The Protector

by Cristin Harber

  “Do people eat in here?” he asked.

  Jane stood on the far side of the island. Her finger clutched the beveled granite edge. “Sometimes.”

  He gave the room another assessment. He supposed it was well designed, but in his opinion, it came off as clinical. “Does anyone cook in here?” He opened the refrigerator, shocked to find food neatly stored.

  “They have a chef and staff to do that.”

  “Have you ever seen Dax or Gigi cook?”

  Jane shrugged.

  “Never?” He always thought of a kitchen as the central hub of a home. Even in his hotel room. Every conversation started over a beer or can of dinner. “That’s strange.”

  “This isn’t a normal place. If you see everyone here, it would look different.”

  “Why did you stay when everyone else is gone?” he asked, thinking about his luck.

  “It happens. I didn’t expect Teddy to go with his aunt.” She shifted around the island as though the conversation made her forget her need for distance. “I’m the house sitter, I guess. They didn’t want anyone to know they snuck away.”

  “Weird.”

  She agreed. “So… You know why I’m here.”

  He pulled out a barstool chair with a high back and sat. “They have security concerns and contacted our office.”

  Jane seemed to think that over, then turned for a cabinet, took out two glasses and removed a pitcher of lemonade from a small refrigerator that he thought had been a dishwasher. She filled the first one and paused. “I thought your team doesn’t work in the US.”

  “We usually don’t.” He watched her gaze slightly narrow. Did she believe him? He tacked on, “It was a special request.”

  She finished pouring the lemonades and placed one in front of him.

  Chance sized up her reaction before he took a small sip. “You really didn’t know I was coming?”

  Her eyebrows arched. “Does it look like I knew?”

  Sure? What the hell did he know. “You would look different?”

  Jane pressed her lips together. “I didn’t know.”

  “Gigi hired me. She asked for me by name.”

  Her eyes widened with surprise and her mouth opened. A long moment crawled by. “Excuse me?” Jane blinked and then her forehead furrowed. “I didn’t know you two met.”

  “We didn’t.”

  “Then how…?” A bright blush flamed over her cheeks. “Oh my God.” The glass of lemonade trembled in her hand. She set it down. “Do you think that I have something to do with that?” She gripped the edge of the island counter. “After what happened between us?”

  It’d be a lie to say he hadn’t wondered. It would’ve been equally false to ignore his response—that is, his response that surfaced after his interest in seeing Jane again. Jane wasn’t manipulative, and they’d been clear that they wouldn’t see each other again. If she had been involved in Gigi’s request, he would have been flattered—as much as it would’ve made him uncomfortable. Chance lifted his shoulders. “I think it was hard for Titan to deny the Thanes’s request.”

  “Story of my life,” Jane muttered. “What they say goes.”

  “Did you mention me to Gigi?”

  Jane gasped. Her cheeks reddened. “No.”

  “Okay.” He stood from the barstool, taking his time to approach Jane. “I believe you.”

  Jane rolled her eyes. “If I had told her, she would’ve found a way to exploit it—” Her gaze cut back to him. “Did you tell anyone…” She rolled her hand and looked away.

  “That I kissed you?”

  She stiffly straightened as though his words took her by surprise.

  Chance eased closer. “No.”

  “Of course not.” Her chin dropped as she stepped away. “I don’t know why you would—”

  Chance cut off her escape with a strong hand on her hip. Jane’s breath hitched. She didn’t look up even as he closed the remaining inches, clasping his hand on her other hip. Their chemistry was off the damn charts, yet she kept running away. How could she ignore the searing desire pouring between them?

  “Are you upset about what happened in the elevator?” Because, if so, he would get to the bottom of that.

  “You don’t need to coddle me or explain yourself or why—”

  “Jane, stop.”

  Her eyes shot to his. “Stop what?”

  Jane didn’t see what she did to him. Hell, she didn’t see what he saw. Pouty lips that could make his dick twitch. Kind eyes and a sexy attitude. His arousal blinded him from everything except for her. The more he stared, the more he could feel her uncertainty—about him.

