Shane joined the long line of black tuxedos at the bar, and Beth moved back out of the main flow of traffic.
“Beth!”
She turned, surprised to hear someone calling her name. She was even more surprised to see Andrew Morton eagerly striding toward her. “Andrew? What are you doing here?”
“I came with my dad,” he said. “My mom’s out of town, so he dragged me along with him. He’s around here somewhere.”
Like every other male at the benefit, Andrew Morton was wearing a black tuxedo. With his artfully disheveled blond hair, he was undeniably a very good looking guy.
“What are you doing here?” Andrew asked, a tad breathless.
“I’m here with my... boyfriend.” It was the first time she’d publically referred to Shane as such.
“Boyfriend?” Andrew frowned.
Beth saw disappointment on Andrew’s face, followed by a flash of anger.
“Who? Where is he?” Andrew demanded, grabbing her wrist. “Point him out!”
“Andrew, that hurts!” Beth cried, and she yanked her wrist free from Andrew’s tight grip. The identity of her boyfriend wasn’t any of his business, and she was about to tell him that when she felt Shane’s presence at her back.
He hadn’t said a word. He hadn’t made the slightest noise, but Beth knew he was there. When Andrew’s gaze went past her and turned stony, it only confirmed her suspicions. Shane’s hands landed proprietarily on her bare shoulders.
“Introduce me, sweetheart,” Shane said in a deceptively mild tone.
“This is Andrew Morton,” she said. “Andrew, this is Shane McIntyre.”
A myriad of emotions flashed across Andrew’s face – astonishment, anger, resentment.
“You’re Richard Morton’s kid,” Shane said. He pulled Beth back against him. “How do you know Beth?”
Andrew bristled at Shane’s condescending manner. “From school. I’m a student at Kingston Medical. Beth works in the library.”
“I know where Beth works,” Shane said, his voice cold. That quickly, the pieces fell into place. This was probably the kid who’d accosted Beth outside the medical school library earlier in the week. Miguel had given him a detailed description of the kid – it fit Andrew Morton perfectly.
Shane turned Beth around to face him, dismissing Andrew. “How about that dance now?”
“What about your drink?” Beth said, seeing that Shane’s hands were empty. He hadn’t had enough time to make it up to the bar to order.
“Something more important came up,” he said. “Like dancing with you.”
Andrew stepped forward. “I was going to ask her to dance.”
Shane glanced at Andrew, his expression hard. “Go find your own dance partner, kid. She’s mine.”
Shane offered his arm to Beth, and she took it. “You okay?” Shane said, as he led her to the dance floor.
She sighed. “I’m fine. I was just surprised to see him here.”
“Richard Morton is the hospital’s chief of staff and a big donor to the Foundation. He has a big ego and, apparently, it’s hereditary.”
They reached the dance floor, and Shane swept Beth into his arms. “Just relax and follow me,” he said, when he felt her tense up.
Beth took her first halting steps with Shane, her heart beating triple time. She stumbled a couple of times, and once she stepped on his toes. “I’m sorry!”
“You’re doing great. Just relax,” he murmured into her ear. “And don’t worry, the toes of these shoes are reinforced with steel.”
Beth laughed, not sure if he was joking or not.
They were off and moving, flowing through the throng of dancers as if it were second nature. Shane made it seem effortless. His arm around her waist kept her steady, and his other hand guided their moves like a divining rod. She was eventually able to relax a bit in his arms, trusting him to keep her upright and on the right path.
They finished the waltz without mishap – no more stumbling, no careening into other couples, no more stepping on anyone’s toes. Shane easily talked her into a second dance, and Beth laughed when Shane suggested she take over and lead him in the next waltz.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” she said, chuckling. “We may end up in the coat closet or something.”
They were well into their third dance, and Beth was actually having fun, when Shane came to an abrupt halt, catching Beth as she stumbled.
“I’m cutting in,” Andrew said, coming out from behind Shane to reach for Beth.
At the sound of Andrew’s voice, Beth face blanched, her expression suddenly wary.
