Kat Martin - Against the Sun

“That was an accident,” Sage protested. “He was hit by a car.”

“The police are still investigating. They’re not completely certain what actually happened. And even if it was an accident, tempers are running hot on all fronts. Your safety is vitally important to me. Mr. Cantrell will make certain you are safe.”

“But—”

“It will only be during the day, for as long as the sheik is here, or when you are somewhere entertaining him and his family. Along with that, there are things you need to know that Mr. Cantrell can teach you.”

Her shoulders tightened. “I understand there are business protocols, things I need to be aware of. I planned to research the subject. I’ve just been so busy… .”

“You work too hard, my dear. You need someone to help you. Mr. Cantrell can handle that.” Her grandfather rose from his chair and turned to Jake when he stood up, too. “When can you start?”

Part of him wanted to refuse the assignment. Jake didn’t want to deal with a bossy, cantankerous female. The other part was looking for something interesting to do after weeks of mostly sitting behind a desk. And keeping a pampered young woman like Sage Dumont out of trouble probably wouldn’t be dull.

“If we have only a short time before they arrive,” he found himself saying, “we had better get started today.”

“Splendid!” Ian said.

Sage’s spine went a little straighter. She fixed her gaze on Jake. Even in her high heels she had to look up at him, which he could tell she didn’t like.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll see you in my office in half an hour. Does that work for you?”

“I’ll be there.”

And then she was gone.

As soon as the door swooshed shut behind her, Jake heard Ian chuckle. “I knew she was going to pitch a fit about this—actually, I expected far worse. But I want her safe. She means everything to me, Mr. Cantrell.”

“It’s just Jake. And you can count on me to take care of her—whether she likes it or not.”

* * *

Sage marched into her office and slammed the door. A bodyguard. It was ridiculous. She couldn’t believe her grandfather would go to such extremes. The sheik and his family would be bringing their own security people. And the police had been officially notified of the visit. There was nothing for her grandfather to worry about.

Still, she knew how much he loved her. And Sage loved him.

She sighed as she walked to her desk. Ian Dumont had raised her since she was twelve years old. She respected him more than any other man she’d ever known.

She thought of the towering hulk who had asked her to bring him some coffee. Typical chauvinist. Marine Special Forces. Served in Iraq. The guy was all male, no doubt of that. She hadn’t missed the hot gleam in his eyes when she’d caught him watching her bent over at the reception desk.

She refused to acknowledge the jolt of awareness that had slipped through her when she first saw him standing there. For heaven sake, who wouldn’t notice a man who looked like that? The Terminator—only bigger and better looking. Dark brown, neatly trimmed hair, and those eyes. Light blue and beautiful.

Still, muscle jocks and ex-soldiers were hardly her type and even if she found this one attractive, she was engaged to be married. Her fiancé, Phillip Stanton, was vice president of their North Sea drilling operation. He was a few years older than Sage, handsome and sophisticated, from one of the best families in Houston. Exactly the sort of man she had always hoped to marry.

Sage looked up at the clock on the wall. Cantrell would be here soon. When a soft knock sounded, she was sure he’d arrived a few minutes early, but when the door swung open, it wasn’t him. Her best friend, Sabrina Eckhart, swept into the office. Red-haired and feisty, and currently dating a brilliant computer geek, Rina was a successful stockbroker who earned a very good living though the market was shooting up and down like an out-of-control fire hose.

“Sorry to barge in,” her friend said, though clearly she wasn’t sorry at all. Being best friends gave her plenty of latitude, and Sage was always glad to see her. “Marie said you were alone, and it’s almost noon. I thought I’d drop by, see if I could talk you into getting some lunch.”

Sage sighed. “I wish I could. I’m up to my ears in alligators, and on top of that, my grandfather’s hired me a bodyguard.”

Rina’s blue eyes widened. “Oh, my God—not that good-looking hunk out in the waiting room.”

“That’s him. Ex-soldier and all that.”

“I can imagine. Even in a suit, the guy looks tough enough to eat nails.”

He looked exactly like the kind of man her grandfather would choose, confident and capable, and underneath that veneer of civility, a very dangerous man. “It’ll just be for the Saudis’ visit. Granddad insisted. You know how protective he can be.”

“Maybe he’s right. Did you see what happened at the university last night? The students were protesting some damn thing and a guy got killed.”

“It was an accident.”

“Doesn’t make him any less dead.”

Sage’s lips twitched. “There is that.”

Another knock sounded, this one firm and faintly demanding. “No doubt who that is,” she grumbled.

Rina’s face lit up. “The Incredible Hunk? For God’s sake, let him in.”

Sage rolled her eyes. “What would Ryan say if he saw you drooling like that?”

Rina laughed. “Not much, since I’m usually drooling over him.”

Sage started for the door, but before she had time to reached it the knob turned and it swung open.

“You did say thirty minutes?” Cantrell’s deep voice boomed into the office.

Sage’s mouth tightened.

“I was just leaving,” Rina said, wiggling her fingers over her shoulder as she walked past the tall, brawny man standing in the doorway.

“Why don’t you come right in?” Sage said with a hint of sarcasm.

“Bad idea.” Cantrell closed the door behind him.

Sage’s gaze ran over him. She couldn’t remember seeing a more impressive male specimen. One she was going to have to put in his place right from the start.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “We need to get something straight right now.”

Cantrell cocked a dark eyebrow. “And that would be…?”

“I’m the boss here, not you. You work for me. That means you do as I say.”

“Sorry, no. I work for your grandfather, not you. You’re in charge as long as it involves your job. Until this is over and you’re no longer under my protection, I’m the boss and you do exactly what I say. That’s what we need to get straight.”

Sage just stared. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m deadly serious. It’s my job to keep you alive. That’s what I intend to do.”

Sage started shaking her head. “I’m not in any real danger and I can see right now this isn’t going to work.”

“Until your grandfather says differently, it’s going to work just fine.”

And that was the moment she realized she had lost the war. Ian would never back down—not on this. If she wanted to stay in charge of the negotiations with the Saudis—make the biggest purchase of used offshore drilling equipment in the history of the company, and save them millions of dollars—she had to deal with Jake Cantrell.

She let her arms fall back to her sides. “Fine, you win. When it comes to my protection, you’re in charge. The rest of the time I’m the boss. Does that satisfy you?”

The look he gave her said that wasn’t even close to the kind of satisfaction he wanted from her. Then he blinked and the expression was gone. She might have believed she’d imagined it if her stomach hadn’t floated up the way it did.