“No I do not, boy,” I drawl.

He crosses his arms and leans back in his chair. “Are you always so smart?”

I smile sweetly. “Of course. I didn’t get this job by being stupid.”

I’m inwardly laughing, because I know that’s not what he meant.

His eyes narrow into slits and god, he looks even better when he’s impatient. “You’re practically squirming to open up all that sass onto me. It’s killing you to have to be professional, isn’t it?” He grunts, and I try to ignore how his biceps flex beneath his suit.

I keep my face straight. “No, sir, it isn’t.”

A flicker of amusement crosses his face, before he asks again, “Are you going to ask me what it is you need to know?”

“I don’t need to know anything.” I shrug, staring out the window.

“No, I don’t like having a bodyguard,” he says, and I narrow my eyes but don’t look at him. “Yes, I could take down a man on my own, but not a man with a gun, from a distance, so I don’t have much choice in having you here. Yes, everything you read in the magazines is true.”

My eyes flick to him, surprised he is basically reading my mind, and he grins, but it’s cocky.

So he is a manwhore, interesting.

“No, I’m not happy about you being a woman, but I don’t have a choice about that either, so I deal.”

I say nothing but our eyes are locked.

“Yes, I spend my life in an office that has a bedroom because I work harder than I live—I’ve been the same since I finished high school.”

I swallow, but make no move to show any interest.

“No, I don’t have a criminal past that put me in the position of needing security. It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

I want to say something to that, desperate to know how he got into this situation, but once again I keep my mouth closed.

“Yes, I’m only thirty and built my business up with hard work and effort, and nothing more. I was determined and got what I wanted.”

I blink.

“That’s all you’re going to get from me unless you open your mouth and ask, which I’m giving you a matter of seconds to do before I close you down and don’t speak to you unless I need to. Oh, and let me tell you one more thing … I’m impatient and I’m short tempered. Do your job, and stay out of my way—that’s all that really matters in the scheme of things.”

“Like I didn’t figure that out on my own,” I mumble under my breath.

“I also don’t like people who don’t speak their minds, but instead hide it behind a mumble or gossip.”

I jerk and glare at him. “Forgive me, sir, but you need to understand that speaking my mind isn’t part of my job.”

“I didn’t peg you as being someone who was scared.”

I raise my brows. “Then you’re wrong, my job is far more important than telling you what I truly think of you.”

He uncrosses his arms and opens his mouth to answer, but the door opens and Kyle enters. He looks to me, then to Jax and his rearranged desk, and suspicion fills his features. “Everything okay in here?”

I shrug. “Fine, I just made the suggestion that Mr. Shields here shouldn’t have his desk by the window.”

I don’t miss Jax flinch at my use of his professional name. Kyle, on the other hand, stares at me with an impressed look on his face. “Good call.”

Inside I’m bursting with pride.

“Thanks.”

He turns back to Jax. “We’re ready to escort you out, when you’re good to go.”

Jax grunts and shoots another look in my direction, but I keep my eyes to the window with a sly smile on my face. He takes a few minutes to get ready and while he does, Kyle turns to me. “We had a slight incident downstairs.”

My brows go up and I step forward. “What was it?”

“There was a car driving past, it did so about five times and it was suspicious. I couldn’t see in the windows, but it was definitely a concern. We have secured Mr. Shields’ car in the lot underground, with two men watching it while we escort him down. We’ll need to keep our eyes peeled. It could be nothing but we can’t take that chance.”

“I understand.”

“When we arrive at the meeting, I’m handing you the reins. You get out of the car while I take Jax’s side. You go inside, you scan the areas he will be, including the men’s bathrooms if need be. You make sure all is clear before calling for me to bring him in.”

My heart kicks up a notch. He’s giving me the chance to do my job. I’m terrified, worried I might miss something, but at the same time I can’t wait to prove my worth. I give Kyle a nod and he studies my face, before walking towards the door to wait. I follow his lead and the minute Jax is ready, we escort him down to the car.

I take in all of Kyle’s actions, watching and learning from his every move. He’s a smart man, and he knows what he’s doing when it comes to protecting someone. I’m not stupid enough to pretend that he can’t help me be a better bodyguard. I take in everything he does, from stepping through doors last, keeping his body behind Jax’s, scanning every space and keeping his eyes on people approaching, watching any fast movements. I copy his lead, doing the same thing where I can. There’s a lot to look for, and it’s daunting.

When we reach the parking lot, Kyle and I scan Jax’s car once more, even though Kyle already did it, just to be doubly certain he’s safe. When we decide it’s safe, Jax gets in, sitting in the middle seat. Kyle says it’s safest for him to be there. Both of us slide in on either side of him, then the driver gets in and we pull out.

I scan every car that goes past us, even though the windows are tinted so no one can see inside. I watch for any following us and catch Kyle doing the same thing. It’s a roomy car, but I can still feel Jax’s thigh touching mine. I try to ignore how it warms my skin beneath my pants, but I fail.

Instead I’m fighting the urge to move closer.

None of us say anything during the ride and when we stop at the hotel where Jax is having his meeting, I reach for the door handle. Before I can pull it and start my scouring, which I’m desperate to begin, Jax turns to Kyle and demands, “You’re not trusting her to check for threats, are you?”

I stiffen and turn to shoot an angry scowl in Jax’s direction. Kyle stares at him, then his eyes flick to me. “If that makes you uncomfortable,” he begins, but I don’t let him finish.

I pull the door handle and shoot Jax a look. “I’m not incapable of protecting your life, Mr. Shields. I’ve had the same training as Kyle and will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Now, if you’ll excuse me.…”

I move to get out of the car, but before my feet even hit the ground, Jax curls his fingers around my wrist and tugs me back in. “No offense, sweetheart, but you’re new and you don’t have the same training as Kyle.”

“It has nothing to do with training, does it, sir,” I say through gritted teeth. “But it does have to do with what’s between my legs.”

Jax’s eyes widen and Kyle clears his throat to argue, but I don’t let either of them speak.