NOLAN THOMPSON WAS GOING to need the coffee gods to be on his side today.What the actual fuck just happened?He strode toward the elevator in a daze.When he'd packed for this job, he'd expected boring. Playing bodyguard in Japan wasn't a terrible way to spend a week.Then a familiar scent had tickled Nolan's nose, bringing to mind long caramel hair, rumpled sheets and the sweetest moan he'd ever heard.Kim.She'd been standing right there.She looked different all buttoned up in business attire with her hair twisted up off her shoulders and subdued make-up. Hell, if it hadn't been for that scent that had haunted him for the last six weeks he might not have recognized her at all.Man, that night.There'd been something different about her. The sex. How they fit. It was like they belonged. Normally Nolan kept his relationships short. Traveling the way he did and his lifestyle didn't lend to putting down roots. But she'd made him want to try, if only for the sex.Too ba

Friday. Tech Conference, Kyoto, Japan.YVONNE SAT ON THE floor of her friend's bathroom, her face pressed up against the tile wall to cool her heated skin.She could not be sick.The keynote address was in an hour. She'd fought tooth and nail with Theodore about allowing her take part in it. Right now she was one third of the family equation with Theodore and Dad behind the company. She would not be cut out of this opportunity.Heels clicked on the tile. Her best friend Tabby Grissler came to a stop across the spacious bathroom, face creased in concern. She was a beautiful woman, far more socially poised than Yvonne. They'd been thrown together at a young age since their families were peers, not competitors. The Grissler companies were all about things that flew, planes, guidance systems. With the lack of competition between them, Tabby had grown to be one of the few women Yvonne could be completely open with. They might be utterly dissimilar-Tabby partied, Yvonne didn't; Ta

Friday. Tech Conference, Kyoto, Japan.YVONNE TICKED OFF ANOTHER item off the agenda. The meeting was moving right along.She glanced at the time.What were the chances she'd have a break before the luncheon to rush back upstairs?Melody had brought back the pregnancy test last night along with half a dozen other medications to help with her stomach and if Yvonne was simply sick. She'd chickened out after keeping the soup down and gone to sleep without doing the tests.This morning she had to know, but wading through the instructions had taken too much time. She'd barely been able to take the test and stash them before running out the door. Which meant she'd been thinking about the results instead of her meetings all morning.She was not doing her best that was for sure.The conference room door opened.Yvonne glanced up and caught a glimpse of Nolan standing across the hall, staring straight at her. She shivered and was grateful for the wall between them.What if

NOLAN SLID THE MODIFIED mob holster on then his jacket. Since they couldn't carry guns in Japan, they had a range of back-up tools to serve the purpose of protecting themselves and their clients."What can you tell us about the drone?" Melody's focus was on Theodore, who'd shed his coat and was pacing."It's a toy still. It flies around, takes pictures and fires rubber bullets. It's a concept Doug is dicking around with so it looks like he's trying." Theodore wheeled away from them and strode toward the windows.Melody glanced at Nolan.Rubber bullets were easy enough to swap out for real ones.Why had no one mentioned this?"Guys?" Vaughn turned from the computer, one hand mashing an earpiece to his ear. "There's been a high profile homicide. Someone got shot at their home.""Do they have the shooter in custody?" Nolan asked."Not that I can tell, but I'm listening to them through translating software. It's not perfect.""Go," Melody said. "Take the gear, meet the ot

Saturday. Private Airport, Kyoto, Japan.FUCKING HELL.Lee's plans were dissolving, and he had no clue why.He eased the bike to a stop outside the fenced off area of the private airport just outside Kyoto. He'd been hard pressed to follow the SUV without getting too close. With any luck the bodyguards hadn't spotted him.The family was supposed to remain at the conference for the duration of the event. Only once that was over were they to leave, at which point Lee's people were supposed to grab them."Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Lee balled his hands into fists.His plans were blown until he knew where the Kriegers were going.The way his luck was going, they were en route back to the states, and that would really suck. Lee operated mostly on foreign soil. He stayed out of the US, but this job was too big. He couldn't fail.He tipped his head back and sucked in a deep breath.He could be flexible. He knew their habits, their routines. He'd been studying them in preparation