“I don’t know him,” Kate said. “I came to Maximum Security because of what I read about the company on the internet. Chase has a reputation as one of the best investigators in Dallas, but I’ve never met him.”
For which Jase would be eternally grateful. “I can help with that. I need to stop by the office and check on a few things. If he’s there, I’ll introduce you.”
Kate smiled brightly, and a ripple of heat moved through him. Since they still had work to do, he determinedly ignored it.
“I’ll introduce you,” he repeated. “Long as you keep in mind Chase is a happily married man.”
Kate grinned. “That’s okay. One hot cowboy is all I can handle.”
Jase laughed and ignored a vague sense relief.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Kate had been inside the Maximum Security offices before, the first time was when she’d come to hire Chase Garrett and wound up hiring Hawk Maddox instead.
Only a few people had been working in the office that day. Today the place was hopping. She recognized the petite dark-haired receptionist, Mindy—the name on the brass plate on her desk.
Mindy looked up, spotted Jase, remembered Kate and smiled. “Ms. Gallagher. It’s nice to see you again.” Her gaze slid down to the hand resting possessively at Kate’s waist. “I hope Jason’s taking good care of you.”
Kate thought of what he had done to her in bed last night, and felt the heat creeping into her face. She had a feeling the receptionist didn’t miss a thing. She inched away, putting some space between them.
“He’s...ah...been working very hard on the case,” she said.
“We both have,” Jase added easily. “Is Chase in?”
“He’s with Harper in his office.”
“Great. Buzz him, will you? Tell him I’m headed his way.”
His hand returned to her waist as he ushered her toward an office in the corner with the door standing open. Clearly Jase didn’t intend to wait. Rapping lightly on the frame, he guided her inside without his boss’s permission.
“Got a minute?” Jason asked.
“Sure.” Chase Garrett rose from the leather sofa where he sat next to his wife, who also rose to greet them. She was lovely, fine featured, with a slender figure and sleek shoulder-length blond hair much lighter than her husband’s dark gold.
The office was roomy. Like the rest of the building, it was decorated in a Western motif, with a wide oak desk and oak coffee tables in the seating area, where there was a brown leather sofa and chairs.
“This must be Kate,” Chase said, closing the few steps between them. She was only a little surprised he knew who she was. She wondered how much Jason had told him about her.
Kate extended a hand. “Kate Gallagher. Nice to meet you.”
“This is my wife, Harper.”
“Hello.” Kate shook Harper’s hand. She’d seen pictures of Chase Garrett on the internet, a wealthy blond Adonis who, before he’d married, had women all over Dallas falling at his feet. From the warm looks passing between him and his wife, he was definitely off the market.
Garrett returned his attention to Jase. “What can I do for you?”
“I wanted Kate to meet you. I’ve been keeping you updated on the case so you know what happened to her sister and where we are in the investigation. We ran across a place that helps young women like Kate’s sister, girls trying to turn their lives around, get off the street. The New Hope Rehabilitation Center. Kate wants to help the home raise money.”
She managed a tentative smile. She wasn’t expecting this, hated being put on the spot and not being prepared, but she wasn’t willing to waste an important opportunity.
“It’s a small private home,” she said, “but they’re doing a wonderful job. I’d like to help them raise enough to keep the center running and maybe even expand. I was hoping you might find time in your schedule to talk to me about it.”
Chase turned to his wife. “Harper?”
She smiled. “I can put you in touch with the man who handles the Garrett Family Charitable Foundation. I like being involved, so I’ve been working with him on a fairly regular basis.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful.”
