And Able Read Free Page B

feeling that sex with her would be more than mind-numbing physical pleasure.
    For all her lack of feminine wiles, Claire Sharp was a dangerous woman. She was so damn different from those southern belles his mama was so fond of. Any woman he knew from back home would accept whatever he chose to give her with a sweet smile and an attitude that said she was doing him a favor letting him give it to her.
    Claire wasn’t like that. At all. She said she refused to accept charity, but he didn’t consider helping a friend charity.
    Heck, it had taken some major fast-talking on Josie’s part to get Claire to keep using the laptop he’d given her when she learned she wasn’t getting hers back. The FBI had confiscated it as evidence the month before. Hotwire hadn’t been surprised by the fed’s action, which was why he’d made sure her grandmother’s locket was off the premises when the FBI moved in on the bad guys.
    She   was   his friend, even if maybe she didn’t see herself that way.
    There weren’t many people he put in that category, and it irritated him she didn’t consider herself one of them. He didn’t get it, but there were a lot of things about Claire that mystified him and would continue to do so.
    Because time spent in her company trying to figure her out was hazardous…both to his libido and his peace of mind.
     
    “And this switch turns the outer lights on steady illumination.” Hotwire pressed the small button and the backyard lit, exposing every shadowy recess.
    He’d driven Claire home so he could go over the new security system with her.
    “Great,” Claire enthused, though he got the distinct impression she was humoring him. “I’m amazed you got it all done so quickly.”
    He shrugged. “No sweat. It’s what we do.”
    She cocked her head to one side and looked at him. “Not exactly. Your new company specializes in hi-tech security on a much bigger scale.”
    “It’s the same principle.”
    “There’s nothing dangerous about installing outdoor lighting in a residential neighborhood.”
    “We’re not mercs anymore, Claire. Our day jobs aren’t that dangerous, either.”
    “Right. According to Josette, your latest client is an international politician who requested your expertise in keeping him alive because he’d received so many death threats in the past year.”
    “Coordinating protection for one politician is nothing compared to going into a war zone to bring out hostages.”
    “Agreed. But then, securing Josette’s rental house is nothing in comparison to the politician, either.”
    “But no less important.” Her safety mattered to all of them.
    “Thanks.” She smiled, her pretty pink lips void of the gloss she’d worn earlier.
    The thought that he had kissed it off tormented him. He could still taste her on his lips, and the desire to kiss her again grew with every breath he took in her radius. Coming to her house alone had been a really bad idea. He hadn’t reacted to a woman like this since Elena, and even then, he’d had more control of the physical desires riding him.
    Her brown gaze was warm. “You did a great job. I really like the way you set up remote access capability from my laptop.”
    “I figured you would.”
    “You know me so well.” Which made her look wary, for some reason.
    The temptation to touch her about overwhelmed him and he took a quick step back. “If you don’t have any questions, I’ll head back to the hotel.”
    “No questions, but if you don’t mind waiting for just five minutes…” She smiled tentatively. “I would really appreciate a ride to the Max station. It’s on the way, or I wouldn’t ask.”
    His brow furrowed. “Why do you want a ride to the light-rail station?”
    “Because it will save me a bus ride and two transfers. I’ll only take a minute changing clothes. Really.”
    He didn’t doubt it. Claire did not primp, but his libido rebelled at the thought of her changing out of the entirely feminine and extremely