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Then I drove it into the garage and out of sight.
After returning to the house, I immediately locked the door. Then I headed for the small security room, re-arming the system, checking the cameras. No one was getting into the house without my permission. If they dared try, I’d know it.
And they wouldn’t like how I handled their sudden appearance.
I took long strides, returning to the office. I’d be damned. She wasn’t in the fucking room. What did I have to do to get through to the girl? I’d need to lay down some rules quickly. I was about to search the rest of the house when I heard a sound.
Inching closer, I peered over the couch, shaking my head. She’d fallen asleep. I leaned over the back, shaking my head. While she was a feisty little thing, she’d met her match not only with the crime syndicate she was running from.
But also with the man determined to protect her. However, it was time to permanently drive all sinful thoughts from my system. I wouldn’t succumb to carnal desires under any circumstances. Period.
I moved around the edge of the couch, sliding my arms under her. As I held her against my chest, she murmured in her sleep, opening her eyes once. Then she smiled. Too bad I knew she couldn’t focus.
As I walked through the house, she placed her hand on my chest, her head lolling close. She felt good in my arms, which wasn’t acceptable. Even taking a deep breath didn’t help, the fragrance of her perfume settling in my nostrils, the scent the kind that would linger for hours, driving me crazy.
I was hard all over again, my testicles aching. But the first thing I’d been taught when considering security was that I couldn’t be involved with a client and at this point, that’s exactly what she’d become.
My client.
Nothing else.
Not now and not later.
She was one of my good friends’ little sister.
And she was well over a decade younger.
As I walked into the guestroom, I didn’t bother turning on the light. Now that I’d listed all the reasons I had to stay away from her, I was resigned to doing my job and nothing more.
I yanked back the covers, easing her onto the pillow and pulling the sheets and comforter over her. Then I headed toward the door. When I heard another moan, I stopped, tipping my head.
“Viper.”
While her whisper was barely recognizable, so soft that I could be wrong with what I’d heard, it told me something very clearly.
I was in deep shit.
* * *
“Thomas Callaway. Inventor of whatTime Magazinecalled an earthshattering computer program enabling movie studios to cut production time and costs by forty percent.” As Stephen Watson recounted our latest client’s accolades, I tuned him out, catching only words at a time.
I’d heard it before. I’d studied the man’s dossier several times, learning as much about him as possible. While considered a trendsetter, a brilliant man also listed in the national ragtag magazines as one of the world’s most eligible bachelors, it was his arrogance and lack of respect that caused the most concern.
Men who thought their shit didn’t stink often placed themselves in harm’s way on purpose. That’s exactly the reason his agent had hired us in the first place. Who knew a glorified programmer needed an agent in Hollywood. I chuckled as I made the turn, heading toward the corporate facility where a meeting of movie moguls and like-minded individuals was taking place.
I didn’t want to be here, my thoughts elsewhere. I’d left Madisen alone at my house, which went against my better judgment. I’d checked on her before leaving, standing far too long in the open doorway of the guestroom. She hadn’t stirred, forcing me to leave an explicit note telling her in no uncertain terms to remain inside the house. Period.
I’d mentally kicked myself more than once since I had an app on my phone that would allow me to know the moment the security was breached. Like a dumbass, I’d procrastinated with making the connection to the home unit. That meant she could leave my house without my knowledge. I’d thought twice of hiding her keys, refusing to do so in case there was an emergency. At least I had installed the program allowing me to see the exteriors of the house from the multiple cameras placed in strategic positions.
I’d checked those a solid ten times if not more. Fuck. The whole thing had me rattled.
“And you’re not paying any attention to me,” Stephen snorted. “Hey, I don’t like this assignment either, but it pays the big bucks. Right? Isn’t that what you said yesterday?”
I threw a look in his direction, lifting my eyebrows. “Yeah, it does and it was. The man has at least six deadly enemies, eager and ready to see his demise. Two Russians. One Italian. A Saudi Arabian prince and two undisclosed CEOs of corporations inside the United States. All of whom have invested millions of dollars in attempting to bring their similar product to the forefront of the movie industry. They have nothing to lose by making an attempt on Thomas’ life.”
“And here I thought you weren’t paying attention.”
“Never underestimate me, my friend. In doing so, you place your life in jeopardy.”
