Page 56 of Last Chance

“Oh, trust me, Chapman. When he gets through with you, you’ll wish you’d paid more attention to your surroundings.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You said you were distracted. What was so interesting that you let down your guard?”

He remained silent. If he admitted the truth, Sawyer feared Brent would remove him from Janie’s security detail. He didn’t want to step away from the job.

Brent narrowed his eyes. “I don’t hear an answer from you. Do we have a problem here?”

Oh, man. The quiet, icy voice told Sawyer he was skating on thin ice and almost ready to break through to freezing water. “No, sir.”

“Then what was the problem?”

“I was the problem,” Janie said.

Sawyer froze. She knew he was struggling to remain objective where she was concerned?

Brent’s eyes flicked to Janie. “Explain.”

“I was nervous about working with Ian, which in retrospect was stupid. Sawyer was trying to help me get ready for the sketching session.”

Close but not one hundred percent accurate. Brent was sharp. Sawyer doubted he’d buy that explanation.

The boss grunted. “Rowan wants to talk to you. My assistant will show you to an empty office so you can call her.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me, Brent?”

“Caught me.” He smiled. “Go. Rowan is eager to catch up with you.”

“What about Sawyer?”

“He stays. He’ll find you in a few minutes.”

He sighed. Yep. Didn’t figure his boss had bought Janie’s explanation.

Janie stood. “I want my bodyguard back in one piece.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Brent waited until Janie closed the office door behind her before he rounded on Sawyer. “I want a straight answer, Chapman. Now.”

“Janie.”

“What about her?”

“She distracted me. It’s not her fault. It’s mine.”

His boss stared for a moment, then groaned. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No, sir.”

“We’ll develop a reputation as a matchmaker if this trend continues,” Brent groused. “So, I’ll ask you what I’ve asked every other operative in this situation, and that includes your teammates. Are you sure you can do your job?” He held up a hand before Sawyer could answer. “Think hard before you answer me. If you tell me you can handle it and you’re wrong, Janie will pay the price. I guarantee if anything happens to her, you’ll answer to me and Rowan.”

He didn’t know which was worse. They were both fierce. Sawyer thought about his growing feelings for Janie. They would be a problem, he admitted. Not enough of one to stop him from protecting her with his life. “I can handle it, sir.”

“If you can’t, I need to know immediately. Shove your ego aside and do what’s best for her. Hear me?”

“Yes, sir. You have my word.”

“I’ll hold you to it, Sawyer. Dismissed.”

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