The muscles in Shane’s jaw clenched tightly, but his voice remained calm. “Go away, Andrew.”
“I said, I’m cutting in.” Andrew’s hands went to her waist.
Shane made to pull Beth away from Andrew, but Andrew tightened his grip on her waist, and for a moment they were playing tug of war over Beth.
Shane abruptly released Beth, and she stumbled for a moment before regaining her balance. In a deft move, Shane grabbed hold of Andrew’s arm, twisted it up behind the boy’s back, and marched him off the dance floor. Beth hastened after, following them into a service corridor.
Once in the hallway, Shane shoved Andrew face first into the wall, the boy’s arm still pinned behind his back.
Beth gasped at the tightly controlled expression on Shane’s face. He looked like he wanted to kill Andrew. “Shane?”
“I told you to stay away from her,” Shane grated into Andrew’s ear. “Don’t talk to her; don’t look at her.”
Shane kicked Andrew’s feet apart and quickly frisked the boy’s pockets with his free hand. “Stay the fuck away from her, kid. If you bother her again, I will personally make you regret it.”
Shane released Andrew, and Andrew pushed away from the wall, his chest heaving as he turned toward Shane and glared at him, his hands fisted at his sides.
“Consider this a friendly warning, kid,” Shane said. “I don’t want to see your face anywhere near Beth again. Is that clear?”
Shane and Beth returned to the ballroom, and he led her to their assigned table. He sat her in her seat, and then he turned his seat to face hers and sat down, leaning forward and taking her hands in his. “You’re white as a sheet,” he said, squeezing her hands. “Are you okay?”
Beth nodded, shaking from adrenalin. “I’m fine.”
“Tell me about Andrew Morton.”
She blinked at him and found herself shaking. “He’s a first-year student at Kingston,” she said, gazing at Shane. She’d never seen him look so angry.
“Does he come to the library?”
“Yes.”
“Does he come to your office?”
“Yes.”
“Has he been harassing you? Causing you any problems at work?”
Beth looked at Shane, surprised by his questions. She nodded. “He comes to the Special Collections room a lot, oftentimes on flimsy excuses. Mary thinks he might be coming there to see me.”
“So do I,” Shane said, nodding as if she had confirmed something he already knew. “Andrew Morton is a narcissist,” Shane said. “He’s a spoiled rich kid who thinks he can have whatever he wants.”
A woman’s voice came over the ballroom sound system at that moment, asking all of the guests to take their seats. The servers would be bringing out the first course of the meal shortly.
Beth was still shaking; her heart was beating too fast and her breath was labored. She could feel her anxiety edging up. She closed her eyes and slowly took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, she noticed that the tables were filling up quickly with guests, and that Shane’s eyes were glued on her.
“Are you all right?” he said.
She nodded. “I’m okay.” But she couldn’t stop shaking.
Shane removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
Dottie and Gene Patterson arrived at their table then and took their seats, delighted to see that they
were seated with Beth and Shane.
Shane caught Dottie’s eye. “Dottie, I need to take care of something. Will you stay with Beth, please?”
“Sure, honey,” Dottie said, reaching out to pat Beth’s shoulder. “Are you cold, sweetie?” she said, eyeing the jacket.
Shane stood. “Thanks, Dottie. Don’t leave her side until I get back.”
“I won’t,” Dottie said, waving him off. “Don’t worry.”
Shane kissed Beth. “I’ll be right back,” he said. “Stay with Dottie.”
“Where are you going?”
“To have a talk with Richard Morton.”
* * *
Shane found Richard Morton standing beside a table, deep in conversation with the CEO of the children’s hospital. Although it galled him to do it, Shane waited for a break in the conversation before he spoke up. “Excuse me, Susan,” he said, nodding at the CEO. Then he turned to Andrew’s father, his expression hardening. “Richard.”
Richard Morton turned to look at Shane. “Shane,” he said, surprised. “What brings you to my door?”
“Your son does,” Shane said. “Can we talk? In private.”
