Holding on Tighter

by Shayla Black

  a quick examination. The one bit of good news? The intruder had bled enough for them to capture his DNA, and they intended to run it through their systems. Sadly, that could take months.

  Heath feared the Dallas PD would be useless in this investigation.

  Finally, the woman finished interrogating him. When they emerged from the conference room, he spotted a lanky male detective standing with Jolie and Karis. He spoke a few words meant to be reassuring. The police would, of course, investigate fully, check in, have units canvass the neighborhood, and all that rubbish.

  Then both of the detectives disappeared into Jolie’s office to hover around the CSI unit, who wrapped up their examination. As they gathered their things, Jolie ducked into her office, straightening the room to her usual pristine standards.

  Heath couldn’t stop himself from watching her every move. Obviously, she wasn’t happy. Besides her earlier anger, the disarray now all around agitated her. The sense of violation that someone had broken into her space did, too. He understood her conflict. Her beloved sister had been in danger. Her worry churned. Her adrenaline pumped. Then the moment the peril passed, that same coddled sibling put a lip-lock on the man she was reluctantly attracted to. The entire evening must have jarred Jolie’s meticulously balanced world. Right now she couldn’t hide behind investor reports and design sketches.

  Though he wished it wasn’t necessary, he had to set her even more off-kilter tonight.

  Karis tugged on his sleeve. When he turned to her, she blinked at him with big brown eyes brimming with tears.

  “Will you hold me?”

  He hesitated, turning over possible outcomes and consequences. Finally, he shook his head. “I’m the big, bad wolf, the sort who would eat you alive for sport and leave your bloody carcass in the dirt. Choose wisely. Pick another man.”

  She reared back. “You’re not like that. You’re brave and wonderful and—”

  “Not interested in your white lace and promises.”

  Karis blinked innocently. “I-I didn’t . . . I’m not—”

  “Looking for your Prince Charming? Yes, you are. I’ve no wish to hurt your feelings but I did not leave you flowers.”

  “Oh.” She looked crestfallen, then she sent him an intent little frown. “Would you, if you had thought of it?”

  “No. The last woman I had sex with, about an hour ago, was someone whose name I still don’t know. She’s hardly the first such stranger. I have a very simple iron-clad no-repeat rule. So even if you were foolish enough to let me whisk you to bed, I would never touch you again. For your sake, don’t flirt with me, don’t pin your fairy-tale hopes on me, and don’t kiss me again.”

  Karis swallowed, looking hurt. “You don’t have to be harsh.”

  He softened his tone. “I’m being honest. I’m not good for you.”

  “You could be,” she whispered so earnestly, it almost made a dent in his cynical shell. “And I could be good for you.”

  “I’d only hurt you.”

  And he didn’t want to discuss it anymore, especially when he turned to find Jolie talking to the male detective, a tall, athletic man in his early thirties. The suit smiled at Jolie as he passed her his card and patted her hand.

  Heath had no right or reason to be jealous. She could probably gut a man with her tongue and leave him trembling in a pool of his own blood. But damn if he didn’t want to shove the detective’s balls down his throat until he understood that Jolie was off-limits. Heath only refrained because he hadn’t touched her—yet.

  Why did he want her so badly? She wasn’t his usual. His wife, Anna, had been beautiful but reserved, soft. She’d needed his steady hand and guidance. Mystery, though more spirited, had been much the same. Jolie would eat a man for breakfast. In fact, this morning, he’d watched her bark into the phone at a supplier who had displeased her. She’d laid down the law with a sharp rebuke and some hardball. He’d been fascinated by the pursing of her full lips, the sassy flip of her dark tresses sweeping away from her striking face to brush her shoulders. She did everything with passion, conviction, and a feminine confidence he’d never seen.

  More than his interest had risen. The meaningless hookup with the blonde had done nothing to take the edge off his desire. Heath feared very much that, until he had Jolie, only she would do.

  With a trembling lower lip, Karis turned toward her desk, pretending to fumble for her purse and keys so she could avoid the embarrassment of looking at him. It probably made him a bastard, but that suited Heath. She might have taken his words more firmly than he intended but she’d finally gotten the message.

  Once the police had left and Jolie closed the door behind them, she approached, glancing between him and her sister with a frown. “What did you say to her?”

  “Not to touch me again.”

  Satisfaction settled on her face before she blanked it. “Thank you for being professional.”

  He drilled his stare deep into her. “I wasn’t. I warned her away because I want you.”

