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He averted his eyes to the man standing in front of him and grinned sheepishly when he realized that the guy had been talking.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that,” he said, loud enough for only Brand to hear.
“No worries, mate,” the man said with a smile, his penetrating eyes missing nothing. Harris knew the man owned one of the most renowned international security companies in the world. He worked with politicians, royalty, and A-list celebrities. A little over a year ago he had been injured saving some pop star, and enough media outlets had reported on the incident to make the guy memorable.
“So, security, huh? Must be interesting,” he said, and Brand nodded.
“It has its moments,” the man said, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet. He withdrew a card and handed it over.
Harris stared at the plain white card. It simply stated in bold black, slightly raised lettering:
BRAND EXECUTIVE PROTECTION SERVICES
SAMUEL BRAND
CEO
His contact details were on the flip side.
Harris acknowledged receipt of the card with a tilt of his head and tucked it into his breast pocket.
“Cheers,” he thanked the man. “I don’t have any of mine.”
“I’ll find your number when I need it,” Brand said, and Lia, tuning into their conversation, sighed.
“Gosh, Sam, do you have any idea how ominous you sound sometimes?” she asked exasperatedly, and Brand turned his attention to her.
“Do I?” He looked and sounded so genuinely startled by her question that Harris laughed.
“Dial back the intensity a notch, and you’ll be fine,” Harris advised, and the other man smiled.
“I’m in the process of moving down here; my company will be based out of Cape Town. Chapman Global Property Group needs a new security company. Call me about that sometime.”
His cockiness startled a laugh out of Harris.
“Seriously, Sam?” Lia sounded both embarrassed and amused. Tina was watching everyone with a small, awkward smile on her face.
Harris abruptly recognized that he had never really seen Tina with any friends other than Libby. She didn’t mingle. She never had. Even when they were kids—he now recognized—she had always been on the outside looking in. He found the thought disturbing. She needed more people in her life.
The other woman went back to valiantly attempting to converse with Tina and got only one-word replies in response. Tina had closed up tighter than a clam. He didn’t know what to make of this behavior. He hadn’t been with her outside of their social circle enough to see her around strangers before.
“We’re having a baby shower for my sister next Sunday. I do hope you’ll come,” Lia said, and Tina’s face froze.
“I don’t think your sister would like that. I-I mean, I’m a s-stranger,” she stuttered, clearly thrown by the unexpected invitation.
“Nonsense, she’d love it if you came. And Libby, too, of course.”
“I-I . . .” Her eyes drifted to Harris’s, and he could see the quiet desperation in them. He nodded before smiling urbanely at Lia.
“Of course she’ll be there,” he interjected smoothly. “I know you’re worried about our date next week, Tina. But don’t worry. I’m more than happy to take a rain check on that so you can attend the party.”
Her jaw dropped, and the desperation in her gaze sharpened into daggers. Her look promised definite retribution, but she forced a smile to her lips and nodded.
“Lovely,” she said through clenched teeth. “Thanks for letting me off the hook, Harris. I’d love to attend, Lia. If you’re sure Daff won’t mind?”
“Of course not.” Lia stepped forward and hugged Tina, who went completely rigid in the other woman’s arms.
“Yeah, she’s a hugger,” Brand said in an aside to Harris, who swallowed a laugh at that. “I keep telling her not everyone is into the PDA, but she’s fucking adorably incorrigible.”
“So nice meeting you, Mr. Chapman,” Lia said after releasing Tina, who fled to Harris’s side like a traumatized hare.
“Charmed, I’m sure,” Harris said with a smile. He and Brand exchanged another handshake and a couple of curt nods.
The shorter man’s eyes drifted to Tina, who stared back at him like a doe in the headlights.
“Don’t worry,” he said with a grin. “I’m not going to hug you. Nice seeing you again.”
“Same,” she squeaked from somewhere over Harris’s shoulder.
The other couple sauntered away, their hands closing the distance between them once more.
Harris felt a thump on his shoulder and grinned before turning to face Tina, who was glaring at him furiously.
“Don’t ever speak for me again! How could you do that?”
“You were practically begging me for help,” he retorted indignantly.
“I wanted you to help me get out of it. Not . . . not that. Whatever that was.”
“Come on, Tina, what harm will it do? She seemed nice.”
“Too nice,” Tina muttered balefully. “Who the hell hugs a stranger like that?”
“Okay, that was weird, but she has a bit of a Sugar Plum Fairy thing going on. I think she’s sweet.”
