Wyatt's War

Joe stuck with him throughout the inspection, noting the best places to run his canines through to check for bombs. Bacchus had been eager to set his nose to the task and would have inspected the entire building by himself if Joe had the time to do a thorough sweep.

As they returned to the front entrance, Arthur and Preston stood to one side, talking about camera angles. Joe was telling Wyatt more about the animals he’d bring the next day when a flash of red hair caught Wyatt’s attention.

Fiona stood with a man in a maintenance uniform pointing at the lights in the ceiling.

“Wyatt, have you heard anything I’ve said?”

A hand waved in Wyatt’s face and he turned to stare at Joe as if he’d just noticed him. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”

“You completely zoned out there for a minute.”

Wyatt’s gaze didn’t remain on Joe long. Not when Fiona was so near and gorgeous in her soft gray pencil skirt and orange sherbet blouse.

The wolf whistle next to him yanked him back to Joe.

“Who’s the babe?” Joe asked.

His brows furrowing, Wyatt shot a narrowed glance at Joe. “That’s our fearless leader, Ms. Fiona Allen.” The woman he’d be sleeping with in a couple hours if he could convince her it was a good idea.

“This gig just got better.” Joe clapped his hands together and took off toward her, glancing back at Wyatt. “Aren’t you coming? On second thought, don’t. You’ll cramp my style.”

Wyatt loped to catch up as Joe stuck out his hand to Fiona. “Joseph Goodman.”

Fiona turned a full, captivating smile on him and her entire face lit up.

Someone could have punched him in the gut the way the air left his chest and he couldn’t seem to bring any back in.

“Wow. You’re really pretty,” Joe said, holding her hand longer than was necessary.

Her smile widened and her cheeks flushed. “Well, aren’t you the charmer?”

A stab of something that felt oddly like jealousy knifed through Wyatt’s heart. What the hell? She hadn’t made any promises. She wasn’t his to be jealous about. One kiss did not mean she’d committed herself to him, or him to her.

Then why did he feel like beating his chest like a gorilla and then pounding his friend into a pulp for holding Fiona’s hand longer than was necessary for a friendly greeting?

“Joe here was about to leave. Weren’t you, Joe?” Wyatt gripped his friend’s elbow and tried to steer him away from Fiona.

Bacchus growled and bared wickedly sharp teeth.

Wyatt dropped Joe’s arm and Fiona backed away, her eyes widening.

“Heel,” Joe said. “Don’t worry, Ms. Fiona. He won’t hurt you. He must think Wyatt’s being too aggressive. Bacchus is very sensitive and picks up on others’ emotions.” Joe smiled at Wyatt, though the smile was a bit forced. “I’d love to talk to you more about the sweep I plan to do with the dogs tomorrow. Do you have plans for di

“As a matter of fact, she does.” Wyatt stepped up beside Fiona and faced Joe. “She’s having di

Fiona’s brows rose high on her forehead. “I am?”

“Yes. Of course you are. We need to go over the details of the convention center security and talk about the hotel.”

“That’s an excellent idea.” Fiona gave him a brilliant smile that made his insides flip. “It would be a great opportunity to put our heads together and get security of our convention goers nailed down so that we don’t have any international incidents.” She turned to Preston, Joe and Arthur. “Of course we’d need the whole team in on the discussion. Would you three please join us for di

Wyatt’s stomach dipped. Di

The man didn’t even look his way. “I’d love to.” Joe gri

Preston glanced at his watch. “I can come for a little while, but I have to coordinate with my team before the morning.”

Wyatt watched his chances to woo the pretty Fiona slipping through his fingers. He’d hoped to get to know her, and let her get to know him a little better before they slept in the same room, and hopefully in the same bed.

Fiona clapped her hands. “Well, good. It’s all set then.” She glanced at the clock on her cell phone. “If we could meet at the hotel at seven o’clock, we can find someplace to eat along the River Walk.”

“I’ll be there,” Joe said a little too eagerly.

Wyatt refrained from elbowing him in the gut…just barely.

Preston nodded. “Seven o’clock. If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do before tomorrow.” The man hurried off.

“I’d better get back to the video display room.” Arthur shook Fiona’s hand. “I’ll have to check with mi esposa before I commit to di

“I have work to do as well. Since the governor couldn’t get here on time, I’m greeting the Mexican Prime Minister at the airport in less than an hour.” Fiona smiled at Joe, not Wyatt. “I’ll see you two tonight.”

When she’d gone, Wyatt glared at his friend.

Joe’s eyes widened. “What?”

“I meant to have di

A chuckle rumbled in Joe’s chest and then grew into a full-bellied laugh. “I loved the look on her face when you a

“Seems as though she did. And I would have asked, but I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

“If you want to make points with Fiona, you’d better have her as your main focus.”

Oh, he did. That was the problem.

“Look, if you want me to back off, say the word.” Joe held his hands out, palms up. “I’ll tell her I have a sick dog and can’t make di

“No. Preston will be there and I’ll be damned if I have to make conversation with him. He’s pretty tight-lipped.”

“I noticed. Should be an interesting evening.” Joe continued to smile. “That Fiona is one hot cookie.”

“She’s not a cookie.” Although she was very hot.

“I know, but it’s really fun pushing your buttons.”

Wyatt crossed his arms. “If we’re done here, I’d like you to check out the hotel where most of the dignitaries are staying, including me. If anyone is going to target a building, it’ll be the hotel or the convention center.” He didn’t add that he’d be staying in the same room with Fiona. Joe didn’t need to know that.

“You really think someone will try something big?”

“In this day, when terrorists bomb marathons and fly planes into buildings, I wouldn’t be surprised by anything.” He started toward the parking lot and turned back to his friend. “You coming?”

“Yeah.” Joe hurried to catch up, Bacchus trotting at his side.

Wyatt spent the rest of the afternoon going over every entrance to the hotel, the security that was in place, and reviewing the camera angles and identifying blind spots in both the electronic surveillance and the perso

The only thing keeping him going all day was the thought of sharing a room with Fiona that night. He’d have to bone up on his seduction skills. Fiona would suffer no fools. If he wanted to get inside her panties, he’d have only one shot at it. He was damned if he’d blow it.

Fiona was a spitfire with attitude and determination. She’d let nothing stand in the way of making the convention a success. Even him.

After meeting the Mexican delegate at the airport, and a long afternoon of drinking cocktails in the barroom of the hotel, Fiona was counting the minutes until she could escape to her room and take a long, hot bubble bath. By the time she could get away, it was nearing six o’clock.