by Kara Lennox
“So what do you suggest?”
“Why don’t we just pay him a visit?”
“Didn’t you hear me earlier? You are done investigating. I want whoever hurt you to be confident he achieved his goal—scaring you away. Man, it just burns me that he’s such a chicken-shit he wouldn’t confront me.”
“It makes sense, trying to get to you through me. If he threatened you directly, knowing you, you’d just laugh.”
“Good point. But what does he think I’ll do now, give up?” He looked at her and softened his stance. “I mean, I won’t knowingly put you in danger again, that was stupid. But no one is safe until we find Eduardo.”
“I wonder about Angie,” Claudia mused. “She must know he’s alive. Someone had to tell her about the coins, and it wasn’t Mary-Francis.”
“Mary-Francis hasn’t exactly been a font of honesty.”
“I know. But she’s scared. Imagine being married to that ruthless bastard. She had to lie to protect herself, and now it’s a habit for her.”
“You’re an amazing woman, to see the good in her.” He wanted to kiss her again. Even in her current bruised and battered condition she was beautiful. She had an inner light shining through her eyes, her smile. But he had no right to kiss her. He’d blown her off earlier today, snubbed her attempts to know him better.
A doctor tapped on the door, then entered, smiling broadly. “How are you doing, Ms. Ellison?”
He should have called her Dr. Ellison, but Claudia didn’t correct him. “Feeling better.”
“I’ll write you a scrip for some pain medication, but other than that, you should be fine. Keep that wrist immobilized for a few weeks, and you’ll want to see a physical therapist so you can regain your full strength and range of motion.”
“I can go home?”
“No reason to keep you here.”
“I don’t need the pain meds,” she said. “It’s not that bad.”
“You might change your mind tomorrow.” He thrust the prescription at her, and she stuck it in her purse. “Do you want some help getting dressed?” He glanced uneasily at Billy.
“I can manage,” she said.
* * *
BILLY WAITED WITH JAMIE while Claudia put her clothes on. He’d offered to help, but that had gone over like a dud firecracker. Then they waited some more while Claudia completed the mountain of red tape. Since it was her left wrist that was injured, she could still sign papers.
“Claudia shouldn’t go home by herself,” Jamie said, watching Billy carefully.
Did she know? He was very good at hiding his true feelings, but where Claudia was concerned, his normal controls weren’t as firm as they should be. She’d given him quite a scare tonight.
“I agree,” he replied. “Whoever attacked her is still out there.”
“She’s welcome to stay with Daniel and me.”
Claudia would certainly be safe behind the walls of Daniel’s home. The billionaire had better security than the Pentagon—surveillance cameras, night watchmen, stone walls and iron gates.
But Billy would still worry about her. Unless he could see her with his own eyes, hear her breathing, he would feel uneasy.
Part of that was guilt. He’d taken unnecessary chances with Claudia. Although she viewed this case as hers, because she had brought it to the attention of Project Justice and pled for Mary-Francis’s life, he was point man. Claudia’s continued involvement had been his decision, and look what had happened.
With Claudia safely tucked away at Daniel’s estate, Billy would be free to go after whoever had hurt her, no holds barred. But how long would she stay put? Overnight, probably. And by morning, she would be champing at the bit to get back in the game. She wouldn’t let anything stop her from doing her bit to free Mary-Francis.
She had her own guilt to deal with.
“What do you think?” Jamie asked.
“What?” He’d lost track of the conversation.
“About Claudia staying with us.”
“I was thinking I’d take her home with me. Next to your house, my apartment is the safest in the city.” Because Daniel also owned Billy’s downtown building, and it featured not only a secure entry, but a twenty-four-hour doorman. All four of the doormen who shared that post had paramilitary training.
After a sniper had damn near taken out two Project Justice employees last year, Daniel had installed bulletproof glass in every street-facing window.
Jamie gave him a knowing look. “I thought you might say that. I ordered a car to pick me up, and it’s probably here by now. I’ll leave you two alone.”
“Ah, Jamie…it’s not what you think. Claudia and I aren’t, you know, together.”
“Maybe not, but when the two of you are in the same room, the sparks are so palpable I start worrying about nearby flammable liquids.”
Billy couldn’t deny that.
Jamie tried again. “If you need someone to talk to—”
“Nope. I’m good.” Why did women always feel the need to dig inside his brain? Wasn’t a man allowed to keep his thoughts private anymore?
“Okay.” Jamie didn’t seem to take offense at his curt response. “Let us know if you need anything.”
“Thanks. Really, Jamie, thanks for coming with me.”
“You’re welcome. Daniel would have come, you know, if you’d asked.”
“I know how much he hates hospitals.” Daniel had made great strides in overcoming a bad case of agoraphobia, but he still felt safest when behind the walls of his estate, and he didn’t venture out without a good reason.
By the time Claudia appeared in the waiting room, Billy was alone. She looked more fragile than usual, and when she flashed him a tentative smile, all he could think about was scooping her into his arms and taking her someplace far away from here, where no one would ever hurt her again.
“Thanks for waiting,” she said.
