Page 5 of Target Me
A heavy clunk echoed through the wall a second before the stream above me dropped to below freezing. I cursed, turning off the water with a flick of the tap, then cursed again as a faint hissing confirmed I had a leak in the hot water line. Wrapping a towel around my hips, I stomped outside and turned the water off at the main.
The sky was a deep purple, the softest hint of light promising the start of a new day.
“No time like the present,” I decided, wandering inside and pulling a pair of jeans out of my kit bag to cover my ass. Next came a black t-shirt and ball cap to complete theI’m here to do a job, don’t fuck with mevibe.
As I grabbed the keys to my truck, a niggle in my hamstring reminded me protein would be a good idea at some point. Instead, I picked two bananas out of the fruit bowl I’d set up and ate them in three bites a piece as I backed out of my driveway and headed for an area code that was far more upscale than the one I left in my dust.
My breath escaped through my teeth in a whistle of appreciation as I double checked the address and confirmed the monster house in front of me was exactly where I was supposed to be. I wondered how the General had come to live there. Maybe his ex-wife had insisted on it. Or the daughter. Either way, I wasn’t looking forward to staying in the place for longer than necessary, and that was before I considered how much more difficult it would be to secure such a large premises.
One step at a time. I could assess current security protocols once I had met the assignment. With a final steadying breath, I pulled myself out of my truck, grabbing my pack and ignoring the cramping in my legs from the lactic acid buildup. I knew better than to sit in my truck so soon after a big workout, but nothing for it. I’d walk it out.
Huge marble columns bracketed the front door, the slippery stone spilling down the front stairs in a way that made me wonder if I shouldn’t watch my step. Beside the heavy-looking wooden door was a brass doorbell that could have been antique or just really well designed. A booming chime broke out as I pushed the bell, and I stood back, dropping my pack by my feet. The sound faded, and seeing as it had elicited no response, I put it to work again a few more times. Eventually, the slapping of footsteps preceded the arrival of what I could only describe as an angry pixie.
“What?” she growled, throwing open the door.
Her attitude faltered as she caught sight of me, and I carefully hid a smirk as her eyes burned a path over my body. I couldn’t blame her. I was doing the same thing. White-blonde hair stood out from her head in a mess that could conservatively be called a bird’s nest. I wondered if a blue jay might fly out if we waited long enough. Fierce hazel eyes narrowed, and it occurred to me she looked nothing like her father until she pulled that exact expression.
“Can I help you?” she asked, crossing her arms over full breasts I had tried and failed not to notice. I was a man, for fuck’s sake, and her body was worth looking at, even if it was completely off limits.
“I’m reporting for babysitting duty. You going to let me in?”
“Depends.”
Shit, she was throwing me off my game. She had someone following her, and here I was, wanting to be let in with no introduction.
“Logan Tanner,” I said, touching my brow in a small salute in hopes I could turn the conversation around.
She hummed, a coy look passing over her face that made me bristle before she opened her pretty pink mouth again.
“How do I know I’m not letting the fox into the henhouse? You could be anyone. I’d hate to make a mistake like that.”
Her words were logical. Her tone of voice was bratty and immediately triggered a response in me that was entirely inappropriate for the situation. I wanted to punish her. Bind those long, toned legs and turn her ass the same color as the nipples I could see peeking through the fabric of her shirt.
Fuck this.
“Stop playing games, little girl.”
I scooped up my belongings, pushing past my charge into the house and ignoring her protest in favor of perusing the interior. Large open spaces, lots of windows. No cameras on the inside—I’d have to change that. I wondered whether a property this big had a dedicated security room or just an app. I’d have to check with the General.
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
She was fucking pouting. My hand twitched with the need to spank her, but, being the professional I was, I reminded her exactly why I was here.
“Your father thinks otherwise, and until my orders change, you can consider me your shadow. You’re welcome, hen.” I grinned, proud of the callback to her previous metaphor, and decided that would be her codename from here on out.
Hen. I could see from her face she hated it already. Perfect.
“Are you going to show me around?”
She grunted and headed for the staircase, the curve of her ass appearing and disappearing in tantalizing glimpses I should have turned away from.
“Is that a yes?” I asked, trying to focus on the task at hand.
“It’s a dowhatever you want. I’m going back to bed until a more decent hour.”
“It’s practically lunchtime,” I called after her, barely able to suppress a chuckle at the middle finger she flipped over her shoulder.
The slam of a door upstairs caused the smile to slip from my face as I shifted into work mode. I couldn’t forget why I was here. Someone was threatening the General through his daughter, and I wasn’t going to let them get away with it. Shit. As fun as it was to needle the girl, I couldn’t forget that not only was she an assignment, she was also the daughter of someone I respected immensely.
