"I know that feeling. I told Uncle Jack about the attack once. I've never discussed it again. I wanted to put it behind me and move forward."
"Did you?"
"I thought I had, but Uncle Jack keeps expecting me to forgive my dad. He thinks I need to do it to move on completely."
"Like I have to accept Elena is gone?"
"I suppose. I know God wants me to forgive him, but it's so hard. I was in the hospital for almost a day before the police found my dad, drunk and passed out in his car. As far as I was concerned, he shouldn't have come to visit me. He made me feel like the attack was my fault. He complained about having to clean up the mess at home and deal with the insurance company and the police."
"Did they ever find who did it?"
"Two young guys high on drugs, looking for money. I interrupted them, and they went crazy. Strangely, I've been able to forgive them. What they did led to me moving to New York to live with Uncle Jack. That changed my life for the better."
The urge to draw her into his embrace overwhelmed Shane, but he didn't want to stop her from talking. She needed to, just like he did. "What about your father?"
"The day I went to Uncle Jack's was the day he dismissed me from his life. My uncle says he's still drinking."
"Did he always drink?"
"No. He started after my mother committed suicide. I tried to get him to stop, but he just got angrier and meaner."
"Suicide is hard for the people left behind." The thought of what Tess went through contracted his chest, and he inhaled a deep breath then slowly released it.
Her eyes glistened, and she swallowed hard. "I know. I was twelve. She got hooked on pain meds." Tess stared down at her lap, cradling the mug in her hands. "I don't think she meant to kill herself, but she began mixing alcohol and her pills, and one day, she didn't wake up. I didn't understand at the time."
"Maybe your dad blames himself and couldn't deal with the guilt."
She glanced at Shane. "So you think I should forgive him, too." Her words held a hard edge.
"I can't tell you what you need to do, but I do think your uncle is a smart man." Shane took a long sip of his coffee.
"I shouldn't have left you alone with Uncle Jack." She studied the dark liquid in her mug. "I'm surprised he didn't tell you my life story. He can be nosey. Must be the detective in him." She grumbled, but a smile flirted with the corners of her mouth.
"My childhood was pretty normal and uneventful. When Elena died unexpectedly, it really knocked my legs out from under me. If I hadn't had Rachel and the Lord, I might have gone down that path. There were times I wanted to escape the pain any way I could."
"I know what you mean. If it wasn't for the Lord, I'm not sure how I would have made it. My dad didn't believe in God, and I wasn't enough for him. Uncle Jack is the one who taught me about God's love. Uncle Jack is so different from my father."
"We are the sum of our experiences. After this is over, you can bet I will be looking at things differently. I have always realized having money could put a target on my back, but whoever is after me isn't doing it for a ransom. The second attempt proved that."
"Speaking of that, besides the party tomorrow night, will you need to leave here before you make your announcement about the merger?"
"No. Diane and Nick are coming here today, and Diane will come over tomorrow. We're making arrangements for the announcement, assuming the deal goes through. I'll meet with the board the day after the party, and a decision will be made then."
"What's the party for?" Tess swallowed a sip of coffee.
"To persuade a few who are against the merger. The vote may be close. From what the president of Virtual Technologies, Dale Mason, said yesterday there are two men who don't want this, and they're trying to influence the rest of the board members."
"Could they be behind the attempts on your life?"
"I've done several mergers over the past few years. I've had a couple that met opposition, but no one ever resorted to trying to kill me."
"Who are the men? I have told my boss about Anthony Revell, Mark Collins and Chase Temple. She's running a background check on them. I think I should have her run one on the men opposing the merger."
"Ben Smith. Together with Chase Temple, they own thirty-eight percent of the company."
"I like to know what I can about who might be behind the attempts on your life, but also have a photo of what they look like. All the information I can gather helps me be prepared while guarding you."
"In the latest development, Anthony Revell is making a play for Virtual Technologies. I won't be surprised if he's at the party. Should be an interesting evening."
"That depends on how you look at it. For me, I'd rather you passed on the party. It exposes you to whoever is after you."
"VT needs an infusion of money, whether it comes from my company or Revell's. I have my supporters on the board, and Revell has his." Just thinking about tomorrow evening made his neck muscles tighten like fists. The pain spread out from there. "Mark Collins was invited and probably will show up, too, although he hasn't made a formal move to merge with VT. There are one or two swing votes, which could shift everything toward Revell or even Collins. That's why I can't let the board know about the threats to my life."
"Then you think it will be over in a few days, and I can return to Dallas?"
"Yes." He wouldn't see Tess again, and he realized in that moment that he was bothered by that fact. He wanted to get to know her. He hadn't felt that way about a woman since he dated Elena. That surge of emotion—that surprised him.
"Are you okay?"
Tess's voice penetrated his stunned mind. He'd never considered becoming involved with another woman. To him, Elena had been his one true love.
"Shane?"
