Trace of Fever - Lori Foster [2]
They were not gentle, making her show of defenselessness difficult to maintain. Her arm got twisted; someone pulled at her ponytail, making her gasp.
And then suddenly, a quiet but stern voice spoke up. “Let her go.”
Just that easily, she was free. She twisted to find a face to go with that deep voice, and froze. Wow.
Unlike the Neanderthals who’d taken pleasure in man-handling her so roughly, this man looked smooth and debonair and…sexy.
He strode toward them with a frown that brooked no arguments. Standing easily six feet tall, he was muscular but not overly bulky, clean-cut but not in a too-polished GQ way. Very fair hair, straight and a little too long, contrasted sharply with the most piercing golden-brown eyes she’d ever seen. He wore khakis and an obviously expensive black T-shirt. She detected the bulk of a Kevlar vest beneath the shirt.
A black-leather shoulder holster held his gun. The belt around his waist carried two extra magazines, a stun gun, baton and mace. His black lace-up steel-toed boots could be deadly.
The man was ready for anything.
But maybe not ready for her.
That bright caramel gaze drifted over both of the hulks with contempt. “I’ll handle her from here.”
Grumbling, the men moved away.
He took her arm. “Come with me.”
Priss tried to resist, but he was far more physically persuasive—without really hurting her—than the other men had been. “Where are we going?”
“Farther away for privacy.”
“Oh. Okay.” In her flat shoes, she hustled along beside him, feeling very short and suddenly unsure of herself. “You work here?”
He didn’t reply but drew her around the corner, shielding her from prying eyes. He, on the other hand, stayed in view, and Priscilla assumed it was so he could keep an eye on the others.
Cautious and suspicious—qualities she appreciated.
He gave her a very slow perusal, from her dark reddish-brown hair in its high ponytail, to her crisp blue blouse and her over-the-knee, old-fashioned skirt, to her flat-heeled Mary Janes…and then back up again. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh.” She pretended to be flustered by his direct stare. And truthfully…she was. But only a little. This was too important for her to fudge it.
She hugged her big satchel purse to her chest and said with just the right quaver, “I came to meet Murray Coburn.”
“Why?”
She widened her eyes. “Well, that’s actually private.”
He stood there, waiting, his gaze unflinching, direct.
Ha. He didn’t know her fortitude if he thought a little stare-down would discomfort her. Pasting on what she hoped was a winsome smile, Priscilla blinked her eyes at him. “Oh, I should introduce myself.” She held out a hand. “I’m Priscilla Patterson.”
He looked at her hand, and his left eye twitched.
He didn’t touch her.
“Yes, well…” She tucked her hand back in close to her body. “Will you please tell Mr. Coburn I’m here?”
“No.” And then, striking an exasperated stance, he asked again, “Why do you want to see him?”
When she started to look away, he caught her chin and lifted her face. “I don’t have time for this, so stop the coy act.”
This time her eyes widened for real. He knew she was acting? But how?
Shaking his head, he released her. “Fine. I’ll have the men show you out.”
“No, wait.” She caught his arm—and was stunned at the unyielding strength there. It was like grabbing thick rock. “Okay, I’ll tell you. But please don’t make me leave.”
He crossed his arms, which effectively shook off her touch. “I’m listening.”
“Murray is my father.”
So still that he looked like a stone statue, the man stared at her. Only an infinitesimal narrowing of his eyes showed any reaction at all. “You’re fucking with me.”
Okay, so coarse language didn’t really shock her, not anymore, not at twenty-four when much of her life had been spent on the sordid side of survival. She still gasped. “Sir, really.” Fanning her face as if to alleviate a blush, Priscilla frowned at him. “I assure you that I’m serious.”
A noise at the front of the lobby drew his attention, and after a quick look, he cursed low. Catching her arm, he