by L. T. Marie
Footsteps nearby and the sound of a door unlatching in the hall caused Lee to jump. She reached for her gun. “Hey, look at me,” Jo said. “It’s okay. It’s probably only one of Tory’s guards. Relax and tell me what’s wrong.”
Jo had no idea what was causing the pain that was evident in Lee’s haunted eyes. She had just wanted to understand why soldiers did what they did to survive and trusted no one but each other. For whatever reason, she wanted Lee to trust her. Maybe it was because of their working relationship and all the time they would spend together. But on another level, she knew that Lee would be protecting her from harm, possibly putting her body at risk to save her life. The thought made her nauseous.
“Why all the questions, Ms. West?”
“I guess I really wanted to know if you’d seriously give your life for someone.”
Lee’s gaze hardened and her jaw tensed. The relaxed Lee had disappeared into the shadows, and in her place Jo was sure sat the soldier who’d laid it all on the line for country, honor, and duty. The transformation was fascinating and hot as hell. “Yes.”
The intensity on Lee’s face forced Jo to look down at her hands. She needed a change in topic before she turned into a pile of mush beneath that smoldering look. “So…uh…okay. Now that we got that straight. Is the letter the only reason you returned tonight?”
“The main one but I also had other concerns.”
“Such as?”
“Are you always this inquisitive?”
“Yep. But you’re more polite than my sister. She calls it being nosy.” They both laughed. “So, are you going to practice avoidance techniques on me for the rest of the evening or answer my question?”
Lee grinned. “What are my choices again?”
Jo liked Lee’s laugh. It was deep, throaty. She tried to imagine that voice when it became aroused. The thought made her insides tingle and her heart rate quicken. From what she’d observed of the former staff sergeant, Lee wasn’t one to hold mundane conversations. Her willingness to open up was obviously Lee’s way of lowering one barrier, if only temporarily, between them. “No choice. Spill.”
Lee’s smile faded and the serious expression returned. “I wanted to check and see if the property’s security system was working properly during the evening. The sensors were giving us problems earlier but seem to be working fine now. They tend to be a little temperamental. It’s all SOP but necessary.”
“SOP. There you go using that army gibberish again. Speak English, please.”
“I apologize. It stands for Standard Operating Procedure.”
“It’s also bullshit. But since you seem dead set on following this path, is there any way I can help?”
“Cooperation!” Lee said, raising an eyebrow. “Your sister would be shocked.”
“Smart-ass,” Jo said, playfully slapping Lee’s arm. “And, you wish. Now stop blowing smoke and tell me why you really came back tonight.”
“Honestly, the letter mainly, but I’m glad I did because your sister has just informed me of a few planned social engagements here at the house within the next few weeks. One small gathering is happening tomorrow,” Lee said, clearly aggravated with the last-minute notice. “I needed a list of attendees so Gary can run basic security checks.”
“Since when? Most of the people Tory invites to our home are friends or friends of the other band members. Tory’s never had a problem before.”
“True. But since you plan to attend, I’d like to know who’s going to be there.”
“And why do you need that information?”
“Simple. It’s important for me to know everyone you come into contact with. That way I can make sure they’re no threat to you.”
“Stop. Yourself. Right. There.” Jo’s tone turned frosty. “You can’t be serious?”
Lee looked at Jo like she didn’t understand the question. “I believe I told you I’m very serious when it comes to your protection. I need to know the people within your physical proximity in order to maintain your safety. I thought you understood my position.”
“Oh, I think I understand your position all right,” Jo said, shooting into a seated position with a grimace. “You understand this. My personal life is mine. Period. No argument. No discussion. You’re only here because I gave in to Tory’s wishes until I’m healed. The protector routine is cute, but in a private setting consider yourself off the clock. Are we clear?”
“Ms. West…”
“Enough. I’m suddenly very tired. Dismissed, soldier.”
Jo listened until she heard Lee’s motorcycle fade into the night before she shucked off the covers and went in search of Tory. She needed to take her irritation out on someone so she could get her mind off her attractive but annoying bodyguard. This arrangement wasn’t going to work. She needed out of Tory’s crazy life before the walls closed in permanently around her.
Chapter Seven
“Gary, there has to be something we can use.” Lee ran her hands through her hair in frustration. She’d been up since 0400, unable to sleep since Tory had shown her the letter. Making it to Gary’s small apartment before her shift started at seven, she’d asked if he could find out from one of his tech friends if the car the UNSUB had used in the accident had any traces of fingerprints or, for that matter, anything they could use to apprehend him. So far, zip.
“Nothing useful.” Gary sounded equally as frustrated.
“There has to be something.” She scanned the photos again, trying to commit every detail to memory. “How about tires?”
“From the reports, Goodyear All-Terrains. Standard tread.”
“That’s not what I asked.” She pointed to a stack of files on his desk. “We need to think beyond the box. Did the tech guys find anything in those treads?”
“Oh.” He searched through a folder and handed her another computer printout. “Says right here that techs found traces of adobe soil, Magnolia Virginiana and Baccharis Pitularis.”
