THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

before.
    “Let me see your arms,” he said.
    She jerked at his voice.
    His chest moved with a sigh she couldn’t hear. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” 
    “No.” She lifted her hand in apology. “I’m jumpy.” 
    “With reason.”  He smiled and her silly heart felt special.
    Without thinking, she extended her free arm for him to see the scratched skin. Stupid move. That was the arm with the plain silver band locked on her wrist.
    When he said nothing about it, she relaxed. He probably ignored the bracelet as a piece of junk jewelry.
    One she had to remove soon.
    Asking for a hacksaw right now might throw a kink into how well things were going. If Zane knew that bracelet was a tracking device, he’d jump to the conclusion that she was a criminal and bring in the police. That would be major FUBAR.
    Never again would she blatantly trust anyone, especially the law.
    Locked away for ten days with Mason and his death squad had reminded her just how vulnerable a woman could be, no matter what kind of physical condition she maintained.
    Zane’s deep voice boomed in her headphones. “Speaking of being jumpy and given the send off we just got – want to tell me what’s going on? I can radio ahead to have someone in law enforcement meet us at the next stop.”  His concerned voice flowed over her like a hot shower on a winter morning, but the question snapped her back to cold reality.
    He’d waited longer to ask those questions than she’d expected, and he deserved an answer. But telling this guy anything significant would be foolhardy.
    Still, she despised lying.
    Her mother had lied constantly about drinking even when her breath reeked of cheap whiskey. She’d lied her way straight into a casket, abandoning Angel.
    Her father had lied for years about how he lost a job and where he went at night. Then, to convince the District Attorney he was giving up everyone, her father had told the all-time whopper about her toting drugs. He’d never been much of a parent, but that had shriveled up what was left of her heart.
    The wimpy attorney she’d been assigned had lied about trying to win her case, and made the bare minimum of court-required visits while she lingered in jail.
    No one took responsibility for the truth.
    She’d tell the truth or say nothing.
    Lies had cost her a future she’d trained years to earn. Her life had changed irrevocably seven years ago, but then, as always, she’d adapted. Now, however, she might spend the rest of her days in a federal prison for getting involved with Mason Lorde.
    Men and lies went hand in hand.
    Even if this pilot were different, she’d never see him again. The less he knew, the better off they’d both be.
    “Angel, maybe—”
    “Have you ever had a relationship go bad?” she asked.
    “A few that were difficult, but not quite that bad.”  Zane raised an eyebrow loaded with skepticism.
    “It’s complicated. I won’t burden you.”  You wouldn’t believe me anyhow.
    “Burden me. I have nowhere to go for a while.” 
    Just my luck to be rescued by Dr. Phil. Damn . “I wanted out of an arrangement. He didn’t see it my way.”  Angel lifted her shoulders to sell her escape as no big deal.
    Rain pattered against the outer covering of the fuselage and the cargo chattered during the empty pause.
    Zane’s eyes hardened.
    He probably assumed she meant a personal relationship. She should be so lucky to have a normal woman’s problems. To clear up his confusion would involve details she could never share.
    After several seconds, he held out his hand to her. “Let’s check your other arm.”
    She hesitated to uncover her middle and couldn’t take another moment of his hands on her skin. Not if she wanted to keep her ridiculous hormones under control. “I’m okay, really. Thank you.” 
    Don’t ask me about what’s bulging under my shirt .
    His eyes flickered with a moment of indecision that raised hairs on her skin in warning, but he didn’t press her further.
    In an effort to change the subject, she asked, “Where’re we headed?”
    “Jacksonville.” 
    Her quota of divine help had just run out.
    Mason had a division in Jacksonville.
     
    Chapter 4
     
    “You’re landing at the Jacksonville International Airport?”  A frisson of worry slipped into Angel’s voice in spite of her effort to sound casual. Could Mason’s men have gotten Zane’s flight plan?
    Zane eyed her as though he could see right through to the secrets she