Free Her Billionaire Bodyguard Bridegroom by Lisa Weaver Page B

shouldn’t be lazing the day away. We have work to do.”
    He had to give her points for recovering quickly. “It’s okay. We have plenty of time to make the drive to Maine. We’re not on a rigid schedule. Would you like some coffee?”
    “I’d love some. Give me ten minutes to grab a quick shower first, okay?”
    “Of course. I’ll wait for you out in the sitting area.”
    He hadn’t taken her ten-minute estimate seriously, so he was surprised when she emerged from the shower two minutes shy of her self-imposed deadline. She’d donned a tailored black pencil skirt and a brightly patterned silk top with a V-neck that put an alluring amount of her gorgeous curves on display. Needing to focus on anything but the enticing fullness of her breasts, he distracted himself by pouring her a cup of coffee.
    She eagerly accepted the fragrant, steamy mug. “Thanks. I can’t make it through the morning without my java fix.”
    “I share your vice,” he confessed with a self-depreciating smile, pouring a second cup for himself.
    She took a sip of the brew and sighed in appreciation. “Perfect! Lots of cream and a little sugar. Exactly how I like it. How did you know?”
    “I was paying attention at dinner last night.”
    “Detail-oriented, are we?”
    In order for his clients to remain safe, he needed to be in touch with every nuance of his environment. Sometimes even things that appeared innocuous on the surface could be precursors to an attack. “Guilty as charged. It’s my job to be observant.”
    Since he couldn’t illustrate his point using his experiences as a covert bodyguard, he turned to his editorial role, instead. “Readers tend to frown on mistakes and incorrect information. Miss a typo, say like an extra t tacked onto the word ‘but,’ and suddenly a story takes on an entirely different slant.”
    Brianna laughed. “I see your point.”
    “Something tells me you share my propensity for crossing t ’s and dotting i ’s. Considering the rave reviews I’ve heard about your contributions to Upwords Development—I’ll bet you’re as thorough as I am.”
    His praise brought the blush back to her cheeks. “That means a lot, coming from you. Intrepid Explorations is a top-notch publication.”
    “So you’re an outdoors enthusiast?”
    “More of a wannabe, actually. But I’ve seen an issue or two,” she admitted. “Your backpacking special was nicely presented. It made me want to try camping someday.”
    “Ah. A closet camper living vicariously through the pages of Intrepid , huh?”
    “You’ve guessed my secret. For the record, I’ve enjoyed my armchair adventures tremendously. Anyhow, while I’m doling out appreciation, I owe you a couple more thank-you’s. One for taking the sofa last night, and another for not taking me up on my offer when I threw myself at you. You were right to talk me down.”
    He raised a hand to his ear, tipping his head in her direction. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch that. Can you repeat the last part?”
    Brianna rolled her eyes. “You’ll have to be satisfied with ‘thank you’.”
    Luke grinned for a second, then his expression turned serious. “You wouldn’t be normal if you hadn’t been shaken by your close call. It’s not every day your hotel room is the scene of a bomb blast.” As quickly as it had disappeared, his grin returned. “Combine delayed reaction with my irresistible masculine charms, and you were bound to make a play for me.”
    The teasing wink Luke sent her way made Brianna’s insides tingle.
    God, I wish he wouldn’t smile at me like that.
    Now the dimples were on full, knee-weakening display again. The man could overload her sensors without even trying. It was time to steer the subject away from last night’s brush with intimacy before she dissolved in a puddle of lust at his feet.
    “I don’t know about you, but I’m famished. Shall we get some breakfast?’ she queried brightly.
    “Sounds great. I’m starving, too. We