Bare Facts Read Online Free PDF Page A

why?”
    “No reason. Anna is running a check on the company and so far hasn’t come up with any red flags.”
    “Who’s Anna?”
    “The computer expert on the team. She’s in charge of technology and information.”
    “How many are on your team?”
    “There are three of us.”
    “All women?”
    “Yes, why? Does that bother you?” she asked. Sam didn’t say much but she knew some of their clients thought that an all-female team couldn’t handle the jobs they took on. The fact that those clients were soon proved wrong always made Charity feel good.
    “No. It’s every man’s fantasy to have a gorgeous woman guarding his body.”
    “Stop it, Daniel.”
    “Stop what?”
    “The sexist flirting.”
    “Why? We’re not working together.”
    “It’s insulting, that’s why. We are working together until I get you safely to the jet.”
    “This is a walk-in-the-park assignment for you.”
    She shook her head. “Assumptions like that lead to mistakes.”
    “And you don’t make mistakes.”
    “I’m human so of course I’m not perfect, but I do try to plan for any eventuality.”
    The freight elevator doors closed and she depressed the down button. The floor of the elevator was dirty. It had doors that opened on either side, and she focused on positioning herself for a clear view at either entrance.
    She didn’t like the setup because she wasn’t confident about Alonzo or his abilities. She wanted Justine and Anna close by so she knew they had her back like they always did. But instead she had to use backup that had been…
    Daniel’s cologne smelled so good, she thought. Then cursed. What the hell was she thinking? She had to keep her mind on the job. Getting him out of this building and onto his jet. Afterwards she could dwell on how delicious he smelled.
    “Have you planned for this?” Daniel asked, stepping closer to her and lowering his head.
    She sidestepped out of his way. “Not now, Daniel.”
    “Yes, now,” he said. “As soon as I get on that plane we’ll never see each other again. And so far you’re the only good thing to come out of this blackmail mess.”
    She smiled up at him. “You do have a certain charm.”
    He lowered his head again. Determined to prove to himself that she wasn’t any different from the other beautiful women he’d been involved with over the course of his life. To prove to himself that he’d just imagined that spark of something different.
    Her skin was like porcelain—exquisite, even in the harsh light of the maintenance elevator. Her lips were a deep red and he realized she’d taken time to reapply her lipstick. What bodyguard thought of doing that?
    She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek and stepped to the side. “But not enough. If we weren’t working together…”
    “I think I already took care of that.”
    “Yes, you did. Next time you’re in D.C., call me.”
    “Charity,” he said, running his hand down the center of her back. She shivered and turned her head to the side so all he could see was the fall of her blond hair.
    “Don’t.”
    She stepped away from him and took two deep breaths, and the vivacious woman he’d seen just a second ago was gone. She was all icy Amazon now, the walls firmly in place as they reached the lowest floor.
    The door to their left opened and she stepped in front of him. He hated the fact that she was using her body to shield him. He reached for her arm, drew her to a halt.
    “We go together.”
    “I’m your bodyguard,” she said.
    He just held fast and refused to let go. Alonzo was a bodyguard, and Daniel had absolutely no problem letting him do his job. But Charity? Hell, no. He wasn’t letting her be the target instead of him. Not that he thought Sekijima would attack here, though his usual M.O. was to strike quickly and leave no one alive. The fact that Mildred was only in the I.C.U. and not the morgue had made Daniel realize that Sekijima was out for his blood.
    She twisted her arm in his grip but he