Dangerous Attraction Romantic Suspense Boxed Set Read Online Free PDF Page A

hardened, became almost cool. “Ah. And where did you go through BUD/S?”
    Okay, this was getting flat out weird and the edge to her tone made it clear she wasn’t asking all these questions out of mere curiosity. Being grilled like this was the last thing he’d expected from her. Tom had told him she was kind and easygoing, and nothing in the dossier he’d read about her suggested she might be difficult to work with. Easygoing wasn’t exactly how she was coming across at the moment, however.
    He glanced over her shoulder at her co-worker Ray for some indication of what the hell was going on, but the man seemed to be fighting back a smile and didn’t say anything as he spun around and walked away.
    Turning his attention back to Khalia, Hunter set his hands on his hips and fought down his impatience. What the hell did it matter to her what Team he’d been with and where he’d done his initial training? He fought to keep the annoyance out of his voice. “Little Creek, Virginia.”
    Another nod, and that assessing look that made him feel like she had him under a magnifying glass. Did she think he was lying? His spine stiffened. “And what rank were you when you left the Navy?” she continued.
    “I made it to Lieutenant.” And that probably doesn’t impress you either, does it? Jesus, maybe he should have brought his fucking resume and a list of references with him for her to double check.
    A frown creased her forehead, as though what he’d told her wasn’t adding up in her head. Or maybe she couldn’t envision him as being capable of leading a platoon of men. “How old are you? If that’s not too personal.”
    He arched an eyebrow.“Thirty one.” He swore he could read the dread in her eyes as she came to the realization that he was only three years older than her. Believe me, sweetheart, I’m plenty old enough to guard your pretty little tail for the next week. “Anything else?”
    His crisp tone made her lose some of her bravado. A faint tinge of pink hit her cheeks, as though she’d only just realized that she’d been interrogating him in the middle of the lobby. “You’re just…not what I expected after talking to Tom, that’s all.” She flashed a tight, uncomfortable smile.
    Yeah, that makes two of us. He’d be damned if he would apologize for who he was though. “He hired me for this detail on short notice.”
    That seemed to make her even more uneasy. She eyed him again, trailing her gaze over his torso and back up to his face as if searching for clues to a puzzle she couldn’t quite solve.
    He wanted to ask her if he passed inspection, but instinct told him there was more to this than disappointment or even dislike on her part. And as he stood there trying to understand the disquiet in her eyes, realization finally hit him.
    She didn’t believe him.
    Didn’t believe he’d ever been a SEAL, much less served as an officer in the Teams.
    Seriously? He fought the urge to laugh. The last thing he’d thought he’d be doing this morning was having to prove himself to the woman he’d been assigned to protect. What proof could he offer her right now, other than his word? Did she expect a demonstration of his skills before she decided if he was qualified to be her head of security?
    He doubted it would ease her mind to know that he could tell her exactly how many people stood in the lobby at that very moment, where they were positioned, where each exit was and the location and make of the vehicles parked under the porte-cochere outside the revolving front doors. Or that he had a pistol tucked away at the small of his back and a spare magazine of ammo in his pocket.
    Those pale eyes flicked up to his once more. “If you don’t mind me asking, how long were you with the Teams?”
    Why would he mind that one after everything else? “Six years.” Frustrated, he folded his arms across his chest. He knew the move was intimidating because it emphasized his size, but he didn’t give a shit if he