Page 42 of Her Sensual Protector

“You don’t have to watch me,” she complained. “I will finish my meal.”

“Maybe I just enjoy watching you eat.”

Daisy watched as he took a bite of his lamb dumplings. He was right, there was something sensual about watching a person eat. Just seeing how his lips closed around the tongs of his fork made her want to kiss him. Or better yet, have him take a bite out of her.

Cool it. I’m eating dinner, not getting ready to jump the man!

“I thought about what you said, but I can’t figure out any sort of angle where it would behoove Rayi to show me that video out of spite. He knows who I am, what I do. He realized I could handle it, and Leo? I should have. I can’t believe I broke down like that.”

He gave her a sideways look. “Are you in the habit of lying to yourself? I’m just curious.”

She took another bite of her chicken dish and noticed that this time it tasted like sawdust. She put down her plate. “In all reality, I didn’t think it would affect me. So no, I’m not lying to myself. I didn’t know that seeing my biological dad in so much pain…realizing that he’s going to be executed, was going to…” She gulped in a deep breath, then continued. “Well, I just didn’t know it would affect me so strongly. I didn’t realize how deep a connection I had to him. Part of the reason I wanted to be the one to come over here, instead of my brothers and sister, is I could handle it if something bad were to happen because I would be less attached. This sure blew my thought process all to hell, huh?”

“You do realize it only proves you’re a deeply compassionate and loving woman.”

“Who probably should have listened to her mother when she was fifteen.” Daisy waved her hand in the air. “Okay, enough about my Daddy issues. What did you and your teammate talk about? I know you can’t tell me much of anything, but can you tell me something?”

“I have to go back to Bagram Air Base early this evening, I can tell you that. I can also tell you that my teammate is checking into Rayi, but other than that, nothing.”

“And Jim’s Russian connection?”

“I brought that to Tom’s attention yesterday. That should be the end of things.”

Daisy felt a big sense of relief. At least that was done.

“And how early is early?”

Leo looked at his watch. “I probably have to leave here in the next forty-five minutes.”

“I’m done eating, what about you?”

“Depends,” Leo smiled at her. “Do you have an activity that is more enticing than eating in mind?”

“I think I do. I really think I do.”

13

This time the Blackhawk couldn’t land anywhere close to the cave; there just wasn’t the kind of terrain coverage to hide behind. As well as not having the mountainous area for coverage, there was not going to be any high ground for Leo and Ezio to set up good sniper positions. Which sucked—really, really sucked.

Hell, Leo didn’t mind the twenty-klick hike from the Blackhawk to the cave with the sixty pounds of gear. That was a cakewalk, but not having a good position to cover his teammates? Yeah, that really chapped his hide. That’s not to say he and Ezio hadn’t come up with a plan. The drone footage had shown some rock groupings and formations that looked promising, but they wouldn’t know until they got closer.

“Hold up,” Max said over their comm system.

They could see the cliff in the distance. Max had his night-vision binoculars out, and soon everybody else did as well.

“I’m seeing three perfect hidey-holes on that cliff above the cave for sentries,” Raiden said with disgust.

“I only saw two,” Asher said. “Where’s the third?”

“Did you see the one right above the cave, dead center? It almost blends in with the mouth of the cave, so you don’t really notice it, but it’s a crease in the rock,” Raiden explained. “I don’t see anyone in there, but I’d bet my bottom dollar someone with a rifle has wormed their way back in there.”

“Got it,” Asher answered.

“Ezio and Leo. There’s your first order of business—take those guys out before we get into range. Can you do it?”

Leo looked over at Ezio and grinned. “Absolutely, Boss.”

Leo never used binoculars, not when he had the best rifle scope in the world, so he pulled his out while Ezio was doing the same thing. Without any discussion, they started determining where they could set up shop.