  A dull ache hollowly thudded in his chest. He pressed his hips to her. Her eyes widened. There was no mistaking his swollen thickness. Chance didn’t imagine her naked, he didn’t need to taste her sweet mouth. Simple proximity to this woman was enough to drive him over the edge. “Stop pretending I don’t want you.”

  Her eyelashes fluttered. The rise and fall of her chest grew more noticeable.

  “Because I do.” Chance touched his mouth to her pink cheek. “I want you.” The softness of her skin twisted him in knots. “In more ways than I know how to explain.”

  “Chance.”

  The quiver in her breathy voice ignited a wave of goosebumps down his back. With a painfully lazy slowness, he grazed his lips over her cheek, nuzzling over her skin until he could nip her earlobe. He hadn’t though. Not yet. Jane would first understand that he needed her in a basic, carnal, desperate way.

  Somewhere at the back of his mind, he recalled wanting to talk, to make certain they were on the same page. But now he knew a conversation wouldn’t work, and he would prove to her that his words weren’t meaningless. He couldn’t do that without her though. His warm breath teased behind her earlobe. “Put your arms around me.”

  For once, Jane didn’t hesitate. Her hands locked behind his neck. She lifted her chin and met his gaze. Time stilled. They pressed together, and Chance watched her until he saw her understanding shift.

  “Thank you.” He let the word linger, almost pressing his lips to hers. The anticipation of another kiss made him feverish. He wanted her mouth, her tongue. Chance wanted her pussy to quake on his cock. But for that split second, he would revel as Jane found her trust in him.

  Impossibly, they seemed closer and yet too far apart. Their lips touched. Heat ignited, wicking over his nerves. Unlike in the elevator, he was certain they’d kiss again. Chance didn’t greedily take what he needed. He savored every one of her delicious reactions.

  She opened her mouth to his, and their tongues touched, danced, slowly memorizing the feel and taste of their mouths together. Needy murmurs burned from her lips. Jane had surrendered to their drawing power. When she let go, he shivered with awareness that went far beyond physical needs.

  He lifted Jane onto the granite countertop. Wanton, she wrapped her thighs around his hips, giving him irresistible access. He ached for her pussy. He would die with that first thrust and when she climaxed on his cock. The satisfaction wouldn’t come soon enough—yet he refused to rush. Chance opened his eyes and inched back. She was everything he hadn’t known existed.

  “What?” Jane asked quietly.

  He grinned and rolled his lips together. Just minutes ago, she’d been ready to run. “You listened.”

  Jane didn’t shy away or steal her gaze from his when she smiled. “Sometimes I do.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  “Ahem.” Bright lights flooded the kitchen.

  They jerked apart as a slender woman in high heels and a business-professional dress crossed to the kitchen island. Without another mention of what she’d walked in on, the woman took the lemonade pitcher to the side counter and poured herself a glass.

  Chance stepped back. Jane wasn’t fast to jump off the kitchen island. He sensed an animosity between the women.

  Jane slid down and stayed close to his side. “I didn’t know you were working today.”

&nbs
p; The other woman raised her eyebrows and then assessed the way Jane stood by his side. Then she smirked. “I see you’ve been introduced.” She took a sip of her lemonade, put it down, and stared at him like Chance was a prize to conquer. After a none-too-subtle look he was familiar with, she strode forward and extended her hand as though he might kiss her knuckles.

  He shook it instead. “Chance Evans.”

  “Lark Dyson.”

  So this was Lark. He sized up Gigi’s right hand. Platinum blond hair framed her flawless face. With mischievous light blue eyes and a perfect smile, she carried an air that went well beyond confident and leaned precariously close to entitled. “Thanks for the text.”

  “If there are any problems.” Lark pointedly looked at Jane. “You can let me know. I’ll handle them until you can meet with Gigi.”

  “No problems.” Chance wondered what the other Thane staff would be like. He was certain he could get on well with security. But how many were like Lark? She came off as cold as this kitchen, and more judgmental than he’d been of Dax.

