Page 36 of The Warrior
“I never said I wasn’t attracted to you. You’re so different and fascinating from anyone else I’ve ever met. I just never thought you’d be interested in a man like me.”
The truth spilled out of me. “I assumed you were gay.”
Hans’ hand flew to his chest. “Gay? No, I don’t have any preference.”
“Well, it’s irrelevant anyway since I’m married,” I pointed out.
“Yes, of course.” Hans lowered his gaze. For a second his eyes lingered on my breasts before he looked away and changed the subject. “Are you nervous about today?”
“More excited than nervous. I want it to work.”
“Did you practice the flirting like we talked about?”
“A little.”
“Good. I know you can do this, Laura. There’s no need for violence when we can outsmart the Nmen.”
“You’re only saying that because you don’t know how to fight.” The last three of the Nmen we had captured had tried to escape and every time, I’d chased them down. The first had ended in a net, cussing and threatening. The second had been old and easy to take down, but the third almost had me in a chokehold before I managed to get my legs around his neck and squeeze. The only reason I won that fight was because my opponent underestimated me.
“Cross your fingers that Jonathan is still here,” Hans said when we arrived at the town where a man with a description like Jonathan’s had been reported for inappropriate communication twice. Thank God his lack of tactful manners stood out and left a trail of upset women behind him.
Motlander men would never come on to women the way Jonathan did. I was a bit amused when I read through the reports of improper communication. I could tell Jonathan was trying hard, and used words that were mild in the Northlands. But telling a woman she had a gorgeous ass wasn’t seen as a compliment here.
I sat in the café where he’d been spotted twice. For three hours, I’d sipped tea, hoping Jonathan would show up. When a tall man walked in, I could hardly control my beating heart. From the sheer size of the man, it had to be Jonathan.
According to his file, our target was thirty-one years old and six-foot-three. He had a significant scar on his neck and jaw, which had been caused by an aggressive dog when he was a teenager.
With the large scarf the man was wearing, there was no way to identify him by the scar on his neck. It didn’t matter, though. The minute his gaze lowered to my breasts it lingered and he licked his lips. That’s when I knew it was him for sure.
Hans was sitting at another table; we exchanged a nod of understanding. He batted his lashes as a signal for me to use all the flirting we had studied together.
The plan was for Hans to look normal, but he pursed his lips and made those funny little jerks with his nose as a silent reminder for me to put on my charm. How anyone could find that expression sexy was beyond me and I refused to do it.
Curious, I kept an eye on Jonathan. It was November and his jacket was dusted with a bit of snow. With his eyes darting around the café he removed his jacket but kept his scarf on.
Three times he caught me looking at him. Each time, I held eye contact for a second before I looked away. The last time I smiled, and let my finger circle the rim of my teacup.
It worked like magic, just like the instructions had predicted it would, and Jonathan took the bait and came over. “Is this seat taken?”
“No.” I gestured for him to join me. “May peace surround you.”
“May peace surround you too.”
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Marvin.” He gave me a charming smile. “What’s yours?”
Leaning forward, I placed my elbow on the table, and rested my chin in my hand. “Take a guess. What name would fit me?” My tone was light and playful like I had learned from the videos.
“Angel would suit you.”
“That’s sweet of you to say, but that’s not my name.”
Jonathan was struggling to keep his eyes away from my breasts.
“How about Beauty?”
“Nope, that’s not my name either.” My smile widened and I gave one of the giggles I’d learned about. “Did anyone ever tell you that you look like one of those sexy Nmen?”
