Page 27 of When He Protects

“Aren’t you the gentlemen?Merci, monsieur.”

The faint lines near his mouth tightened. “You…don’t have to speak French.”

“It’s my native tongue. Sometimes, it just slips out.” But she was intrigued. She pressed closer to him. “Or do you like it too much when I speak French?” A teasing murmur.

Faster than any striking snake could be, his hand flew out. Curled around her shoulder. “You have to stop playing with me.”

But she wasn’t playing. When would he get a clue on that score?

“You don’t want to fuck me. Despite what you saidin Frenchat the station. And what you just said here and now.”

“How do you know what I want?”

“I’m part of the game you’re working. You think I don’t know a con artist when I see one?”

She leaned closer to him. Parted her lips.

His gaze was on her mouth. Totally focused.

“That is anassholething to say,” Esme informed him. “Absolute asshole. Here’s a helpful tip about me. I don’t always lie.” In fact, she tried to tell the truth the majority of the time. “Wasn’t I helpful to your friend at the FBI? Before we left, didn’t I give him reliable intel that he could use to solve several big crimes?” She had. She’d considered the info as a down payment on her protection plan. “Those offshore accountswillcheck out. And thelocations I gave him that had stolen artifacts? All legitimate. I was helping.”

“The very fact that you knew that information means you’re involved in illegal activities up to your gorgeous eyes.”

She batted her lashes. “You like my eyes? Good to know. At this point, we’ve established you like both my eyes and my ass. Thank you. To be fair, I also like your eyes. I find it particularly charming when they blaze with heat and go all molten blue.”

“I don’t think molten blue is a thing,” he muttered.

“Then clearly you have never seen your eyes when you are battling a hard case of lust.” Esme cleared her throat. “I suppose you have an okay ass, too.”

“You were just…honest with me.”

“No, I wasn’t. I was lying.” A wince. “Your ass is actually far better than okay.”

“Esme.”

“I’m not a villainess. Don’t make me out to be one.” Another bit of honesty. “You’re the hero, though. That is plain for anyone to see. Surely, I’m not the first woman who has been attracted to you. Not all women go for the bad guys. Some of us have other preferences.”

“You want to fuck me…because I’mgood?Baby, you could not be more wrong about me.”

“Are you getting into the role of my loving husband? Or did that endearment just slip out accidentally?”

He blinked.

“I’ll assume that we keep our first names during the course of this undercover operation. Easier for us to fall into character, yes? If we keep using our real first names?” Esme tapped her chin with her right index finger. “But what will ourlast names be?”

“Hollow.”

She nodded. “Esme and Tyler Hollow. Fair enough. After I get back from changing, you’ll have to tell me all about our cover story.” She took the bag from him. Their fingers brushed. A bolt of heat shot through her, but she refused to acknowledge it. She’d told him how she felt. He’d have to make the next move. She couldn’t very well do all the romantic heavy lifting herself. A woman did like some pursuit. “I am hoping you have some marvelously splendid how-we-met story that you are planning to share with me. And your proposal to me?” She swung away from him. “Has to be epic. People aren’t going to believe we have some super passionate marriage if we are not epic.” She made her way down the plane’s aisle and toward the small bathroom.

“Esme.”

His voice stopped her just as she reached for the bathroom door.

“I should have told you that another one of my rules was no lying. You can’t manipulate me. You can’t pretend with me. I’m the man saving that sweet ass of yours. I have to know everything about you.”

No one knew everything about her. “You stood between me and a gun today.” She peered back at him.

“You had already done the same for me.”

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