Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(22)

“Yes, but his boss is shady. Cut him loose. Pay him if you need to, but he shouldn’t get on that plane.” Case stepped in as though he could force her to do his will with the mere presence of that hot bod of his.

She was made of sterner stuff than that. Mostly. “He’s staying, Case. I need someone who’s here to watch my back and my back alone.”

“I’ll do that,” he insisted.

“You need to concentrate on your mission. Or have you forgotten?” It was the one thing neither one of them could forget. Theo was at stake. Theo and Erin and their son. That family was at stake. She and Case had f*cked up anything they might have had, but that didn’t mean Erin and Theo couldn’t be made whole again.

Case’s eyes went stubborn. “I can do both. Originally it was going to be you and me.”

“Now I see that was a mistake.” It had been pure grade A optimism. She had that in spades. Her brothers called her na?ve. She liked to think of it as choosing a better reality. Sometimes that reality didn’t show up for her party. “We can start over, but I’m taking Mr. Fain with me. I’m not going to be a slave to your schedule. I’m well aware that you likely won’t let me get a cup of coffee without a bodyguard. I want some freedom.”

He frowned as though he hadn’t thought of that scenario. “All right. When it comes down to meeting Tony…”

“I’ll let you be the one who follows me.” He was the one with the most to lose. She wasn’t trying to cut him out. She simply wanted something of her own.

“You are not locking yourself in a private dining room with that *.”

Was he actually jealous? She sighed. “Case, I’m not interested in him personally. He’s not my type. He’s far too personable, gentlemanly, and reasonable to be my type.”

His lips curled up in the sexiest grin. “See it stays that way, darlin’. And I’m keeping an eye on Fain. Just because you insist on bringing that pretty boy Marine along doesn’t mean I’m not still watching your back. I’m going to consider him your stubbornness personified. You’re still my responsibility. Let’s get you on the plane.”

He picked up his bag and settled his jacket over her shoulders again. She found herself walking to the hangar with him, allowing him to open the door and then give her a hand up to the plane. The flight attendant was there in her crisp uniform, a smile on her face. Her eyes widened when she saw Case behind Mia.

The flight attendant was lovely, slender and graceful. Just the type to catch a cowboy’s eye.

“Welcome aboard, Ms. Danvers.” Her voice turned distinctly breathy. “And your friend.”

Mia thought about vomiting, but then a hand slipped into hers.

“It’s Taggart, Case Taggart, and I’m a very good friend of Ms. Danvers. But you should meet Ezra. I would bet he’s just your type.”

Hutch was walking up behind them. “I’m her type, too. Hi, I’m Hutch.”

“Keep walking, buddy. We’ve got work to do,” Michael said. “Keep it in your pants.”

“But Big Tag changed the company motto to We Don’t Keep It In Our Pants,” Hutch complained.

Case’s brother was as crazy as her own.

Case followed her as she moved into the body of the jet. When she took her seat, he sat down beside her. He pointed to the seat in front of them as though forming a phalanx around her with his own men. Case had herded her to the window seat. He’d taken the seat next to her and Hutch and Michael had boxed her in.

Clever Taggart.

No wonder he’d let Ezra go and talk to the front office. He’d managed to make it so she didn’t sit with her own security guard.

“How long is this flight?” Case asked. He seemed perfectly satisfied with the outcome.

“A little over six hours,” Michael said, leaning back in his seat.

Case held out a hand toward the flight attendant. “Could you please get Ms. Danvers a glass of Pinot Noir? The rest of us will have beers. Whatever you have is fine, but she prefers a Sonoma wine.”

He remembered that?

“Of course. We have all of Ms. Danvers’ favorites on board. I’ve had the kitchens send us extra meals. Your choice of filet mignon or a seafood paella.”

She already knew his answer. “He’s going to need both. You should pretend like you’re feeding eight people instead of five.”

“Except when it comes to dessert,” Hutch pointed out. He sat back and seemed to be flirting hard with the flight attendant. “Then add in an extra man because I was denied cake. Don’t worry though. I have a ridiculously high metabolism. Though I do like to work off all that sugar.”

Michael rolled his eyes. “I’m surrounded by men who have no idea how to handle a woman.”

“We’ll definitely need some dessert.” Maybe something chocolate and rich would take her mind off the forbidden fruit sitting beside her.

He’d said he wanted to start over. Was he being honest with her?

“Yes, ma’am. They’ll have us stocked in the next twenty minutes and then we can take off.” The lovely brunette who Case hadn’t looked at with anything but professional courtesy strode to the kitchen area.

Ezra walked on the plane and glanced around, taking in the seating arrangements. “We’ll be leaving in twenty minutes. I don’t suppose I could convince you I need to sit with my employer.”