by Nikki Rose
Things were getting pretty uncomfortable in the office. I felt like an intruder in a private moment between father and daughter. As hard as it was, I had to say something to get myself out of there. “Maybe I should go let you two have time to discuss this.”
Director Applegate shot a glance in my direction but quickly returned his glare to his daughter. “This is not up for discussion or debate. I may go easy on you and let you have your way most of the time but I will not compromise when it comes to your safety. You will go along with this or I’ll put you in protective custody until this is all over. That would make it even harder to hang out with your friends or that future inmate you call a boyfriend.”
“You can’t control me forever.”
“No, but I can damn well try.”
CHAPTER 2
Caroline
My dad had finally lost it. Maybe it was the fact that I’d soon be graduating from college and would be going out into the real world as he liked to say or maybe I’d finally pushed him too far by dating Derek. Even I had to admit Derek was a bad idea. He was a drop out who spent most of his time in front of his computer screen getting high and drinking cheap vodka. I only started dating him because he seemed dangerous and I needed a little adventure in my sheltered life.
Plus, I knew it would drive my dad insane. Maybe this was all my fault. I’d driven him over the edge and he finally snapped. I had to get away from him before I said something I’d regret. Like suggesting I move in with Derek so he couldn’t use the whole ‘while you’re living under my roof’ bit. I hadn’t heard the last few things my dad said as my mind reeled but the moment, he stopped talking I turned on my heel and stormed from his office.
Just before I slammed the door, I could hear him yelling at the poor guy stuck in the middle of our family drama. “Well don’t just stand there, follow her.”
A moment later the door opened and I was exceedingly aware of the man slowly gaining on me. There was no sense in running, but I kept my quick pace out of principle. I barely made it out the door before his vice-like grip closed in on my bicep. He whirled me around to face him and grabbed me by both shoulders before loosening his grip slightly.
“Would you stop for just a minute?”
“What?” I snapped.
“I don’t want this job any more than you want me on it but I haven’t done anything to you so don’t go trying to make my job harder than it has to be.”
“Oh, excuse me because my main priority in life is to make it easier for you to keep me from living my life. That’s what my dad has done my whole life and now he’s outsourcing the job.” I threw my hands up in the air, trying to get his hands off me but he held firm.
“The least you could do is not act like a spoiled brat. Your dad is just trying to protect you.”
“Protect me? He’s not trying to protect me. He’s trying to control me—like always.”
“You’re a selfish, spoiled brat, aren’t you? There are dangerous people out there and you just want to go running around with your friends.”
“How dare you pretend to know me. You don’t know anything about me or my life. Now, get your hands off of me. If my dad saw how you were—”
“What? How I was keeping you from running off to do God knows what? I got news for you. That’s what he hired me for. Whatever job I’m on, I give one hundred and ten percent so get used to me being around because you’re going to be stuck with me until your dad says otherwise.”
“He hired you to keep an eye on me but if he saw how you’re putting your hands on me, you wouldn’t have a job anymore.” The nerve of this guy presuming to put his hands on me made my blood boil. I knew my dad would never stand for it.
“Oh, he can see. There are cameras all over out here. I guess if I’m going to lose my job, I might as well do it right.”
In one swift motion my world tilted upside down as Chris threw me over his shoulder and stalked through the parking lot. For a moment, I couldn’t speak for the utter shock of the situation. As shock faded, rage ensued.
“Put me down, you Neanderthal.” I kicked my legs and pounded my fists on his back but he was seemingly unphased. A strong arm clamped down on my legs, pinning them in place so the most I could do was squirm.
I screeched and pounded my fists harder on his back. “You can’t treat me like this. My father—”
“Your father told me to protect you. I’m protecting you, princess.”
“Put. Me. Down.” I emphasize each word with my pounding fists.
“Gladly.” He flipped me back upright, lowering my feet to the ground with little room between him and the passenger side of a black sedan and the smug jackass actually had the nerve to smile at me. He opened the car door unceremoniously and motioned inside. “Now get in.”
“Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you home where it will be easier to protect you.”
“I’m supposed to be going out dancing with friends.”
“You have got to be kidding me. Do you not understand that you’ve been threatened and could very well be in danger?”
“Of course, I understand. My dad is the Director. There is always some unforeseen danger or threat. I still have to be able to live my life.”
“You’d be in an unsecured club with far too many variables for me to keep an eye on all at once. I need to be in a controlled space to best keep you safe.”
“I need to get out. This is spring break and I’m not spending the whole time locked up in the house. I start school back on Monday.
“No.”
If demanding wouldn't work, maybe playing it sweet would so I changed my tone. “I just want to go out and have a good time with my friends. Please, Chris?” I needed to get out of the house and I’d do anything—even play nice to get what I wanted.
“Have them over at the house until I can better determine what you are and aren’t allowed to do.”
“I’m twenty-two years old. I’m allowed to do whatever I want.”
