“What are you doing is more the question,” he said. “And don’t tell me looking for the bathroom.”

Lying in this case would get her nowhere. And she hated lying to him anyway. “I saw the open door and heard voices. I thought I might hear something useful.”

“You had a gun at your head once tonight. You really do like to live dangerously, don’t you?”

Her throat went dry. She had. He was right. And he’d tried to save her. “You tried to get Ignacio to point that gun at you instead of me. Why?”

Surprise flickered in his eyes. “Why?”

“Why?”

“I told you,” he said softly. “I might need you.” His lips quirked. “Besides, it’s what us macho men do, baby.”

It was one of his flippant remarks that he did so well but it was flat without the cocky attitude he’d mastered like no one she’d ever known. There was more to this man than met the eye, and she wanted him to surprise her. She wanted him to be someone he wasn’t. But isn’t that what all women who got mixed up with a man like him wanted? What they convinced themselves was possible to justify being with a man destined to destroy them?

And still, with that logic playing in her mind, she found herself gently touching his face, letting her fingers trail over the dull stubble of a new beard, her chest tight with emotion. “Thank you.”

He reached up and covered her hand with his. “For what?”

“For saving my life.” She wet her lips. “I owe you.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

It was another unexpected answer. A man like him would be expected to hold people captive, use everything against them. But he wasn’t.

“I take that back,” he said. “You owe me—”

The door moved behind them and Blake held it shut. Kara wanted to scream with the interruption that kept her from knowing what he’d been about to say. Before she could find out if he would prove himself like the others in the cartel, holding her for ransom.

“Quickly,” Blake pressed, “what did you overhear from Eduardo?”

“Nothing.” She cut her gaze to his chest before she could stop herself, a sure sign of a lie to a trained eye. “I didn’t have time to catch anything. They were already leaving the office.” She tried to push away from him. He held onto her and damn it, her gaze lifted to his.

He stared down at her, his eyes keen, too keen, and suddenly his fingers were under her hair, wrapping her neck. He pulled her hard against him, his mouth slanting over hers, his tongue stroking hers in a short, intense kiss that she dared to let herself revel in. Too soon, though, the door jerked behind them again and he tore his mouth from hers, his eyes capturing hers. “You do know we’re going to talk when we get back to your apartment, right?”

“Talk?” she asked innocently.

“That’s right,” he assured her. “And, depending on how cooperative you are, handcuffs may or may not be involved.”

Kara swallowed hard, feeling heat radiate down her spine. He meant it. He’d cuff her and torment her, tease her, drive her to the edge of orgasm and pull her back until she was going insane. And she just might, because there was no way she could confess anything to him. There was too much to lose.

“And when do you talk, Blake?” she challenged.

“Talking isn’t my specialty, as you’ll find out tonight.”

He pushed off the door and pulled her around to exit before she could say more, and she had the distinct impression he didn’t like where this conversation was going. Even more so when he quickly pulled her into the hallway, where they found Ignacio and Eduardo waiting on them. Somehow, she doubted that was a good thing.

Chapter Three

“You two need a private office or what?” Ignacio asked.

“Yeah,” Blake said. “Yours up for grabs?” He glanced at Ignacio. “Or maybe yours?”

“Aren’t you the funny man?” Eduardo asked sarcastically.

“Ha ha,” Blake said. “Only I wasn’t joking. I need an office to work out of. This seems like as good a location as any.”

“The way he eats,” Kara commented, “a restaurant might not be a bad idea.”

“She has a point,” Blake said approvingly. “Food at my disposal is always a plus.”

“No space to spare here,” Eduardo said. “I guess you’ll have to try another location.”

“Maybe in the warehouse,” Blake countered. “Why don’t you take me on a tour?”

Eduardo crossed his arms in front of his chest. “It’s closed for business tonight, but hey, if you want to see a bunch of pallets, sure. We’ll take you on a tour.”

“We’ll risk being bored,” Blake assured him.

“Come back tomorrow night,” Ignacio said. “The crew will be here. You can see everything.”

Or nothing, Kara thought. Tonight was about women and sex, not drugs, and damn it, she wanted to launch herself at both of these men and throttle them.

“That works,” Blake said, surprising Kara. “What time tomorrow night?”

“Nine,” Eduardo said. “That lets you see the entire process.”

“Nine it is,” Blake agreed.

It was all Kara could do not to gape and then object, but already Blake was ushering her away, his hand firmly wrapping her upper arm. In a blink, she was leaving behind a chance to see the warehouse and headed for the exit. She had a bad feeling she wouldn’t be coming back with him tomorrow.