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“Or maybe she’ll do something else with my balls,” Brian said, throwing down his napkin. “Any chance we could invite her up to the suite? Have a little party? I wouldn’t hate having some more time with Tasha’s friends.”
There was something about the way he said the word friends. “What are you not telling me?”
Brian stared at him for a moment as though trying to make a decision. “I just think you should be careful. I know she didn’t take anything from you the other night, but it seems coincidental that her cousin shows up at the conference we’re in town for and she’s back.”
They’d been over this. “If she’d wanted to roll me for some cash, she could have done it the other night.”
“I’m not worried about cash. I’m worried about all that research you have access to.”
They were back to her being a corporate spy. “Fine. You’re so worried, do a background search on her.”
A moment went by before Brian’s admission. “Already did.”
This whole conversation was making Dare antsy. He didn’t want to think about anything but Tasha. He wanted to wrap them both up in a bubble for the next two weeks, one where reality couldn’t touch them. “And?”
Brian shrugged. “According to what I can find, she’s exactly what she says she is. She works for a small security firm in Dallas. She and her sister are account managers. Everything about them seems perfectly normal.”
“And that bothers you why?”
“Because perfectly normal can be a mask, too.”
Brian and his masks. “You’ve done your research, now leave her alone. If you don’t want to be around her…”
Brian pointed his way. “And that is worrisome, too. You’ve known this woman for what amounts to a full day and you’re threatening a friend for simply asking you to be cautious.”
Because Tasha brought out all of his protective instincts. He was practically made of them, and he had to negotiate with his father when what he wanted to do was show his father who the boss really was. He didn’t have to negotiate with Brian. “I’m taking these two weeks with her. If that bothers you or you think I’m neglecting my duties, then you can take it up with HR.”
“You are being entirely unreasonable about this woman.” Brian’s head shook. “I suppose it’s actually a good thing.”
It wasn’t. He would still want her two weeks from now, and he would still force himself to walk away. “I’ll tell you something even less reasonable. I think I’m going to let her get me into a club here.”
Surprise was plain in Brian’s eyes. “Seriously? You have to keep that quiet.”
“I know. She thinks she can get me in without anyone knowing.”
“I know you’re not going to like me asking, but I don’t want you going in only with her friends.”
He pushed back and stood to go. He’d paid the bill, and it was time to get back to Tasha. “Absolutely not.”
Brian followed him. “Be smart about this. Let me back you up.”
Dare wasn’t about to tell Tasha he needed to bring a friend to a club she was welcome to. If they were anything like the club in Toronto, they would protect their members carefully. “No. I’m happy for you to come to Oakley’s party, but I’m not bringing you along to the club. I don’t need a keeper.”
He turned to go to the private elevator that led to his floor. Brian managed to slip inside before he could close it.
“Fine. Leave me behind. See where that gets you,” Brian complained.
He wasn’t sure what else there was to say. “She’s just a nice woman. And where is this coming from? You were the one who told me to go after her.”
Brian frowned. “Well, I thought you would, I don’t know, date her or something. I didn’t realize you’d move her into your suite. It’s one thing to take her to a party, but another to let her bring you back into a lifestyle that could get you into trouble. She is a nice woman, but she’s a nice woman who happens to be exactly what you need at a time when she can influence you in so many ways because you’re away from your father.”
“Or she’s one good thing that happened to me.” He wasn’t sure what was going on with Brian. “I thought you wanted to hang out with her cousin? Are you afraid Kara’s some kind of corporate spy, too? Did you pull her records?”
“Of course not.” Brian held his hands up. “I’m done. I won’t say another thing. Let’s simply agree that I’m on the paranoid side and move on. To tell you the truth I think Tasha’s lovely, and I’m happy you’re getting some joy in your life. So let’s party. We’re young and attractive and perfectly free to spend time with whoever we choose. I’d like to choose Kara. Hell, tell her to bring all her friends up here. I was talking to Kara about this American guy she knows. He’s the guy in the car’s brother. Cooper something.”
