“Yes. I want to know what is going on at that lab. Will you come with me?” The question emerged before she had a chance to second-guess her request. She told herself it only made sense—she needed someone to accompany her. Her other bodyguard, Jose, was loyal to her, but he was still a GenCon employee. Yet despite her logic, she suspected that wasn’t the only reason she had asked.
“Of course.” He didn’t hesitate, bending closer to study the information about the lab.
She sternly suppressed a flicker of excitement at the thought of spending more time with…
“What’s your name? Your real name?”
She immediately regretted asking. Why did she care about his real name? He was just going to act as her bodyguard.
“John. John Wales.”
A plain, strong name—it suited him.
“Very well, John. I think we should leave before the rangers make it this far.” She bent over the computer and sent a quick coded message informing the corporate office that the rangers had assumed control of GenCon headquarters. She turned to find him surveying her thoughtfully.
“Do you have any other clothes?”
The question made her cringe internally. Her days dressing to suit a man were far behind her. She gave him an icy stare. “These clothes are perfectly suitable.”
“Suitable for an executive office. I’m not sure that they’re good for a trek across the desert.”
She could feel the heat on her cheeks but she kept her voice composed. “They will be fine inside a rover.”
“Is that how you want to travel? They’re easy to track.”
“I don’t have the ability to breathe on the surface,” she snapped. Or any of the other cyborg abilities.
“If you are willing to use a breathing mask, I have an alternate suggestion. I… acquired one of the robot horses, and we could use that. It wouldn’t be as comfortable as a rover, but it would be much faster and considerably more discreet.”
Travel on one of the horses? With him? She imagined being pressed against that big warm body and to her shock, she felt her nipples tighten. Ruthlessly suppressing the image, she considered his proposition logically. It did make sense.
“Very well,” she repeated.
“Then you’ll be more comfortable in other clothing,” he said firmly.
“A man wanting me to put on more clothes. That’s a first,” she muttered as she went to her closet. She kept several changes of clothing in the office for late nights and unexpected events.
“It wouldn’t be my first choice,” he said calmly, and instead of withering him with one of her icy stares, she felt herself flush again. She had forgotten how well the cyborgs could hear.
Ignoring his comment, she rapidly sorted through her small collection of clothing. After a quick trip to her private restroom to change, she returned to the office.
Fighting an unexpected feeling of shyness, she forced herself to give him a brisk nod. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Eight
J-100 did his best to hide his reaction when Serena emerged in her practical outfit. She had been enticing enough in the tailored navy suit she was wearing before, but he liked the simple coverall even more. Even though the garment covered her completely, it didn’t conceal the slender length of her body and her slight, feminine curves. Her silvery blonde hair was slightly ruffled, and pink tinted her high cheekbones. She looked like an approachable woman.
My woman.
The thought emerged before he could prevent it. But it was useless to deny how he felt. Ever since the first time he’d seen her, he had known she was special. And now that he had actually met her, he knew she was his to protect.
But if he was going to protect her, the first thing he needed to do was to make sure that they were equipped for the trip she wished to make. Even on horseback, it would take several days.
“Do you have any traveling supplies?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I’ve rarely left the city and never for more than a short journey in a rover.”
“Perhaps it would be better to take a rover after all.”
“I would prefer not to be tracked.” Her fingers flexed. “Do you think we could get to the supply depot without being seen?”
“I think so.”
“Then we will requisition some supplies there,” she said briskly and headed for the door to her office.
He gently reached out and stopped her, shaking his head. “Let me go first.” He saw her bristle at his authoritative tone, but while he might be willing to let her set the direction in most things, he would not take any chances with her safety. “I’ll make sure the path is clear.”
After a slight but noticeable hesitation, she inclined her head as regally as any queen. “Very well.”
He led the way out through her reception area and paused again. He could hear voices from the lower level rising up through the open atrium at the center of the building but this floor appeared to be deserted. Together they moved silently across the open area and into the maze of corridors to one side.
“The back stairs are this way,” she murmured.
They made their way to a concealed back entrance on the ground floor without encountering anyone else, although twice he brought them to a halt as he waited for a passageway to clear. Despite her initial reaction, she followed him without argument, and he was surprised to find how quickly and quietly she could move.
“You’re good at being stealthy,” he murmured as he cautiously opened the outer door and checked their surroundings.
“I developed a lot of survival skills over the years.” Her voice was matter-of-fact, but he suspected the story behind it was not.
“Good. It makes me feel a lot safer to know that I’m in such talented hands,” he said with a grin, and she actually smiled back, a genuine smile that made her entire face light up. The sight took his breath away, and he had to force his attention back to his task.
“All right, now.”
They headed for the
