She shook her head. No, shedidn’t want to eat with her father or his men. “Is this okay?” Shewaved down her attire. She’d also worn jeans and a silk beige tanktop. It was casual wear but she had nothing planned. Turned out itwas a good choice.
His eyes went down herbody. His expression, as usual, unreadable. “Yes.” He left thebathroom.
Her eyes followed him, thendown to his backside. Gosh, he was sinful in denim. She looked ather reflection again. “Stop it Katya. You’re a job to him. Nothingmore.” She was referring to the acceleration of her heartbeat whenhe looked at her with those incredible eyes of his. She spun aroundand followed him through the door to his room, andstopped.
He had a large aluminumcase open on his freshly made bed. There wasn’t one wrinkle in theblankets either. He’d obviously made it himself. As for the case;in it were enough weapons to start a war with a small country. Itwas all neatly arranged, like everything else about this man.“Wow.” She walked up and stood beside him looking at the contentsin awe.
She spared him a glance. Itdidn’t bother him at all that she was standing there looking at hisarsenal while lifted the bottom layer revealing anothercompartment.
In the lid embedded inblack foam were bits and pieces of what looked like, a rifle. Shewas sure it was. She bent over and traced it with her fingers.“This is a sniper rifle, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Why is it inpieces?”
“To keep it clean, andeasier for transport.”
“It’s custom made, isn’tit.”
“Yes, again.”
He never said anythingelse, but removed a few guns, and ammunition, placing them in asmaller black case, obvious for carrying ease. She wondered why hewould bring such a weapon into her home. What on earth would heneed a rifle like that for?
There were other things inthe aluminum case as well. Things that she didn’t recognize, butshe sort of felt silly in asking him so many questions that shedidn’t further push him.
When he was done, hesnapped the case shut and spun the combination locks on it. Then helifted it off the bed and slid it underneath.
“Aren’t you afraid thatmight get stolen. I mean my father’s security is good, but Ivanwould salivate seeing those toys.”
He shook his head pressinghis mouth to keep from smiling. It amused him that she read thatman well. “I’ve got a GPS tracking system in it.”
“Smart.” Of course hedid.
“Let’s go.” He grabbed thecase and opened the door allowing her to leave first.
Jose was waiting with thecar. Ryan stopped and spoke to him, giving him directions as shegot in. There was a basket on one of the side seats. It was apicnic basket. It was so thoughtful that she found ittouching.
She waved at it when he gotin beside her, “Are we going to be awhile?”
“I get hungry, andapparently so do you, especially when you skip breakfast to avoidyour father. To answer your question though, probably.”
She was okay with that. Shehad nothing else planned and it would mean she would be away fromthis place for a day.
***
The drive was just undertwo hours, and she was actually getting impatient. She finallyasked him which gun range they were going to.
“We are going to somesecluded property that belongs to a friend. I don’t want anyone towitness your training.”
“Oh.” She never thought ofthat.
“The more surprise you haveon your side, the better advantage.” Actually, the drive wouldn’thave been as long as it was, but he’d asked Jose to take a few oddturns to make sure they weren’t being followed. When he wascertain, he gave the go ahead to their destination.
That right there made herknow there was more to this man than she could fathom. He was onlyshowing her bits and pieces. Last night when he held her, it wouldhave been so easy to take advantage of her, but he didn’t. In fact,she was sure there was no attraction on his side at all. She knewwhat she looked like, because like Anna, they took after theirmother and she was gorgeous. She was a little conceited in thatarea too, but he never even indicated that he’d found her pretty atall. It actually bothered her. “Are you married?” He suddenlylaughed and she grinned. It sounded wonderful. Well, from hisreaction, that was a no. “A relationship, then?”
He shook his head, stillchuckling. “What brought that up?”
“I’m curious.”
He studied her for amoment. “This is about last night.”
She swallowed andblushed.
“I don’t take advantage ofvulnerable women Kat.”
She should have known. Hewas just being professional, and obviously, a gentleman. “Do youthink I’m pretty?” Oh lord, she should just shut up. She’d alwaysbeen quite blunt, but not so forward. She had embarrassed herselfby asking the question, but he didn’t seem the least bit botheredby it. Fact is, she had to know. She was finding herself more andmore attracted to this man. She wished there was a button she couldjust push to turn it off, but apparently that’s not what happenedin this situation. Well, if he said ‘no’ that would definitely pushthe button. She sighed inwardly feeling the heat climb higher inher cheeks just from thinking about it. What she wouldn’t give tohave his steel demeanor at that moment.
His eyes moved over herface. He wasn’t smiling anymore, and the humor left his expressionall together. “Yes. You’re quite beautiful, in fact.”
She flushed further, andher heart jumped, but kept her gaze steady on his. He had suchstunning grey eyes. “I slept really well.”
“I know.”
Yes, he did. She woke upunder the covers with her robe off. “Thanks for beingthere.”
“You’rewelcome.”
And that’s all he said. Sheturned and looked out the side window unbeknownst that Ryan studiedher further after she looked away. Yes, he knew she slept well,because he’d watched her that night. Memorizing her peacefulexpression, and the rise and fall of her breasts against him as shebreathed. She looked like an angel. He’d lifted his hand andbrushed ebony strands off her face to see her better. She murmuredsomething softly with those entrancing full pouty lips at thatgentle caress, but didn’t wake. She had thick black
