Page 9 of Poison Evidence

He’d found her attractive from the first time he saw her photo, and his ego had enjoyed the way she’d stared at him when he brazenly swabbed the deck shirtless to snare her attention. But he’d never expected to actuallylikeher.

However, from the moment he’d overheard her call Shiro Kimura on his bullshit—in two languages the man could understand—something had shifted.

She was obviously smart as hell, given that she’d designed, built, and coded equipment that could be a game changer in surveillance and search technology. But in the wake of the assault, he saw the strength that had carried her when her life and work had become tabloid fodder.

She’d been attacked and nearly kidnapped, and yet she’d held herself together with a razor-sharp focus on protecting her invention. It demonstrated in stark relief what her priorities were—which would be a problem down the road. But for now, he was impressed. It didn’t help that he found her beautiful in spite of her exhaustion and mud coating.

It was the imperfections of her features that caught his attention. The sharpness of her chin, the slight crook in her nose. She was tall, voluptuous, and unique.

Lying to her left a bad taste in his mouth, which was odd. He’d been lying for so long, what were a few dozen more?

But the one truth she’d never believe once the bigger lies were exposed was he’d never hurt her. No matter what happened, she was safe with him. He’d protect her—and CAM—with his life. And he had no doubt she needed his protection now.

His path had been forced upon him, and Ivy was the key to getting out of this mess, but he wouldn’t sacrifice her for this assignment.

She’d already been used by one spy. Being used by a second might break her magnificent inner strength.

Chapter Four

Exhaustion had settled in on the drive. Ivy faced the dock toLibertyas if it were telescoping before her.

“I’d offer to carry you, but someone needs to carry CAM, and I can’t do both,” Jack said.

She cast him a wry smile. Given the impressive muscles he’d displayed, she had no doubt he could carry her the distance, and given her height and healthy appetite, she was no featherweight. “Another time, maybe.”

He leaned close and said, “Count on it.”

The flirtation in his tone gave her a shot of energy. Enough to push forward toLiberty’s slip, anyway. At last they were aboard, and Jack made a beeline for a control panel in the salon. He typed on a keypad and stared at the screen.

“We’re clear. You can sleep easy,” he said. “This boat is rigged with the best security available. The previous owner was…probably not on the up and up. Every window, door, and hatch is wired and monitored. No one comes in or out without me knowing about it. No one boarded while I was out tonight.”

That was a relief. She’d been counting on Patrick’s buddies not knowing where she’d fled to; it was good to know that if they found her, Jack would be alerted.

He led her to the guest stateroom in the bow, then showed her how to convert the head into a shower stall. “There’s plenty of hot water while we’re at the dock. Take as long a shower as you need.”

As exhausted and dirty as she was, she wasn’t ready for that. She had no doubt she’d collapse in the bunk the moment she was clean, but she needed to decompress first, or her sleep would be far from restful.

“I’ve imposed enough on you already, but…you wouldn’t happen to have any booze would you? I wouldn’t mind sitting on the deck for a bit to get my bearing.”

He smiled. “Sure. I’ll join you.”

He opened the liquor cabinet in the galley. “I keep a stocked bar for charter clients. What would you like?”

She studied the selection. “Vodka if you have something fruity to mix with. Otherwise, gin and tonic.”

He made them both drinks with an assortment of tropical fruit juices. The end result was the color of a sunset, and when she finally settled by his side on a bench seat on the upper deck, she discovered it tasted heavenly.

“How long did you say you’ve lived in Palau?” she asked.

“Since December.”

“Not long, then. You planning on staying?” Her feet ached from running barefoot through muck. She toed off the tennis shoes she’d donned in her hotel room and tucked her feet beneath her on the bench. The position had her leaning toward him. She stiffened as if hitting an invisible barrier.

“Not sure.” He smiled and draped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her to his side.

She relaxed into him. Frankly, she could use the comfort, and it was nice of him to offer it considering she smelled like mangrove swamp. But then, she’d seen the blood splatters on his shirt. He wasn’t exactly pristine either.

His arm tightened around her. “I love Palau, but the US is my home.”

---