Dangerous to Know (5 page)

Part of him wanted to be nowhere near it.

Saxon turned on Mercer with a hard look that warned him against watching him and Thais. Just a momentary flicker in his eyes before his expression became guarded again.

“I'm not giving you past the weekend. Get into her bed or I'll let Maddox take a shot. We need to witness the interception of the next shipment of data. Intel says the buyer is moving cash, that something is incoming.”

Mercer felt his muscles tense. Getting his mind back on the facts was the way to go. Sometime during the night, Zoe's face had invaded his dreams. He needed to shake that emotional response off. She was the target. Allowing himself to label her any other way would interfere with clear thinking.

Something like that could get a man killed.

The sort of intel being sold from Zoe's brother's location was the kind people died over. Locations of bases and operations. One shoulder-held surface-to-air missile could take out an entire unit if the enemy knew the flight path of a mission. Apache helicopters went out as air support on all missions so the enemy had turned to using small, one-man missile launchers that could be buried in the sand when they knew where a mission was going to land. Ambush-style warfare with modern missiles. Mothers were getting flags and someone was raking in the money earned with the blood of Mercer's comrades. Guilt aside, Zoe was the most likely point for that information to be smuggled out of her brother's secured location.

“I'll get into position. Tell Maddox to stay wherever he is.” He was overstepping by telling Saxon what to do, but the team wasn't purely military. They fell into a gray area, which was a large part of the appeal. He liked being able to operate without regulations crushing him. Rules had their place, but there were plenty of criminals who had figured out how to use the law to protect themselves.

A sense of anticipation swept through him and he frowned on his way out of the house they were using as a base of operations. It was set up on a hillside, overlooking the California coastline. Outside he heard the surf as he climbed into a four-wheel-drive Jeep. The back was open, allowing the air to blow around the cab as he guided it onto the narrow streets of Malibu. He left behind the bike, parked near several other vehicles the team used. They were all different, all resources for the team depending on their case needs, from a dented-up two door, two-decade-old beater to the armor-plated limo. He wasn't in the Jeep to enjoy the afternoon breeze, he was in it to maximize his chances for success.

Target. That's all she could ever be.

Shit.

*   *   *

“I can't tell you how grateful we are that you came out today.” The administrator of the children's hospital rubbed her hands together. “It means so much to the kids.”

“Wouldn't miss it. You know, call Tim and I'll be here. My dad sends his apologies,” Zoe replied.

The administrator nodded. “Your booking agent is always moving things around for me, and we greatly appreciate it. Some of our kids just don't have time to wait and they love Harley. Your dad, too. I've never met a man who enjoys being a pirate so much. Are you sure he's in the navy?”

“Sometimes I wonder,” Zoe admitted. Her father was notorious for doing children's events dressed like a pirate and sporting an eye patch along with Harley and a very over-the-top accent.

The administrator turned to address one of the other entertainers attending the afternoon celebration. Zoe struggled to pull one of her cases from the van while her star performer let out an impatient squawk.

“Patience, Harley. Sis needs to get your perch out first.”

The large scarlet macaw parrot eyed her while clinging to the side of his travel cage. People were arriving by van loads, kids running over to the face-painting booth to have glitter applied to their cheeks. Parents pulled out money as popcorn began filling the area with its delectable aroma. There was a grinding sound as the snow cone vendor pushed blocks of ice through his shredding machine to the delight of a little girl who had a pink headband on her chemotherapy-induced bald head.

Harley flapped his wings impatiently. Once the small stage was set up, Zoe opened the travel cage and transferred him to his perch. The crowd shifted and cameras appeared. Zoe adjusted her safari hat and dug in for the six-hour event. She coaxed Harley through his performance with cashews and peanuts. The afternoon passed in a blur of sugar-high faces until at last the crowd began to thin.

Which allowed her the chance to see
him
.

He was still hot.

