crazy. They’re complete opposites in every way, but match so perfectly. “We heard you’re in some trouble, but don’t worry, we’ll track these guys down. Can I have your SD card? I’m going to download the pictures and run the suspects’ ugly mugs through my facial recognition software.”
As I pluck the memory card out of my camera and hand it over to Ryan, Fallon nods. “We’ve got this,” she assures me. “Eden and Colt filled us in on what happened. I’m glad you ran into Finn and came back here. It’s much safer and we’ll make sure you’re protected.”
No one has ever watched out for me like this before and my heart expands. The nerves I had when we first walked in here fall away and I look over at Finn who gives me a reassuring nod then back at Fallon and Ryan. “Thank you,” I say quietly. Their kindness is causing a lump in my throat.
“Let’s go see the Boss Man,” Eden declares. “And, Ivy, the girls and I are going to give you some clothes to borrow, okay?”
“Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem,” she assures me.
As everyone walks down the hallway, Finn reaches for my elbow and guides me to the corner office. The connection sends a zing of electricity up my arm and I can’t even lie to myself anymore—I love the light, leading touch and warmth of his skin on mine.
Lake is sitting on Dash’s desk, leaning down, and they’re in the middle of what looks like a very heated kiss as we enter the office.
