Page 10 of Honor Code

It was contagious, and Ellie found herself smiling too. “I’m a little embarrassed.”

“I wouldn’t mind being jumped by the likes of him.”

“It wasn’t enjoyable at the time.” Memories of her panic attack flooded back. “He gave me a hell of a fright.”

“He is a trained killer,” she said, with a touch of admiration. “He could probably crush you with his bare hands if he wanted to.”

Now that was a comforting thought.

“I’m starving.” Ellie’d had enough of talking about this topic and stood up. “We should have grabbed our food before sitting. Let’s eat.”

“Fine, but we’re going to discuss this another time.” Suzi joined her. “That man likes you, I can tell.”

“Nonsense.”

“So, are you going to see him tomorrow morning?” Suzi picked up a plate.

Ellie turned her back on her friend. “I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.” Morning yoga was something she really enjoyed. Despite what she’d said, she didn’t want to give it up just because she was avoiding a certain beast of a man.

“If you enjoy it, you should go,” Suzi said. “It’s a big rig. You might not see him at all.”

It wasn’t that big.

Should she?

It would be a shame to miss it.

On the rig where there was little opportunity to exercise, she enjoyed the invigorating postures. It also kept her supple and relaxed her, mentally preparing her for the day.

“Yeah, I probably will.” Decision made.

Ellie loaded up her plate with a hearty serving of brisket, fluffy cornbread, and a side of tangy coleslaw. After a decent meal and a good night’s sleep, she’d be raring to go at the crack of dawn. More so than this morning, when she had still been groggy from the flight and the unfamiliar bed.

One thing was sure—her decision had absolutely nothing to do with a certain, brutally hot, security operative who would be patrolling the rig during the early hours.

Nothing at all.

CHAPTER 5

“Ithought you weren’t coming.”

Ellie spun around at the deep, gravelly voice. Phoenix emerged from the shadows like a specter—so stealthy, she hadn't heard him coming.

"I decided I wanted to. It's a good routine to get into," she countered, then flushed. Was that too defensive? The last thing she wanted was to make him think she'd gotten up early to see him.

He gave her a strange look. "I just meant it’s refreshing to see you. It's been a pretty boring night."

"That's a good thing, right?" she replied, after a moment's hesitation. He was just being friendly. She needed to lighten up.

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling in the predawn light. "In this job, definitely."

Ellie laid her mat on the ground and kicked off her shoes. As usual, the day was dawning clear and bright, the sky mostly cloudless indigo with a faint slash of pink over the horizon.

"Do you do yoga every morning?" He was staring at her pink toenails. She'd had them done on a whim before leaving Scotland.

"If I can, but rigs don't often offer this kind of opportunity. The last one I worked on was operational 24/7, so I couldn't workout outside. It's just with all this beauty around me—" She waved her hand in the fresh morning air. "It would be a shame not to."

He stood, legs slightly apart, shoulders relaxed, holding his weapon in front of him, seemingly at ease. Ellie couldn't read the expression on his face, but it was almost like he was measuring her up. She'd love to know what he was thinking. Probably that a dirty rust-bucket in the middle of the ocean was no place for a woman. Well, if that's what he thought, then he could?—

---