Under His Command (Six-Alarm Sexy)
Page 20
“Probably.” Kaden took the armchair across from the couch.
Nic yawned and glanced at his watch. “You can’t stay though.”
“I can’t?”
“Isn’t tomorrow your girlfriend’s birthday?” Kaden’s relationship was already strained enough without adding a missed birthday to Beth’s list of grievances.
Kaden winced. “Shit.”
Seeing his bodyguard’s expression, Nic laughed. “Go. As soon as I’m done with the photo shoot, I’ll hop a plane back to L.A.”
Kaden narrowed his eyes. “No can do. This situation has gone way beyond some celebrity sightings and even a few stalkerish postings. This is serious. How the fuck can I do my job if I’m not here?”
It was bad enough having a babysitter at public events—he didn’t want or need one dogging his every step. “I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself. Besides, the stalker isn’t targeting me.”
“Just any woman near you. I’m staying. Beth will have to understand.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“Then we’re done.”
The words shook him. Life wasn’t perfect, but he had great friends. No way was the stalker going to dictate his actions or theirs. And nothing was going to happen to Vivian. He wouldn’t let it. “If I show fear, start acting like a victim, then she’s already won. I need to do this. On my own.”
“If the stalker comes after you or Vivian, what’s your plan to stop her?”
Nic tugged on his tie, loosening it. Did everyone think he was a weenie? “I can shoot just as well as you can.”
Kaden looked around, searching the hotel room with his eyes, before arching a sarcastic brow. “Yeah? Where’s your gun, hotshot?”
Nic’s gaze sharpened. Kaden knew exactly where his gun was—at home, locked in his safe. D.C. was one of the few places that had denied him a permit to carry. “The whole thing won’t take more than a couple hours. I’ll be home before dinner. Nothing’s going to happen to me, or anyone else.”
After finally convincing Kaden to return to L.A., Nic changed into his favorite jeans and a loose T-shirt, and grabbed a Coke from the mini-fridge. Popping open the can, he made himself comfortable on the couch and settled in for a long night of mind-numbing TV.
Anything to forget someone out there was watching him, following him. Obsessing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.
Kristine’s heroes and heroines are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms.
Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.
To learn more about Kristine and her stories, visit her website: www.kristinecayne.com
Contents
Title page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Deadly Obsession
CHAPTER 1
ABOUT THE AUTHOR