Page 17 of Innocent Salvation

“Hmm, hate sex is the best, baby.”

“Gross.”

Snow made a gagging sound as Reaper laughed and the line went dead as was his way. He said he never said goodbye because he’d already said too many in his life and didn’t want to end any more conversations with such finality. So, he always just hung up. It was his quirk, just like not swearing was hers. Although hers involved a lot more imagination than simply hitting a button.

Snow spent the next few hours doing puzzles with Fleur, playing games, and finger painting. She knew with everything she should be searching for clues but having an intelligent child follow you everywhere asking questions made it almost impossible. After lunch, she’d settle Fleur with a movie and try and do some snooping then.

But as she finished wiping the table, which Mrs Lewis insisted wasn’t necessary, she heard the front door open and close and the air around her prickled with an awareness that only one man seemed to induce. She looked at Mrs Lewis in surprise, playing her part to perfection as she turned to see Sebastian Alexander walking down the hallway. He looked like a juicy steak she wanted to devour in his white shirt, cuffs rolled to reveal strong tanned forearms, a red tie hung loosely at his neck, and an air of exhaustion that tugged at her heart, giving her the strongest urge to soothe the lines of worry from his handsome face.

“Mr Alexander, you’re home early. Would you like me to make you a sandwich?” Mrs Lewis asked as he placed his briefcase on the table and glanced around the room as if his mind was elsewhere and he was unsure how he’d got here.

His call just after Reaper’s had been short with no details, except to keep Fleur inside and away from the windows. She’d known why of course but hadn’t reacted in any way, just telling him she’d do as he asked. His coming home early put a dent in her afternoon plans but there was nothing to be done about it now.

He gave a short shake of his head. “No, thank you. I’m not very hungry.”

“As you wish, sir.”

His gaze locked on Snow and, as she always did when he focused his attention on her, she felt her body still as if caught in the eye of a storm. He had an intensity about him like the Shadow members did as if he’d seen and done things that nobody would understand or condone. She had no doubt he’d done more than his share of dodgy things to get where he was and stepped on more than a few toes. Watchdog was in the process of confirming it all, but Sebastian was careful and any nefarious dealing he’d done had been cleverly hidden.

Yet in that moment he looked tired and full of regret, and she knew that he felt guilty for what had happened to Margaret Tanner. Whether he was involved in some way or not, he felt responsible and nobody who was truly evil felt that kind of pain or guilt.

Sebastian Alexander had a heart, a big one, he just hid it so well and encased it in so much ice that even he wasn’t sure it still beat or if it was truly a frozen piece of tundra. The only person who seemed to thaw the ice was Fleur, and Snow wondered what it would be like to have a man so intense and dominant look at you like you were his whole world. It was a silly and fanciful thought and one she instantly pushed away.

“Fleur is taking a nap. Do you need me for anything before I go and set up this afternoon’s activities?”

She didn’t know if she wanted him to demand she stay or send her away so she could get her traitorous emotions under control.

His eyes moved over her, not in a sexual way this time but as if he was lost and she was his only anchor in the room. Her hand itched to reach for him, to soothe him, and wrap him in her arms. Her teammates all said her kindness was both a blessing and curse and she knew Duchess especially worried for her, but she was tougher than they thought. She knew her heart could easily break from trusting the wrong people, but they were wrong.

It wasn’t that she trusted people, it was that she read them, and gave everyone the chance to be good, without prejudging them as having malicious intent. Not necessarily a good trait for someone with her job, but it worked for her, and she refused to go through life thinking everyone was evil. It wasn’t how she wanted to live her life. She’d rather be sunshine and rainbows than clouds and darkness, even if it bruised her heart sometimes.

“I’d like to speak with you in my office, please.”

Snow gave a short nod at his clipped tone and followed as he walked past her, his aftershave swimming through her senses as he did, rendering her lightheaded with desire. The man was a walking lust machine and she needed to shore up her defences if she wanted to walk out of this with her heart intact. Her mind went back to Reaper’s words and images of angry sex with Sebastian made her cheeks heat and her body grow heavy.

Sebastian leaned against his desk and folded his arms, crossing his feet at the ankles but he was anything but relaxed, the tension rolling off him and filling the room, so it was hard to breathe. “Close the door.”

Snow did as he asked and waited for him to speak, wondering what was going through his mind.

“My secretary, Margaret was murdered this morning in my chambers.”

She had, of course, already known the information but hearing him say it, still shocked her. “Oh, no, poor Margaret. Do they know who did it?”

Sebastian gave a short shake of his head before he moved to sit in the chair behind his desk. “No, the police are investigating, but it could be linked to a case I’ve worked on, so I need you to be extra vigilant with Fleur and of course your own safety if you decide to stay on.”

Snow cocked her head, in genuine surprise this time. “If I decide to stay on?”

Leaning back in his chair he again assessed her, and she stayed still, not letting his stare get to her. “You didn’t sign up for this, Snow, and I doubt you could fight your way out of a wet paper bag, let alone defend yourself or my niece. That said, she’s very happy with you as her nanny, and I’d like you to stay.”

Snow worked hard to hold in the swear words she wanted to return at his rude assessment but bit her tongue until it almost bled. However, she couldn’t let his words go without any recourse. “I’ve never fought a paper bag, but I’ve put a grown man twice my size on his bottom with just a flick of my wrist.”

Sebastian’s eyes almost glowed with heat as he sat forward, clasping his hands in front of him, a smirk that was both sexy and irritating on his handsome arrogant face. “I have no doubt that a flick of any part of your body could bring a man to his knees, Snow, but I won’t have your death on my conscience.”

Heat of a different kind hit her cheeks then and it took everything in her not to drag him over the desk and kick his butt. Everyone judged her on her size and the way she looked, and mostly she saw that as an advantage to the enemy who never saw her coming but now, she saw it as the insult it was. “You’d be a fool to underestimate me, Mr Alexander. I may be small and perfectly formed as you so kindly pointed out, but there’s more to me than meets the eye.”

Sebastian inclined his head as if taking on her point but kept his council as she supposed he must do every single day in his job. “My apologies, Ms Goubert. My assumption was rude and uncalled for. I hope you can forgive me. Today has been very trying.”

His apology instantly caught her off guard and had her feeling regret for the way she’d gone at him with her claws bared. “Perhaps we’re both a little testy. I’m sure you have had quite a shock today. Would you like me to send some flowers to Margaret’s family?”