“Not so long as your dad is signing my paychecks. As far as I’m concerned, he’s the one calling the shots—not you—so get in.”
“Saying please wouldn’t kill you.” I rolled my eyes and slid into the beige leather seats.
“It might.” He snapped just before shutting the door.
I had no desire to be stuck in a silent car with him the whole way home and the idea of small talk with a barbarian like him was even less appealing so I pulled out my phone and dialed my friend Amanda.
“Hey, girl. You ready to go out and get our dance on tonight?”
“Definitely. But it might be a little challenging.” I sighed.
“What’s wrong?”
“The tyrant has put me under house arrest for now.”
“Seriously? What for?”
“I don’t know. Some threat or something. He’s even assigned me a bodyguard.”
“You’re kidding. Is he at least hot?”
I cast a glance over in Chris’s direction to see if he’d heard anything but he stared straight ahead. Of course, he kept his eyes on the road. He was about as straight laced as they come. Was he hot? Yeah, he was probably the hottest guy I’d ever seen outside of TV or movies. But that didn’t change the fact that he was one of my dad’s minions sent to make my life miserable.
“Eh, I guess.”
“Well, I have to come over and see for myself. Should we have a movie night since the warden has you on lockdown?”
“Nah. I think I can manage. Movie night Sunday?
“Sounds good. We can order takeout.”
“Perfect. I’ll call you in a bit with more details.”
I slipped my phone in my back pocket just as we pulled into the long, gated drive to the house. Chris punched in the code and the automated gate swung open.
“Friend coming over?” He glanced my way as he parked the car.
“On Sunday. I was supposed to be going out dancing tonight but since those plans are ruined, I guess I’ll
just stay in and catch up on my reading.”
“Going out to a club is definitely out right now. Too many variables to keep in check and the location wouldn’t be secure. A movie night sounds like some good, safe fun.”
I let out a dramatic sigh, but truly, I wasn’t all that surprised that mister wet blanket would actually think a night in reading and a movie night was a good substitute for going out to the club. Chris rounded the car and opened my door for me. His gentleness contrasted his earlier man-handling and set me back. I took his hand and he helped me out of the car.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He motioned his hand toward the door and I passed him to lead the way to my front door. “See, I can be quite pleasant when you play nice.”
I rolled my eyes and glared at him from over my shoulder. “I was starting to think you might not be a total ass but you had to go and ruin it.”
He flashed me a smug smile and shrugged his broad shoulders. I would have found him extremely attractive if he wasn’t such an asshole. I slung my hair as I turned back toward the door. The heel of my strappy sandal caught on a crack in the walkway and my body twisted as I plummeted toward the concrete. I twisted, bracing myself for impact but Chris’s arms caught me instead.
Chris held me as if he’d just dipped me like they did in those old-fashioned movies. He supported the back of my head with his hand while the other cradled the small of my back. He smelled good. Clean yet masculine. I wondered why I hadn’t noticed how good he smelled before when he had me over his shoulder. I guess I was just too mad to pay attention to those things.
I realized I was staring up at him for too long not to be awkward so I forced the only words I could from my lips. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His voice was deeper, huskier. Or, maybe it was my imagination.
He held me there longer than was necessary until the housekeeper, Ms. James cleared her throat from the door.
“Are you going to let me up?” I teased but my heart pounded against my chest bone and not from the near fall. It was from being close to Chris. I could still feel the lingering heat from his touch on the small of my back and I wanted to feel it again. What the hell is wrong with me?
That feeling didn’t last long. He had to go and open his mouth again and ruin it as he straightened me back to stand. “It's no wonder you need a babysitter. Been walking long?”
“Asshole.” I marched up the steps, past Ms. James, and straight up to my room.
CHAPTER 3
Chris
I stood at the bottom of the steps, watching as Caroline stormed up to her room and slammed the door. I couldn’t explain it if I tried, but I got a sick kind of enjoyment over making her mad. Maybe it was the fact that she was a spoiled brat who always got her way and I refused to be one of her dad’s employees who bent to her will or maybe it was that sexy scowl she got every time I pissed her off. Either way, it was the only thing that made this assignment bearable thus far.
I pulled out my phone and dialed the Director’s direct line.
“Applegate.”
“Director, sir. I just wanted to let you know we made it to your home safely.
“Good. Thank you, Chris. I know this is not an easy assignment. My daughter can be...challenging at times.”
“Nothing I can’t handle, sir.”
“I wouldn’t have chosen you if I thought otherwise. I’m meeting with the higher ups this evening so I won’t be in until very late. The guest room is on the opposite side of the house from Caroline. The extra bedroom just down the hall from her would be more suitable so you could be close in case of an emergency. You won’t have your own private bath that way but it would make more tactical sense. Ms. James, the housekeeper can show you and you’re welcome to use my study as your work base. There’s security camera monitors set up in there.”
“Yes sir.”
He hung up and I went exploring to find his study.
