Running Hot by Helenkay Dimon Page A

is where and how many we have to shoot through, we hunt down Tigana.”
    He’d clearly given the afternoon agenda some thought. She appreciated his planning. “Sounds like you’ve done this before.”
    â€œSince the last part of the plan is to run like hell if they see us, you can assume that I’m a professional. Unless you think that’s an amateur move—then forget I said it.”
    Oh my God, that smile . He aimed it at her, and her control puddled at her feet. She didn’t lose sight of her job, but she did entertain the idea of running her hands all over him if they ever finished this assignment and got to a safe place. “We have to move in on Tigana.”
    â€œWe have to live through the next few hours first.”
    â€œYou know how to kill the mood.” But those priorities made sense. They also reinforced her belief that they needed a more permanent solution for the men at her feet.
    He leveled a serious flat-lipped stare in her direction. “Let’s hope that’s the last time you think that about me.”
    â€œWe’re not having sex.” The words shot out before she could stop them.
    â€œWell, not here.” He glanced around the hard ground. “That would be stupid.”
    â€œNot ever.” She tried to signal her brain to shut up, but the words kept dribbling out. Last thing she needed was for him to know she was thinking about sex.
    She shifted her weight, and her foot hit against something. Before she could glance down, a hand clamped around her ankle. One hard yank, and her knee buckled. On the way down she reached for the gun Ward gave her, jerking at her clothes to free it and fire.
    The shot stopped her. It rang out, echoing through the rough terrain. The grip on her loosened right as Ward grabbed her around the waist. She picked up the telltale metallic smell she’d been trained to detect and saw Ward’s weapon on the way back down to his side.
    She leaned into Ward for an extra second, more out of shock from being caught off guard by the gunman than anything else. People rarely got the jump on her.
    That would teach her to think about sex on the job.
    She stood up straight and tugged on the bottom of her T-shirt. Retucked it into her shorts. At least she’d changed from yesterday’s outfit before heading out to find Tigana. In this humidity clothes stayed bearable for only so long.
    â€œI got the impression you were going for minimal loss of life here,” she said as she stared at the two bodies, one lifeless and the other unmoving.
    â€œNo one touches you.” Ward’s eyes burned with a new intensity.
    It sounded like a vow, and she took it as one. Too stunned to say anything else, she went with the first lame thing that popped into her head. “Okay.”
    When the second guy stirred at her feet, she didn’t hesitate. Gun out and barrel down, she fired. The man’s face fell back to the ground with a thud.
    Ward winced but otherwise did not move at her impromptu shot. He looked down at the man with the blood now pooling around his head.
    Ward stepped back and out of blood range. “Was that necessary?”
    No way was she justifying saving them both from a shootout. Still . . . “We both know he’d have somehow gotten free and blown our cover, and that’s if he didn’t kill you first.”
    Ward nodded. “Now he won’t be doing anything.”
    A cryptic comment. One she jumped right over. “Right.”
    â€œYou’re in charge.” He let out a long breath. “So, lead.”
    She almost felt bad about what she was going to say. “I’m happy you remembered that.”
    If anything his frown deepened. “Why?”
    â€œYou need to start digging.” She skimmed the tip of her boot over the ground and listened to pebbles scrape against the sole. “We need these guys buried, and you should hurry.”
    A N HOUR LATER Ward’s