THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

it safe?”
    “It is when I’m in charge.”
    She rolled her eyes. “What’d I tell you? The ego remains undented.”
    His lips quirked. “Seriously, it’s not high risk. I wouldn’t be suggesting it if it were. But just the same, we’ll have a discreet security team maintaining a cushion around us at all times.”
    His gaze flickered just long enough to make her aware she was sitting in bed in her nightshirt with the bedclothes pooled on her lap.
    Oh, Christmas. The clinch with Delano last night. That’s probably what he saw every time he looked at her. She felt a blush rise in her neck.
    “Can you be ready in half an hour?”
    “Give me fifteen minutes.”
     
     

 
    Chapter 11
     
    TWO AND A HALF hours later, Eli helped her clamber out of the calèche he’d hailed at Rue de la Commune, in front of the old port.
    “How’d you enjoy that?”
    Ainsley grinned. “You have to ask?”
    He shrugged. “It’s a guy thing.”
    She laughed. “It was great. But I’d like to come back one day to explore the Notre-Dame Basilica. Oh, and the Pointe-à-Callière.”
    He squinted at her. “Interesting.”
    “What?”
    “The Basilica, sure. I mean, it’s a bloody Neo-Gothic wonder. Everyone is awed by it. But I wouldn’t have pegged you for the museum of archaeology and history.”
    She shrugged. “I like history.”
    And she did. Except as they toured Old Montreal, from the Bonsecours Market to the Place d’Armes, she’d found herself wondering if Delano had walked these cobbled streets in another time. Another century. She shivered.
    Eli checked his watch. “We’d better head back. Both of us could stand a nap before the boss rises.”
    At the mention of Delano, Ainsley’s face sobered. “About last night—”
    He threw up a hand. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Stop right there.”
    “Stop?”
    “Gawd, yes.” He lowered his hand. “Number one, there are several three-word phrases in the English language that are guaranteed to tighten a man’s sphincter, and that, my darlin’, is one of ’em. Don’t wanna hear it. And secondly, it’s none of my business.”
    “But—”
    “No buts.”
    “But—”
    “You had fun today, right?”
    Ainsley blinked. “Well, yes, bu—”
    “Then let’s leave it lie just like that, why don’t we?”
    She shook her head. “You make things awfully easy for me, Eli.”
    “That was sort of the point.” He raised an arm, flagging down a passing taxi, which stopped amid the squealing of sorely abused brakes. He opened the back door of the cab. “Après vous, Madame.”
    She grinned at his French, delivered as it was with that unique accent of his. “Merci, monsieur.”
    When she moved toward the car, he didn’t move back as far as she expected. Consequently, she had to squeeze past him to get into the back seat. No doubt it was a security precaution, his standing so close, but she found herself taking notice of his sheer size and power. And not for the first time today.
    Criminey, but he was nice looking. Nice smelling, too. Not to mention funny and considerate and easy to be around. And his body — oh, baby, seriously ripped . Under different circumstances, she’d be giving him some not-so-subtle signals, just to see if there was any answering spark there. He’d be playful in the bedroom. She’d lay money on it. And a good thing, too. That levity would mitigate all that overpowering, hulking brawn…
    She blinked. Oh, God. She was having decidedly sexual thoughts about Eli. Eli! Her co-worker. A fellow nurse. What was wrong with her? She’d all but torn Delano’s clothes off last night, and now she was—
    “Scoot over, Angel. I have no desire to get clipped by traffic trying to get in that other door.”
    Face burning, she slid across the bench seat to hug the far door. Eli climbed in and instructed the driver.
    He turned to her. “You look tired.”
    Normally, she would not welcome that kind of observation from an attractive man, but it was too good an opportunity to let slide.
    “I am.” She aimed an apologetic smile at him. “Mind if I snooze on the way home?”
    “Go right ahead. Actually, eyes closed might not be a bad idea any time, given traffic in this city.”
    She gave the expected chuckle, then settled back against the seat cushions to feign rest.
    Eyes closed. Yessiree. That worked just fine.
    Just fine for contemplating exactly when she’d turned into the Whore of Babylon.
     
    Delano leaned back in his chair as he listened to