“Like I was going to leave you here? Would you have taken a taxi home?”
She shrugged, then winced. “I guess.”
Billy rolled his eyes. “I know you’re used to making your own way in the world and not depending on anyone but yourself, but for today, would you at least admit that you’re hurt and a little scared, and let me do my macho-caveman-protector thing?” He held out one arm, inviting her closer.
Tentatively, she stepped toward him so he could put a protective arm around her. “I am hurt. And I was scared, but now I’m mostly mad that someone got the drop on me. I’m normally more careful, more aware of my surroundings.”
“That makes two of us who are mad.” But not for the same reasons. He was furious that anyone would use Claudia to get to him. “Let’s go. I’m your wheels tonight.”
“You aren’t going to pull back the investigation because of this, are you?” Claudia asked as they walked to the parking lot. He kept his hand at her waist, ready to catch her if she faltered. But even in her heels, her gait was sure and steady.
“I don’t let bullies stop me from doing my job,” he said. “Project Justice has a policy about threats. We take them very, very seriously, and Daniel will do anything in his power to protect his people, including anyone working with us.”
“Meaning me.”
“Yeah. If you’d feel safer, you can stay at his estate. Nothing short of a Sherman tank assault could get to you there.”
She laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need that kind of protection. Eduardo, or whoever is behind the attack on me, made his point. I doubt anyone will try to hurt me again.”
Billy wasn’t so sure. “I’m not pulling back,” he said. “Because that’s the other part of our policy. We don’t let bullies tell us what to do. Since we aren’t following orders, whoever hurt you could make a stronger statement next time.”
“Hmm. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“Which is why you’re staying with me. Or, you can stay at Daniel’s. He offered. It’s your choice. But you’re not going home alone.”
She stiffened her spine at the ultimatum, as he’d known she would. Claudia didn’t like taking orders. But after a few moments to mull it over, she acquiesced. “I suppose if I insist on going home, Daniel will plant an armed guard at my door.”
“Wouldn’t be surprised.”
“And that would be a waste of resources. Okay, I’ll go home with you. For tonight. Tomorrow, we can reassess.”
“Fair enough.”
When they reached his truck, Claudia couldn’t use her left hand to grab on to haul herself into the high cab. Rather than watch her try to figure out how to manage the maneuver, Billy scooped her up and deposited her into the passenger seat.
“Now that’s service.”
Was it his imagination, or did she hold on to his arm a tad longer than necessary? He wouldn’t be human if he didn’t fantasize, at least a little, that he and Claudia could be together, but without all the touchy-feely soul-baring that she was after.
“You know what?” he said after climbing behind the wheel. “We make a good team.”
“You think so? What brought on that observation?”
“I mean, we work well together. We spark ideas off each other. We can spend time together without irritating each other.”
“Billy, we argue all the time.”
“But it’s the good kind of arguing. What I’m trying to say is, I like working with you. I like being with you.”
“I like being with you, too, Billy,” she said softly.
“So isn’t that enough?”
“I’m not following. Enough for what?”
“For us to be together,” he said flatly.
“What about the sex?”
He almost drove into a barricade. Claudia could certainly be direct when she put her mind to it. “What about it? It’s about as good as it gets. Kinda goes without saying.”
“So what you’re saying is…we work well together. We like being together, even when we argue. We’re great in the sack, if we can judge from one sexual experience.”
“Do you have to talk like a scientist all the time?”
“What you’re suggesting is that we be friends with benefits.”
He had to think about that one. Was that all he wanted from Claudia? To be buddies, with sex on the side? “Is that a horrible idea?”
He expected her to say yes. Without hesitation. It would have been easier if she had. What she said was, “Works for some people. So long as both parties know where to draw the line, it’s the sort of arrangement that can serve a purpose.”
“That’s Claudia the psychologist talking. What about for you, personally?”
“Are you actually proposing that we be sex buddies? Or is this a theoretical discussion?”
There was a sharpness to her tone that didn’t bode well. “I shouldn’t have even brought it up. The way you describe it…it’s not what I want. All I know is, I’m not happy with how we left things.”
“The way I remember, you’re the one who left.”
She had him there. “Whatever. I’m not happy.”
“I’m not, either.”
That was good, at least. He hoped.
They stopped at Walgreens to fill Claudia’s prescription and buy a few necessities she would need for the night. When they reached Billy’s apartment building downtown, he pulled in to the garage, protected by a passkey as well as a human guard who eyeballed Billy, then waved a greeting when he was recognized.
“This building really is secure,” Claudia said. “I’d heard about it, but I’ve never been inside before. How many Project Justice people live here?
“Raleigh and Griffin, Jillian…”
“Daniel’s assistant? I thought she lived on the estate.”
“She’s an intern at the foundation now. Daniel has a new assistant, Elena. Ford Hyatt used to live here.”
“I helped with one of his cases two years ago.”
“He moved out when he and his wife got married. She has a son, and they wanted a yard and a dog and a swing set.”
“Who else lives here, then?”
“Anyone who wants hypersecurity—celebrities, politicians. The chief of police lives here. Also—and don’t go telling anyone this—but the U.S. Marshals maintain a safe house here.”
