Free Playing His Dangerous Game by Tina Duncan Page A

it, and that they respected others because that was how it was meant to be.
    ‘This?’ he asked, focussing his attention on the conversation at hand.
    ‘Yes,
this
.’ She waved a hand through the air. ‘You being here? Getting Steve off my back?’
    ‘That depends.’
    ‘On what?’
    With a shrug of his massive shoulders, Royce drew his long legs out from under the table and lifted one leg to cross an ankle over a knee. ‘On lots of things. Each case is different, I’m afraid. I can’t tell you when it’s going to end.’
    ‘Surely you must have some idea?’ she asked, sounding desperate.
    ‘I’m afraid not. But we’re about to change the rules. That might be enough to make Brady back off.’ He stared at her, a cold feeling invading his insides at what he was about to say. ‘Or it might not. It might make the situation worse—just as you feared.’
    She paled.
    Royce didn’t want to frighten her. She’d already been frightened enough. But he had to lay his cards on the table. It was only fair that she knew what to expect.
    ‘I hope not,’ she gasped.
    ‘I hope not too. But being forewarned is being forearmed. If he does anything once we’ve taken an AVO out against him then we’ll have him,’ Royce said with satisfaction.
    He’d love nothing better than to see the other man in jail.
    There was nothing new about that. He believed in justice. He liked to see the bad guys get their comeuppance. It was one of the reasons he’d started the Royce Agency in the first place.
    So his reaction was perfectly normal.
    Except it wasn’t.
    There was something different about this situation. Something different about his reaction. It was subtle, but it was there.
    And, whatever it was, he had the terrible feeling that it had something to do with the woman sitting in front of him.
    ‘How I wish I had your confidence,’ Shara said with a sigh, her fingertips making circular patterns on the top of the table. ‘I’m tired of being scared.’
    ‘Well, if you feel that way maybe you should do something about it,’ Royce suggested.
    ‘Like what?’ she asked, curious in spite of herself.
    She would do anything not to be scared any more.
    To feel safe.
    Free.
    ‘Why don’t I give you some karate lessons?’
    It was the last thing she’d expected him to say. She barked out a laugh and waved a dismissive hand through the air. ‘I don’t think so.’
    ‘Why not?’
    She stopped laughing. ‘You’re serious?’
    He nodded. ‘Of course I am. I happen to believe everyone—particularly women—should know the basics of self-defence. The world isn’t a safe place. Things happen. People end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. They should know how to protect themselves. Knowing you possess those skills will give you confidence. There have even been studies showing that by projecting that confidence you’re less likely to be attacked in the first place.’
    Shara stared at him doubtfully. ‘I’m not very athletic.’
    ‘You don’t have to be. I’m not talking about turning you into a black belt who can take on ten men at one time.’
    ‘I should hope not,’ she said, with another laugh.
    At the same time a quiver of sensation swept through her. It was all too easy to imagine Royce taking on ten men—and winning.
    She could imagine his muscles rippling as he moved. Could imagine the gleam of danger darkening his chocolate-brown eyes to black.
    ‘All I’m talking about is teaching you a couple of moves that will get you out of trouble. You’d be surprised how effective a few simple blocks and punches can be.’
    Blocks and punches?
    He had to be out of his tree.
    Shara shook her head. ‘Thank you for the offer, but I don’t think I’d be any good at it.’
    He stared at her for such a long time that Shara began to feel uncomfortable. ‘What?’ she demanded.
    ‘Attitude is nine-tenths of battle. If you want confidence then you need to start acting confidently. Don’t admit defeat before