Page 78 of Dangerous as Sin

“Yes, sir.”

CHAPTER FOUR

A flight out of the city on fake IDs.

Another flight, hopping destinations, breaking the trail.

A rental car, a drive, and another city.

We should be untraceable.

Katya’s quiet, barely speaking the entire journey. Dumbly, she simply obeys me as I guide her through my planned route.

In the hotel suite, I try to settle her down. “Miss Masterson, you’re safe here. No one knows we’re here except Mr Romano. And he’s sent me with you to be sure you’re okay…” Eyes reddened, her smile is watery. “… Try to relax. Have a bath. Watch some TV. Whatever helps you wind down.” Her mouth curves, the smile looking a bit more genuine. “Would you like to eat?” I ask. “I can call room service. Or some wine perhaps?”

Her throat ripples. “I couldn’t eat right now. Later maybe.”

“You’ve not eaten all day. You should have something, even if it’s only a bowl of soup.”

She sucks at her lips, then nods. “Alright. Soup.”

“Good. I’ll go order it. Why don’t you go have that bath? I’ll call you when the food arrives.”

Stretched out full length on the couch, she holds a book perched on her lap, but so far, she’s been reading the same page for the last twenty minutes. And covertly, she’s watching me.

“Is there something I can do for you, Miss Masterson?”

She sighs, flipping the book closed. “I was just wondering about you, that’s all.”

“Me? What about me?”

“Don’t you find this a bit tedious? Ferrying me around. Fetching and carrying for me. Babysitting me…” She swings her head. “… A man like you. Capable. Strong. I’d have thought you wanted…” She flounders…

I paste on my straightest face. “Wanted what?”

She spreads palms. “I don’t know. More…”

I suck in a smile. “Mr Romano has assigned me as your bodyguard. He wants you safe. I'm a man doing the job he’s paid for.”

“And you don’t find that boring?”

I allow my smile to come out and play. “It’s sometimes said that there are only two kinds of jobs. Miserable jobs that pay badly and miserable jobs that pay well.”

She huffs a laugh. “And what do I qualify as?”

“The third kind. An enjoyable job that pays well.”

Now she blinks. “So… is there a Mrs Hickman out there? Or some mini-Hickmans?”

“Mrs Hickman? No. Why would you ask?”

“Girlfriend? Or a… would-be Mrs Hickman?”

I draw in breath. “You must realise, Miss Masterson, my work can be dangerous. I prefer to keep my… social life, uncomplicated.”

Her head swings, slowly, left to right and back. “So… you’re not interested in a long-term relationship at all? You have a social life, surely? You can’t work all the time. And you don’t strike me as one of life’s natural monks.”

Crap…

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