Page 3 of Honor Code

"Then why are you dressed like a cat burglar?"

She spluttered. "Cat burglar? This is my yoga outfit."

"Yoga? You're kidding." Now he'd heard it all.

"I'm an engineer. I told you, I work here."

Confused, he stared at her, trying to get her measure. Lean and curved in all the right places, with cascades of deep brown hair framing a pale, pretty face, she didn't look anything like an engineer—then again, she didn't look like any intruder he'd ever encountered either. A yoga guru, yes. Ironically, that was the easiest to believe.

"Where is your ID?" he asked, his face so close he could breathe in her scent. Vanilla—warm, inviting, disarming.

She grimaced. "I–I left it in my room."

He sighed.

Really?

"You have no ID, but you expect me to believe you work here?"

"I do." She gave a sexy pout.

He narrowed his eyes. "How come I haven't seen you before?"

"I flew in yesterday evening. Actually, I saw you and your friend up on deck, but you didn't see me."

He frowned. He hadn't noticed her. Could be a convenient excuse. "What are you doing prowling around the deck at five in the morning?"

She wriggled again, her hips digging into his thighs. For a small woman, she was remarkably strong. He pressed down, then wished he hadn't. A surge of heat spread to his groin, which was still pulsing from connecting with her knee.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm doing yoga." Irritation replaced the fear. That was something, at least. He hadn't liked seeing how panicked she'd been.

He knew fear, and hers had been very real. Desperate, terrifying, irrational fear. Experience had taught him he wasn't the reason. Something else had caused that fear, something bad, and a while back. But she hadn't let it go.

"Yoga, right…" His voice petered off.

The way she was looking at him… all bristly and defiant, her tiger's eyes flashing in the hazy dawn. He wanted to believe her, but he had to check it out fully before he let her go.

She could just be a really good liar. The whole yoga thing might be nothing but a smokescreen. For all he knew, an activist group had sent a bombshell like her to stir up trouble over the oil drilling.

This wasn't new territory for him. After a solid twenty years in the service, with a good chunk as a Navy SEAL, he was no stranger to diehards on a mission. People got pretty intense when they truly believed in a cause.

"Look, I just got here yesterday." She snapped, clearly ticked off. "If you get off me, I'll take you to my cabin and show you my ID badge. Then we can clear this whole mess up."

Now that was the first sensible thing he'd heard her say.

"Sounds like a plan." Letting go, he released her hands. He'd check her out, and if she was telling the truth… well, then he'd owe her an apology. Somehow, he didn't mind that too much.

She huffed. "Can I get up now?"

"All right, but just so we're clear, you're sticking with me until I know you're legit."

She gave a quick nod and another small exhale.

He backed off, then offered a hand up.

She ignored it, got to her feet, then brushed herself off, but not before throwing him a look that could melt steel.

"After you," he gestured, resisting a grin. She really was a hellcat.

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