Even in a striped cotton shirt and khaki pants, there was still an edge radiating from him. She'd bet he was just as intimidating buck naked.

Oh … yeah …

She looked away, the idea of him in the buff undermining her ability to think. It was as if the man held the magic combination to her sexual appetite. She hadn't blushed in years, but she could feel him watching her and it increased her awareness of him.

It was completely frustrating.

And totally exhilarating.

She looked back and he was gone. Zoe scanned the crowd but there was no sign of him. A tingle touched her nape. That same sense of unease that had interrupted the red-hot passion between them last night. There was something about the way he was … well, stalking her. Maybe it was just who he was.

Maybe she was imagining things.

Yeah, maybe Roni was right about her life being too mundane.

Definite possibility.

The evening breeze was blowing clouds in for the night. The wild birds were beginning to chirp, sensing the approaching darkness. Cleaning personnel began sweeping up the remains of arts and crafts while Zoe packed her parrot stage.

“Do a lot of charity events?”

Zoe turned around too fast, startling Harley. The parrot extended his wings and flapped. His clipped wings didn't allow him to take flight, but she'd already released his leash and he went gliding across the parking lot. Her mystery man reacted instantly, his body snapping into action the moment the bird moved.

The second he realized the bird wasn't intent on attacking him, he launched himself after the animal. Harley turned and lowered his head, his beak open with wings spread in challenge.

“Harley bites,” she warned. “Deep.”

“I can tell.” But that didn't keep her mystery man from sizing the bird up and moving closer. “Come on, buddy, let's not tangle before dinner.”

“He's stuffed. He only performs for food rewards.” Zoe chased after Harley. Mercer stuck his arm out in a blockade to keep her behind him, nearly clotheslining her.

“Now, don't be jealous, honey, I'll have time for you just as soon as I catch your parrot.”

He actually grasped her biceps and set her back several feet. It was done effortlessly, his strength stunning her. But his grip didn't hurt; instead, his control was perfect, the contrast of so much power mixed with a gentle touch flooding her with sensual heat that went straight to her core.

It would be amazing in bed …

Zoe shook her head. “What you'll be doing is heading to the emergency room. Macaw parrots have enough strength to take off fingers. Even overgrown ones like yours … buddy.”

“I guess it's a good thing he isn't hungry.”

It should have been illegal for anyone to have so much confidence and not strike her as a fool.

It should disgust me to be turned on by it … Where is my inner confident, modern woman?

Zoe stood back, annoyed with the way her gaze traced his movements. She was fascinated by him, just as she had been the night before, and now there was no margarita to blame.

Harley snapped his curved beak in warning, but that didn't stop the advance of her company. He moved in, lowering his body and extending his forearm. Zoe smiled as she witnessed the way he kept his fingers in a tight fist.

“Come on, fella … that sun is setting fast.”

Zoe's eyes widened when Harley lifted one talon and climbed up onto the offered forearm.

“That's impossible; Harley is a one-man bird,” she declared, astonishment flashing through her.

“Don't you mean one-woman?”

Zoe shook her head. “No. Harley belongs to…” She snapped her mouth shut and lifted her arm, but Harley was busy climbing up to the guy's shoulder.

“Who?”

She propped her hands on her hips. “Look, I don't even know your name, so my personal information is none of your business. And letting him stand on your shoulder is a bad idea. He thinks you're submissive to him.”

As if such a thing were possible. The guy didn't have a bendable bone in his body, much less anything that could in any way be considered submissive.

“Mercer.” He reached up and scratched Harley. “But I enjoyed the personal nature of our interaction last night. You'd have learned my name if you'd taken a ride with me.”

There was such a double meaning to the word
ride
. She shot him a suspicious look. “Is there a reason you're trying so hard to invade my space? I'm feeling a lot like Omaha Beach.”

He choked on a fit of laughter.

“You've officially crossed into the creepy zone.”

