Leave Me Breathless by Helenkay Dimon

from the verbal attack she just lived through. Some of the sass had left her walk and her cheeks seemed a bit pale, but there was nothing deferential about her. No feet shuffling or bowed head. If anything, she held her chin even higher. Stole a peek or two at him and gave Emma one long stare. Ben had no idea what the latter was about, but this was hardly the first time a woman confused the hell out of him. Callie excelled at the task. The only place he truly understood her was in bed. Now that he knew that fact, he hoped to keep her there as long as possible each day.
    “Keith can’t watch over Emma, and I’ve got my only other available man on Keith’s door just to be sure he’s not an ongoing target. That means I need you to work around the clock. Problem?” Mark stared at Callie as if daring her to say no. “And I’ll stay on duty.”
    “You always take the night shift,” Ben said.
    “I’ll be with Emma this time.”
    Emma’s mouth fell open almost as wide as Callie’s did.
    Callie clicked her teeth shut as she bit her lip. Ben assumed she was trying to swallow a smile. “Then I’ll take Ben,” she said.
    “One night only.” Mark held up a finger as if to prove his point. “I’ll have a replacement for you by tomorrow night.”
    Ben saw his opening. “No need.”
    “Don’t push me.” Mark nodded in the direction of the far elevator bank, then started walking. “Let’s go.” He took off, leaving Emma to run after him.
    Emma sighed. “I guess he was talking to me.”
    “He sure as hell better not be talking to me with that attitude,” Callie said loud enough for the words to bounce down the hallway and reach Mark. Must have worked, because he stopped. Didn’t turn around, but didn’t go forward either.
    “I’ll take care of him.” Emma smiled. “You two have a good night.”
    Ben waited until Emma and Mark got on the elevator before turning back to Callie. “You okay?”
    “You mean the yelling? Yeah, your brother is kind of an expert at that sort of thing.”
    Ben’s shoulders relaxed for the first time since they got the call. He had worried about Callie’s reaction once her clothes were on and Mark laid into her. Women could be funny creatures when the lights came on. But he underestimated Callie. He kept doing that, but he thought he’d learned his lesson this time around.
    “You should try being related to him,” Ben said.
    “I’m an only child and thinking that’s a good thing at the moment.”
    A piece of personal information. She didn’t let many of those slip. Since he had more secrets than the average person, he didn’t hold her need for privacy against her. “Did Mark warn you away from me?”
    “Yes.”
    “Forbid you from sleeping with me?”
    Callie smiled but quickly hid it again. “He had some trouble spitting the actual words out, but yes.”
    Not a surprise there, since Mark never talked about emotions or women. They each handled their history their own way. For Mark, being painfully private was the answer. “Did he insinuate that your job depended on you keeping your pants on?”
    “Were you eavesdropping or something?” She dropped her head to the side in that sexy way that put his mind on hold and gave the green light to every other part of his body.
    “Just know the beast.”
    “Mark threaten your women often?”
    Now she was fishing for information. “No. Believe it or not, before the explosion I handled my private life without his help.”
    “Does he know that?”
    “He’s lost his mind and his boundaries.” Ben made a mental note to talk with Mark and get their relationship back on track. Ben didn’t work for him. Didn’t like having Mark step in and mess around with his nighttime plans, either.
    “So I guess I’m the lucky one.” She smacked her lips together. “That’s fantastic.”
    Fantastic was the body she hid under that conservative suit. “I have one crucial question for you.”
    The corner of her mouth kicked up in a