Chewing, she closed her eyes and moaned at the silky chocolate flavor. Licking the fork, she grinned. “Too bad, Terrance. You totally missed out!”
5
“I’m so fucked. I’ve never felt so fucked before a mission before in my life.” Bennett let the weight bar drop into the supports with a clink before sitting up. Leaning forward, he covered his face with his hands before swiping up along his scalp.
When he pulled his hand away, Dolby, Poole, and Rick stared at him. His mouth twisted in a grimace, hating the whiny-ass statement he’d just made and wished he could stuff it back into the depths of whatever-the-hell was wrong with him.
“Is it because of Vegas?” Dolby asked.
“I know it’s not your scene,” Poole added. “You’d be more at home in the desert than in a desert city.”
“No, it’s not that. I mean, Vegas has never been on my bucket list of places to vacation, but I’ve never worried about where the mission took me.”
“Hell, it’s probably the conference,” Rick surmised, slowing the treadmill to a walk. “Although, a bunch of nerds talking about blowing shit up could be kinda interesting.”
Shaking his head, Bennett replied, “No, that’s not it, either. The mission is just about keeping Dr. Olson safe.”
“Is it because she’s blind?” Dolby asked.
Jerking his head up, he glared. “She’s not fuckin’ blind. She has vision limitations, but she can still see.”
He didn’t miss the looks being shared by the other three Keepers and once again wished he’d kept his mouth shut. Since he had no idea what it was about this mission making him twitchy, he couldn’t begin explaining it to anyone else.
“Look,” Rick said. “Carson always says that we can turn down any mission that we don’t feel is right for us. If that’s what you need to do—”
“No way. I’ve never turned down a mission, and I’m not about to start now.” He didn’t speak his next thought aloud but couldn’t stand the idea of someone else providing the security for Diana. “No, thanks, I’ve got this.”
As a few more of the Keepers came into the gym, he headed to the showers and then back into the work room. He’d spent most of the day with Jeb poring over the background information on Alex, Jerry, and the two employees going and the information on explosives bought on the black market. He’d even read up on her father’s death, but his cursory search found nothing suspicious. Hating coincidences, he asked Jeb to keep looking.
He’d also worked with Abbie to review the schematics of the hotel where the conference would be held and where he and Diana would be staying. He memorized the floor maps, the elevators and stairs, and the entrances and exits for the visitors and staff. When he determined that he had learned all he could for the day, he headed into the equipment room with Teddy.
Checking out the necessary equipment that he would travel with but hoped he wouldn’t need to use, he secured his weapon and carried the body armor.
“I think you’re ready,” Teddy said with a dip of his chin, his blue eyes moving over the items in Bennett’s hands. “But if you need anything else, let me know, and I can get it to you. Same day.”
Bennett appreciated many things about LSIWC, and the employees were top of the list. Shaking Teddy’s hand, he waved goodbye before seeking out Carson for the last briefing. Finding Dolby, Poole, Abbie, Rick, Leo, and Natalie still in the workroom, Carson assured him they would all be working security with him.
“I know Teddy has already said this, but if you need anything, let us know. You’re the most focused employee I have and unparalleled at professional security. I know you’ll provide exactly what Dr. Olson needs.”
Properly equipped and ready, he offered a chin lift acknowledging that Carson’s confidence in him would not be misplaced. Professional security. Focus. Dr. Olson. Got it.
He was picking her up at six o’clock the following morning to go to the airport. Her uncle had arranged for a company jet to fly them to Las Vegas. Her stepbrother wouldn’t be accompanying them since he had already left for a few days of Vegas vacation before the conference. The other two employees were driving.
Walking outside, he was ready for the active mission to begin. He could handle being around her… just ignore the spark that seemed to move between them, keep her safe, and fulfill his duty. No problem.
The following morning, Bennett pulled his SUV up to the front of her building. Just as he climbed down, the front door opened, and she walked out. Her hair was pulled back in a no-frills, low ponytail. With her subtle makeup, dark jeans, blue sweater, and sneakers, she looked like she could be walking out of a college dorm as a freshman, not a woman in her thirties with a doctorate. Shit. She’s fuckin’ beautiful. Then she smiled. His heart jolted at the sight. Drop-dead gorgeous, and I’m definitely fucked. She spoke while he continued to stare like a teenager desperate for a breadcrumb from the head cheerleader.
“Hello!” she called out, facing him, her hand lifted in a little wave. “I was waiting in the lobby, and Bobby told me that you had arrived.”
Bobby trailed her, lugging a small suitcase with a scowl on his face.
Bennett was used to processing changing information quickly, but something about Diana’s smile muddled his mind. He’d managed to convince himself he was immune to her beauty… hell, he’d provided security for attractive women before. There was a fragility amid her strength that he couldn’t define. Maybe that was why when Bobby’s eyes dropped to her ass, and Bennett knew she wasn’t able to see that reaction, his temper flared. Stalking over, he snagged the suitcase from the smaller man. “Got it.”
He lifted it with ease and placed it in the back of his SUV. She packed light for a woman going to Vegas for a week. Glaring at Bobby, he sent the young man scurrying back inside. Opening the passenger door, he watched as she twisted her head toward the seat and tentatively lifted her foot. “Almost no vision in the left eye.”
Her words from their previous meeting hit him, and he inwardly cursed his lack of foresight. “Here, let me assist you.” He wrapped his hand around her arm and guided her up into the passenger seat and was struck with the delicate scent of vanilla and the tingle of a current running between them.
She looked toward him, her smile still in place. “Thank you.”
He nodded, then hurried to offer a verbal reply, “No problem. Buckle up.” He waited until she complied before carefully closing her door. Rounding the front of his vehicle, he climbed behind the wheel. “Ready?”
“Absolutely,” she said, her face still lit with a smile. She shifted in her seat to face him more fully. “How about you?”
His chin jerked downward as his brows lifted. He couldn’t remember a client asking about him before. “Me?”
A light chuckle slipped out. “Yes, you. Are you ready for Vegas?”
“I’m just here for you, Dr. Olson.”
As he pulled onto the road, her blink didn’t go unnoticed. Nor did the way her smile seemed to fall.
“What happened to calling me Diana?”