Risky Engagement. Merline Lovelace

he stole to the highest bidder. If it falls into the wrong hands—an unfriendly government or a terrorist organization, for instance—it could seriously jeopardize U.S. national security.”

      “Oh, sure. Lay the safety and security of the United States on my shoulders, why don’t you?”

      Nervously, Nina swiped her palms down the side seams of her linen sundress. She’d always considered herself a good citizen. She paid her taxes on time, donated to a number of charities, gave blood regularly and volunteered at a homeless shelter one weekend a month.

      She did not, however, in any way, shape or form, see herself as a modern day Mata Hari. The prospect of entering Sebastian Cordell’s heavily guarded compound with a camera hidden somewhere on her person made her break out in a cold sweat.

      “Look, Blackstone, I’d like to help. I really would. This just isn’t my area of expertise.”

      “We have from now until tomorrow noon. I’ll make sure you know what you’re doing before you go in.”

      Her palms froze in midswipe. “From now until tomorrow noon?” she echoed. “What are you planning to do? Camp out here tonight?”

      “If that’s what it will take to make you comfortable with the operation.”

      If anything, the prospect of spending the next twelve-plus hours in close quarters with Rafe Blackstone made her twice as nervous.

      “It won’t work,” she told him firmly. “I’m the world’s worst liar. Even a little social fib makes my face turn red, and I can’t look people in the eye.”

      “Must be tough to conduct business negotiations,” he drawled.

      “Not particularly,” she snapped, her chin coming up. “I conduct negotiations fairly and honestly.”

      The icy reply knifed through the air like a blade. Blackstone dipped his head in acknowledgment of the hit and hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his wrinkled khakis. The movement swung open the flaps of his jungle print shirt and gave Nina an unobstructed view of black cotton stretched across a muscled chest, but she was too miffed to appreciate the view.

      “About those negotiations,” he said, with a considering look. “Didn’t you tell me earlier that your company supplies medical trend data to a host of private and governmental research centers?”

      “Yes. So?”

      “So I’m guessing government contracts must account for a sizable chunk of your business.”

      Nina drew in a swift breath. Government contracts accounted for more than a chunk. They constituted almost half of her business base.

      “You’d better not be thinking what I think you’re thinking, Blackstone!”

      “If you’re thinking those contracts can be cancelled with one phone call, I guess I am.”

      He didn’t so much as blink. The bald-faced effrontery of it, the sheer gall, made Nina gasp.

      “I don’t believe this! You’re actually trying to blackmail me into helping you?”