Bodyguard Lockdown by Donna Young Read Free Book Online

want you to stay in the car, Doc.Until I’m sure it’s safe.”
    “No,” Sandra answered, more worried about the anger set in his granite features than her own safety. Booker might have spent most of his career walking into hostile situations, but she refused to believe these people were hostile.
    “I’ve traveled here on my own.” She shoved the door open. The air was thin and brittle with the heat. It sucked what little moistureshe had from her pores. “These people are mostly women and children. They have nothing to do with Trygg.”
    “More friends of yours?”
    “Look, McKnight. I’m tired, I’m hungry and I have a full bladder,” she said defensively. They’d driven all morning, only taking a break to relieve themselves. “You do not want to mess with me right now.”
    He caught her hand before she stepped out of thecar. Sandra’s chest tightened. His fingers interlocked with hers, squeezing gently.
    She’d forgotten how it felt, the intimacy, the simple slide of skin on skin. Without thinking, she gripped his hand back.
    “This is not a game, Doc,” Booker reminded her.
    Maybe it was the low and even tone of his voice, the touch of his fingers, the fact he tilted her chin up until their eyes locked.
    The familiarity of all three.
    “Considering what I’ve been living with these past six years, I’m more aware of that than you might think,” Sandra pointed out softly.
    “You’re not the only one who has been living with it,” Booker murmured, but his fingers tightened on hers to soften the reminder.
    Sadness swept over her. “I know.” She breathed out the words. “And I am sorry.”
    Something broke loose inside her, something she’d held back for almost a year.
    “You protect. I heal, Booker.” She touched a finger to the lock of hair on his forehead. Then brushed it back, testing his limits. “Let me try to do my job.”
    When he didn’t move, she leaned in, then up until their lips almost touched. “Maybe I’ll heal us both in the process,” she whispered.
    With agroan, he pulled her to him. His mouth covered hers, just as she wanted, just as she remembered.
    Desire tumbled free, caught between them, pushed and pulled by longing, need...months of loneliness.
    He took, she gave, until the air thickened, the edges of reality blurred.
    She’d missed him. Missed this. His arms tightened, drawing her into his lap as if he missed her, too.
    Suddenly,Booker broke away, his gun raised behind her back, pointed at the window. “That’s a good way to get shot, Sabra.”
    Sandra jerked around, her heart in overdrive, until realization hit.
    Booker hadn’t missed her. He’d been protecting her.
    Her heart jerked, just a bit.
    She shouldn’t have been surprised. Or disappointed.
    But she was. On both counts.
    A man stood outsidethe car, his own gun slowly lowering.
    “So is kissing a woman in the middle of nowhere.” He stepped back, his gait hindered by a severe limp.
    Sandra noted the light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, the cold black eyes that scanned the horizon behind them, before they rested back on Booker.
    “You look like hell, McKnight,” the man commented when they stepped out of the car.
    Sandra leaned back through the door, and grabbed her medical bag.
    “Aaron Sabra,” Booker cut in. “Doctor Sandra Haddad.”
    “Mr. Sabra.”
    He noticed she didn’t offer her hand and smiled. “Aaron works, Doc.”
    “Doctor Haddad,” Booker corrected. Sandra raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
    Aaron paused, then nodded once. But his smile widened. “This way, Doctor Haddad.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you properly,” Aaron said when Sandra and Booker joined him. They walked toward the far side of the village. “You’ve quite a reputation in this part of the country, Doctor.”
    Surprised, she glanced up at him. “Reputation?”
    “Delivering medical supplies, clothes and food to some of the smaller villages. Of course, you’re using the Al Asheera, who are my