He blinked and focused on Tess's beautiful face, the one he saw when he'd first opened his eyes at the cabin. "There's nothing wrong."
"You paled. I thought you might have remembered something."
Yes, the way you looked when I recovered consciousness. Like an angel—my guardian angel. "I hope you'll give me some time to hire another bodyguard."
"Of course, but you might contact my agency and talk with your head of security when he comes out today. I can give you some suggestions, if you want."
"Are you sure you won't stay?"
Her mouth twisted in a thoughtful look, and he waited, filled with hope.
"I really shouldn't. If you're going back and forth to work, you'll need more than one person. You might need to look at a full detail."
"You could be part of that."
She sighed, peered away for a long moment, and then met his gaze. "No. We need to stick to the agreement we made yesterday." She rose. "I'm going to refill my cup then continue my walk through the house."
Shane watched her leave, thinking about the wall that had gone up when he'd suggested she stay and guard him. Her professional façade, as he'd come to think of that persona, was firmly in place now. For a while, she'd let down her guard and been herself. He'd glimpsed the true woman behind the front she presented to others.
As he finished the last of his coffee, he decided he needed to stop these thoughts about more with Tess. Her life wasn't suited to a relationship. Even if she weren't protecting him, she must travel all over the world, guarding others. These feelings developing for her were momentarily spurred by the fact she'd saved his life twice. Nothing more.
#
Shane sat at the dining room table with his work spread out as Diane Flood and he went through the business that needed to be done. Tess watched him from the living room across the foyer. His executive assistant hadn't questioned working at his house, but Tess had seen a puzzled look in her eyes when Diane had walked into the house. Shane and Diane, though, soon fell into a work pattern that included Shane taking occasional breaks to check on her. Tess was pretending to read a book on her electronic device a good part of the morning while perched in a rather uncomfortable wingback. Shane had e
ven moved the large round table in the entry hall so she could see him. She checked her emails frequently, as her employer sent updated information on the men she was investigating. On the surface, all four men appeared to be upstanding members of the community, which didn't really mean anything. But at least Tess had their photos and now knew what they looked like.
At noon instead of eating the meal Anna had prepared, Diane left to run some errands for Shane. Nick, the head of security at DDI, arrived to join her and Shane for lunch at the game table in the den. Tess's stomach rumbled at the delicious scent of a Mexican casserole. After last night's dinner and this morning's breakfast, she couldn't wait to eat something else cooked by Anna. Definitely a perk of the job.
"Everything set up for the party tomorrow night?" Shane asked Nick as his security chief took his seat across from Tess.
"Yes. Dale Mason's staff has everything covered. I and a few of my top men will be at the party. I'm the only one who knows about the threats, per your instructions, but they know keeping an eye on you is their priority."
"Good. Tess, do you have any concerns or questions?" Shane asked as he picked up his fork.
"I would like photos of each DDI security man at the party, as well as a diagram of where the party is taking place."
"I'll have them to you by the end of the day so you can familiarize yourself with the layout. I understand from Shane you've been a bodyguard for seven years."
Although not a question, Tess said, "It gives me an opportunity to see the world. I always wanted to travel."
Shane's forehead crinkled, and he lowered his head while he forked some of the Mexican casserole and ate it.
For the next ten minutes, Shane and Nick discussed a few issues at the corporation's headquarters in Phoenix. Tess heard the words, but they didn't really register. Instead she watched each one, cataloguing their mannerisms. She learned so much by studying a person's body language. Shane talked with his hands while Nick's movements were controlled and reserved.
When something bothered Shane, he would rub his nape while keeping his expression neutral. Some people might notice the look on his face at best, but most concentrated on what was said, not how it was spoken.
By the time the lunch was over, Tess was convinced she could trust Nick. He was a no-nonsense man who knew his job. But what had intrigued her most today was how Shane worked with his staff. He treated them as associates with valuable input. He respected his employees' opinions and let them know it. Much like her employer at the agency.
Shane and Nick relaxed back in their chairs and discussed the upcoming Phoenix Suns' season. Tess's mind was elsewhere, though, remembering the conversation she and Shane had shared in this room in the wee hours of the morning. She still couldn't believe she'd told Shane about her mother and father. She'd finally discussed the kind of childhood she'd had before going to live with her uncle and his wife. She'd held it inside so long, it felt good to share with Shane.
All morning while staring at the ebook she was supposed to be reading, she'd thought about what Shane had said about forgiving her father. She didn't know if she could. Even today, she felt the sting of her dad's words and the consequences of his drinking problem. Those things had affected every aspect of her life. How could she forgive that?
One step at a time.
The words flowed through her mind as though the Lord had spoken them directly to her. Was that possible? Could she let the hurt and anger go enough to forgive her father and move on?
Nick stood and turned toward Tess. "I'll be back by the end of the day with the information you need. I hope you can give us some good suggestions for a couple of bodyguards to replace you when we make the merger announcement."
Shane rose. "I tried to get her to reconsider. She promised to stay until we find some good replacements."
