The Bodyguard's Assignment

by Amanda Stevens

Brady frowned. How had he found that out? From Mitchell? Or had Kruger run a background check on Brady? That seemed more likely. Mitchell was extremely reticent about discussing his agents with anyone, including DPS. Brady wondered if that was what Mitchell and Kruger had been arguing about that morning.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Brady said.

  “You do that. Get her to talk, Morgan. Do whatever you have to do, but find out where that tape is.”

  THE COFFEE was waiting when Grace came back out, and she noticed that Brady hadn’t ordered anything to eat, either. The hand that lifted his cup was steady, but there was something in his eyes, a shadow, that made her think about the two men lying back there in the cold.

  “You don’t have an appetite, either, I see.”

  He shrugged. “Guess not.”

  She leaned across the table, lowering her voice. “What happened back there, Brady?”

  “You know what happened.”

  “Those men. They’re…dead?”

  His gaze lifted to meet hers. Something dark flickered in his eyes. “Not hard to figure that one out, was it, Grace?”

  So how does it feel to kill a man? the reporter in her wanted to ask, but the look in his eyes stopped her.

  He had the deepest eyes, she thought. Soul deep.

  He put down his cup and returned her scrutiny. Neither of them said anything, just watched one another warily while the attraction slowly rekindled. Awareness fluttered in Grace’s stomach and quivered along her backbone. Her heart began to beat in long, breathless strokes.

  Brady had been an incredible lover. All that intensity. All that dark passion concentrated solely on her.

  The way he would kiss her, until she grew weak all over. The way he would touch her, arousing her to the point of desperation. The way he would take her…

  She’d almost passed out once, the feelings had been so powerful. Did Brady remember that night? The way he’d held her afterward?

  Grace had never experienced anything like it before or since, and she never expected to. Wasn’t sure she even wanted to. That kind of frenzy was almost terrifying.

  And yet at this moment, with Brady’s gaze on her, she felt a shade of that same intensity, a hint of that same passion, and a flush of heat stole over her.

  “That was never one of our problems,” he said softly.

  She didn’t need to ask what he meant. The air quivered with electricity.

  Grace drew a long breath. “No. We were good together, Brady.”

  “We were incredible together.” His words were grim and resolved. He never took his eyes off her. “Were is the key word.”

  “I know. It’s over.”

  “For both of us, Grace. It has to be.”

  She paused, the heat of passion turning into embarrassment. “What I said earlier…about the way I still feel—”

  “Forget it. I have.”

  “Just like that?” He could set her off like no man she’d ever known before. “How convenient to be able to turn off your emotions so easily,” she said bitterly.

  “You think the last five years have been easy for me?”

  “I don’t know, Brady. Why don’t you tell me?”

  “What good would it do?” He leaned across the table, his gray eyes sparking with his own sudden anger. It took a lot to get Brady mad. He’d always had an almost superhuman ability to keep his emotions in check. Except in bed.…

  “It might help to talk about it—”

  “What is it you want to know, Grace? How it felt as if someone had cut out my insides with a rusty knife when I found out what you’d done? Or how about why I really left the force? That’s a good one, too. I was forced out. I had no choice. It was leave of my own free will or be suspended indefinitely. I had an exemplary record until then. Did you know that? Is that what you want to hear? How it felt to lose everything I ever cared about in the space of one night? Is that the kind of detail you’re looking for, Grace?”

  “I’m sorry—”

  “It’s taken me five years to rebuild my life. I won’t let you come along and start picking it apart again.”

  “I wasn’t trying to—”

  He stood and threw some bills on the table. “Let’s go.”

  They’d hardly touched their coffee, but somehow Grace didn’t think they’d need the caffeine to keep them awake. She had a feeling it would be a very long time before either of them got any rest.

  “HOW LONG has it been since you slept?”

  They’d left the interstate in Sweetwater, following a southerly route which would take them through San Angelo and eventually to I–10, where they would head due west toward the mountains. If they’d stayed on I–30, it would have been a straighter shot—through Big Springs, Midland, Odessa, and finally Pecos. But the smaller roads and highways would be harder to track if someone was following them.

