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Noelle shrugged It had been so long since she'd eaten that her stomach had just turned off That happened so"

After the old, grand of food, Noelle began to think that had been the wrong thing to say

"The coffee's et water until that crap is flushed out of your systee and egg biscuit at his head rather than eat it

He just gave her that lopsided grin of his and pulled back onto the highway

She was asleep again David wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not

After eating a decent breakfast, Noelle had curled up against the car door and drifted off before he had a chance to convince her to help out the CIA

Now they were at the safe house in southern Colorado, where they were to meet up with at least half a dozen others

--both CIA and Ar

It was the right thing to do Hell, it was the only thing to do as far as David was concerned They'd never find the Sithout soht now, Noelle was the only shot they had

David wanted those terrorist bastards dead to a ame where she didn't even know the rules

He pulled into the gravel drive at the back of the old farine He'd been tracked by the scopes of at least four sharpshooters before he'd even pulled onto the property At least these guys were on his side

They were as safe here as they were going to get, but he still felt the adrenaline flood his bloodstreaame There could be no mistakes now

"Wake up, Noelle," he said as he scanned the area He could see Colonel Monroe's face in one of the front s, along with several other suited men He saw one of the marksmen on the roof and another just inside the tree line He kept hoping to see Grant or Caleb a them, but hadn't

Man, it would have been nice to have his old buddies at his back for this op It would haveNoelle around in the open

She stirred and opened her dark green eyes "We're here?"

"Yeah We need to get you inside where it's safe I don't like just sitting out here"

Noelle yawned and reached for the door handle

"Not yet Wait until I co the doorshot in the head while standing out there without me to cover you

Instead, why don't you let me come around, okay?"

His tone had been harsh, but he couldn't let his He had to care only about protecting her body

That thought led hiht be under all those clothes He wondered if she was pale all over, or if she had a sprinkling of freckles across her breasts

Whoa That was not anywhere near where his thoughts needed to be right now

With a harsh reprimand for his stupidity, David stomped on his libido until it cowered back in its dark corner, where it belonged

Hea hand on his weapon She slid out of the front seat, wide-eyed and tre with fear

Shit He hadn't meant to scare her like that

Now he had no choice but to offer her what little co the fine treh her He shielded her body with his, tucking her head against his chest,to go through hi his job, but the predictable tightening of his pants proved he was a liar He liked the way she felt huddled against him It was a perfect fit, with her head nestled just under his chin It was the kind of fit that had hiether

As they hurried up the back steps, he leaned close to her ear, drawing in the fresh strawberry scent of her shampoo

He wanted to whisk her away to some secret island where no one would ever find her He wanted to wipe that look of fear froo back in tied to spread like adead--before they could threaten Noelle's safety and ruin her life

But he could do none of that He couldn't change what had happened All he could do was protect her until she ive up her current life and live or cling to it and die