Terms Of Attraction

Ava caught Alex’s eyes on her and it was all she could do not to squirm. Her hypocrisy weighted heavily on her. She’d endlessly preached truthfulness to her son while she’d spent his whole life lying to him about her family.

She smiled weakly, guilt slashing at her. There was little a parent wouldn’t do to protect her child. But sometimes she wondered whom she was really protecting. Because in that moment she realized exactly how far she’d go to keep her past hidden, for both their sakes.

Cael stepped out of the shower and carelessly swiped a towel down his body as he reached for his ringing cell. It was after eleven, West Coast time. But he had operatives across the nation and in several countries with various time zones. And in accordance with Murphy’s Law, it seemed like at least half of them had called with some sort of problem today.

He looked at the screen, didn’t recognize the number. “Global Security.” As he answered the call he fastened the towel around his waist, raking his fingers through his hair. Maybe he could manage a haircut before leaving the States again.

“McCabe.”

That low smoky tone was immediately recognizable. So was the heat it elicited low in his belly. “Ava Carter.”

There was a hesitation. Then, “I just noticed the time. I didn’t realize it was so late.”

“Not a problem. All hell’s been breaking loose this evening and I haven’t even thought about sleep yet.” He headed out to the sitting area of his suite, perched on the arm of the couch, intrigued and wary. When they’d parted this afternoon he’d never expected to see her again. And he still had trouble understanding the source of the regret that thought had elicited.

But then later, when Benton had reported following Samuelson to police headquarters, where Carter had reappeared, too, his interest in her had taken on a whole different facet.

She didn’t beat around the bush. “I’ve been thinking of your offer this afternoon. About short-term employment. Were you serious?”

His stomach twisted, a quick vicious lurch. It took more effort than it should have to respond evenly. “Yeah. How much time do you have available?”

“I have several weeks’ leave accumulated.”

“Then you could take some now, right?” With the words he baited the trap, prayed she wouldn’t walk in. Heard it snap closed when she did.

“I could probably get approval for immediate leave.”

“If you’re serious about this I’d like to meet with you as soon as possible.” Needed to, to find out what had caused her sudden about-face.

But he was very much afraid he already knew.

“All right. My shift tomorrow gets done at—”

“Tomorrow I’m flying to L.A. It’ll have to be tonight.” He crossed to the desk, found a pad and pen. “Give me directions to your place. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.” The reluctance in her voice as she recited the directions did nothing to dispel the determination spiking in his gut. As he disconnected the phone he clenched the instrument tightly in his hand, to avoid hurling it across the room. He didn’t want to believe that DHS had drawn her into this. It would be a stretch, even for Samuelson.

But the possibility had to be explored. He crossed to his suitcase, pulled out some clothes. Dropping the towel, he began to dress swiftly. The fact that he was reluctant to credit the suspicions forming in his mind meant Ava Carter had already gotten under his skin.

Which made her dangerous in more ways than one.

The expression on Ava’s face was wary as she pulled open the door before Cael had a chance to knock. Stepping aside to let him in, she said, “You move fast.”

“I have to.” Stepping inside, he shot a quick look around the place as she closed the door behind him. “I’ve got a killer schedule and we’re spread a little thinner than I’d like.”

He followed her to the leather couch and sat down, while she seated herself in the recliner facing him. On the way over he’d convinced himself that his earlier reaction to her was a combination of adrenaline and respect. That shot of hers today had been an impressive depiction of her talent.

But looking at her now, he realized he’d been kidding himself. Adrenaline had long faded, and it wasn’t exactly respect that had him noticing her long, slim legs. Or the very female curves beneath the T-shirt she wore.

“So being shorthanded is the reason you wanted me to take vacation immediately?”

Her question yanked his attention back to business, where it would need to stay. If she was linked to Samuelson he’d have to tread carefully.

“Partially. But I’ve accepted an extension to my contract with de la Reyes. And your skills would come in useful during the course of that case.”

Cael leaned back and propped one foot over the opposite knee, settling deeper into the couch. “De la Reyes needs personal protection more than ever. There’s a rebel faction in his country working for a man who wants him out of power. With Cabrerra’s betrayal, he can’t afford to trust anyone. If his security detail has been infiltrated, why not his government? His household help? He needs outsiders to spearhead a safety regimen for him, until he can weed out those whose loyalty can be bought.”

“And what happens to those people?”

He recognized the concern in her question. “Don’t worry. Whatever you think of de la Reyes’s politics, he came to power through a democratic election. He’s lobbying our government for increased aid. He’s hardly going to jeopardize that with civil rights violations. Those disloyal to him would be expelled from the country or jailed, but he wouldn’t order them killed. He says he’s committed to having his country recognized by the U.N. after decades of dictator rule. I believe him.”

Ava looked less certain. “And the immediacy you spoke of earlier?”

“I need to accompany de la Reyes to L.A., which will be his last stop in the States. In two days we fly back to San Baltes. It’ll take ten operatives to provide full security for him there once he resumes his full schedule. I can’t have them all in place for at least a week.”

“So I’d be providing protection until you can put a team together.”

“We’d be providing protection,” Cael corrected. “At least until the full detail is positioned. Are you as skilled with a handgun as you are with a rifle?”

She regarded him coolly. “Yes.”

“Good. You’ll be provided with both. I can expedite a passport if you don’t have one.”

“I do.”

Giving a satisfied nod, he said, “So it’s just a matter of getting the time off on short notice.”

She raised her brows. “There’s a matter of me agreeing first.”

He didn’t smile but something inside him lightened. Dead tired, he shouldn’t find it so damn stimulating to spar with her. Especially given what she might be hiding from him. “Ava, if you weren’t interested you wouldn’t have contacted me. Something changed between the time I spoke to you this afternoon and when you called earlier. Something that made you overlook your earlier objections.”

She’d gone still, but not a flicker of expression crossed her face. “I’m not a cop, but I do have some deductive powers. That’s how I keep my clients alive.” He sat, barely breathing, waiting for her reply. Wanting desperately for her to prove those persistent little doubts swirling inside him wrong.

For a moment he thought she wouldn’t answer. Was prepared to probe further. But then she said, her gaze skirting his, “After a visit from my ex-husband this afternoon I find myself in need of money.” Her eyes came back to fix on his then, held steady. “If I decide to do this, regardless of my reasons, I’ll put everything I’ve got into the assignment. I won’t take it if I don’t believe I can be of help to you.”

He almost lost his train of thought for a moment, under her liquid chocolate gaze, before his resolve hardened. Nodding, he got to his feet, headed toward the door. “You check on that vacation time in the morning. I’ll need your answer in twenty-four hours.”

Closing the door behind him, he jogged down the steps toward his car. He could ill-afford to turn down her help if she did sign on. He hadn’t been lying about needing her on de la Reyes’s protection team.

But had she been lying to him?

He opened the door of the dark rental sedan, slid inside. Her story about a sudden need for money was plausible. It was also completely impossible to check out. Starting the ignition, he pulled away from the curb. Useless to wonder if it was a story cooked up between her and Samuelson. Or to speculate what her motivation would be for agreeing to join forces with the man.

He wanted—needed—to take her word at face value. But Cael McCabe believed in being prepared. As much as he believed in revenge.

He glanced in his rearview mirror before switching lanes. If Ava Carter turned out to be working with Samuelson, he’d have no compunction about using her to destroy the man. And if that destroyed her in the process, well…

She would have gotten exactly what she deserved.

Chapter Three (#ulink_74409892-7dfd-5392-af7f-1e57bb886dc9)