"Alexis Morgan - Dark Protector" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morgan Alexis)

around in the lab outside the door. She fought down panic. If they caught her with her blouse unbuttoned
and her pants unzipped, her reputation would be ruined and Devlin would have a new Handler by
nightfall. ThatтАЩs when she noticed the flashing light on the console.
This was the one room in the lab that had no security camerasтАФthank goodness!тАФor
microphones, because their electronic impulses interfered with the sensitive scanning equipment. To
compensate, the Handler was expected to periodically send a coded message to the guards that all was
well. The code was changed daily to prevent a rogue Paladin from discovering it and making use of it.
Missing her last check-in had triggered the alarm.
And unless she managed to defuse the situation, Sergeant Purefoy and his men were going to
come charging through that door, ready to put down a rogue Paladin. She hit the button that was blinking
to reset the alarm and quickly entered the code. It wouldnтАЩt call off the guards, because their assumption
could very well be that Devlin now had the code and was using it, but at least they wouldnтАЩt be quite so
quick to pull the trigger.
She managed to refasten her bra on the second attempt and swiftly rebuttoned her blouse. Patting
her hair, she hoped she didnтАЩt look as rumpled as she felt. At least her lab coat would cover up some of
the damage. Devlin had settled himself back on the bed after reattaching most of the electrodes. Just that
quickly, his eyes were closed as if heтАЩd drifted off to sleep counting the seconds until the test was over.

LaurelтАЩs hands were still shaking but her voice sounded calm when she spoke over the intercom.
тАЬSergeant Purefoy, this is Dr. Young speaking. Code Alpha Zulu Beta. Repeat, Alpha Zulu Beta. This is
not an emergency.тАЭ
Dr. Neal answered, adding to her embarrassment. тАЬDr. Young, what is going on in there?тАЭ At
least he sounded more exasperated than angry.
тАЬNothing, sir.тАЭ At least not anymore. тАЬIf I may open the door, I can explain.тАЭ
She hoped.
Devlin reached up to squeeze her hand before she reached for the doorknob. тАЬGive тАЩem hell.тАЭ
Just that small reassurance was enough to stiffen her spine. When the door swung open, she
stepped through to face a room full of armed men and her boss without blinking.
A few minutes later, the room had been cleared of everyone but herself and Dr. Neal. Devlin still
slept on, the muted sound of snoring giving wordless support to her shaky explanation.
тАЬI am sorry, sir. I donтАЩt know how I managed to miss the check-in. I must have dozed off.тАЭ She
shook her head and shrugged, hoping her boss would attribute her reluctance to look him straight in the
eye to embarrassment.
He looked past her toward where Devlin lay sprawled on the bed. тАЬThen I would suggest you
take off early today and get some rest. Falling asleep on the job, especially with a Paladin of Mr. BaneтАЩs
advanced age, is foolish to say the least. Luckily for all concerned, no harm was done.тАЭ
тАЬYes, sir. IтАЩll leave as soon as Mr. Bane wakes up. That will give me time to finish my report.тАЭ
тАЬAre you sure you wouldnтАЩt like me to do that for you?тАЭ
She couldnтАЩt risk letting him discover the haphazard way that the electrodes were stuck to Devlin;
thereтАЩd be no explaining that away.
тАЬNo, thank you. But if Mr. Bane hasnтАЩt awakened when IтАЩm ready to leave, IтАЩll call you.тАЭ
Dr. Neal reluctantly left the room. Since there was every chance he might drop back in
unexpectedly to check on her, she forced herself to wait a few minutes before approaching Devlin. The
cluster of electrodes dangled down to the floor and her patient was propped up on the pillow, his
expression unreadable and closed.
тАЬYou can leave whenever you want. Sergeant Purefoy will escort you out.тАЭ She dropped his
clothes on the bed and turned away to reset the machine.
DevlinтАЩs gaze weighed heavily on her back as he dressed. What was he thinking? If he had
regrets, were they because they hadnтАЩt finished what theyтАЩd started, or because it happened at all?
The sheets rustled as Devlin got up and then she felt the warmth of his body close behind her.