Page 9 of Hidden Attraction

“Yes, yes. Thank you, Mr. President,” she said as he ended the call in order to take another.

Alyssa lowered the phone from her ear.

“Seven,” she announced to the other passengers. “That’s how many languages I speak. And how is it that you know I speak Arabic?”

Chase only gave her a sideways glance. Though his lips firmed at the corner, he didn’t utter a response.

She was surprised when they pulled up in front of their hotel, but it couldn’t come sooner. Her schedule was tight—she had orders to be in the secretary-general’s office in one hour. That left just enough time to check in to their hotel. But the thought of getting out of the vehicle, walking through the hotel, made her stomach flutter.

Leaving the car engine idling, Denver climbed out of the vehicle and spoke with the valet.

Alyssa leaned forward to address Chase. “What’s going on?”

“We have to leave the car with the valet.”

“Can’t Special Operative Malone park the car?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Denver and I are a team. We can’t split up to find parking, and circling the block is out of the question.”

“I see. Well, you’re escorting us inside the hotel right?” Her voice wasn’t as steady as she liked, and picking up on it, Kennedy shot Alyssa a swift glance.

Chase didn’t look at her when he responded. “Where you go, we go.”

Good. Very good. Though her schedule was highly secure, and no one knew her movements, the thought of taking a single step without a bodyguard worried her.

Denver ducked back inside the vehicle and traded a quick, loaded glance with Chase—one of those silent conversations that said more than words ever could.

In a flash, Chase was out of the car and moving, guiding both her and Kennedy through the glass hotel doors while Denver followed with their luggage in one big hand as if it was filled with pillows and air.

With Chase cutting through the lobby like a battering ram in combat boots, and Denver solid and steady at her back, Alyssa let herselfbreathe.

For the first time all day, she felt like the world wasn’t on fire.

But in her gut, she knew the real heat hadn’t even started.

THREE

This was the kind of simple, in-and-out op Chase would take all day. He clocked the time it took the ladies to drop their luggage in their rooms—three minutes, thirty-two seconds.

At least he and Denver hadn’t been left to stand around. Though he had been antsy waiting for their plane, the plan was on schedule.

With Chase leading the way and Denver bringing up the rear, they reached the lobby. Chase threw his teammate a quick glance before he stepped up to the valet. The man was on the young side. He’d seen puppies with less eagerness in their eyes.

“Bring the car around, please.”

“Of course, sir.”

“How long will it be?”

“Two minutes.”

“We’ll wait for you out front.”

Chase returned to the group. A few steps away, Denver stood guarding the ladies, his legs braced. Alyssa had changed clothes. She smoothed her palms over her beige blazer, a sure sign of nerves, as if he didn’t already see through her calm façade. The way she curled and uncurled her fingers was a definite sign that her nerves were fraying.

Not that he blamed her. After the explosion, her schedule had likely gone from busy to absolute chaos.

He strolled over to the group. “We’ll have you to your destination on time. If you’ll follow me outside.”

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