Page 62 of Once a Killer

His smile disappeared at the reminder of the threats against him, and he slid into the window seat. When she sat down beside him, he leaned closer and murmured, “For a moment there, I forgot you were my bodyguard. I was pretending we were just a couple going away for the weekend.”

She wanted that, too. But she had to shut it down. Couldn’t let this… this heat between them distract her from her job. She swiveled in her seat to face him. “Sorry to burst your bubble,” she said, equally quietly. “This plane is probably safe. No one knew which airline you’d be on, or which flight. But I never assume anything.”

She set her hand on his arm and squeezed his muscles, and he swallowed. “I know, Bree. I want…”

He was interrupted by the flight attendant, who carried a tray of champagne flutes. “Can I offer you a pre-takeoff glass of champagne?” she asked with a smile.

“No thanks,” Bree said lightly. She nudged Jameson. “But you go ahead.”

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. The flight attendant put it on his tray, along with a heated washcloth. Then she turned back to Bree. “Can I get you a non-alcoholic beverage?” she asked.

“Sparkling water would be great,” Bree replied.

“I’ll bring it in a few minutes,” the woman said as she moved to the next row.

By the time the plane landed at LaGuardia, Bree was afraid she’d been spoiled for regular airline travel. The meal they’d eaten was delicious, and the alcohol flowed freely to the other first-class passengers. Jameson had refused any more champagne or other alcohol, murmuring to her that he needed to be alert, too.

When they reached the exit with their bags, she spotted a uniformed man holding a placard that read ‘Gordon’. Jameson nudged her. “That’s us,” he said. “I didn’t want to use my name.”

“Good thinking,” she said, heading toward the driver.

The hotel was part of a luxury chain, and when the bellman showed them into their room, she saw that it was a suite. Two bedrooms opened off a large living area, and the mini-bar was an actual bar, rather than a small refrigerator in a cabinet.

As she looked around, studying the area, Jameson tipped the bellman, showed him out the door, then closed it and engaged the privacy lock as well as the deadbolt.

Then he put his hands on her shoulders. His fingers pressed into her muscles, and she wanted to feel his hands on her skin. But she wiped that thought from her mind.

“The reception starts at seven,” he said. “I’ve arranged for Theo to come to our suite at six. It’ll give us time to talk in private. I don’t want anyone to overhear us.”

She nodded. “This suite, with the locks on the doors, is about as secure as we’re going to get. I’d rather not have to worry about who’s overhearing your conversation with your old advisor.”

“Me, too.” He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen. “We’ve got about an hour before Theo shows up. Why don’t we get something to eat? Eating from the buffet at the reception’s not a good idea, right?”

“Absolutely not,” she said immediately. “Although it would be pretty risky for someone to poison food, hoping you’ll eat it. But if someone’s desperate enough?” She shrugged. “Who knows what they’ll do?”

He rummaged in the desk and pulled out the room service menu. “Take a look and tell me what you want. Then you can get ready while we’re waiting for the food.”

She reached for the menu he was holding. Scanned it, then handed it back. “Salmon with the risotto, a salad.”

She turned and studied both bedrooms. Which one should she take? Which one would be safer for Jameson?

He came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders again. “Much easier to protect me if we sleep in the same bed,” he whispered in her ear. His breath lifted her hair and sent shivers down her back. Raised goosebumps on her arms. She wanted to turn into his embrace, but instead she stepped away.

“Easier to protect you,” she said. “Much harder every other way.”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice a low rasp in her ear. “My thoughts exactly.”

She turned and smiled at him over her shoulder, trying to look cool in spite of the heat flooding her. “Is it as hard for you to tease me as it is for me to hear it?”

“Want me to show you?” he whispered.

She knew she should say no, but she nodded instead. He moved closer, his scent stirring all her senses. He pressed against her, and the hard length of his cock slid against her ass.

For a long moment, she leaned into him. Savored the heat and the pressure. Then she edged away. “I’ll take the room closest to the door we came in,” she said. “The other one is all yours.”

“You’re a stubborn woman, Bree Gordon,” he said.

She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Makes me good at my job.” Then she grabbed her suitcase and briefcase and carried them into the room. Closed the door firmly behind her.

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