her four children, including David’s increasing fascination with cars. “He’s going to be a holy terror on the road,” Rebecca said, her voice mixed with worry and pride. “He’s already poring through Austin’s car magazines and giving us suggestions for his sixteenth birthday.”
The conversation continued. Rebecca made it a habit to drop in two or three mornings a week. D.J. enjoyed hearing about her family. As she didn’t plan to get married, and doubted she would be a very good single mom, Rebecca’s kids were as close to her own as she was going to get.
“I’m having a party next week,” Rebecca announced as she poured them each more coffee.
D.J. held up her hands in protest. “No, thanks.”
“How can you say that?”
“You have two kinds of parties. One is for couples, which means you’re going to set me up with some guy I don’t want to meet. The other is a girls-only deal where someone will be trying to sell something I’ll find completely useless.”
“Cosmetics,” Rebecca confirmed. “And they’re not useless. I know you’re not a big fan of makeup, but you take good care of your skin. This line of skin care is really amazing. Besides, it would be good for you to get out.”
“I get out.”
“I’m talking about spending some time with normal women.”
“I spend time with you.”
Rebecca sighed. “Why can’t you be more social?”
“It’s not my thing.”
“So what is your thing?”
D.J. thought of Quinn. He intrigued her. “There was this guy I met during the war games,” she said.
Rebecca instantly brightened. “Did he ask you out?”
“It wasn’t like that. I captured him, but only because I got lucky. I want him to teach me what he knows.”
“Which is what?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve asked around a little and found out that he works for a secret branch of the military. I’ll bet he knows more about killing people than anyone I’ve met.”
Rebecca shuddered. “Not exactly someone you want to have over for dinner. What’s the guy’s appeal? You don’t kill people. You keep them alive.”
“The more I know, the better.”
Her friend studied her. “You seem very determined. Are you sure this is only about the exchange of knowledge?”
D.J. didn’t bother answering. It was a stupid question. Well, maybe not stupid. There had been that kiss.
She instantly shoved the memory away. The kiss had been nothing, she told herself. Any reaction she’d felt had been brought on by exhaustion or adrenaline or a spider bite.
“Why does your silence sound so guilty?” Rebecca asked.
D.J. did her best not to squirm. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I believe that.” She flicked her long hair over her shoulder and shook her head. “If he’s so special, can’t you just date him? Does every encounter have to be a battle?”
“I asked him to teach me some things, but he wasn’t interested. I even offered to pay him.”
“Not exactly the best way to win him over.”
“I don’t want him to like me.”
“Why not?”
It was an old conversation and one D.J. wasn’t about to start up again. Rebecca had never understood her reluctance to get involved with a man. She didn’t get that caring meant vulnerability. Danger lurked in most relationships. Men were bigger, stronger and, for the most part, meaner. Not all of them, of course, but D.J. wasn’t taking any chances.
“I don’t want a boyfriend, just an instructor,” she said. “Don’t try to change my mind. Just tell me how to convince him to help me out.”
“I will, but under protest. You need a good man in your life.”
D.J. rotated her wrist, motioning for Rebecca to get on with it. Her friend smiled impishly.
“There’s only one way to get a man to do something he doesn’t want to do.”
Finally, D.J. thought. Information she could use. “What’s that?”
“Give him the one thing he really wants and can’t get any other way.”
Chapter Four
D.J. hovered in front of the hotel room door. She hated to think of herself as someone who hovered, but there was no other way to describe her actions. She reached up to knock once, then took two steps back and shoved her hands into her jeans pockets.
This was crazy, she told herself. She shouldn’t even bother. She wouldn’t, either, except she really wanted Quinn to teach her a few tricks. But would he agree?
Rebecca had said to find something he wanted that he couldn’t get any other way and offer it to him. Great advice, except she didn’t know what would interest him. Except for something he’d mentioned while he’d been her prisoner.
He’d teased her about taking advantage of him, joked about her searching him more thoroughly and had wanted to kiss her. She might not have a date with a different guy every Friday night, but she knew something about the male of the species. The way into a man’s frame of reference wasn’t through great cooking, witty conversation or a sparkling personality. Nope, guys were more basic than that. Something she thought she could use to her advantage.
She stalked up to the door and raised her hand again. This time she knocked, then wished she hadn’t. Planning to make a deal with Quinn was one thing, but going through with it was something else. She didn’t usually offer to pay for things with sex. In fact it was something she’d never done. But desperate times called for—
The door opened.
D.J. had already come up with several opening lines. She didn’t like to get caught unaware. But all her prep work hadn’t prepared her for the impact of seeing Quinn again.
As a rule, a man was a man was a man. A few she liked, a few she wished were dead and the rest rarely made an impact on her life. She considered herself sensible, autonomous and rational. So why did the sight of Quinn standing in the doorway to his hotel room suddenly made her chest go tight?
Nerves, she told herself firmly. She didn’t usually allow herself to feel them, but obviously they were bothering her. A few deep breaths and she would be fine. Really.
Quinn stared at her for several seconds, then smiled. As the corners of his mouth turned up, he leaned one forearm against the door frame and shifted his weight to one leg. The other was slightly bent at the knee. He looked relaxed…and predatory. Big, tall, powerful.
His
