Running Hot Read Online Free PDF Page B

dangerous and armed man at the moment.
    â€œUh-huh, yeah.” Ward repeated the phrase several times as she talked. “That’s an impressive speech, but this dictator is the US’s problem and we’re here to handle him.”
    There it was. That American can-do attitude.
    She was not a fan. “Just the two of you?”
    â€œNot to be too obvious, but I would point out you’re also alone.” Ford motioned to the area around them.
    And since they both kept checking the woods, scanning and assessing, they knew she stood by herself until they bumbled along. “Am I?”
    â€œI’m starting to understand what you see in her,” Ford said.
    Ward ignored the comment and never broke eye contact with her. “Where’s your partner?”
    She’d already played the overshare game. Disclosing would lead to more questions. Her debrief after this op would take months at this rate. “I’m done talking.”
    â€œI’d hate to be out there and shoot your partner by accident.” Ford held up his gun.
    As if she forgot he had the damn thing. It was the number one deterrent from doing something closer to dumb than brave on the fighting scale. “Missing.”
    Ward leaned in as if trying to hear her. “Excuse me?”
    Okay, this last piece they could know because she just might need their help with an extraction. “Gareth went radio silent. Last I knew he was scouting out an area about three kilometers from here.”
    Ward frowned. “Gareth?”
    â€œKilometers?” Ford made a face that suggested he was trying to calculate something in his head. “I hate math.”
    She could probably find better sidekicks if she closed her eyes and pointed. “Why don’t you two head back to the resort and—”
    â€œWe’ll break up. I’ll take the Brit and go east. You head west. Radio silence. We’ll use the clicks rather than talking to cover our respective positions. I’ll have you on GPS.” It was as if Ward flipped a switch and entered leadership mode. Gone was the fun-loving guy on vacation. He barked orders like a battlefield commander.
    Good . It gave her hope he might not accidentally trip over a tree root and shoot her.
    â€œYou sure it’s a good idea that you double up with Tasha?” Ford smacked Ward on the shoulder. “After all, she did kick your ass twice already.”
    â€œHe grabbed all of my weapons.” She thought she’d point that out since she planned to demand them all back before they took off on the suggested trek.
    â€œRight, because you need a weapon to cause trouble.” Ward shot her a look that said he’d learned his lesson. “I doubt that.”
    She didn’t hate being seen from a position of strength. She could use that later, when she grabbed Tigana and left the CIA boys behind. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    â€œI used to like British people . . .” Ford’s comment just hung out there.
    â€œNo worries,” Ward said. “She doesn’t have a choice but to play nice.”
    Not true, but if he thought so she had an advantage. But . . . “How do you figure that?”
    Ward took a step toward her. Got in nice and close. “I’ll burn your cover if you so much as nod your head in a way I don’t like.”
    She wanted to shove against his chest or grab her knife back. Instead she stood there. Something in his tone and the intense heat she saw in his eyes hypnotized her.
    Right before her common sense took a final nosedive, she landed one more verbal shot. “You’ll blow your own at the same time, genius.”
    â€œYou act as if Ford and I are the only two people on this assignment for the US.” Ward’s eyebrow lifted. “Wrong.”
    Looked like underneath all the games and jokes there lurked a guy who liked to play chicken. Interesting. But this was not her first day on the job.