Page 47 of Once a Killer

Jameson clenched his hands into fists as he watched the two bodyguards, jealous of their easy camaraderie. He wanted that with Bree -- that openness. Comfort. Pleasure in each other’s company. Instead, he had the careful distance she usually managed to keep between them.

Yeah, they’d kissed a couple of times, but Bree had put her foot down about taking it farther than that.

Based on the way she’d kissed him, Jameson was pretty sure she was interested in more. But her damn scruples got in the way.

Finally the guy put Bree down and extended his hand to Jameson. “I’m Diego Lopez,” he said. “Here to take over for Bree while she interrogates -- I mean talks to -- the guy who tried to ram your car.”

“Yeah, she filled me in,” Jameson managed to say in a civil voice. “Apparently you’re going to pretend you’re her boss, checking to see how she’s doing.”

“Right. That’s my cover story.” Diego frowned. “Will I have to talk to the people who work in your lab? Because it sounds like Bree did a pretty thorough job of interviewing them. I don’t want them to wonder why they need to talk to someone else. Possibly mess up her work.”

Jameson thawed a little at his concern for Bree. “No, shouldn’t be necessary. You can talk to me for a while, stay in my office, work on your computer like you’re writing up notes.”

“And keep an eye on the four people in his lab,” Bree said. “See if you pick up anything I didn’t catch.”

Jameson wanted to interrupt and tell Bree she’d done a hell of a good job and there wouldn’t be anything for Lopez to catch. But he pressed his lips together. Said nothing.

“Yeah, goes without saying,” Lopez said. He nudged Bree with his elbow. “But we both know you don’t miss much. It’s that sni… keen eye of yours.”

Bree smiled at Diego, but it looked strained. “Don’t tell tales out of school, Diego,” she said.

Had Lopez almost revealed what she’d done in the military? Her struggle to smile made Jameson wonder.

Bree looked toward the alley. “Too much exposure out here. Let’s take this party inside.”

Jameson led the way, followed by Bree, then Lopez. When he glanced back, he saw Lopez checking out the alley every few seconds. Bree didn’t bother to turn around and look -- apparently, she completely trusted Lopez.

Huh. That probably meant he could trust the guy, too. But he didn’t like the cozy relationship he had with Bree.

Did that make him a jealous idiot?

Yeah. It did.

He swallowed. It sounded like they’d been friends for a long time. Knew each other well.

But he was still jealous. And that made him an ass.

An ass who wanted Bree all to himself.

Huh. He’d never been possessive of the women he’d dated. Never got all territorial. But with Bree? He was protective as hell.

Uneasiness slid through him. He wasn’t supposed to get all territorial about his bodyguard.

What the hell was he going to do about that?

Chapter 17

They had pizza for dinner again, because it was the easiest thing to order for three. When Diego asked for a pepperoni pie, Jameson almost managed a smile. “You’ve got good taste,” he said

Diego looked from him to Bree. Back to him again. “So do you,” he said. Then he did the two fingers thing, pointing them at his own eyes then Jameson’s, like some frickin’ gangster.I’ll be watching you. Jameson tightened his jaw and flicked Diego his middle finger. He didn’t care how close Diego was to Bree. He didn’t get to control her relationships.

Diego slept on the living room couch that night, and Jameson wouldn’t have known he was there. But he stayed awake too long, wondering if Diego would wander into Bree’s room at some point.

He hadn’t, but Jameson woke up tired and cranky. He did his best to hide it, but Diego gave him a knowing smirk as they were getting ready to leave. He wanted to punch the guy but held himself back.

Bree had waved goodbye as they drove away in the Monster, and Diego had given her a snappy salute. Diego was driving and was too busy watching the roads to say much. As they drove, Jameson filled him in on the four other engineers in the lab. Told him a little about each of them. What their programs were about. Bree’s concerns about each of them.

Finally Diego slanted a glance at him. “The guy who’s depressed. Think he could be faking it?”

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