“Witness protection?”
“Uh-huh. Short-term, high-profile stuff.”
“Well, I guess if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.”
* * *
BILLY’S APARTMENT WAS a research gold mine, as far as Claudia was concerned. She was achy and exhausted, but not too tired to inspect every inch of the place that was visible to her to try to learn as much as she could about him. Though he wasn’t comfortable enough to share certain elements of his past with her, the fact that he had opened his home to her indicated a certain amount of trust.
The roomy apartment wasn’t a typical messy bachelor pad. But neither was it a museum. The living room featured a couple of vintage brown leather sofas with a square pine coffee table between them. The larger of the sofas was situated for optimum viewing of the gigantic flat-screen TV. The floors were covered in off-white Berber carpet with a couple of Navajo-style throw rugs. A corner bookshelf overflowed with books stacked and wedged in every which way. This was not a bookshelf for show, but one well used.
That was a slight surprise. She hadn’t thought of Billy as the literary type.
The walls were painted a rich cream color with an adobe-style texture. And while the room didn’t look like a set from Bonanza, there was a definite Western feel to the place that went well with Billy’s boots.
“You’re a cowboy at heart,” she said with a smile.
“Huh? Oh, you mean the ‘decor.’” He made finger-quotes in the air. “Blame my mother and my two sisters. They follow me around wherever I go and decorate, because otherwise I just wouldn’t bother.”
Her heart warmed at the thought of having a family to care about where you lived. “Your family is from here?”
“They all live within five miles of here. Which can be a blessing and a curse. Originally I was glad that Dallas was the first department to accept my application. I thought I needed distance. But…” He shrugged. “I missed ’em.” He stood indecisively in the middle of the room, holding the bag from Walgreens. “Claudia, I’m going to be honest here. I don’t have a guest room—my extra bedroom is set up with a weight bench and some other junk I never use. I’m going to put you in my bedroom. And don’t worry, I have no intention of trying anything, not when you’re all scraped and bruised.”
“Oh. Um, thanks for not dancing around the issue.” She hesitated, her mouth working as she formulated her next words.
“So you’ll…sleep on the couch?”
“I think it would be better. You’re gonna be sore enough as it is. You can at least sleep in a proper bed with no one else trying to hog the covers. Why don’t you sit down? Relax, put your feet up, turn on the TV. I’m gonna change the sheets and get you fresh towels.”
“You don’t have to—”
But he didn’t stay to hear her objection. He proceeded down a hallway and disappeared into what was presumably the master suite.
Claudia decided to take Billy’s advice. She sat down on the surprisingly comfy sofa, grabbed the remote and hit the power button.
Billy had every channel available on the planet. At her house she had only basic cable—she seldom watched TV. But tonight seemed like a good time to find something mindless and put all disturbing and scary thoughts out of her mind, at least for a while.
She found a really stupid reality show where idiots were engaging in frightful and dangerous activities for cash, but she found it too scary. So was the replay of a Harry Potter movie.
She finally settled on a Brady Bunch rerun. The only thing scary about that show was the clothes.
After grabbing a fuzzy maroon throw from the back of the sofa and wrapping herself in it like a moth in a cocoon, she settled back and let her mind empty.
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When next she became aware, the news was on and she was no longer alone on the sofa. She was snuggled up against Billy’s chest like a contented cat. He had his arm around her and a paperback on his knee.
She stirred, and he stroked her arm. “You awake?”
“Mmm. Kind of.”
“Hope you don’t mind me sharing the sofa with you.”
Did she look like she minded? “Did they give me something for pain at the hospital? I honestly don’t remember.”
“I don’t know. You want a pain pill?”
“No, I’m okay.” She did hurt, but it wasn’t more than she could handle, and she hated the way pain medication made her feel, as if she was swimming through Karo syrup.
“You must be hungry. I got you a snack.”
As her eyes focused on the plate of fruit, a bag of tortilla chips and a tub of hummus, she realized she was famished. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and it was after midnight.
“Thanks, I’m starved.” She pulled away self-consciously from Billy, already missing the warmth of his body and the scent of his soap and freshly washed T-shirt. He’d showered and changed while she’d been snoozing.
After five minutes of concentrated noshing, Claudia’s hunger beast was tamed for the moment. “Sorry I fell asleep on you.”
“I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to do that. Your body needs rest to heal.”
Actually, she was a bit surprised she could so utterly relax in a strange place, with a man she knew but still didn’t know well, that she could fall asleep inside of five minutes. They must have given her something at the hospital.
“I should go to bed.”
“Okay. Your toothbrush is in the bathroom. I also put one of my T-shirts on the bed for you to sleep in, if you want. It should fit you like a nightshirt.”
Sleeping with Billy’s shirt next to her naked skin sounded appealing. But not half as delicious as Billy himself would be.
With some effort, she scraped that thought out of her brain. This wasn’t the time to be thinking sexy thoughts. She wouldn’t even be here if she hadn’t needed a safe haven.
Claudia stood and wobbled a little before finding her footing.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. Thanks again for everything.”