Bare Witness Read Free Page A

be done.
    His executives were scared since Paul Masters had been taken, beaten, and left for dead in the jungle. It was just the man’s good fortune that he’d left on his satellite phone, so they could track his signal.
    “There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need, but not for man’s greed,” Justine said.
    The Mahatma Gandhi quote was one he’d heard many times before. He arched one eyebrow at her. If it were only greed, he’d agree with her, but he wasn’t motivated by money. Winning was what drove him.
    “Avarice, the spur of industry,” he said, just to see if the intelligence in her eyes was equal to what he believed it to be. He’d never been greedy, and if Baron Industries had been run by greed before he’d taken over, Nigel had made sure they weren’t now.
    “David Hume may have had a point, but that’s hardly the case here.”
    Again he bit back a smile. He liked that she was smart. Yes, smart was a big turn-on for him. He liked pretty women as much as the next guy, but the women in his life needed to be able to talk to him as well.
    “It’s exactly the case,” he said. “The Amazon Basin is a poverty-stricken area. Those people—
    “Have existed for centuries without the help of Baron Industries,” she said. “And that’s why I think you should leave your daughter at home. There is a lot of danger inherent in the jungle. Bugs, plants, animals…”
    “True enough, but that’s neither here nor there. You are here as our bodyguard, and I’m going to trust you to keep Piper safe.”
    She crossed her arms over her T-shirt-clad chest, and he couldn’t help but notice the way her petite arms framed her breasts. She cocked her head to one side and he knew better than to say she didn’t look the part.
    But to be honest, when he thought of bodyguard, he pictured Michael Clarke Duncan or maybe Arnold in his old Mr. Universe days.
    “Will she—listen, can I be honest?”
    He doubted this woman ever wasn’t honest. “Sure.”
    “I don’t deal well with kids. I don’t have a lot of patience when it comes to repeating myself. So it’s nothing against your kid, but will she listen to an order? I mean it, in a life-and-death situation there isn’t time to be nice or try to appease someone’s hurt feelings.”
    Any doubts that Nigel had about Justine disappeared; she had the heart of a lion. The kind of person he wanted guarding Piper. He suspected his daughter was going to take one look at Justine and become her shadow.
    “Yes, she will.”
    “Okay, that’s fine. What about the nanny? Do you trust her?”
    “Why?”
    “Because you are a target, Nigel. That means your daughter will be as well.”
    “I don’t believe I gave you leave to call me Nigel,” he said, mainly to see if she reacted. There was something about this woman with her bright eyes and petite warrior’s body that made him want to push her until she did something. She was so buttoned-up, despite her casual clothing, that he wanted to see her react.
    She rolled her eyes. “I’m going to be living in your back pocket. I think we should be able to address each other informally.”
    “I do, as well.”
    “Fine. Call me Justine,” she said.
    He nodded his head. “You may call me Nigel.”
    “I’m going to call you ‘pain in the ass.’”
    Nigel did laugh then. She was going to be a lot of fun to have around. He liked her and thought she’d be just right for the trip to the Amazon Basin. He didn’t know if it was wise to bring her along since he was attracted to her, but he wasn’t a lad of eighteen anymore, and he could control his lust.
    Except when she tipped her head to the side as he continued to scrutinize her—he wondered if he was in control. Because there was something in her eyes as she stared at him, measuring the man he was, no doubt, that made him want to scoop her out of that chair and show her that he was man enough for her.

Chapter Two
    J ustine didn’t trust any man aside from Sam.