Against the Odds (34 page)
“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.
“That’ll work just fine.” He pulled an envelope out of the
breast pocket of his navy blue coat, opened it and withdrew several sheets of
paper. “These are notes I made on some of the protocols you and your people will
need to learn. If you’re ready, we might as well get started.”
His blue eyes ran over her, but the heat was no longer there.
Still, just looking at all that masculinity packaged so nicely made her skin
feel warm. She told herself whatever minor attraction she felt to Jake Cantrell
was unimportant. And that all of this would be over in just a few days.
Walking away from him, she sat down behind her desk. “I’m ready
whenever you are.”
ISBN: 9781460300282
Copyright © 2013 by Kat Martin
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