  “It’s not happening, Romeo. If you don’t leave it alone, I’ll fire you.”

  “You could do that but you would be putting yourself and everyone who works here at greater risk. I have pages and pages of recommendations that you can—and should—implement to keep your business and employees safe. If you have to start over with another security specialist, that will set you back weeks, maybe more. I’m not sure you have that sort of time before whoever this intruder and what he represents strikes again. So, you can either cut me loose because you feel threatened or you can work with me.”

  “I don’t feel threatened, just annoyed.”

  Rubbish. I’ve got your number. “You’re the one most at risk.”

  With a roll of her eyes, she anchored a hand on her hip. “How so?”

  “This intruder didn’t make a grab for every technical gadget in your office, merely your computer. Those policemen who dusted your office diligently for prints? They won’t find anything. He wore surgical gloves. He wasn’t stealing in order to afford his next fix. Nor was he terribly rattled after being confronted by unwanted company. He had a weapon and a quick exit strategy. So I doubt very much he was your neighborhood burglar. He was, however, a professional with a target.”

  She hesitated. “So what do you think is going on?”

  “If tonight’s break-in was about industrial espionage, you’re the brains behind the operation. You hold the capital and connections. You are the brand. If your competitors want you out of business, they would start with you.”

  “Agreed. What do you propose next?”

  “I need more time to get to the bottom of this so I can protect you.”

  She sent him a sideways glare. “If you stop trying to wheedle me into bed, I’m on board. But I don’t date where I work.”

  “I don’t want to date you.”

  Her lips tightened more. “I don’t want to fuck you.”

  “Liar,” he accused softly.

  “I won’t be one of your conquests.”

  “You can’t be. Those, once scaled, are easily forgotten. You’re different. I want you far more than I’m comfortable admitting.”

  “Well, now I know which sister you’d rather hit on. Why didn’t you just say so?” Karis gripped her keys, shooting Jolie a pouty stare. “Good night.”

  Even as he cursed the girl’s timing, he stepped in front of her, blocking her exit. “Not so quickly.”

  “What?” The younger sister flounced.

  “Because you were the one in the office when the intruder broke in, I want to ensure he’s not waiting for you at home. Let me follow you there and make sure your apartment is clear.”

  Karis shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Don’t put embarrassment before safety,” he chided.

  “Whatever.” She grabbed the strap of her purse. “Keep up.”

  “You’re coming as well,” he murmured to Jolie. “The intruder might have barged his way in while Karis wa
s working here alone but he focused on your office. If he was looking for something in particular, it’s quite likely that he’ll look next at your place.”

  Jolie’s expression told him that she wanted to disagree but couldn’t fault his logic. “Five minutes. You look, then you leave.”

  “While I’m there, I intend to make sure your security is up to snuff.”

  Reluctantly, she gave in. “Then be quick. Once I lock up my computer, we’ll go.”

  They made their way to the car park. Heath took Jolie on the back of his bike to her vehicle before they all caravanned to Karis’s little apartment. She parked, and he did the same before he followed the younger sister into her flat. Within seconds, he knew no one had disturbed it. Still, he searched carefully before declaring her clear. The windows of the third floor unit would be difficult for anyone to climb through. Her door seemed solid, her deadbolt relatively sturdy.

  “You should be safe here tonight,” he told Karis.

  “You don’t care.”

  “Don’t confuse a lack of romantic interest with a lack of concern for your safety.”

  She looked away, visibly chagrined. “I’ll be fine.”

  And she would be. Karis was stronger than she thought.

  He cupped her chin and raised it, peering down into her eyes. “You’re lovely and young and someone far less cynical will scoop you up someday. I’m simply not that man.”

  “You’d rather have my sister.” And she sounded glum.

  He wasn’t going to justify who he wanted or why. “That simply means you’re intended for someone else. If you see or hear anything suspicious, you have my number.”

  Karis nodded. “Be good to Jolie. Very few people have been.”

  He and Ms. Quinn might be terrible for one another in the long run but he wasn’t thinking about tomorrow now. “Sleep well.”

  Heath headed out the door, then followed Jolie. He intended to make sure she arrived home to an empty place and stayed safe. Whatever happened after that . . . happened.

  Chapter Four

  Rule for success number four:

  When opportunity knocks, answer the door.

