.

with a short laugh, then attempted to wipe away her grin. “You’re funny, Eli, you know that?”

      “Putting a torque on my thumb amuses you, does it?”

      She shrugged, which wasn’t much of an encouraging answer. “Look, let’s forget all this nonsense about getting to know each other, okay? We need to concentrate on getting through this job.” Her natural confidence restored, she sauntered lazily toward the door. “I’ll shower first, then we can get things going.”

      Eli watched her go, but just before she disappeared from sight, she turned to him again. “Eli?”

      “Yeah?”

      “Thanks.”

      In a tone as reverent as her own had been, he asked, “For what?”

      “For wanting to get to know me. Even though it’s impossible, it was a nice thought.”

      She turned again, but Eli’s implacable words stopped her. “Like hell, Ray. It isn’t impossible, and I will know you. You might as well get used to the idea now.”

      That particular challenge had her shoulders stiffening, but as she walked away, Eli was almost positive he’d seen a small smile on her mouth.

      Deep down, she was exactly like other women—confusing as hell.

      They were almost ready to leave for the airport, and Ray looked Eli over approvingly. He’d flat out refused to shop anywhere except at his own store, but she had to admit, he’d done well. Now wearing faded black jeans and a fashionably worn black T-shirt with low boots, he appeared much more casual. Of course, the watch would have to go, but Ray put off telling him so since he’d been so adamant about wearing it.

      That morning he’d started to shave, but Ray had caught him in time, insisting he leave the whiskers alone. His beard shadow wasn’t heavy yet, but by tomorrow it would be. He looked downright rugged and disreputable and all too appealing for her peace of mind.

      Eli nodded at the bag she’d carried from the mall. “So what’d you get?”

      It had been a frivolity on her part to purchase anything, but she’d felt compelled to obtain one particular item. Pulling a sour face, she opened her bag to show Eli her new pajamas.

      He laughed, shaking his head, and then in a husky, intimate whisper, said, “Personally, I preferred what you wore this morning.”

      Didn’t she know it. He’d been plain about it to the point he had her thinking of it, even though she knew better. “And that’s why I thought it might be a good idea to get something a little less revealing. It’d be stupid to let old-fashioned lust be a bother on this mission.”

      Ray almost flinched when his palm cupped her chin, turning her face up to his. His hand was big and hot and rough, and everything in her curled in response.

      The pajamas were coming a bit too late, in her opinion. She was already way too bothered.

      “I love the way you state your case, Ray. Old-fashioned lust? Are you feeling it, too?”

      She cleared her throat—and lied. “Oh, I think I can control myself.” Her statement was meant to be sarcastic, but the words emerged as a breathy whisper, losing some of their impact. Eli smiled knowingly.

      “For now.” His thumb brushed her bottom lip, prompting her to pull away. “For now, we’ll control ourselves.”

      He took liberties she’d never allowed before. “You’re taking a lot for granted.”

      That had his left eyebrow raising a good inch. “Am I? And I thought I showed incredible restraint.” He chuckled at her disgruntled frown. “Now don’t get riled. We still have to finish packing our stuff and that’d be tough for me to do with a mangled thumb.”

      He kept teasing her instead of getting mad. She didn’t understand him at all. Ray shook her head and went off to her room to add the absurd pajamas to her duffel bag. She was most comfortable sleeping nude and had worn the undershirt out of modesty. She could just imagine how uncomfortable sleeping in the stupid cotton pajamas would be. They were lightweight, made like a T-shirt and short pants, and would cover her from the scooped neck to just below her knees. Much as she hated to admit it, she knew the purchase had been necessary.

      For her as well as for him.

      No way could she give in to her attraction to Eli, remarkable though it seemed. He was of the elite, richer class. He was involved with Jane. And damn it, employers didn’t get seriously involved with their employees, especially not when the employee was in effect a hired thug. She liked to think her talents were more refined than that, but he wouldn’t think so. How could he? She’d attacked him in the kitchen, for crying out loud. When she thought of what she’d done to his thumb, she wanted to groan. It had been her equivalent of a slap—and that was too emotional to suit her.

      Yet around him, her control was obliterated. Her reactions were involuntary, out there for him to see before she even realized what she might do. It made her feel raw, exposed.

      As she packed and prepared, Ray tried to remember how long it had been since she’d been so attracted to a man. She’d given up on finding a “happily ever after” about five years ago, when she was only twenty-six. Since that time, she’d met a few men who had momentarily piqued her interest. None of them had known she could muscle her way out of a mob or load an AK-47 with lightning-fast reflexes. She’d kept the most basic part of herself hidden, and still it hadn’t lasted.

      Not that she’d mourned the ending of any relationships. Men had a way of opening their mouths and destroying whatever illusions of suitability she tried to give them. True, she was more independent than most and likely that was a problem, because she just couldn’t take the natural arrogance that seemed to accompany most men. They saw women in one-dimensional ways, small, weak—all the things she most detested.

      Funny, but Eli’s arrogance had only sharpened her interest. Maybe because she felt his was more deserved. He was self-confident, strong, and hard. And big.

      He stood a head taller and his shoulders were twice as wide. In comparison, he made her feel small, a circumstance she hadn’t encountered too many times since she’d matured.

      Of course, they hadn’t gotten to the thick of it yet, where she’d really test Eli’s mettle. Once they were in Mataya and he had to follow her lead, he wouldn’t find her quite so amusing. He’d back off on his own, so she really had nothing to worry about.

      He was in a chipper mood when they left the apartment, which only served to annoy Ray further. She was disgruntled, but with herself, not Eli. It seemed that despite everything she’d just told herself, she already felt a sense of loss. Eli wasn’t hers, would never be hers.

      But damn it, she wanted him to be—at least for a little while.

      Chapter Four

      After they stuffed their baggage behind the seat, Ray tossed Eli the keys and told him to drive.

      “Really?”

      Well, what about that? She’d expected an argument, not a look of anticipation, as if getting behind the wheel of her battered truck appealed to him. “Yeah, really. You do know how to drive a stick, don’t you?”

      “Learned when I was ten, as a matter of fact.”

      “Ten?”

      “Yeah. I was a . . . rambunctious kid.” He adjusted the seat to fit his longer legs, turned the key, and smiled at the low rumble of the engine. “Know what I think, Ray?”

      She wasn’t sure she wanted to. But he didn’t wait for her to ask anyway.

      “I think most of the wear and tear on your truck is camouflage, kind of like your blustering and bravado.”

      That tore it. “Blustering and bravado?”

      He put the truck in gear and drove