  Lark tapped a manicured fingernail against the counter. “If you could spare me a few minutes, we can go over logistics.” After a beat, she tacked on, “Alone.”

  Jane squeezed his forearm. “I’ll be around back. Call me when you’re done.”

  Chance mustered all of his control not to pull her back and kiss her goodbye. But, that’d be pushing his luck in several ways. He lifted his chin, quietly saying goodbye, then turned to Lark.

  She eyed him coolly. “Sometimes I have lunch in here. Please don’t fuck where I eat.”

  He crossed his arms, knowing an enemy when he saw one. What he didn’t know was why. “Any other important rules?”

  “Image is everything. You already look the part. Make sure you act it as well, or you’ll be gone before you know it.”

  “Are you always so kind and welcoming?” He narrowed his eyes. “Or am I just lucky?”

  “Kindness has no place in this household,” Lark said. “We hired you: good looking, single, and knows how to use a gun.”

  He snorted. “Yeah, lady. That’s exactly what it says on my resume.”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

  This was why he didn’t do celebrity security. Lark the Enemy made his skin crawl. “Let’s talk about logistics,” he said, changing the subject. “What—”

  “Gigi will handle everything when she returns. She’ll introduce you to her current security and share the threats that they’ve decided to keep from the press.” Lark coolly smiled. “Until then, I’ll be your point of contact. Give me a few hours, and I’ll text you a housing assignment.”

  “All right. I’ll be waiting.”

  “I’m sure.” Lark tartly crossed her arms. Her pink lips pursed, and she studied him as though she were analyzing that Kandinsky he noticed hanging in the hallway off the kitchen. Like the painting, Lark could see his value, knew what others had said of him, but for the life of her, she wasn’t sure why he was considered world class. At least, that was how Chance felt about the Kandinsky.

  Lark sipped her lemonade and then added, “If the nanny becomes a problem, we can ship her and the kid off until we’re through with you.”

  The nanny and the kid. His molars clamped—but it was that moment when Chance understood Jane’s concern for Teddy. The boy’s parents weren’t the only problem. These people saw a child as a commodity.

  ***

  Jane paced the length of her small living room. While she should’ve been worried about Lark, she didn’t care. Chance preoccupied every crevice of worry and wonder in her head. He’d thrown out every assumption she’d made about him—and them, if that wasn’t too presumptive, out the door. And that kiss…

  A wicked burst of shivers slid down her neck. She could still feel him. The hard heat of his body wrapping to her soft one. His hungry, full lips, and his arousal. The rapid cadence of her heartbeat exploded, weakening her knees and resolve. Jane took a shaky breath and closed her eyes. The memory of him against her, long, thick, and hard, would forever be seared into her memory. She pressed a hand to her heart. The poor thing was trying to jump from under her sternum.

  But she didn’t know what to do next. She still didn’t trust herself… or understand what he saw in her—she stopped cold. Even if she didn’t get it, he did see something in her. He demanded that she accept that. It was scary but exhilarating. Without saying so out loud, he’d declared himself hers and demanded she admit the truth. He wanted her like she did him.

  None of that helped with Lark, though. There would be ramifications if the Thanes’s publicist told Gigi about their indecent on the kitchen island. Jane took a seat on her couch and pulled a large knit blanket up to her neck. Lark and Gigi were working with Chance. They’d asked for him by name and hadn’t mentioned his visit. Jane couldn’t wrap her head around the situation.

  A solid knock rapped on her door. “Jane?”

  A clap of arousal thundered in her chest. She didn’t know it was possible for anticipation to show up at the knock of a door. But it had. So much for thinking with a clear head around the man with the golden touch.

  She unburied from the protective cocoon on the couch, ordering herself to “keep it together.” Then Jane let him in. “You found me.”

  “I’ll always find you.” Chance ambled into her place like this was just another day and he wasn’t casually dropping lines that made her cling to the doorknob for support. “Lark’s a real peach, huh?”

