Page 55 of Once a Killer

“I don’t care if he is or not. The license will be constructed so it can’t be shared. If it is, a virus will wipe it clean from your network.”

“You know those hostile countries pay armies of hackers to get their hands on programs like yours.”

Weston stared at Jameson, who stared right back. Finally, Jameson leaned back in his chair with a sly smile. “Hackers can only get hold of the programs that allow them access.”

“You’re saying your program can withstand hacking?”

Jameson shrugged one shoulder. “Once my program is ready to be licensed, it will be secure from hackers.”

“How the hell…?”

Jameson raised one eyebrow. “You going to reveal military secrets to me, Weston? Or maybe CIA secrets?”

Weston pursed his lips. Stared back at Jameson. Finally said, “I’ve followed your work, Ford, and I’m not surprised. You’re too smart to have security gaps in your program.”

Jameson nodded. “Thanks for that.” He nodded toward the hall again. “Keep him away from me. And you can tell the general that I expect him to send Ms. Gordon a written note of apology. Not from you or one of his lackeys. From him personally. And I know what the general’s handwriting looks like.”

Weston nodded. “I’ll make sure of it.” He stood up. “I figured this was a fool’s errand, but Dailey insisted. Sorry to waste your time.”

“Not at all, Weston. General Dailey’s behavior was illuminating. And he certainly firmed up my intention to license the program rather than sell it.” He stood up and shook Weston’s hand. “Hope your trip back to Washington isn’t too unpleasant.”

Weston smiled. “I can deal with him.”

He turned to Bree. “I’m sorry, Ms. Gordon.”

“Not your fault, Colonel Weston.” She held his gaze for a moment, then nodded.

The colonel nodded back, then exited the office. When he stepped into the hall, Bree saw the general out there, pacing. He grabbed Weston’s arm as the door swung closed.

Jameson turned to face her. Dragged his office chair over to her desk and dropped into it. “I’m so sorry, Bree,” he said quietly. “Dailey is a jackass. I’m sorry about what he said to you. I didn’t invite him here. He just showed up, but he won’t be returning. I’ll make sure of that.”

“I got that,” she said. She wanted to reach for his hand. Give him some comfort, but instead she dropped her hands into her lap. The last thing she wanted to do was put on a show for the engineers on the other side of the glass wall.

His gaze followed her hand, and then he stared into her eyes. She let him see her determination to protect him. Her affection for him. That he’d become more than just her job.

She leaned closer. “Two hundred million dollars?” she whispered. “My God! I had no idea how much money was at stake. No wonder someone wants to steal your work.”

“Please don’t broadcast that figure around. Not a word to anyone.” He jerked his head toward the wall behind his desk, where the bugs were hidden. “I wish Weston hadn’t said how much he was offering me.” Jameson flicked his gaze into the lab, touching on the engineers, then looked back at her. “Whoever is listening to me now knows how much that program is worth.” He shook his head. “Weston just made your job a lot harder.”

She frowned. “This doesn’t change anything. I’m all in for you, Jameson. I won’t let anything happen to you. But can you do me a favor?”

He leaned closer, so his mouth was next to her ear. His scent wrapped around her, and she shifted back, away from the heat of his body. Away from temptation. She smoothed her hands over her knees. Wanted to move closer and absorb the heat from his body. “Anything, Bree,” he breathed. “Just name it.”

“Get that program patented, ASAP,” she whispered. “So no one can steal it from you.”

“Working on it,” he said, equally softly.

“It’s already copyrighted, isn’t it?”

His gaze bored into hers, the blue of his eyes darkening. “Yeah. Got that a while ago.”

She stared at him, her heart tapping out a fast, hard rhythm against her chest. “Focus on the patent,” she managed to say. That blazing blue gaze, focused on her, had stolen every thought in her head. She swallowed once. Tried to collect herself. Finally managed, “That patent’s important. Just in case.”

“Okay,” he said.

Needing to connect with him, she curled her fingers around his wrist. His pulse jittered against her fingertips and the hair on his arm tickled her palm. Now, this close, the heat from his body washed over her and made her wriggle a millimeter closer to the edge of her chair.

Her knee bumped his. His electric blue eyes held hers, and their breathing synched into slow exhales. Inhales.

---