Everlasting Bad Boys (32 page)

And keep an eye out for

Katherine Garbera’s latest,

BARE WITNESS,

coming next month from Brava…

J
ustine arched an eyebrow at him. “Are you making fun of me?”

“Never. I was trying—trying to tease a smile back on your lips.”

“Why?”

“I like your smile.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Nigel shook his head this time. “You mustn’t get many compliments.”

She shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t trust them.”

“Why not?”

“What’s with you and all the questions?”

“I’m a CEO. I thrive on information.”

“So do bodyguards,” she said.

The teasing note was back in her voice and he felt a little thrill of victory at having done that. “Why are you a bodyguard?”

“Well, to be honest, I’m usually more of a weapons expert and marksman. For most assignments we take on, Charity functions as the bodyguard.”

“Why is that?”

“She’s tall and gorgeous, just the sort of person that makes most assailants think they don’t have a thing to worry about.”

“And you’re not.”

She gestured to her short frame. “Height is one thing I’ve never needed.”

“No?”

“No,” she said. “I learned early on that if I don’t quit, I can take anyone.”

“Can you take me?”

“Easily,” she said.

He took two steps toward her. The plane rocked and bucked and all the playfullness that she’d had a second ago disappeared as she used her body to take him down to the floor and braced both of their bodies.

When the plane leveled itself out she knew it had to be turbulence and not an engine out or any other danger. But her heart was racing and it had nothing at all to do with the security of Nigel Carter or his daughter.

Justine closed her eyes but that just made everything…better. All of her other senses came to life. The feel of his hard body under hers, the scent of his spicy aftershave, the sound of each exhalation of his minty breath against her cheek.

She opened her eyes as Nigel’s hands settled low on her waist. This time it wasn’t different. His hand was in the exact same spot that had worried her when they’d been standing toe-to-toe. But now it didn’t bother her.