Page 5 of Baby Bodyguard

“That was impressive,” she said. “Were you really next?”

“No.”

“So you’re cutting in line.” Her mouth twitched. “Don’t you think that’s a little unfair to the other applicants?”

“Not even a little. Iwant the job more than they do.”

“Seriously?”

“I wouldn’t joke about something that important.”

“You know…” She glanced at the closed door and frowned. “Your dog looks like a wolf.”

He took the change of subject in stride, half expecting it, given her relationship to Babe. “There’s a slight resemblance.”

“More than slight.” She crossed to the desk occupying one end of the room and delved into a gold foil box of chocolates that stood open next to a stuffed animal. Ironically, awolf cub. Abit battered, but recognizable nonetheless. She tickled it with the tip of her index finger. “In my opinion, he looksa lotlike a wolf.”

She was persistent, he’d give her that. Not many people pushed for more information than he willingly offered. For some reason they found him intimidating, something he did little to discourage.

Perhaps it was because he favored black, acolor that suited his solitary nature. Or perhaps his expression deterred familiarity. How many times had he been told that his silver-gray eyes were unsettling or that his quietness unnerved people or that his dispassion built insurmountable walls? Arare smile relaxed his mouth. Or perhaps it wasn’t him at all, but Loner who scared them spitless.

Sami tilted her head to one side, wayward curls caressing a long, pale neck. “Aren’t you going to answer me?”

“Okay, sure. Loner looks a lot like a wolf.”

“Loner?” She returned the stuffed wolf cub to the desk and approached. “That’s an interesting name.”

“It suits him.”

“I’d say it suits his master, as well.”

She’d roused his curiosity. “What makes you think that?”

“I’m good at reading people. And you—” To his utter astonishment, she thumped his chest with her index finger. She was either a brave woman or a foolish one, he couldn’tquite decide which. “—you’re very self-contained. Self-sufficient. Aman who walks his own path. Am I right or am I right? You’re a loner, too.”

He shrugged. “I’ve been called worse.”

“So is he one?” As though anticipating his confusion over the question, she graced him with another of her high-voltage smiles. “Is Loner a wolf, Imean.”

“That would be illegal,” he explained gently. “It’s against the law for private individuals to own or house wild animals.”

“And you wouldn’t do anything illegal?”

He could see lying to her presented a bit of a problem. Something about those clear green eyes—eyes that saw straight through to his soul—had the power to force the truth from him. Yeah. This lady was trouble incorporated. Perhaps misdirection would work. He folded his arms across his chest. “How about starting the interview?”

“We already have.”

Uh-oh. “Talking about Loner is part of the interview process?”

She inclined her head. “Discussing your honesty is.”

“You want the truth?”

“I always want the truth.”

Right. How many times had he heard that from a woman? Then he’d oblige, the tears would start, and he’d end up wishing he’d said something on the shady side of honest, if only so it hurt a bit less. “I found Loner abandoned as a pup. He’d been injured. You may have noticed he still walks with a limp?”

“Poor thing,” she murmured, genuinely sympathetic.

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