bad guys. But it had felt anything but stereotypical.
The fear had been real. Lane, a sociopath who killed at the drop of a hat, had surrounded himself with men who would do the same. When he’d left the restaurant, he’d chosen to walk. She and Slade were following at a discrete distance. The restaurant, a family owned and run place, was on the outskirts of Lubbock in the midst of a short block of stores in a blue collar residential area. Reaching a corner a couple blocks from the restaurant, they turned in the direction Lane had gone.
“He’s made us,” Slade murmured in her ear, the mike in his lapel picking up the warning, as well, and carrying it to their backup team.
Ahead of them, Lisa saw Lane leaning against the trunk of one of the trees lining the quiet road.
“Laugh like you’re enjoying my nuzzling your neck,” Slade ordered her, slowing their pace.
Lisa managed a giggle.
Slade pulled her into his arms, lifting her slightly so that he could shift their position to give her a view of the street behind them. “See anything?”
She’d known from the beginning that he considered her more of a liability than an asset. Because of that, she’d found it difficult to even be civil to him. But in spite of the tension between them, his nearness was causing her blood to rush and her legs to feel weak. Then she saw a sight that stiffened her with fear. “Two of his goons are coming up on us.”
“Pretend you’re upset by my advances. Push me away and stalk off across the street and head south. Take the first turn east.”
Pretending she was upset was easy. She was—she couldn’t believe how much she liked being in his arms. “Stop it!” she ordered. “I’m not that kind of girl.” Breaking free, she strode across the street. Behind her, she could hear Slade cursing about women who tease and don’t come through. Reaching the other side of the street, she glanced back to see him striding in the direction they’d come. Her breath locked in her lungs as he neared the goons.
Slowing her pace but forcing herself to keep moving in the direction he’d ordered, she reached into her purse to close her hand around the gun inside while watching Slade’s progress out of the corner of her eye. If it looked as if he was in trouble, she was ready to come to his aid. But to her relief, the goons allowed him to pass without incident. Finally taking a breath, she hurried to the corner and turned left. Immediately hiding herself behind a trunk of a tree, she watched until Slade reached the corner in safety, crossed the street and headed down the main drag away from the restaurant. Only then did she ease out of her hiding place and, breaking into a jog, round the block.
Seeing Slade coming toward her, the remembered warmth of his embrace came back so strongly she could almost feel his arms around her. She’d known he was strong, but she’d never dreamed he could feel so sturdy. The way her body was reacting stunned her. Heat surged through her, igniting a fire deep within.
“You should have been here by the time I crossed the street,” he snapped angrily. “When I tell you to take off, do it and don’t dawdle.”
His manner again reminded her that he considered hermore of a liability than an asset. The flames died a quick death. “I’m your partner. I wasn’t going to simply desert you.”
“I can take care of myself. What I don’t need is to be worrying about you.”
“You’re not invincible, Slade Logan,” she returned.
Catching her by the arm, he guided her toward the car. “You’re my responsibility and I’m not letting anything happen to you.”
Jerking free, she glared at him. “We’re each other’s responsibility. If I was a man, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”
He frowned down at her. “You’re right. We wouldn’t.” He continued toward the car. “We’re calling it a night. I had Carl call in a second backup. He and Paul will be the primaries for the rest of the
The fear had been real. Lane, a sociopath who killed at the drop of a hat, had surrounded himself with men who would do the same. When he’d left the restaurant, he’d chosen to walk. She and Slade were following at a discrete distance. The restaurant, a family owned and run place, was on the outskirts of Lubbock in the midst of a short block of stores in a blue collar residential area. Reaching a corner a couple blocks from the restaurant, they turned in the direction Lane had gone.
“He’s made us,” Slade murmured in her ear, the mike in his lapel picking up the warning, as well, and carrying it to their backup team.
Ahead of them, Lisa saw Lane leaning against the trunk of one of the trees lining the quiet road.
“Laugh like you’re enjoying my nuzzling your neck,” Slade ordered her, slowing their pace.
Lisa managed a giggle.
Slade pulled her into his arms, lifting her slightly so that he could shift their position to give her a view of the street behind them. “See anything?”
She’d known from the beginning that he considered her more of a liability than an asset. Because of that, she’d found it difficult to even be civil to him. But in spite of the tension between them, his nearness was causing her blood to rush and her legs to feel weak. Then she saw a sight that stiffened her with fear. “Two of his goons are coming up on us.”
“Pretend you’re upset by my advances. Push me away and stalk off across the street and head south. Take the first turn east.”
Pretending she was upset was easy. She was—she couldn’t believe how much she liked being in his arms. “Stop it!” she ordered. “I’m not that kind of girl.” Breaking free, she strode across the street. Behind her, she could hear Slade cursing about women who tease and don’t come through. Reaching the other side of the street, she glanced back to see him striding in the direction they’d come. Her breath locked in her lungs as he neared the goons.
Slowing her pace but forcing herself to keep moving in the direction he’d ordered, she reached into her purse to close her hand around the gun inside while watching Slade’s progress out of the corner of her eye. If it looked as if he was in trouble, she was ready to come to his aid. But to her relief, the goons allowed him to pass without incident. Finally taking a breath, she hurried to the corner and turned left. Immediately hiding herself behind a trunk of a tree, she watched until Slade reached the corner in safety, crossed the street and headed down the main drag away from the restaurant. Only then did she ease out of her hiding place and, breaking into a jog, round the block.
Seeing Slade coming toward her, the remembered warmth of his embrace came back so strongly she could almost feel his arms around her. She’d known he was strong, but she’d never dreamed he could feel so sturdy. The way her body was reacting stunned her. Heat surged through her, igniting a fire deep within.
“You should have been here by the time I crossed the street,” he snapped angrily. “When I tell you to take off, do it and don’t dawdle.”
His manner again reminded her that he considered hermore of a liability than an asset. The flames died a quick death. “I’m your partner. I wasn’t going to simply desert you.”
“I can take care of myself. What I don’t need is to be worrying about you.”
“You’re not invincible, Slade Logan,” she returned.
Catching her by the arm, he guided her toward the car. “You’re my responsibility and I’m not letting anything happen to you.”
Jerking free, she glared at him. “We’re each other’s responsibility. If I was a man, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”
He frowned down at her. “You’re right. We wouldn’t.” He continued toward the car. “We’re calling it a night. I had Carl call in a second backup. He and Paul will be the primaries for the rest of the
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