Richard Morton’s brows furrowed at the mention of his son. “Andrew? What about him?”
“Not here,” Shane said, nodding toward the double doors. “Let’s go out to the lobby.”
Shane turned and headed for the hotel lobby, not bothering to see if Richard followed him or not. If Richard didn’t care enough about his son to hear what Shane had to say, then Shane didn’t care either.
But sure enough, as soon as Shane stepped out into the hotel lobby, Richard spoke up.
“What the hell is this about, Shane?” Richard said, clearly irritated by the interruption. “I don’t appreciate your high-handed – ”
Shane stopped and turned to face Richard Morton. “I’ll make this quick, Richard.” Shane stood with his hands on his hips. “Your son has an unhealthy interest in my girlfriend.”
“Oh, come on!” Richard said, grinning. “How in the hell would Andrew know your girlfriend?”
“She works at the Kingston library.”
“Oh,” Richard said, frowning. Then his expression cleared. “Well, I’m sure it’s harmless. He’s just a kid! So he has a crush on your girl?” Richard scoffed. “What, you can’t handle a little competition?”
“I don’t care what it is, as long as it ends.” Shane jammed his index finger into Richard’s chest. “Talk to your son. Tell him to stay the hell away from Beth. I’ve warned Andrew, and now I’m warning you. If Andrew bothers her again, I’ll put a stop to it, my way. Am I being clear?”
Richard glared at Shane. “You don’t scare me, Shane,” he said, scowling. “And you stay the hell away from my son.”
“Cut the crap, Richard. I’m giving you the chance to handle this your way. If I have to handle it – handle him – I guarantee you won’t like the results.”
* * *
When Shane came up behind Beth and laid his hands on her shoulders, she jumped. “Sorry,” he said, kissing the top of her head. He took his seat beside her. “What did I miss?”
“I was just telling Beth about our Alaskan cruise,” Dottie said.
Shane reached out and squeezed Beth’s hand. She gave him a surreptitious smile.
The meal progressed quickly as the servers brought out course after course. There was soup, and then the main course, followed by a parade of dessert carts offering a fantastic assortment of decadent sweets. Shane passed on dessert, opting for a glass of red wine instead. Beth selected a plate of strawberries dipped in dark chocolate.
Sipping his wine, Shane leaned back in his chair and watched Beth eat her strawberries. He reached out and snagged one of the lush berries from her plate and held it out to her. She grinned at him as she opened her mouth and took a bite, moaning softly as she chewed.
When she glanced at Shane, she was startled by the blatant heat she saw in his eyes as he watched her eat.
“Want one?” she asked with a teasing smile on her lips. She held a strawberry out to him.
He leaned forward and took the strawberry into his mouth. After he’d eaten it, he leaned toward her and whispered in her ear. “What I really want to eat is you, as soon as we get home.”
As soon as we get home. That had such a nice ring to it, Beth thought.
Chapter 33
It was well after midnight when Shane led Beth out front of the hotel to the line of waiting cars. All of the awards had been bestowed and all the speeches made, to resounding applause, and Beth was exhausted.
Shane had reclaimed his tuxedo jacket from Beth just in time to go up on the stage to hand out several awards to top donors. He received an award himself – the last one of the evening – as Benefactor of the Year for donating $12 million so the pediatric oncology department could purchase some ground-breaking new equipment.
Beth watched him as he accepted the award. Of course he looked debonair in his tuxedo, but it was more than just his looks. He was so confident and relaxed standing in front of this huge crowd. His remarks were brief, yet poignant. His said the impetus behind his donation to the Pediatric Oncology Department was the memory of big brother, who died at age six from a brain tumor. His hope was that with this new equipment, other families might not have to endure the same tragic loss that his family had.
Beth was shocked by his pronouncement. He hadn’t mentioned anything about having lost a sibling. He finished his brief speech, then left the stage to a resounding round of applause from the audience. When he returned to his seat, he reached blindly for her hand and held it tightly as the applause died down.
