“We’ll get some breakfast in Sioux Falls before we turn onto I-90 heading west. The safe-house is another twelve to fourteen hours away.”
“Don’t you need to get some sleep?”
“The work I do has provided me with vast experience in dealing with very little sleep. When we get to the cabin, I’ll let you stand guard while I hibernate for a day or two.”
Joseph exited the highway into a rest stop and parked. Ember pulled her satchel into the front seat and opened the zipped pouch inside. Pulling out a small silver capsule, she pushed it at him. “Here, you take that, I don’t want it. I don’t want to know what’s on it and I don’t want to be associated with it.”
He nodded and got out of the car putting the flash drive in his front pocket of his slacks. He stretched, careful not to wince. “Too late, you’re already associated with it, but I’ll take care of it until we can upload it to a secure server.”
Ember cocked her head looking out the open door as she pulled on her boots. “Okay, you’ve got all day to explain that secure server comment, but right now I’m heading to the ladies' room.”
Joseph walked with her into the building. He used the facilities and splashed his face with cold water hoping to reduce his growing temperature. Sitting outside in the early morning sunshine, he waited for her. The muscle spasms, shaking and even the fever he was nursing remained manageable. He suspected by tomorrow he would be in a world of hurt, but by then they would be at his cabin. She exited wearing faded jeans and knee high boots instead of the mini skirt. Her curves were sensational and he wanted nothing more than to peel the skin-tight denim off her body. Ahh…just fuck me now. I’m so screwed . A groan rumbled in his chest. At her questioning look he admitted, “You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I was just thinking the same thing about you, Joey.”
Moving away from her before his body could betray were his mind had taken him, he responded, “I’d never live it down if my brothers heard you say I’m a beautiful woman.”
“What? No, ugh, you know what I meant. You’re a total stud muffin. You always have been. Please don’t tell me the King brothers are still maneuvering for the most macho award?”
He shook his head as he got in the car. “No, not really, but there’s a definite pecking order. Justin is a businessman. He owns six very successful restaurants. He’s the only one of us who’s never been associated with Guardian Security. We no longer fight over who is most macho because we all agree. Justin lost hands down.”
She laughed as he programmed the GPS for the nearest restaurant and pulled onto the interstate. “So you work for Guardian too?” He threw a glance her way before he nodded.
Ember slid closer to him once again forcing his arm up so she could snuggle next to him. Her body, her scent, her sexy voice—God, what a fucking distraction. She placed her hand on his thigh and squeezed slightly. “What do you do for Guardian? Your mom said you worked overseas.”
He didn’t respond. What the hell was he supposed to say? Instead, he pulled off the interstate and motioned towards a small restaurant. “Breakfast.”
She crinkled her nose and erupted in a throaty chuckle. “Stop ignoring the question. What do you do?”
Oh, nothing much, I kill evil mother fuckers who deserve to die. “I have assignments abroad.” Congratulations, it wasn’t a lie.
“So you work for Guardian overseas doing what?”
He stopped the car, put it in park and turned his head towards her. He didn’t move his body more than necessary. “I eliminate security concerns. Stop bad situations from getting worse.” Yep, with practice he could actually hold a conversation .
She smiled at him, “Is this what you pictured when you joined the Marine Corps?”
He leaned back gingerly on the door and leveled a very pointed stare at her.
“Don’t you need to get some sleep?”
“The work I do has provided me with vast experience in dealing with very little sleep. When we get to the cabin, I’ll let you stand guard while I hibernate for a day or two.”
Joseph exited the highway into a rest stop and parked. Ember pulled her satchel into the front seat and opened the zipped pouch inside. Pulling out a small silver capsule, she pushed it at him. “Here, you take that, I don’t want it. I don’t want to know what’s on it and I don’t want to be associated with it.”
He nodded and got out of the car putting the flash drive in his front pocket of his slacks. He stretched, careful not to wince. “Too late, you’re already associated with it, but I’ll take care of it until we can upload it to a secure server.”
Ember cocked her head looking out the open door as she pulled on her boots. “Okay, you’ve got all day to explain that secure server comment, but right now I’m heading to the ladies' room.”
Joseph walked with her into the building. He used the facilities and splashed his face with cold water hoping to reduce his growing temperature. Sitting outside in the early morning sunshine, he waited for her. The muscle spasms, shaking and even the fever he was nursing remained manageable. He suspected by tomorrow he would be in a world of hurt, but by then they would be at his cabin. She exited wearing faded jeans and knee high boots instead of the mini skirt. Her curves were sensational and he wanted nothing more than to peel the skin-tight denim off her body. Ahh…just fuck me now. I’m so screwed . A groan rumbled in his chest. At her questioning look he admitted, “You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I was just thinking the same thing about you, Joey.”
Moving away from her before his body could betray were his mind had taken him, he responded, “I’d never live it down if my brothers heard you say I’m a beautiful woman.”
“What? No, ugh, you know what I meant. You’re a total stud muffin. You always have been. Please don’t tell me the King brothers are still maneuvering for the most macho award?”
He shook his head as he got in the car. “No, not really, but there’s a definite pecking order. Justin is a businessman. He owns six very successful restaurants. He’s the only one of us who’s never been associated with Guardian Security. We no longer fight over who is most macho because we all agree. Justin lost hands down.”
She laughed as he programmed the GPS for the nearest restaurant and pulled onto the interstate. “So you work for Guardian too?” He threw a glance her way before he nodded.
Ember slid closer to him once again forcing his arm up so she could snuggle next to him. Her body, her scent, her sexy voice—God, what a fucking distraction. She placed her hand on his thigh and squeezed slightly. “What do you do for Guardian? Your mom said you worked overseas.”
He didn’t respond. What the hell was he supposed to say? Instead, he pulled off the interstate and motioned towards a small restaurant. “Breakfast.”
She crinkled her nose and erupted in a throaty chuckle. “Stop ignoring the question. What do you do?”
Oh, nothing much, I kill evil mother fuckers who deserve to die. “I have assignments abroad.” Congratulations, it wasn’t a lie.
“So you work for Guardian overseas doing what?”
He stopped the car, put it in park and turned his head towards her. He didn’t move his body more than necessary. “I eliminate security concerns. Stop bad situations from getting worse.” Yep, with practice he could actually hold a conversation .
She smiled at him, “Is this what you pictured when you joined the Marine Corps?”
He leaned back gingerly on the door and leveled a very pointed stare at her.
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