LITMIR.BIZ

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you truly what?” Ellen pried her brain away from the legs beneath her backside and ordered it to get busy with thinking.

      “Your friend. You said I was a friend.”

      “I—” Think. She wanted to bang her head against something to see if she could knock a little sense loose, but the nearest something was Rudi’s chest, and she knew beyond any doubt that would only make things worse. “I didn’t want you arrested.”

      “Ah.” His Day-Glo smile dimmed a fraction.

      The horse came to a skittering halt at a signal from Rudi that Ellen missed. He dismounted and tossed the reins to a waiting child before lifting Ellen from the horse’s back. But instead of setting her on her feet, he carried her in his arms to a car at the curb. The driver opened the door, and Rudi put her inside, much the same way Ellen had once inserted prisoners into her patrol car. Before following her inside, Rudi called to the girl with the horse.

      “Blessings upon you, child.” He tossed her a coin that glinted gold as it spun over and over in a high arc. Ellen saw the girl miss the catch and bend to pick it up before Rudi got into the car and signaled to the driver.

      “What was that you threw?” Ellen asked.

      “A ten-fiat piece.”

      “It looked like gold.”

      “It is.” Rudi stretched his arms along the seat and the door, looking completely at ease in his exotic garb. He seemed a different person somehow. Strange, foreign, exciting.

      “Gold.” She had to get a grip on this situation. She had to get a grip on herself.

      He made an affirming hum. “I wanted to reward her for the loan of the horse.”

      “With a ten-fiat gold piece.”

      He mmm-ed again in agreement.

      “How much is that in real money?”

      Rudi laughed. “Some people would say that the fiat is real money, since it is actually gold and not your paper greenbacks.”

      “How much?” Ellen didn’t know why she persisted, only that she wanted to know. Maybe her brain was trying to get warmed up.

      “Depending on a number of factors, between thirty and fifty dollars, American.”

      Resentment swelled inside her. Did he think he could impress her by throwing his money around like that? Or did he think to buy her, the way he’d bought the use of the horse?

      “What do you want?” Ellen didn’t care if her attitude sounded in her voice.

      “A bit of your time.” Rudi’s voice seemed calculated to soothe, and so rubbed her resentment raw. “You did promise me we could talk, remember?”

      She did, and resented even more being put in the wrong. “If you wanted to talk to me, all you had to do was call the office and say so.”

      “I did. You have not been taking my calls.”

      He was right again. Another mark against him.

      “So talk.” She slouched in the seat, tugging at the hem of her dress. It drew his eyes to her legs where they emerged from the short skirt, and his gaze heated the atmosphere.

      “I want more than a few stolen minutes in the back of a car,” Rudi said.

      I just bet you do. Ellen shot him a sideways glance and met his gaze looking back. He knew how guilty she felt, the rat, and was playing it for all he was worth. She wanted to kiss that smirk—no. No, she wanted to wipe that smirk off his face. Wipe. She didn’t dare think of Rudi and kissing in the same thought.

      “I have received a call concerning some business I must take care of out of the city this afternoon. I want you to come with me.” Rudi watched her like a cat near an active mouse hole.

      Ellen was already shaking her head. “No, I’m sorry. It’s impossible.”

      “Why?” Rudi slid a finger across the curve of her bare shoulder.

      She shoved his hand away as she repressed her shuddering reaction. “I have responsibilities. A job. And you have other bodyguards.” Her eyes narrowed. “Speaking of which, where are they?”

      “Omar is sick, the others are with Ibrahim. The driver is driving.”

      “That’s no good. You should have at least one other guard with you at all times.”

      Rudi’s smile glistened in the car’s dim light. “You are with me.”

      “I’m not your bodyguard.”

      “Why not? Come with me. I have cleared it with your company. I have cleared it with my family. All is prepared.” He paused and gave her a little-boy-pleading-for-a-treat look. “That is, if you agree.”

      “What if I don’t?” Ellen fought against the temptation. If she wanted something this much, it had to be bad for her. But what if this was the new job Campanello wanted her on?

      “I will have the driver drop you wherever you want to go.” The teasing grin was back. “Preferably after lunch. Grant me at least that much.”

      She eyed him, all her suspicion sensors on alert. “What about you? If I don’t go, who will you take on your trip?”

      “Myself.”

      Scowling, Ellen decided not to argue with him. He was just contrary enough to do what he threatened. If she didn’t go, he’d go alone, and that was absolutely out of the question. “I want to call my office, make sure this is okay with my boss.”

      Rudi’s expression didn’t change, didn’t even flicker as he gave a nonchalant shrug. Either he really had cleared it with everyone, or he was a consummate actor. “Of course. Whatever you think you need to do.” He handed her a cell phone from somewhere inside those voluminous robes.

      “Thanks. I have my own.” Ellen pulled her phone from the bag she’d somehow hung on to when Rudi snatched her up on the horse. She had to think a minute to remember the office number. How could this man interfere so with her thought process?

      “Swainson Security.” The phone was answered on the first ring.

      “Hey, Marco. Is Campanello in?”

      “Oh, hey, Ms. Sheffield. No, he’s out meeting with those guys about that string concert in October.”

      “String?” Ellen racked her brain trying to recall any violinists the company had contracted with. “Do you mean Sting?”

      “Maybe that’s what he said. I just know it was some old guy. But he did tell me to tell you those sheikhs wanted you to head up the detail for—uh—” The rustle of paper shuffling came through the phone. “For one of them. I can’t find the paper with the guy’s name on it. It was here just a minute ago.” Marco sounded stressed.

      Ellen glanced at Rudi. She hated being pushed into things. But he was the client, and clients had the right to do a limited amount of pushing. “Tell Campanello I know about it, and I’m on the job.”

      It had to be Rudi they wanted her with. Campanello had been bugging her about it ever since she’d found the man. Ellen didn’t do guard details anymore if she could help it, but it didn’t look as if she could help this one. Rudi had boxed her in.

      “Got it, Ms. Sheffield.”

      “I’m going to try to reach the boss on his cell phone, but if I can’t, tell him I’ll check in again as soon as I can. Everything’s under control. I’ve got Rudi with me.”

      “I’ll be sure to tell him. Rudi.”

      “Thanks.” Ellen flipped the phone shut and tucked it away.

      “Marco—another hulking brute like Frank or George?” Rudi’s eyes twinkled at her. “Or someone more interesting?”

      “Definitely

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