  “I figure it’s been about forty-eight hours,” he said, when Grace responded with a shrug. “Why don’t you get in the back seat and stretch out? We’ve still got a long way to go.”

  “I won’t be able to sleep.” But she unfastened her seat belt and climbed over the seat just the same. Her leg brushed against his arm, and it was all Brady could do not to flinch away from her touch. Not because he didn’t want it. Back there in the restaurant, he’d discovered something unsettling about himself. After everything Grace had done to him, he still couldn’t help wanting her.

  But that was the kind of woman she was. Sexy. Ambitious. Dangerous.

  The kind that could destroy you, if you let her.

  Was that what had gotten him so riled back there? he wondered uneasily. The fact that she still had such a strong effect on him?

  Brady could hear her in the back seat, stirring around, trying to get comfortable. He said reluctantly, “Grace, you okay back there?”

  A pause, then, “I’m fine.”

  “Here.” He handed her his coat over the seat. “You can use this to cover up with.”

  “I don’t need it. It’s warm in here.”

  “Take it,” he said almost gruffly. “You never could sleep without cover.”

  His words seemed to catch them both by surprise. She took the coat, and he could imagine her pulling it around her, snuggling deep.

  “About what I said…” He trailed off, scowling at the road. “I didn’t mean to come down so hard on you.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Her words sounded muffled, as if she had the coat pulled all the way up to her chin. “I understand why you feel the way you do.”

  “It’s just…what happened earlier…back there on the road…”

  “I know. I understand.”

  It was strange, but somehow he thought she did. Taking a life, even a lowlife, wasn’t something you walked away from unaffected. He was trying to explain, without really saying the words, that he’d taken his emotions out on her.

  He’d done what he had to do. Those men had come after Grace. They would have killed her—or worse—to get what they wanted, and Brady had no qualms about taking them out.

  But it still didn’t make living with it any easier.

  “Brady?”

  The way she said his name, soft and tentative, stirred something powerful inside him. “Yeah?”

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “You saved my life. I won’t forget it.”

  “I was just doing my job, Grace.” He regretted his harsh words the moment they left his mouth, but he couldn’t take them back, and it was probably just as well. This thing between them had to be squelched here and now, before it went any further. He wasn’t about to start up again with Grace. He’d learned that lesson.

  But as the miles sped by, Brady couldn’t stop thinking about her. The farther south they got, the better the road conditions, so his driving no longer required all his attention. His mind was free to wander, and it strayed inevitably to five years ago, when he’d first met Grace.

  He hadn’t stood a chance. N
ot with those blue eyes. That long, wavy hair. That body.

  But it hadn’t been all physical. There’d been something else between them, something immediate and powerful. Something that fueled the passion.

  He remembered once taking her to Vegas for a long weekend. They hadn’t left their room until it was time to catch the plane back to Dallas, and for three days, Grace hadn’t worn anything more than the shirt she’d ripped off him the moment they were alone.

  The sex had been great, no question about that. But he’d had great sex with other women. With Grace…

  With Grace, it had been all-consuming. Mind-blowing. A little scary even, because he’d never been sure he could handle her fervor.

  She said she’d changed now. A part of him couldn’t help wondering how much.

  THE SKY LIGHTENED behind them, a subtle change at first, and then more boldly as the sun hovered on the eastern horizon. They cruised through the deserted streets of Fort Stockton, still westbound on I–10.

  From the back seat, Brady heard sounds of life. In spite of her proclamation earlier that she wouldn’t be able to sleep, Grace had been silent for several hours. He figured she’d dozed off sometime before they got to San Angelo.

  In the rearview mirror, he saw her sit up and gaze around. Her hair was tangled, her face wiped clean of makeup. She looked vulnerable huddled under his coat. Vulnerable but still sexy.

  Their eyes met in the mirror. She quickly glanced away. “Where are we?”

