Into the Fray (Daring Escapes #3) - Margaret Daley Page 0,5

heading straight for one hundred when Guerrero began pulling her along behind him back toward the restaurant. With all her meager strength, she dug in her heels, forcing him to turn and face her.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asked in the same caustic tone he had used on her a few minutes ago.

"After taking you to your hotel, I’ll get on with my life.”

"No one will ever accuse you of being a knight in shining armor."

"Now, lady, that's the first sensible thing you've said all day.”

"And no one will accuse you of having manners either. Most people ask before dragging a person off somewhere."

"They do?" One black eyebrow lifted. "I guess that was what those two gentlemen were doing earlier in the alley. Asking."

Tory stiffened her spine. "I can get back to the hotel by myself." The second she said those words, she regretted the rash statement. She was so used to doing things for herself it was hard to admit she needed help. She’d only asked earlier in the restaurant because her life's work was in jeopardy.

His laughter filled the silence of the street. “I see. Is that what you were doing? Going in the wrong direction to your hotel? Going deeper into the area most people avoid?"

Earlier she’d thought she was going in the right direction and hadn’t paid attention to where she walked. She looked away, warmth beginning to torch her cheeks. "I was upset and distracted about not getting your help, so I had a little trouble."

"A little?"

His sardonic smile greeted her, making the color in her cheeks no doubt heighten. "Okay, a lot. Are you satisfied? I'm just a helpless woman."

"Helpless? Somehow, I don't believe that. That poor man back there will carry your scratches for a long time."

"Good."

"Now, can we leave? I have business later that I must see to." He continued walking in the direction of the restaurant.

"Wait. You really aren't going to turn those men over to the police?"

Guerrero halted again. "No. I found out all I needed from them."

"You did? What?"

"That someone paid them to come after you."

"Paid them?" Tory sank back against the building, needing the wall for support. She felt weak, stunned that anyone was deliberately after her. Why? Nothing was making any sense. The trembling began in her hands and quickly spread to every part of her body. She hugged her arms to her. "I don't understand any of this. I know a few items have disappeared from the dig, but nothing of real value yet. I want the site protected, not me.”

Guerrero leaned back against the building, his body inches from hers. "They didn't know who was paying them. Everything was done over the phone," he said, folding his arms across his massive chest.

She slanted a glance at Guerrero, wishing she could control her nerves, which were stretched so taut that she was afraid they would snap any second. "And you believe them?"

"Yes. I can be very persuasive. They didn't lie to me."

When she looked at him, she thought of his controlled power with a calmness, especially after fighting two men hired to capture her. He intrigued her. He was a man who was capable of taking care of himself or whoever was with him. People probably didn’t lie to him for long. “Does anything get to you?”

“When you’ve faced death as many times as I have, it does something to you.”

"Faced death? How many times are you talking about?"

He shrugged. "Does it really matter? Once is enough."

She thought back to the two men in the alley and had to agree with Guerrero. Once was definitely enough. She could have forgone the experience and been perfectly content. "If someone paid those men to come after me, then I'm not safe." The words were whispered as that realization struck her with the force of a sledgehammer. She’d never thought she was in danger, only the archaeological site.

"Lady, I would assume you aren't."

"What should I do?" She turned to face him and realized just how close the man was. Strength and calmness emanated from him. She wished she could capture them and use them to her benefit. Instead, she had to convince him to help her. She knew when she was in over her head. There was no one else who could make her feel safe, and right now, that feeling was very important to her.

"Go home," he whispered, the words hanging in the air between them.

"I can't."

"Is this project more important than your life?"

"I won't let