His Reluctant Bodyguard by Loucinda McGary Read Free Book Online

contrite, or even particularly worried. "Would it matter if I said there was?"
    "No." His blunt admission didn't surprise her, though his next words did. "Besides, you didn't kiss like a woman in love with another man."
    "Maybe I kiss everyone that way," she said with a haughty tone. If she could keep those feelings of annoyance going, then perhaps she could avoid feeling anything else.
    "I know you don't." That smug answer irritated her too, which was good.
    But then he pushed some loose strands of hair behind her ear and the brush of his fingers on the side of her face sent an electrical current of awareness coursing through her. Which was really not good! The cab made another left turn and relief washed through Avery when she caught a glimpse of Valiant a few blocks in front of them. She needed to get out of such close proximity to Rip before her resistance crumbled again.
    "Wait! Stop here." Rip suddenly ordered the driver. As she gave him a questioning look, he explained, "I need some sneakers, and I see an athletic shoe store."
    The cabbie pulled to the curb, they got out and Rip paid him. Five minutes later, he stood at the register and bought a package of socks and a pair of black and white cross-trainers. Men had no concept of shopping, Avery decided with a sigh.
    Back out on the sidewalk, the strong breeze seemed to have followed them from El Morro , and puffy white clouds scudded across the sky. Even on the short two block walk back to the ship, Avery found she couldn't maintain her irritation with Rip. His good humor seemed infectious as he pointed to a group of street vendors who had set up their own marketplace in the harbor parking lot.
    "How 'bout a souvenir?"
    "You're liable to get your pocket picked," Avery warned, even though she knew he would ignore her.
    He did, veering into the parking lot. "Careful Miss Knox, I might think you care."
    "Just doing my duty as your bodyguard." She followed as he wound his way through the make-shift stalls and rickety tables that offered the same junk sold all over the Caribbean -- cheap T-shirts, woven straw hats and totes, spice necklaces.
    Rip dodged the most obnoxious of the hawkers, and headed for a fabric covered screen displaying colorful beaded earrings. "You have pierced ears, right?"
    Thinking he must be the most stubborn man in the universe, Avery nodded, but said, "I told you before, I can't accept --"
    " Gimme a break," Rip interrupted. "We're not on the ship. Nobody needs to know." He held up an earring with a little silver dolphin charm amid blue beads. "Besides these match your eyes. How much?" he asked the young woman standing next to the screen.
    "Twenty dollars."
    "Rip... " Avery protested.
    "Ten," he countered.
    Before the woman could reply, Avery heard a loud pop like a fire cracker. Rip staggered, grabbing his arm while the screen of earrings shook.
    "Gun!" Somebody shouted as another pop sounded and a woman screamed.
    Rip fell to his knees as chaos erupted all around them.

    Chapter 4

    A searing pain raced across Rip's upper arm as he went down on one knee. With his other arm, he pulled Avery beside him while screams and shouts rent the air.
    Ah shit! Just like the other night in Miami.
    Avery landed on her rear next to him, her eyes round with terror. "Are you --" She stopped abruptly and pointed a shaky finger at the bloody slash across his biceps. " Your arm! Call 9-1-1!"
    Her cry scarcely escaped her lips when a siren wailed. People scrambled out of the way with noisy exclamations in Spanish and English.
    "Oh my God, Smith was right," Avery gasped, trying to regain her feet. "Someone is trying to kill you! We've got to get out of here."
    "Stay down!" Rip insisted, jerking her back when she stood. Forgetting about the burning pain, he crawled crab-like toward an overturned table, dragging Avery along with him.
    In spite of what had happened in Miami, he hadn't really believed the agents. Now he had to admit to himself that their wild stories might