After saying their goodbyes to the Pattersons and to a few other friends of Shane’s, they collected Beth’s purse from the cloakroom and left the hotel. Beth caught a glimpse of Andrew Morton and his father standing beside a limousine. A chauffeur opened the rear passenger door and Richard climbed inside. Andrew paused to look at Beth, his expression hard. After a moment, he climbed in after his father.
“There’s Cooper,” Shane said, leading Beth by the hand down the sidewalk to the Mercedes.
Even though it was summer, the late night air was a tad cool. Shane put his arm around Beth’s shoulders to keep her warm.
“Let’s get you home and into bed,” he said.
Seated in the back seat of the Mercedes, Beth closed her eyes and sighed as she leaned into the soft leather seat. She slipped off her shoes and stretched her feet. “Oh, that feels so good.”
Beth reached across the seat for Shane’s hand. “Thank you for this evening,” she said. “I had a lovely time.”
“Liar,” he said affectionately, and he squeezed her hand. “You were accosted by one of my bitter exes in the ladies room and nearly assaulted on the dance floor,” he said. “I wouldn’t blame you if you said it was the worst night of your life.”
“And you rescued me both times,” she said. “So I won’t complain.”
* * *
The three of them rode the elevator up to the penthouse floor.
“Good night, Cooper,” Shane said, as he and Beth turned down the hallway that led to his private suite. “Hold down the fort tonight, will you? No interruptions, please.”
“I hear you,” Cooper grumbled, chuckling as he headed for the kitchen.
By the time they reached the bedroom, butterflies had taken up residence in Beth’s stomach. She had an agenda for tonight, and the thought of it scared her to death. Shane had been wonderful all evening, and she wanted to do something special for him. She knew what she wanted to do. She just wasn’t sure how well she could pull it off.
“I’m going to lose the tux,” Shane said, heading for the closet.
Beth nodded, heading in the opposite direction. “I’ll just freshen up.”
She stood looking at herself in the bathroom mirror, trying to give herself a pep talk. Her dress truly was lovely, but it wasn’t the dress that Shane wanted to see her in. It was the lingerie. So sh
e stripped off the dress and hung it on a hook on the bathroom wall. Then she quickly brushed her teeth, touched up her hair, and walked back into the bedroom.
“Lights 30%,” she said, and the lighting dropped to a seductively low level.
She really didn’t have a lot of experience at seduction – well, actually none any at all. She looked around the room, searching for the perfect spot to wait for him. Should she stand somewhere? Should she lie on the bed and strike a seductive pose? Crap! She had no idea how to do this. She was afraid she’d look silly no matter what she did.
Shane walked out of the closet dressed only in his boxers. She stopped breathing at the sight of him. He stopped abruptly and stared when he saw Beth standing at the foot of his bed in only her lingerie.
“Say something!” she said, feeling foolish and overexposed.
“I’m speechless.” His eyes glittered hotly as he took in the sight of her in the lingerie he’d been fantasizing about for the past week. The sexy lace bra and panties showed off the sleek lines and curves of her body. But the garter belt and sheer thigh-high stockings were probably going to give him a heart attack. “You take my breath away,” he finally said.
There was no hiding his physical reaction, since his erection strained eagerly against the material of his boxers. He started toward her with a determined glint in his eyes. Steeling herself, Beth took a deep breath and met him halfway. She laid her hand on his bare chest, right over his heart, and was surprised to feel it thundering beneath her palm. She smiled and slid her hand slowly down his muscled torso, brushing her fingers through the crisp dark hair that arrowed downward. Her fingers kept going, slipping down to trace the stark outline of his erection through his boxers.
Shane reached for her, his hands sliding down her torso to her waist. His fingers skimmed along the top edge of her garter belt, then slipped underneath it to stroke the soft skin of her belly. “I can’t wait to strip this garter belt off you.”
She stepped back out of his reach, a hint of a teasing smile on her lips. “Not so fast, mister.”
Vulnerable: (McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Book 1) Page 29