  AS they approached the front door of Jolie’s chic condo complex, Heath scanned the lobby for anyone who looked too watchful or out of place. Nothing but hipsters arguing politics and young professionals on their mobile devices. The building was everything trendy he didn’t subscribe to. Nearby coffee bar, twenty-four hour gym facilities. Sleek and chrome and gray, lacking all hint of character.

  He’d lived in Britain with its traditional architecture, quirky layouts, and pokey rooms for too long to understand, he supposed.

  Beside him, Jolie looked tense. “Was my sister all right?”

  “I assured her that her apartment was clear. She locked up behind me. I gave her my number just in case.” He volunteered information because Jolie would never ask. “I didn’t touch her.”

  She punched the button for the elevator. “I didn’t think you did.”

  “Really?”

  “You were in her place for less than five minutes. That would be working fast, even for you. Besides, you’d already told Karis no. She would never have pouted that way if she hadn’t been sure you meant it.”

  “You asked me to gently discourage her. I tried not to upset her.”

  The elevator arrived with a ding. She climbed into the empty car and pressed the button for the sixth floor. “I know. And if you toughened her up a little, maybe that would be good for her. Some heartache might help her mature.”

  Heath couldn’t disagree, based on what he’d seen. “I’ll bet you were never naive.”

  She shook her head. “I’m too pragmatic.”

  “Indeed. Because your father broke your heart somewhere along the way.”

  As the doors slid shut, enclosing them alone in the lift, Jolie stiffened, then tried to steady her temper. “Why do you keep digging at me?”

  It was a fair question. He simply didn’t have an answer she would like. “I want to understand you.”

  “That’s not necessary for you to do your job.”

  “It’s not.” But he had no intention of backing down.

  Jolie Quinn compelled him. If he learned her well enough, maybe she’d lose her shine. Or he’d figure out how to get her into bed and fuck her out of his system.

  “Here’s what you need to know: I like to win. I’ve always wanted to be my own boss. I have an eye for fashion and seeing trends come. I’m a good negotiator. Betti was a perfect fit for my passions and talents.”

  She hadn’t boasted, as far as Heath could tell. “Before you hired me, I looked into you. You doubled your profits after your first year in business and every year since, despite a difficult economy. In fact, last year you increased that percentage even more.”

  “I’m proud of my accomplishments, but money isn’t the goal. It’s a means to prevent being beholden to anyone else and to keep score with the competition. No denying it’s nice, but what I’ve been able to make won’t support my expansion plans in the necessary timeframe, which is all I really want. So I clearly didn’t do well enough.”

  He scowled. “You’re awfully hard on yourself.”

  The lift stopped, and the doors dinged open. “If I’m not, a few dozen competitors and fashion bloggers are always willing to be. It’s better if I anticipate their criticism and counter before it’s too late.”

  Something drove Jolie to succeed. She had a thirst to thrive without relying on others. Her strength intrigued him, but more, he wanted to see if he could scratch her hard surface and find the soft woman beneath. He wanted her vulnerable to him.

  So fucking dangerous.

  When she strode from the elevator and down the hall, she bent her head to dig in her purse for her keys.

  Heath couldn’t resist proving she needed him for something.

  Once they jingled in her hand, he rushed her from behind, grabbed the ring from her grip, and jammed the key in the lock with one hand. With the other, he grabbed her hair and tugged. Before she could do more than gasp, he shoved her inside and slammed the door.

  Heart racing, he pushed her against the adjoining wall face-first, then covered her back with his body.

  God, he couldn’t wait to take every one of her curves in his hands and caress her until she begged for him.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Her breathing accelerated. No doubt, her heart rate did the same.

  “When you approach your door, you should never bury your head in your purse. Have your keys in hand well in advance and be alert. Otherwise, you’ve made yourself an easy target.”

  She struggled to dislodge him but he’d wedged her against the wall, fist in her hair, rendering her essentially immobile. “Let go. The intruder, whatever he wanted, didn’t come after me physically.”

  “Yet. But he might. You have a lot to learn.”

  “Check my condo for intruders and get the hell out.” She struggled to shake him off.

  Her anger fired Heath’s blood even more. “We do this my way. You design the clothes, lead the staff, and run the office. This is where I’m in charge.”

  “Security, fine. That’s why I hired you.”

  “And sex,” he vowed in her ear. “I’m always in charge there.”

  She bucked again. “I’m not having sex with you.”

  “You’ll find I can be persuasive.”

  She scoffed. “With naive little doormats, sure. Sadly for you, that’s not me. Let go.”