“You were supposed to meet me outside.”
Boone lifted a shoulder, not looking sorry in the least.“And let you have all the fun?You came in here without me,” he pointed out.She bristled, and his lips quirked.“I’m here to make sure you’re safe.That includes clearing the premises.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Never said you did.That doesn’t mean I won’t offer my protection anyway.You’re a woman here alone.”
“And you’re a chauvinist?”she questioned.
“I’m bigger than you,” he said, his gaze serious.He didn’t move from where he stood across the room, but it almost felt like his dark eyes were pinning her in place.Boone was an intense kind of guy.And despite the fact that his attention was completely on her, she wasn’t frightened.Boone wasn’t like her old colleagues.Despite not even knowing the man, Radley felt safe.Something in her gut instinctively told her she could trust him.
“The boss said you got several threatening texts yesterday,” Boone continued.“There’s no reason not to take some basic precautions.”
Some of her ire dissipated.
“Care to tell me what those were about?”he questioned.
“I’m guessing it was a blast from my past.Whoever sent them was more than happy to let me know they’d been following my every move.”
Boone frowned.“Did they follow you here today?”
“No.It was a rookie mistake for me to not be paying closer attention yesterday.It won’t happen again.”Radley nodded toward the wooden boxes stacked against the far wall, eager to change the subject and start searching the premises.“You know what’s inside those?”
He shook his head.“Negative.I just got here and took a few pictures.I was going to send them to Holt but was held up at gunpoint.”
Radley’s gaze darted back to his, only to find Boone’s lips quirking.He was teasing her.She cleared her throat and walked toward him, trying not to be intimidated by his size.“I’m sorry about that.I didn’t see your car outside and assumed I was alone.”
“I parked my truck behind the dumpster,” he told her.“I didn’t want anyone to know I was here.Except I wasn’t paying close enough attention.I didn’t realize you’d walked in until you were pointing your weapon at my back.”
She let out an exasperated huff.“I’m quiet.I didn’t know you were here either until I was right on top of you.Not on top,” she backtracked, but a grin spread across his face anyway.His gaze briefly ran over her body, and Radley felt her cheeks heating once more.
“Once I disarmed you, I didn’t mind the company.”There was that brief flicker of amusement in his eyes again.She’d fought against him as she’d been trained to but still was no match for his larger size.It irritated the hell out of her.
“What’s that frown for?”he asked with a quirk of his lips, not missing a thing.
“I was trained by the agency,” she finally said.“You disarmed me with little effort.”
“I’m former Special Forces, kitten,” he said, looking amused.“All of the guys on Bravo Team are.You might be experienced at doing recon work, gathering intelligence and whatnot, but Holt specifically sent me here for your protection.”
“I’m used to working alone,” she retorted, trying to ignore the way her heart was suddenly pounding.She worked with all sorts of men in the past.Government.Military.Civilians.Sources she met with clandestinely under the dark cover of night.None of them made her body react the way Boone did.He shifted slightly, and her gaze tracked over his broad shoulders and muscled chest.She’d felt him pressed against her, and the way her body responded was alarming.She was a professional.She didn’t date coworkers—not that her last one had taken no for an answer.
Radley resisted the urge to shudder.
Boone wasn’t the type of man that would ever force a woman.She could tell from their brief interaction that he wasn’t arrogant and sleazy the way Schultz had been.Boone radiated confidence and self-assurance, but he was protective, too.
“I worked with a team at the agency,” she continued, “but ever since separating from the government, my sister and I have handled jobs on our own.”
“I usually work alone, too,” Boone said, his intense gaze still on her.“I’m a former sniper.I’d watch my teammates from above, taking out the tangos when necessary.But if we’re assigned to scope out this warehouse together, I’ve got no problem with it.Just let me take point if we run into any trouble.I’m bigger than you,” he said as she opened her mouth to protest.“And regardless of your background, I’m more highly trained when it comes to this.If someone from your past is tracking you, we don’t know if or when they’ll show up.”
“Trust me, if they show up, I’ll have no trouble letting them know my feelings about it.”
“I believe that, kitten,” Boone said with a sexy grin.“Any idea who’s targeting you?”
“I have some ideas, but—” Inexplicably, she shivered.There were multiple times they’d been in country, and the men she’d worked with had hit on her or her female colleagues.She’d trusted them, and one of the men had betrayed her in the worst way possible.Radley steeled herself, meeting Boone’s dark gaze “My former colleague is in jail for drugging and assaulting me.I doubt I’m his only victim, but I’m the one who brought him down.If he wants revenge, I have no doubt that he’d send someone after me.”
A flicker of emotions crossed Boone’s face—disbelief and anger, followed by protectiveness.
“I’ll keep you safe, Radley.”