Free All That I Desire by Francis Ray Page A

Sierra, and knowing she’s
     strong-willed and Blade’s wife, how did that work out?”
    “I called Blade when I saw her heading in that direction for no apparent reason and
     went after her.” He stopped at the light. “Blade arrived while we were talking just
     inside the perimeter of the scanners. My men followed protocol when the scanners went
     off.”
    Protocol could mean anything from lockdown to guns drawn. Skylar would have loved to have
     heard that “talk” between Rio and Sierra. It was no secret to anyone who had been
     around Sierra that she liked having her way, and that she didn’t like the bodyguards
     Rio assigned to her when she wasn’t with Blade. She and Rio had butted heads in the
     past and would probably butt them again.
    She glanced at Rio as he pulled off. He would give only as much information as he
     had to. At least they’d gotten past one-syllable answers. “All right, what happened?”
    “She and Blade went back to the castle,” he said simply.
    There was more to it, but she’d never hear it from Rio. He was a man of principle
     and extremely loyal. She relaxed back in her seat. “But I’m bringing them food.”
    “No women.”
    “How about hot dogs on the grill later on tonight?” Skylar cajoled. She’d never had
     to work this hard for a date, but then there were no other men like Rio. “You wouldn’t
     want me to be embarrassed when Mrs. Grayson asked me and I’d have to tell her that
     you stood me up.” She shuddered. “I’d never be able to look her in the face again.”
    “You’ll manage.” He slowed down to turn into the Navarone estate.
    “I’d manage better if you and I had dinner tonight.” She wondered if she should do
     the finger walk up his muscular thigh.
    The stubborn man ignored her. “From now until this person is caught, when you leave
     the estate you aren’t to be alone.”
    “Rio—”
    “Argue and you’ll walk the rest of the way.”
    “No, I won’t, because then you wouldn’t be with me to protect me. Not that I don’t
     think I can take care of myself,” she said matter-of-factly.
    The Jeep came to a screeching halt a yard from the black iron gate. On the other side,
     two men with guns drawn stepped from the guardhouse into the road. “Jaguar. Stand
     down,” Rio radioed. His eyes were no longer cold, but burning hot with emotion. “If
     you suspect anything, you let me handle it. Got it?”
    “Ri—”
    “Got it?” he bit out.
    She could argue, but she wouldn’t win this time, either. Rio wouldn’t back down from
     Blade, who was pretty scary himself. “Got it.” If he thinks I’m going to run to him and risk him getting hurt when I could hand —
    His hand on her cheek turned her face to him. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t. One
     word from me and you’re on the jet back to Tucson.”
    She stared openmouthed at him. Blade trusted Rio implicitly. “You wouldn’t?”
    “Try me.”
    He would, in a heartbeat. He’d do whatever it took to protect her, but she didn’t
     have to like it. She batted his hand away and crossed her arms. “I don’t think I’ll
     be hungry tonight.”
    Rio started the Jeep just as the delivery van turned in behind them.
    She’d show him.

 
    Chapter 6
    Skylar was giving Rio the silent treatment. That was okay. It would keep him from
     doing what he shouldn’t—kissing her until they thought only of the need to quench
     the burning desire between them. He drew in a deep breath. He was not going there.
    Nothing mattered except her safety. To add another layer of protection, he was installing
     another lock on her door.
    He’d called Dakota at five thirty. The tapes hadn’t revealed the man in the checkered
     jacket. The cameras were trained on the valets, the parking lot, and the back entrance,
     not the front or inside of the restaurant. The man could have walked from a nearby
     hotel or anywhere.
    The only other possibility was letting Skylar watch the tapes to see if she