“Do I look like the Encyclopedia Britannica?” Lee snapped, her temper reaching its boiling point. Jo’s life could depend on the tiniest detail and he was wasting precious time. “What the fuck does all that mean?”
“Sorry, sorry. And talk about not getting out much. Rude…”
“Gary!”
“Yeah…sorry…right.” He typed the names into his computer. “The plants are all native species to California. Magnolia Virginiana and Baccharis Pitularis are most commonly known as the laurel tree and the coyote bush.”
“Do we know what areas they grow in specifically?” Finally, a clue. If they could pinpoint a few areas where these plants thrived, they might get a handle on the UNSUB’s location.
“No clue. But I’ll ask around and get back to you,” he said, the excitement of the chase evident in his voice.
“Right. Keep me posted. Anything else?”
“Not really. I talked to Tory shortly before you got here. Seems Jo’s planning on having breakfast with a friend this morning. Besides that—”
“What?” Lee growled. “Alone?”
“I guess. But Tory said it’s not a big deal. It’s some friend from college…” He yelled after her but Lee was already out the door.
*
Jo tilted her head back, enjoying the feel of the sun’s rays warming her skin. The outdoor café was packed and noisy, the perfect environment to camouflage her upcoming conversation from Lee, who was sitting two tables away seemingly engrossed in The New York Times.
If Lee thought she was fooling Jo by pretending she was more interested in the business section of the paper than her, she was mistaken. She’d been angry when Lee refused to let her go out without a shadow, making Jo’s decision to see her friend even more urgent. But, at the moment, her focus wasn’t on her handsome bodyguard. She’d come to have breakfast with her friend Emily, whom she hadn’t seen in almost a year. After her conversation with Lee last night and her argument with Tory that morning, she couldn’t think of a better person to help her with her de
licate situation. Hearing someone call her name, she glanced up to find the tall, attractive brunette weaving her way through the outdoor tables. Emily had always had a bubbly personality, but today it was being outshone by the sparkling two-carat diamond on her left ring finger.
“Hey, babe, nice rock,” Jo said as Emily leaned forward to give her a hug.
“Thanks. My fiancé has excellent taste.” Emily released Jo, sitting opposite her. “You look great. How are you feeling?”
“Like strangling the next person who asks me how I’m feeling.”
“Not surprised.” Emily laughed. “Oh, my God, it’s been forever!” In her excitement, Emily gave her another tight hug, but the force of it caused Jo’s ribs to protest and a groan escaped her lips. “Oh, Jo. I’m so sorry. I forgot about your ribs.”
“It’s okay.”
“Really, Jo, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
“Yes, now that you’re not squeezing me to death.” She glanced at Lee out of the corner of her eye, saw her beginning to rise, and subtly waved her off.
“Who is she?” Emily asked, looking over her shoulder.
“Who are you talking about?”
“Oh, please. I’m talking about that hot butch over there who hasn’t taken her eyes off you since I sat down. The one that looks like she’s ready to eat you alive.”
Jo toyed with her napkin, refusing to meet Emily’s gaze.
“Oh, this is going to be good!”
“Actually, no, it’s not,” Jo said bitterly. “She’s my bodyguard.”
“Your bodyguard?” Emily said. “I don’t understand. Why do you need a bodyguard?”
“It’s complicated.” Jo motioned for the waiter. Suddenly a bloody Mary was in order.
“I see that. But that’s not an answer, Jo.”
“I know it’s not, but it’s one of the reasons I asked you here today.”
“You’re attracted to her.”
Jo gazed curiously at Emily, forgetting all about the napkin she’d twisted into a pretzel. “No, I’m not.”
“Why do you even try to lie to me?” Emily said, bending closer. “I know you better than your own sister. That woman is smokin’. In fact she’s so hot she makes me want to switch teams.”
A sudden and unexpected surge of jealousy coursed through Jo. It bothered her that anyone would show that type of interest in Lee. She wasn’t sure what prompted the “just what I thought” look from Emily. It could have been the slight tensing of her shoulders or the destruction of the napkin in her lap, or both.
“Ooh, this just keeps getting better. Talk!”
“Nothing to say.”
“Jo, you’ve been in an accident. Your sister is more famous than Princess Diana, and you currently have a bodyguard whose looks could melt the polar ice caps. Besides, you haven’t stopped torturing that poor napkin since I sat down. I know you have something to tell me and she has everything to do with it. Talk.”
Jo closed her eyes and started at the beginning. Once she began telling Emily the entire story she couldn’t stop. The relief of getting it all out was like a weight being lifted off her chest. “And that’s pretty much it.”
“Wait, I still don’t get it,” Emily asked. “Why aren’t the police involved?”
“Tory doesn’t want the authorities involved. She’s big on keeping our private lives private and thinks this guy is a nuisance who got lucky once. She’s increased everyone’s security and believes there won’t be any more trouble.”
“Huh.” Emily twirled the water around in her glass.
“Don’t ‘huh’ me. I hate it when you do that.” Jo grabbed Emily’s arm to get her to stop. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Emily chewed on her lower lip, the familiar habit suggesting Jo was in for a famous Emily lecture. “Look, I understand Tory feels guilty that this lunatic went after you, but why the bodyguard? Has he mentioned he plans to come after you again?”
