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“We heard shouting. Did something happen?”
With a crew cut, chiseled jaw, bright blue eyes, and bulging biceps, she thought the guard looked like he’d come straight from the Marines.
“Yes, life!” she said vehemently, but as she blurted out the words, sprinkles of rain hit her parka. “Darn. So much for my walk.”
“Do you want an escort in case life jumps out at you again?” he asked, flashing her a bright, wide smile.
She laughed.
“No, I’m good. Thanks for checking on me.”
“Any time. I’m Brent, by the way, and this is Stu,” he said, gesturing to the dark-haired young man behind him. “Don’t be offended. He doesn’t talk much.”
“Hi, I’m Steph, but I’m going in now.”
“You probably should,” he said, staring up at the sky. “We’re in for some weather.”
With a nod, he turned, and as the two guards marched away, she started back toward the house, but a French door opened, catching her eye. Turning to look, she found Marco waving her over, and as she jogged across the lawn a roll of thunder boomed overhead and the rain began to pour. By the time she reached him and hurried inside, she was drenched.
“You’ll be lucky if you don’t catch a cold,” he declared, quickly closing the door behind her and peeling off her soaked jacket.
“Wow. That happened so fast,” she said breathlessly. “Where’s Max?”
“Right here,” Max declared, rising up from a chair and offering her a steaming mug. “Take this, we just had some coffee brought in. I put the sugar in it.”
“Awesome, thanks,” she said gratefully, stepping forward and closing her shivering fingers around the hot drink. “I’m so glad you spotted me.”
“I can’t take the credit,” Marco said with a grin. “Security contacted me. They wanted to make sure the strange female wandering around the grounds was supposed to be there.”
“Strange female?” she panted with the hint of a smile, then taking a swallow, she walked across the room to stand in front of the fire.
“I’m sorry you’re drenched, but the timing is perfect. Max and I were about to hunt you down.”
“Uh-oh. Why are you both so serious all of a sudden?”
“We want your input about a few things.”
“For pity’s sake,” Max exclaimed. “What he’s trying to say is we want to talk to you about the Zeppelins.”
“Seriously?” she said, joy and relief surging through her heart.
“Seriously,” Marco replied. “I’ll let Max bring you up to speed while I get a towel for your hair. It’s dripping all over the place, and wrap that throw around you,” he continued, pointing to a blanket lying across the back of the sofa. “I’ll be right back.”
Though she wanted to race after him, throw her arms around his neck, and smother his face with kisses, she turned to Max, staring at him with wide, astonished eyes.
“How the hell did you pull that off?” she asked in a hushed whisper.
“Pull what off?”
“Max! You’re a terrible liar.”
“The hell I am.”
“Tell me! What did you say?”
“I simply told him you had a lot to offer, and you do.”
“You must have said more than that.”
