She was shuddering.
“I’m fine, I can do this.” Even her voice was trembling. She was totally lying.
He picked her up and took her into the bedroom and laid her down on the bed.
“I’m getting it wet.”
“Just this side. Hold on, I’ll get a towel.”
He was back with all of the towels in the bathroom. She was curled up on her side. Now instead of just trembling, he could see goosebumps. “I’m cold.”
The fact that she was cold in this hot room told him that she was past her last drop of endurance.
He pulled her up and gently wrapped a large bath towel around her as he pulled her onto his lap. He took another towel and started to squeeze the excess water out of her hair. He looked into her face and concern raced through him. He’d never seen her look so pale, not even when she’d been so distraught over her father. Then she smiled. Not the biggest or happiest smile, but it was something.
“Yes, Ms. Squires? What are you smiling about?”
“Are you destined to take care of me in hotel rooms?” she asked.
He laughed out loud. “Sure seems like it.”
Her eyes opened and he saw a little bit of a twinkle in those beautiful gray eyes. “That was it,” she slurred.
He could barely hear her. Then she yawned.
“What did you say, Honey?”
“That was it, I have no more witty banter,” she sighed. “Sleep now.” She cuddled up against him, like a kitten against a warm brick. He held her tighter and continued to dry her hair. When he heard the soft snuffles as sleep took her, his heart turned over. No wonder he’d tracked her down to the ends of the earth.
When her hair was mostly dry, he got up with her still in his arms, went around to the other side of the bed, and pulled down the covers. Carefully, he placed her into the bed and pulled up the covers. Her eyes drifted open.
“Don’t leave.”
“Honey, I’ve got to.”
“Why?” She sounded so sad.
He had to leave; her defenses were down, and when she’d been thinking logically she’d decided not to see him. He needed to have her awake and conscious to make the decision for him to stay.
He picked up her hand and kissed her palm. Then he went over to her backpack and found her satellite phone. He brought it back to her. “If you need me, call me. Night or day, I’ll be here.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“What’s your story?” Doug asked.
Leo had to laugh at the older man who had basically barged into his room with a fifth of single malt scotch.
“An Englishman bearing gifts. Aren’t I supposed to be suspicious?” Leo asked as he pulled two glasses from the bathroom.
“No, that’s Greeks bearing gifts. You’re safe with me, except I plan to get you drunk and figure out your intentions regarding our esteemed leader.”
“Well, let’s get that bottle open, shall we?” Leo put the glasses down on the nightstand between the two standard beds and Doug poured.
“How long have you been working with Daisy?” Leo asked.
“Since she started working for W.A.N.T. as an intern. That would be eight years ago. She was a dynamo then, and she’s only gotten stronger as the years have gone on. I started working as her subordinate four years ago when she took over. She took it internationally and made us into one of the big boys. She’s a good boss.”
“What was she like back then, besides being a dynamo?” Leo asked as he took a sip of the smooth liquor.
“She was young, obviously. Led with her heart, never wanted to hurt anyone’s feelings. It took her a couple of years to build up a callous so she could do what needed to be done. This is not a job for the faint of heart.”
“She became hard?”
“Not hard exactly, but she could make the hard decisions. We can’t save everybody, but what is the best use of our funds and resources? She can make that determination now. What I don’t understand is why she was working herself into a frazzle at this camp. She knows better than that.”
Leo knew. It was because of her revelation with her father. He’d seen how it made her question herself, and this was the result. He hated this.
“What? What do you know?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Son. I’ve dealt with the dumbest sons of bitches on God’s green earth. You’re not in their league. So do you know what’s wrong with Daisy? Is it because of you that she’s acting so out of character?”
Leo rested his elbows on his knees. “No, sir, it’s not. It’s her father.”
“Alistair?”
“Nope, the other one.”
“Shit, I should have bloody figured. I thought everything went okay when he got rescued. Normally she doesn’t have much to say about him. As long as he got out alive, I figured it wouldn’t much touch her.”
Leo looked up at the man from under his brows.
“You don’t want to tell me? Or can’t tell me?”
Leo shrugged.
“Hmmm. I tagged you as military right off. Might have had a little something with the duffel bag,” Doug grinned. “But the habit you have of not saying much of anything tells me you’ve been around the block a time or two.”
Leo took another sip of his scotch.
“I’ll just ask you outright. Are you