I walked into the study through the partially opened, large wooden door. An enormous L-shaped cherry wood desk took up almost half the room with the built-in bookcase behind it. Two black leather chairs set in the corner made a nice conversation area and a drink cart sat opposite them. It was a very masculine space and nothing short of what I’d expect from the Director.
I made myself comfortable in the large office chair and opened two cabinet doors to reveal the security screens. From there, I could practically see the entire outside of the property. I hadn’t had a chance to go home to get my things but I had a go bag in my car that would hold me over until tomorrow.
I worked for over an hour, studying the client file on Caroline, researching the hacking case, willing to do anything to hurry things along. The sooner we could find the threat, the sooner I could go back to my normal life and normal missions instead of this tedious babysitting gig. I was glad Caroline was a bookworm. It made things around the house much more peaceful for working.
My stomach growled, reminding me that it was time for dinner. I decided to be nice and ask Caroline if she wanted me to order in something instead of just doing it and letting her deal with it. I jogged up the steps to the room I’d seen her disappear into about an hour before.
I knocked. No answer. I knocked again. Nothing.
“Caroline? It’s Chris. I wanted to ask you what you wanted me to order for dinner.”
Nothing.
I tried to turn the knob but the door was locked. I wasn’t wasting any more time. I broke the lock and let myself inside. The large beautiful room was the picture of elegance with gold and cream linens on the large four-poster cherry wood bed that anchored the room. But what really caught my attention was the lack of occupancy.
“Caroline?” I rushed into the room, checked the ensuite bathroom, and searched every hiding place I could find. Cream colored curtains on the large picture window billowed in the breeze. I ran over to it and peered out at the backyard and a fire escape ladder unraveled, hanging from the edge.
“Damn it.” I hit the window sill with my open hand and looked around the room for any hint of where she might have gone.
Her laptop sat on a bench at the foot of her bed so I sat down and opened it. Although I hadn’t been on the assignment long, I made a point to know the mission well. I’d studied all the personal notes on Caroline so when her laptop password came up to be her favorite childhood pet, Lady, I wasn’t the least bit surprised.
Hacking into her Microsoft account would have been more challenging if she hadn’t selected for the computer to remember her passwords. I logged on and hit the Find my phone button and within minutes was redirected to a map with a blinking icon letting me know exactly where she was.
The club was dark with multi colored laser lights that moved to the beat of the thudding bass blaring through large speakers.
I liked hitting the club when I was looking for a hook-up. All those women in those barely-there dresses, writhing around on the dance floor never disappointed. But, trying to spot Caroline in the mob of moving bodies with the pulsing music and strobe lights was nearly impossible. Not to mention there were too many dark corners and crowds for threats to hide in.
I needed to get Caroline and get out of there as soon as possible—and before the Director found out.
I finally spotted her almost directly in the middle of the dance floor wriggling all over some idiot. Her slinky silver dress barely draped over her curves. I was certain a strong breeze could tear the delicate little straps that held it together in a matter of seconds. I could only imagine what a pair of strong hands like mine could do to that little scrap of fabric that stood between me and what was barely hidden underneath.
I shook my head and refocused myself to the task of fighting my way through the crowd to get to her. I wanted to ring her spoiled little neck for running away. But, lucky for her my mission was to protect her. If I planned to keep her safe, she had to learn to listen to me, though. I just had to figure out how.
Finally with
in reach, I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the loser she was dancing with. The look of shock on her face was great, but I was far from satisfied.
“What the hell were you thinking sneaking out like that?”
“Get your hand off me. I'm just dancing.”
“I told you that you couldn't go out.”
She yanked her arm away from me and my temper flared. I needed to calm my temper before I took her to the back and paddled her ass like the immature child she was acting like. Something I doubted her dad had ever done. He might be a hard-ass at work but she was clearly the one in charge.
“Dude, we're just dancing. Chill,” the douche she was dancing with laid his hand on my shoulder and I snapped.
I spun around, grabbed hold of his hand, and twisted it just before it would snap. “Touch me again and I'll rip your hand off and beat you with it.”
“Owe. Dude. Okay. Geez.”
“Chris, let go of him. I'm perfectly safe here.” Caroline pounded her fists on my back as she screamed at me.
I let go and grabbed her wrists to stop her. “We're going home. Now.”
She squirmed and fought but was no match for me. “Let go of me you asshole. Let. Me. Go.”
Before I knew what was happening, two bouncers flanked me, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me back from her.
“Let me go. I'm security.”
“The lady said to leave her alone. If you're her security it looks like you've been fired.” The bouncers joked as they drug me toward the door.
I glanced over at Caroline who was looking every bit the smug spoiled brat.
For an hour I paced outside the club trying to figure out what the hell I was going to do. If I called for backup, I’d never live it down that this girl had bested me. I didn't want to risk the Director finding out I’d lost his daughter on day one either. Even if the idea of an assignment transfer had its appeal, my pride wouldn't let me.