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Still, she studied him with distaste, then marched toward the copilot who had descended the stairs and was waiting to help her board. He didn’t think she totally bought the good-guy part, but at least she’d believed his threat to use force if necessary. He hadn’t lied about it, either, just the part about being pissed off if he had to tackle her. She might have been, but personally he wouldn’t have minded falling on top of Jess Maulier and pinning her to the ground for a moment. Or two, or three.
    Almost disappointed that he couldn’t, he shook off the fantasy, hefted her bags, and followed her to the plane.
    …
    Jess had no objection to being safe. Heck, she was a freaking safety nut. She always fastened her seat belt, always looked both ways before crossing, and carried a key chain flashlight just in case. She kept antibacterial wipes under her car seat. Her book Emily the Safety Bear had won two major literary awards. No one was more concerned with safety than Jess.
    She did have issues with kidnapping, however, and no matter how he spun it, that’s what this was. Fingernails digging into her palms, she reviewed every one of Dr. Epstein’s suggestions for suppressing her fears, then replaced them with a healthy outrage.
    She let Donovan see her anger, stomping up the metal roll-away stairs to the cabin. Anger gave her strength, made her less of a victim. She would have continued her act, but the luxurious cabin before her spoiled the bitchy effect when she had to stop and stare.
    Four big leather seats faced each other, two on each side. Behind them was a table with seating for four, and behind that a couch big enough to stretch out on.
    She was still staring when Donovan spoke right behind her. “Sit anywhere; it’s just us.” His breath touched the back of her neck and sent shivers racing across her scalp. She quickly slipped into one of the forward-facing seats and busied herself with the seat belt.
    He took the seat facing her, which did nothing to ease the annoying sense of awareness he stirred in her. Her luggage was nowhere in sight, and she assumed it had been stowed as cargo.
    He was watching her. Trying her best to look at ease, she said, “Your employer sees that you travel in style.”
    “The Omega Group. Yes, they do. You’ll meet most of them soon.” He studied her for another few seconds, before adding, “They were your father’s employer, too.”
    She’d never heard of the Omega Group, but since she knew little about her father, she could hardly argue the point. Questions crowded her mind, questions about how long Tyler Donovan and her father had known each other, what they did, and why it would drive someone to kill. While she considered where to start, a young woman stepped out of the pilot’s cabin. “Welcome aboard, Tyler. We’re ready for takeoff.”
    He turned and flashed a grin, the first she’d seen. The transformation was instantaneous, from deadly dangerous to sexy-dangerous. For a split second she wished she could bring that out in him instead of the annoyed looks she’d been getting all evening. She mentally stomped that thought into the dirt.
    “Hey, Vanessa, good to see you.”
    Jess didn’t miss Vanessa’s hand brushing his shoulder, even though he didn’t react. “Any messages?”
    “Yeah, tell Evan clear skies .”
    “Will do. Buckle up, we’re going to hit a few bumps over the lake.” She ducked back into the front cabin and shut the door.
    Jess glanced at the snowflakes hitting the window beside her, falling thicker than before. With a sardonic lift of one eyebrow, she repeated, “Clear skies. Is that one of your codes?”
    “Not cryptic enough?”
    “Not very detailed. Not as much as saying, ‘I have her but she’s uncooperative and unpleasant.’”
    The corner of his mouth twitched upward, just enough to stir her imagination. “I’m hoping to talk you into a better mood before we get there.”
    Oh, he so could. She flushed and swallowed hard at