Flirting with Danger by Elizabeth Lapthorne Read Free Book Online Page B

daughter in more ways than she could see—was not some weak, defenceless damsel, despite her fear and reaction at what she had witnessed earlier in the day.
    He had a feeling she didn’t recognise or appreciate the strength and courage she had shown at the Thai restaurant. She had not frozen, or fallen apart. She hadn’t dissolved into hysterics or wept and clung to the agents who had been present. She had stood firm against her fear and while, yes, she had been shaken, she had also turned back to protect virtual strangers. She had thought coherently enough to contact him—for which he would be eternally grateful—and she had a steely determination when she spoke of rescuing her father.
    The flinty look in her beautiful eyes showed that nothing would deter her from her chosen course of action. Jack could only hope she knew how to shoot a gun. He couldn’t imagine Victor not teaching her, but then Jack could also imagine the lengths the man would go to in sheltering his daughter. The thought of one day his own little girl needing a gun to defend herself turned Jack’s blood to ice.
    A little girl, with blonde or brown corkscrew curls like Skye’s, that cheeky little-girl grin. The thought of such a precious soul being trapped in a situation like the one he now found himself in with Skye was enough to chill him to his core. He’d want his child to be able to protect herself. Oh yeah, it might have frozen Victor to think it could be required one day, but Jack would bet everything he owned that Victor would have trained his daughter in the use of a hand weapon.
    Jack pulled out his favourite gun, checked it and then grabbed the small lady’s pistol with his other hand.
    “I’ve never seen a man so intent on the floor of his closet.” An amused chuckle came from behind him.
    “Just accessorising. I presume you can shoot?” Jack turned around and grinned at his lover, as he held up both guns.
    “My father insisted.” She wrinkled her nose in seeming distaste. “Until we discovered we both loved good food, it was our only father-daughter time. Mandatory ever since I learned the truth of what he does.”
    Jack handed her the smaller gun and she gingerly took it. He could tell from the manner in which she held the weapon that she knew about guns, but either didn’t like them or didn’t yet feel comfortable around them. She checked it with a staggering efficiency that showed better than words how thoroughly Victor had trained his daughter.
    When she held it out to him to return it, instinct stirred within him. Jack shook his head.
    “No. Keep it. It’s yours now.”
    “But this is a good piece,” she insisted, sounding surprised. “It’s well weighted, light but sturdy and is the perfect backup. You can’t just give it away.”
    “It’s mine, of course I can just give it away. I want you to have it. I can’t tell why, but I get the feeling it’s already yours. It’s perfect for you and, let’s face it, right now you need one. We can argue about it another time. For now, please, it’s yours.”
    Skye knelt on the carpet beside him, her free hand resting on his shoulder for balance. She leaned in and they shared a heated, searching kiss. When she pulled back she smiled, seeming bemused.
    “You know, after the first date most guys give a girl flowers, maybe even a necklace or something. I’ve never been given a destructive weapon before.”
    Jack ginned lopsidedly.
    “Think about it, your father would approve, too. Especially considering the circumstances.”
    Laughter gurgled from her, the sound light and cheerful in the early evening gloom.
    “Very true. I’ve never dated to appease my father, though. I must admit it’s nice to think he won’t be able to run you off.”
    “Not a chance, darling,” Jack snorted.
    Jack relocked the safe and stood up. They returned to the living room. He watched as Skye checked the safety then placed the gun in her handbag. After a last series of checks he slid his