Nick smiled. "Good." With a nod, he headed toward the foyer.
Shane came behind Tess's chair and pulled it out for her, leaning down to say, "I'll double your pay if you stay."
How could she? He knew more about her than most people, and that was only after a few days. She was managing to keep herself professionally focused, but she didn't know how long she could maintain that. She was beginning to care about him, and if it went any further, it might distract her from her work.
She pushed to her feet and turned, keeping the chair between them. "I haven't had a man pull a chair out for me in ages."
"You're just not hanging around with the right guys. Stay, and I'll pull your chair out all the time."
She started for the hallway. "I'm at a particularly fascinating part of the book I'm reading. I can't wait to get back to it."
Shane chuckled. "What's it about? Maybe I should read it."
"It's a romance. Nothing you would like."
"Try me."
"A woman meets a man, and they fall in love." She hurried her step.
He kept pace with her. "Interesting you like to read romances."
She halted in the foyer and faced him. "What's that mean?"
"I would have pegged you for a thriller reader."
"Too close to my job. I prefer a change of pace."
Nick stood in the entrance talking with Diane who carried a big white box. Nick glanced at Shane and Tess, said something else to Diane, then left.
Tess nodded to Shane's executive assistant. "I'll leave you to your work." She headed for the living room.
But Shane clasped her arm. "Wait. She went to pick up something for you."
The feel of his fingers sent her heartbeat racing. She needed space. She needed to leave before he had her whole life history. And her heart. Two, three at the most, days left. I can do this.
"It's in the white box?" Tess eyed Diane as she and Shane covered the distance to the woman.
"Yes." Then to Diane, Shane said, "Thanks for picking this up. I'll be in the dining room soon."
His executive assistant handed him the box, gave Tess a quick once-over, and walked away.
"C'mon. I want to see you open it." Shane placed his hand on the small of her back and started for the living room.
Heat seared Tess's face. The only person she exchanged gifts with was Uncle Jack.
Shane presented her with the box. "Open it."
When she did, her eyes widened on a beautiful, emerald green cocktail dress nestled in the white tissue paper. "I can't accept this." She looked up. "Why did you buy me this?"
"For tomorrow night. Surely, you didn't already have a dress in that duffel bag you brought with you."
"But I was going to wear..." What? Had she really thought that black slacks and a white blouse would be appropriate for a fancy cocktail party? "Frankly, I didn't think about what I was going to wear, and you're right. I didn't bring anything appropriate." This was what he did to her—flustered her to the point she didn't think of every contingency.
She lifted the dress out of the box and checked its size. Six. How did he know?
"And I had Diane pick up some shoes and a purse to match. If something doesn't fit, she can take it back and get the right size. Go try it on." A smile spread across his mouth.
"I'll try the dress on later, but I'll see if the shoes fit." Tess sat in a chair and slipped on the matching emerald green two-inch heels. She felt like Cinderella with Prince Charming standing in front of her, waiting to see if she was the one he'd danced with at the ball. "They fit."
"And this purse is plenty big enough for your gun." He held the evening bag up, his smile infectious.
She couldn't resist grinning back at Shane. "Thank you. Now I'll fit in at the"—she almost said ball—"cocktail party."
He set the box on the couch nearby. "Well, I'd better go work."
As he left, Tess murmured, "Thank you. I love it."
He glanced over his shoulder. "It's perfect for you."
His intense look caused butterflies to flutter in her stomach.
Only a few more days. Why aren't I happier about that?
#
This wasn't her first time to dress up on the job, but as she turned from side to side, she felt like Cinderella again. Like yesterday when he presented her with the dress, she realized how emotionally invested she was becoming with Shane. It scared her. What if something happened to him? She would blame herself, always wondering if she'd blown it because she was becoming more focused on him instead of the job.
"Show time," she whispered to her image in the mirror.
She snatched up her purse and snapped it open to check her weapon inside. It was loaded and ready. She wouldn't let Shane down. He was her only concern tonight. Soon this assignment would be over, and she could get back to her normal life.
Shane waited for her at the bottom of the staircase. As she descended the steps, he moved forward, hardly limping, and watched her. The sight of him in his black tuxedo, so different from the day she'd met him, stole her breath. She had to force herself to breathe.
"You clean up nicely." A smile flirted with the corners of her mouth as if he were her date to the senior prom. She stopped on the first step.
His gray eyes lit like polished silver. "I could say the same for you, but it wouldn't be an adequate description." One of his hands cupped her face.
Standing on the bottom step, still having to look up slightly into his gaze, she needed to end the warm touch of his palm against her cheek, but she felt paralyzed by the mesmerizing expression in those gray depths. For a few seconds while he bent his head toward hers, she forgot she was his bodyguard. He made her feel special, as though she were the only woman in his life. The anticipation of his lips brushing against hers spurred her heartbeat. She swayed toward him.
Chapter Seven
Deadly Hunt Page 7