  “We just left Fort Stockton. We’re still on I–10, heading west.”

  “Are we almost to our destination?”

  “Not long now,” was all he said.

  They both watched the passing scenery in silence for a few minutes. The plains of Abilene and Sweetwater had given way to more rugged terrain. Mountains with shrouded peaks rose before them, and smoke pluming from a distant chimney was the only sign of civilization for miles. They had the road to themselves.

  “There’s a place just ahead where we can stop and get some breakfast,” Brady said. “The restaurant has a general store next door. I know the owner. She might be persuaded to open up for us so we can get you a decent coat.”

  “Okay.” Grace kept her head turned to the window, and that was the last thing she said until he exited the freeway in Rio Rancho, a tiny ghost town with little more than memories lingering on the ragged streets.

  Most of the businesses were boarded up and abandoned, but Leni Crowe—who, in spite of her red hair and blue eyes, claimed to be descended from the Commanches—managed to survive by serving the best huevos con chirizo this side of the border.

  The restaurant still wore its Closed sign on the door, but there was a light on, and Brady could see movement inside. He banged on the glass door, and after a moment, a shadow appeared on the other side.

  “We’re closed,” a feminine voice informed him impatiently. “Can’t you read the sign, moron?”

  “Come on, Leni. Open up. It’s cold out here.”

  She paused. “I know that voice. Brady…that you?”

  “Yeah. How about taking pity on us?”

  “You never were the kind of man to inspire much pity,” she grumbled through the glass. But the lock twisted, and she drew back the door. Her gaze went instantly to Grace, and Brady saw the women coolly assessing one another. They were both tall, both striking in their own way. Leni, with her red hair and flashing eyes. Grace, more cool and remote.

  “Well, get in here,” Leni muttered, stepping back out of their way. “I can’t afford to heat the whole damn town. You have any idea what my gas bill runs in the winter?”

  She eyed Brady suspiciously once he’d closed the door against the cold. “So, what are you up to this time, Brady Morgan?” Her gaze flickered briefly, disdainfully over Grace, then slid back to Brady. “You’re not bringing me trouble, I hope.”

  “No trouble,” Brady said easily. “We just want some breakfast. You got that grill fired up?”

  “It’s getting there. You might as well sit down and I’ll get you some coffee. I just made it. Black and strong enough to walk out of here on its own two legs, right?”

  “The stronger the better,” Brady agreed. When Leni returned with the pot, he said, “You still own the general store next door, Leni?”

  “Who’d be stupid enough to buy it from me?” She served Brady first, then poured Grace’s coffee. “What do you need?”

  “My friend here needs a warm coat, some gloves, socks, boots. The works.”

  Leni spared Grace another brief glance, then shrugged. “We may have something that’ll fit her. She looks pretty scrawny, though. I’ll get Luis to start the eggs while we take a look. Go on over. I’ll get the key and meet you there.”

  “Thanks, Leni.”

  “Anything for you, Brady. You know that.”

  She flashed him a high-octane smile before turning to disappear into the kitchen.

  GRACE STOOD shivering in the cold as they waited for Leni to open the general store. Brady had tried to get her to put on his coat, but she’d stubbornly refused, not really knowing why. It wasn’t like he’d get chilled without it. After the look that woman gave him, Grace doubted he’d feel the cold even if he was standing out there stark naked.

  An intriguing thought, but she wasn’t through with the subject of Leni.

  “Who is that awful woman?”

  “You mean Leni?”

  Grace rolled her eyes. Of course, Leni. Who else would she be talking about? “You two seem to know each other pretty well.”

  Brady shrugged. “As well as people get to know each other out here, I guess.”

  “So, who is she?”

  “Her name is Leni Crowe. I knew her in college. She used to be married to a cop I knew. After he was killed, Leni moved back out here to live with her father. When he died, she stayed on to run this place.”

  Grace felt a niggle of guilt for her unkind thoughts. From the sounds of it, Leni had had a hard life. “She must have been pretty young when she lost her husband. I’m surprised she’s never remarried.”