His expression changed instantly, his eyes losing their glint of amusement. “Is there a reason you're assuming I came here today to see you?”

Maybe she was being presumptuous, but there was something about the way he was watching her that started an alarm blaring somewhere in the back of her brain. It was centered in the memories of her dad questioning everything. He'd raised her to be no one's fool and to remember that the world was full of bad guys.

“Yeah, there is.” She reached out and Harley stepped onto her forearm. She brought the bird close, stroking his back gently. “These free events attract single parents looking for something to do with their kids that won't cost them a small fortune, and families out to keep their budgets tight. You are neither.”

“You're a suspicious one, Zoe.”

She turned around from putting Harley in his carrier to find Mercer only two spaces behind her.

“The newspaper covered the event, had your name, city of residence, and telephone number for those interested in booking parrot parties. Your friend happily gave me your name last night.”

“All right. Fair enough, still slightly creepy. I hope you enjoyed the afternoon.” Her emotions were churning inside her, part of her fascinated with the raw magnetism he gave off, while the other side of her grew more suspicious. He was pressing her.

“I'd enjoy it more if you'd have dinner with me.”

“Why?”

Mercer slipped his hands into his pockets. On most men, the pose would have looked relaxed; on him, it appeared calculated. The man just seemed too controlled not to have every move thought out.

“I think I'm about to call you fickle, Zoe. You didn't want to throw caution to the wind last night, so I'm here doing the respectable thing and asking you to dinner. Which way do you want it?”

Her lips went dry at the challenge.

“Maybe I don't want it at all.”

His hands were out of his pockets in a flash. A second later he had one flattened on the closed rear door of her midsized SUV. Sensation prickled along her limbs, raising goose bumps. The man even smelled sexy. Some faint hint of soap lingered, but it was his own unique scent that seemed to speed up the rate of arousal inside her until it was hard to ignore.

She felt like she was suspended between breaths, that he could see exactly what effect he was having on her as their gazes fused.

The damn world felt off balance, the pair of them stuck in some crazy moment between dimensions. She was getting high on him.

“The attraction between us isn't common, Zoe. It felt like the article in the newspaper was written just to get me another chance to see you. You're right, this isn't my normal scene, but I wanted to see you again.” He leaned closer, his warm breath teasing the delicate skin of her lips. “So I'm asking you to dinner, like a
nice guy
.”

“You're nothing of the sort,” she accused softly, her voice gone husky.

His eyes narrowed and his other hand cupped her nape. “Like I said, you're perceptive.” His voice dipped lower until it was hypnotic. “Something I like a whole lot. Makes me wonder how spot-on your intuition would be once we get past the trust barrier.”

He pressed a firm kiss against her mouth, sealing her reply beneath his lips. She'd never enjoyed kisses so much. Mercer's tasted good. She should have been able to push him back but she just didn't want to. She reached for him, the need he'd unleashed last night rising up as if it had never cooled. Her clit began to pulse and she felt as if her vagina was empty. She gripped his shirt, pulling him closer as desire tightened every one of her muscles. His kiss turned harder, pressing her to open her mouth. When she did, his tongue swept over her lower lip before thrusting inside to stroke hers.

Harley let out a screech, sending Mercer back a step. He grasped her around her waist and lifted her before she realized he was moving. She ended up behind him before he recognized the sound was coming from the parrot.

“How long have you been out of the service?” she asked.

“Not long—” His features tightened, as if he'd responded without considering his words. His eyes narrowed for a scant second before he shrugged. “I guess it shows.”

“Yeah.” Harley was throwing a fit inside the back of the car. “I need to get him home. Parrots can't see in the dark, so he's going to get wigged out by the fading light.”

Mercer captured her forearm in a solid grip. He pulled her closer, so close his body heat wrapped around her again. With the sun setting, it was warm and inviting. One glance into his dark eyes sent heat spiking through her at the hunger glittering in the dark orbs.