Page 123 of Hard Luck (Blackstone House)

Cole took hold of her arms. Too late, he realised she could probably dump him on his ass if she chose to, but she just glanced at his fingers digging into her biceps.

“This blanket is gross,” he said.

“Thanks, I already knew that.”

“I can’t believe you took it off a corpse.”

“Better than making myself a clear target. Are you holding my arms for any particular reason?”

He took a deep breath. “Bella, we came to this island together, and we’re leaving together. Forget about theCrosswind. When I get back home, I’ll report the theft to the authorities, and they can look for her.”

“Sweetie, two years ago, the paramilitary arm of the San Gallicano Department of Emergency Services joined a training exercise with the US Navy, and they blew up one of their own boats. Not real explosives, obviously, but theyhad no idea what they were targeting. Trust me when I say they’ll fuck up whatever they try to do.”

“She’s insured.” Not for her full value, but Cole would get a decent sum of money back. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I won’t get hurt.”

“In the six weeks I’ve known you, you’ve broken your leg tripping down stairs and been bitten by a snake.”

She just looked at him.

“You didn’t get bitten by a snake, did you?”

“I was drunk. Some little bitch in a bar stabbed me with a glass because she thought I was making a move on her boyfriend.”

“And were you?”

“Of course not.”

“You made a move on me in a bar.”

“You were hot and single.”

Cole blew out a long breath. “And your leg?”

“I don’t think you want to know.”

“I do want to know.”

“Fine. I vaulted over your credenza and fell into your wine cellar.”

Huh? Cole looked for a sign that she was joking because despite what she said, she did have a sense of humour. A very dark sense of humour, and now he was beginning to understand why. But there was no hint of amusement.

“Bella, why did you vault over my credenza?”

“Because a guy was shooting at me.”

“In my house?”

“He used a suppressor, and you’re the heaviest sleeper I’ve ever met.”

“There was a gunmanin my house?”

She held up four fingers.

“Fourgunmen?”

“Uh-huh.”

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