  “She’s had a few offers, I hear.”

  From you? Grace wanted to ask. She was surprised how deeply that notion affected her. Brady…with Leni. Falling in love with her. Asking her to marry him.

  He and Grace had never discussed marriage. They hadn’t gotten that far, and besides, both of them had been deeply involved with their careers. The last thing on Grace’s mind back then had been marriage. She’d witnessed firsthand how her parents’ union had fallen apart, how easily her father had walked away without looking back. No way she’d wanted to put herself through the same, but now, the idea of being married, having someone in her life, someone she loved and trusted, someone she might even want to have children with—

  That stopped her short. Not in all her wildest dreams had Grace ever thought of herself as a mother. She’d never considered herself maternal in the least, but after taking care of her mother these last three years, Grace had come to realize that having someone who depended on you, someone who needed you, wasn’t a bad thing. In some ways, her life had never been richer.

  A light came on inside the store, then the lock turned, and Leni drew back the door. “It’s cold in here,” she warned. “I turn down the thermostat at night. Saves me a buck or two.”

  Grace smiled at her. “I don’t blame you.”

  Leni looked almost floored, but she quickly recovered and shrugged indifferently. “Take your time. Stack everything up on the counter over there, and I’ll ring you up when you’re through.”

  She busied herself behind the counter, and Grace glanced around uncertainly. “I guess I need to find a coat.”

  “You’ll need a few spare sets of clothes, too,” Brady advised her. “You know best what you need.”

  He sat down in a chair beside the cash register to chat with Leni, but as Grace walked around the store, examining the clothing, she could feel his gaze on her, making her nervous. Hastily, so as not to leav
e him alone with Leni for too long, Grace loaded her arms with jeans, cotton turtlenecks, socks, underwear, and finally a black down-filled parka.

  “That should do it,” she said, dusting her hands. “Oh, wait a second.” Quickly, she added a supply of toiletries to the stack. “Now, I’m finished.”

  She half-expected Brady to protest the size of her purchase, but after Leni had rung them up and given them the bad news, he took out his wallet without a word and paid her in cash.

  Outside, Grace tried to thank Brady, but he merely shrugged. “It’ll go on the expense account.” He took the remaining sacks from her and nodded toward the restaurant. “You go on back inside. I have a little business to attend to.”

  “With Leni?” The moment the question left her mouth, Grace regretted it. Obviously, whatever was going on between Brady and Leni was none of her business.

  She didn’t wait for Brady to answer, but turned instead and headed for the restaurant. By the time he rejoined her, their food was ready—steaming plates of scrambled eggs and spicy sausage, refried beans, crisp potatoes, and fresh flour tortillas.

  “I’ll never be able to eat all this,” Grace murmured, eyeing the heaping plate and wondering if she should have gotten her jeans a size larger.

  “You might be surprised once you taste it.” Brady sampled his eggs, then dashed them with hot sauce.

  When he offered her the bottle, Grace shook her head. “No, thanks.” The sausage looked spicy enough without adding more heat. Tentatively, she lifted a bite to her mouth and her taste buds exploded. The dish was hot, but Brady was right. She’d never tasted anything so flavorful.

  “Wow,” she said, her eyes watering. “This is really good, but—” She waved her hand in front of her mouth. “How do you stand it so spicy?”

  “It’s an acquired taste, I guess.” He gave her a sympathetic smile. “Try the beans. You might find them a little more to your liking.”

  Everything was delicious, but when Grace had eaten all she possibly could and shoved back her plate, she had barely made a dent in the food. Brady, on the other hand, had made a very respectable showing.

  As they sat finishing their coffee, Leni came over with the bill. “What’d you think of the Horns this year?” she asked Brady, bending over the table to get their plates. Grace caught a whiff of some potent perfume. That’s funny, she thought. She hadn’t noticed Leni wearing a fragrance earlier. Had she put it on for Brady’s benefit?