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As I expected, the two heavier guards went first, but only after they made sure Cassandra was out of reach and protected by the third --impressively so They probably stood six four and six six, with the kind of ht work, but without any of the lect flexibility training They wore expensive, well-tailored suits in navy, with crisply starched white shirts The only bit of color on either of them was their ties The first wore one of knotted silk in pale yellow; the second, a more traditional red I watched them step cautiously into the rooic they’d felt downstairs, and finding it in the safe

"What’s in the safe, Ms Graves?" Thebetween Cassandra and ood professional sht white teeth in a face that was handsoenetic lotto, but he hadn’t lost his shirt, either He had a strong jaw and good cheekbones, but his nose was a little bit large and hooked, alaze easily, and I felt hi to do with sex but weren’t ignoring the possibility His hair was his best feature, or would have been if he hadn’t cut it so short It was a warhts that would’ve fallen in soft, unruly curls if he’d given it the chance Instead, it was cropped short enough to be kept under conized hi on the letterhead, he was ruest personal protection agencies in the business When you care enough to hire the very best

"It’s a weapons safe," I pointed out drily "What do you think is in it?"

"Ied his whole appearance Just that se, but I feltaware of hiers I’d say it was his ht have been part of it But there was h ly He noticed the reaction, of course, and his eyes started sparkling withIt was prilow lightly, liquid honey that forced ic made my skin ache The worst part was I was pretty sure he wasn’t even trying

Still, he kept his voice even and professional when he spoke "I don’t knohat you have in there, but I could feel the power al It takes so very … special to capture my attention Makes me want to check it out personally, Ms Graves"

I wasn’t sure how to answer that, but I was saved the trouble by the ti my office for threats

"You can come in, Ms Meadows," red tie announced "It’s clear"

Cassandra strode into the office, taking the visitor’s chair opposite the desk She crossed her legs with lazy grace, showing a long expanse of silk-stockinged lis But Lloyd’s of London had insured the her last picture Whatever

Creede gestured for esture, so I did it, but ht and twitchy until I was in my chair with a wall at my back I could tell he knew it and was quietly amused

"To what do I owe this visit?" I kept one pretty well If I was lucky, ould politely detest each other for a few et on with my day

She looked at me across the desk as if miles separated us rather than a few inches of polished wood I stayed i eyes took in the bloodstains and the injuries I caught her staring atat my tattoo Unfortunately, it was farat the very old, very nasty scars that I tried not to think about but kneere just visible beneath the heht words and not find thehter lovers?" I could tell it wasn’t the question she’d intended to ask, but it was the one that , which startled her "No We were just friends She was seeing soet serious"

"Friends" She shook her head It was a gesture of unconscious grace thataround her shoulders Her eyeswith unshed tears "Do you know that in my entire adult life I have never had a female friend?"

I wasn’t surprised Friendships are usually based on give-and-take between equals Not h to consider themselves her equal, and I wasn’t sure she’d accept it if they did But saying that wouldn’t be polite, so I settled for so a little more neutral but no less sincere: "I’ri to raise hell--accuse you of seducing h of a dae for a decent cremation"

"Why aren’t you?"