The Farther I Fall by Lisa Nicholas

keep quiet.” They were approaching the ferry docks.
    Gwen shook her head. “That’s not nearly enough. Was this the first note from this person?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œUntil we have a better idea what we’re dealing with, I don’t want Lucas left alone. Does he have any self-defense training?”
    â€œHell if I know,” Craig said.
    â€œMaybe I can teach him a little bit. And someone’s got to room with him.”
    Craig laughed. “Right. You get to tell him that.”
    â€œWhat? There’s room in those massive suites of his,” Gwen said. “I don’t want him being entirely alone.” He grinned at her. “What is it?”
    â€œOh nothing. I just want to be there when you tell Lucas you’re going to be sleeping in his suite for the rest of the tour. He’ll be overjoyed. I doubt he’ll sleep another wink.”
    â€œMe? It doesn’t have to be me.” Gwen backpedaled. The last thing she needed was Lucas Wheeler sleeping on the other side of a door from her, night after night.
    â€œAh, but you’re the only one with real security experience,” Craig said. “You know what to look out for.”
    â€œSo you’re saying our best option is for me to move in with the guy who alternates between hating me and hitting on me?” The ferry bumped against the dock and the other passengers got ready to disembark. “Is it too late for me to say we should just let the stalker get him?” She was only half-kidding.
    â€œJust think of it as one of the challenges of the job.” His eyes twinkled, the corner of his mouth twitching.
    â€œWhat are you playing at?”
    â€œNothing. I just know that you’ll be a lot more likely to get him to agree to this if you’re the one in the next room.”
    Gwen pulled a face. “You’d be surprised, actually, how much better that
doesn’t
make me feel.”
    Craig followed her up the gangplank, still laughing at her.
    ***
    â€œI’ve already had self-defense instruction,” Lucas complained.
    â€œDid you practice what you learned before?”
    â€œSome.”
    They were standing in the living area of his suite. Gwen reached up and grabbed him by the arm, twisting it behind him. Not hard—at least, not much harder than she had in the green room.
    â€œHey! Ow!”
    She stepped up behind him, pressing close, pulling him down so she could speak into his ear. She wasn’t above flirting a little to convince him to let her train him. “I’m not hurting you, you big baby. Get out of the hold and you don’t have to train with me.” Lucas tugged his arm ineffectually, tried to turn around, but couldn’t get free. “I did learn this stuff already.” The pout in his voice made her smile.
    If her lips happened to brush against his ear, it was purely by accident. “That’s why you need hands-on practice with someone who knows what they’re doing.” He took a deep breath and leaned back against her. Goose pimples dotted the skin of his neck. She released him and stepped back. “That’s why you drill. So when the time comes, you don’t have to think.”
    Freed, he tried to crowd into her personal space. She let him, tilting her head to smile up at him. “You’ve convinced me,” he murmured, and leaned down with the obvious intent of kissing her. She was tempted to let him, but that would defeat the purpose of coaxing him into practice. So she turned and headed for the door.
    â€œGreat. Go change and meet me down in the hotel gym. I’ve cleared some time for us. Come on.”
    â€œBut—we aren’t going to train here?”
    She glanced back over her shoulder and smiled. “Of course not.” She didn’t trust herself for a minute to grapple with him in the privacy of his suite.
    He was still muttering under his breath when she closed the