“No, his interest is Tory. The new letter even said he’s still waiting for her. As far as the bodyguard goes, it makes Tory feel better. She says she doesn’t want to give him another chance to hurt me, just in case.”
“Sorry, but I’m going to say something that might make you angry.”
Jo shrugged. She already had enough people on her shit list, so what was one more? “Shoot.”
“When are you ever going to see that it’s always been about what Tory wants? What about you? You have needs! Tory can’t expect to keep you under twenty-four-hour surveillance for the rest of your life. Why don’t you go somewhere and get away from all this craziness?”
“My point exactly, which is why I needed to see you.” Jo glanced at Lee and lowered her voice.
“I’m not following.”
“Would you let me rent your beach house in Kauai? I know this is the busy season and all, but I’ll pay you double whatever anyone else is offering you.”
“Wait a sec. Of course you can use it, no matter what time of year it is, and you’re not paying me a damn thing. I can see why you feel the need to get away, but are you positive it wouldn’t be dangerous for you? I mean, I know I just said you can’t be under surveillance forever, but still.”
“I’ll be fine. Besides, I’m not the one in danger. This entire situation is driving me crazy. Tory wants me to wait until I’m fully healed, which, according to my doctor, could take months. My sanity can’t handle months of being under around-the-clock watch. I can’t even walk out my bedroom door without Lee or one of Tory’s goons following me. The other day, I was eating breakfast in the kitchen and one of Tory’s guards sat across the table just staring at me. Gave me the damn creeps.”
“Yuck.”
“Yeah, see?”
“Jo, I get it. But why the beach house? You have the money to go anywhere.”
“Privacy and familiarity.” She wouldn’t admit that even though she yearned for a normal life, the whole stalker situation still freaked her out a little. If Tory knew that, she’d have hired ten guards to surround Jo. “I know your housekeeper and your gardener because I’ve been there before. It’s safe, secluded, I’m comfortable there, and I know my way around the island. Plus, it’s less likely people will mistake me for Tory. When I’m healed, anyway.”
“Fair enough. And what about hot and dangerous over there,” she said, nodding over her shoulder at Lee. “Think she’ll let you get away without insisting on protection?”
Jo didn’t need to look at Lee to know what Emily was talking about. She sensed Lee watching her, that inscrutable gaze caressing her skin like a cool breeze on a warm summer’s day. She looked away and didn’t respond.
“You see what I see, don’t you?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Whatever! I’d have to imagine that breaking into Fort Knox would be easier than getting away from the likes of her.” She pretended to shiver and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
“She won’t have a choice. She’s hired help, and I can fire her. Period. So how soon will it be available?”
“I’ll check the calendar when I get home, but it should be free in about a month. Will that be good for you?”
A month more of this? Damn. “It’ll have to be.”
“And how do you think Tory will take the news?”
“She’ll hate it but she won’t have a choice.” Jo fought back the tears and the burning lump in her throat. “She just can’t accept that I need to move on. I’m tired of fighting with her. I love her more than she’ll ever know, but I need a chance at a life without her influence and she doesn’t understand that. Maybe after a little time apart, we can find a way to be close again.”
Emily sighed and sat back. “I understand, but with all this stalker talk, you will be careful, right?”
“I will. Promise.”
“Okay, then. I’ll see what I can do.”
*
Lee watched Jo lean forward to whisper into Emily Wallace’s ear. From what Gary could gather
at the last minute regarding the former college friend, Emily Wallace had graduated at the top of her class in Women’s Studies at UC Berkeley and was engaged to be married to the current head of the Astrophysics Department at Stanford University. Apparently she and Jo were nothing more than friends. Oddly, that left Lee with a sense of relief she didn’t want to analyze.
Whatever they had been talking about, it was making Jo nervous, evident by the way she constantly twirled a stray lock of hair around her fingers. Even though their conversation was none of her business, not knowing what was increasing the stress lines around Jo’s laser blue eyes was driving her crazy.
Lee radioed for their driver just as Emily rose to hug Jo good-bye. She waited for Jo by the exit, unable to hide her surprise when Jo suggested catching a matinee before heading home.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Lee said, concerned by Jo’s evident fatigue.
“What’s wrong, don’t like Hugh Jackman?”
“Who’s Hugh Jackman?” Lee asked curiously.
“Who’s Hugh Jackman? You know, Wolverine.”
“Not particularly. I’ve seen enough action in my life so I don’t need to watch it too. Besides, I haven’t seen a movie in years. Don’t like sitting that long unless I’m doing something productive.” Lee opened the car door for Jo, waiting as she scooted across the seat.
“But you sit or stand all the time and do nothing. I know, I see you. Out in the hallway or like today while we ate lunch.”
“And I see you,” Lee said, sliding in next to Jo, their thighs barely touching. “Which means I’m being very productive and doing my job.”
Jo trembled on the seat, her hand visibly shaking where it rested on her thigh. Lee attributed it to the fatigue Jo must be feeling after being out for the first time in nearly a month.