  Jane snorted her agreement and moved back onto the couch and pulled the blanket onto her lap. “Is peach a special word for—” She stopped herself and pulled the blanket to her chin. “Never mind. Gossiping over Lark isn’t worth the bad karma.”

  “I might disagree.” Chance took a seat on the couch. “One might consider it sharing intel on the enemy, not gossiping.” His cool, relaxed demeanor was the epitome of confidence. He leaned an elbow on the back of the couch. His long, powerful legs cavalierly spread as though he wasn’t aware that his pants strained at the bulk of his thigh muscles. “After the conversation I just had with her.” He shook his head, gaze unfocused like he were rehearing Lark. “I can think of a few more deserving names for that lady other than peach.”

  Jane could only imagine. She tossed a corner of her soft blanket to him. “It helps to cuddle something soft and forgiving when this place gets to be too much.”

  Chance cut her a quick look. “Is that why you’re under there?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Lark bothered you that much?” He gestured toward the door. “’Cause I’ll make sure she—”

  “No, don’t bother with her.”

  “I wouldn’t be able to handle your job,” he admitted.

  “Sometimes the reasons that I don’t quit are the same reasons that I want to quit.”

  Chance rolled his bottom lip into his mouth and released it, but tension remained tight in his jaw. “Because you have to protect that little boy.”

  A lump formed in her throat. She smiled halfheartedly and gave a short nod before she trusted her voice. “Yes.”

  He pulled her under his arm. “You’re a protector at heart.”

  Jane wanted to correct him. Her cold upbringing and lack of caring parents had given her textbook boundary issues. She wasn’t protecting Teddy as much as she loved and cared for him, basking in the love he returned. “Not quite.”

  His arm tightened around her shoulder and rested his chin on the top of her head. “Agree to disagree.”

  She leaned into him, and whether he wanted the blanket or not, she didn’t care. Jane tucked it over his legs, enveloping them in the large knit cocoon of safety. She didn’t want to have a thought-provoking discussion right now. Jane would much rather kiss him like they had in the kitchen. But, if they were going to get deep, she appreciated his arm around her. The world didn’t seem as scary and ugly when curled under there.

  “Until Gigi is back in town, I want to get to know you better, J
ane. The real you. Not the nanny. Not the woman in Syria or Abu Dhabi. Just you.”

  Butterflies danced in her stomach—except, she didn’t have a new side of her to show off. Anxiety needled, and a small wave of self-consciousness dulled her growing bliss. “That was me.” She hated to disappoint him but owed Chance the truth. She took a shallow breath and faced him. “I already showed you who I was. I’m not sure much will change.”

  “I meant,” he tried again. “I want to spend time with you, no bullets or fancy-ass hotels, before—”

  She hung on the answer, but his mouth clamped shut.

  Before? Obviously, before he left again. Could she trust herself to him, knowing he would eventually leave? No. Why didn’t he continue his thought! Unable to wait any longer, she prompted, “Chance, before what?”

  He hesitated and frowned. “I don’t know.”

  That wasn’t true. He knew. So did she. No matter how much of her heart she opened to him, how much he claimed to want her, Chance Evans would leave when Aces needed Midas.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  A cell phone rang between Jane and Chance, and she gave him room to remove it from his pocket. He glanced at the screen, and she could tell he had to take it.

  “Give me a minute, okay?” He accepted the call and stood. “This is Evans.”

  A few seconds of lag time passed as she recalled that Evans was his last name, proving they needed to get to know each other still. It didn’t matter that she felt like he was a long-lost boyfriend—who knew what he’d think of that description—they didn’t have the basics down.

  Did he leave the toilet seat up in the middle of the night? Who did he admire? How many women felt as though they had a soulmate-like connection to Chance? Those questions were leap years beyond recalling his last name. They had work to do, and she needed to pull her head from the clouds.

  Chance listened to the phone call and walked an easy circle around her open floor plan. The small space benefited from the Thanes’s designer’s eye, and what could’ve felt like a cramped pool house seemed more like a cottage oasis. One of the many reasons why Gigi liked to pop in with a camera crew on occasion.