Free Pick Your Poison by Roxanne St. Claire Page B

the closed doors of a community room, afternoon tea was just getting underway.
    “We have to get in there,” Ben said, eyeing the lone guards at three different doors and not recognizing any of them. The few bodyguards they had were hired hands, not even professionals on the company staff. Not second-rate—these clowns were tenth-rate.
    They didn’t even have a metal detector at the door, but Callie was right. McManus didn’t want strong security. In fact, he’d hired the worst security he could find… after he’d fired the best.
    “She’s the one,” Callie said, indicating a female guard by the farthest door, who seemed more interested in checking her cell phone than anyone who approached the door. “Go talk to her. Stand in front of her. Melt her with those bedroom eyes.” She nudged him. “Use your devil-given gifts, Ben Youngblood.”
    “Okay, I’ll flirt, and when you get in your number one priority is to make sure Mrs. McManus doesn’t eat anything.”
    With that, they separated, and Ben headed over to the woman, who was an easy mark. In two minutes, he had her talking, laughing, and sharing pictures of the governor on her cell phone and ignoring the door behind her. That was enough for Callie to slip into the community room when someone else stepped out.
    A minute later, Ben changed his strategy with the female guard.
    “Let me go in there,” he said, lowering his voice, turning serious, and getting a little closer.
    Some color rose on her cheeks. “I can’t. You know I can’t.”
    “You can.” He brushed his knuckles over her shoulder. “I’m a huge fan of McManus’s and I just want one picture. I’ll stay right back here. You can stand with me.” Whatever it took, he had to see what was going on in that room. “I’d like that,” he added.
    She looked side to side, then nodded. “One minute,” she said, holding up a finger. “Then you leave.”
    When she pushed open the door, Ben instantly took a mental snapshot of the layout, his gaze landing on Governor and Mrs. McManus side by side at a round table in the middle of the room.
    Although everyone was getting food and tea from the side buffets, a server had just set a plate in front of the governor’s wife.
    He spotted Callie, noticing her blouse and skirt blended in well-enough with the servers wearing white tops and black pants. When their eyes met, Callie nodded toward the governor’s table, her brows lifted in question.
    Was she going to stop Angela McManus from eating? Or just check out what was on her plate?
    He lifted his own brow, silently giving her the go ahead for whatever she had in mind. Go with your gut, Callie Parrish. He had a feeling hers was as good as his.
    Instantly, she slid her hand under a large tray of discarded water glasses and coffee cups, hoisting it over her head and moving like she’d been a waitress all her life.
    No one even gave her a second look.
    She strolled across the room, headed directly for the governor’s table, with one more look at Ben. He nodded and, wouldn’t you guess, the little bodyguard next to him caught it.
    “What’s going on?” she asked.
    “Nothing.” He didn’t take his eyes off Callie.
    “Something’s going on,” the woman said, bristling next to him. “Who is she? Who are you?” She raised her voice just loud enough to turn a few heads, including the governor’s.
    McManus’s jaw dropped like he saw a ghost. “What the—?”
    Just that second, Callie reached the table, inches from Mrs. McManus, who picked up her fork to scoop up a bite of food. Callie jerked the whole tray forward, dumping all the glasses and coffee cups all over Mrs. McManus, who shrieked and jumped, along with half the room.
    “I’m so sorry!” Callie called out, lowering the tray to get closer, then picking up a glass on the table and dousing her food just in case it wasn’t wet enough.
    The woman next to Ben grabbed his arm. “Don’t you move.” But he jerked out of her touch,