Page 3 of The Tycoon

Cole lifted both brows and then started laughing.

Mason crossed his arms over his massive chest and narrowed his eyes, yet he could still cock an eyebrow.“What’s so funny?”

Cole knew that look, one that dared him to continue.“You are.You don’t really expect me to believe this woman is my bodyguard?She’s…she’s… dang it, she’s a woman.”He let his gaze rove over her from top to bottom.“And a beautiful one, at that.”

Regan lifted a brow and put her hands on her hips.“You’re saying I can’t do the job because I’m pretty?”

“Beautiful.”Cole walked over to his desk and placed his briefcase on it.“Yes, I’m saying you can’t protect me.You’re…” he gazed at her again.“You’re too small.”

She looked at him through narrowed eyes.“Would you like me to prove it?Do you think you can best me?”

He returned her green-eyed gaze.It struck him that her eyes were clear as emeralds.Now is not the time to notice her eye color.“I can.Anytime.Anywhere.”

She gave him a decidedly feral smile.“Here.Now.”

He removed his suit jacket and his tie.The last thing he needed was to give her something to choke him with.“Any time, doll.Show me your best.”

She lifted her chin.“I don’t need my best…for you.”

“Uh, Regan, you might want to—” began Mason.

“Zip it, Reid.”She never took her gaze off of Cole.“Anytime, Kincaid.I heard you were a Seal.I was a Ranger.Time to see which of us is better.”

“How long have you been out?”Cole rolled up his sleeves.

“A little more than a year.You?”

“Five years.I signed up for two and then re-upped for a burst of four.”

She circled him.“Why don’t you tell me what happened in the garage an hour or sol ago?”

Cole circled with her, never taking his blue eyes from her green ones.“You heard about that?”

She shrugged.“The police came in with siren’s blaring about seven-thirty.I heard about it from the barista at Starbucks.I think everyone in the building, if not the entire block, has heard about it by now, because I’ve only been here for about an hour.Mason let Amelia know I was coming and she was kind enough to let me wait in here.Why don’t you come at me and we’ll relive the attack?You be you and I’ll be the attacker.”

“Fine.I saw his reflection in the car window and turned.As I did he came at me with a knife.”

She pulled her right hand into a fist.“Like this?”Regan lunged toward him.

Cole did just like he did downstairs and lifted his leg to kick the knife from her hand.

She whipped around, out of the way of the kick, and let his momentum carry through.He lost his balance.Shestabbedhim in the kidney.

He landed on the floor and looked up.

She grinned and crossed her arms over her chest.

Mason guffawed.

Regan held out a hand toward Cole.

He took it.

Her eyes widened as she helped him to his feet.

Did she feel that, too?That tingling that started at our clasped hands and then traveled up my arm.Did she feel it?“That was pretty good.”Cole’s eyes narrowed, and he looked down at his hand before he ran it through his hair, causing the locks to stand on end.

“I can protect you, Mr.Kincaid.I take my job very seriously.No one will hurt you on my watch.”