When he walked into the store he hadn’t expected what he saw. He could have done some research on her, maybe even found pictures, before he walked into her store, but he hadn’t. His first order of business had been to do a little more research on what had been going on that made her want security there. He figured he could do the rest of the research later—and he still would, just so he could see how secure she was with her identity on-line. He wanted to know just how much information was out there about her because it would help him do his job better.
When he started researching the robberies he had to play catch-up. He knew about the first robbery, but then he had gone out of town for the family visit from hell before the second and third robbery took place and he hadn’t paid much attention to local news when he returned home. Visiting his father had a way of sucking the life out of him piece by piece and when he came home he just didn’t feel the need for more depressing news. That last robbery had escalated into something more and he knew that the guy would probably continue to escalate. The high he got from each time would make him need to do it again and each time he would find that he needed to escalate his attack in order to feel that euphoria again.
The moment he walked into Snowflakes in the Desert and saw her standing behind the counter, her long brown hair with strategically placed blond highlights and a hint of a full body loosely set spiral curls he felt an instant physical attraction. Then she looked at him with those striking blue eyes contrasting against her smooth brown skin and the attraction spread from his northern head to the southern one. And when she smiled and said, “I’ll be right with you, sir,” in that silky sultry voice he imagined that voice calling out his name while he was locked deep inside that hot little body of hers. He nearly came on the spot. He had to resist the attraction because he was there on a mission and he couldn’t get distracted—but he already had. Mission or not, he wanted this woman and he was going to be sure to make his move. He was highly trained, and very efficient. He could do his job and provide security for her store while he pursued something more than a working relationship with her. He could, and he would, do it.
His first priority was upgrading her security. At first, he couldn’t believe that a woman who had brothers that were deep in the military and government sector would have such archaic equipment, but then he thought about what Valencia had told him about Alyssa’s stubborn and independent streak. He had started to wonder if her brothers had even stepped foot inside her store and home. She probably made sure all of her family visits required her to travel to them instead of the other way around. She seemed like the type who valued her privacy. She liked to keep things separate; he could tell that from all the privacy divider screens in her flat. Most people would have just left it open, yet she had closed off each section the best she could, separating each part from the other until she was satisfied with the end result. Everything looked nice, mostly neat except for the hurricane that had gone through her bathroom leaving her underwear behind. But even that had been organized. The few pieces that weren’t on hangers, but were tossed over the shower curtain rod had been neatly placed too. She had pieces hanging on hangers with clothespins keeping the panties and bras anchored in place while they dried. He had to resist the laugh that threatened to erupt from within him the moment she started jerking down her underwear. She was drawing his attention to it more than the items just hanging there.
If she thought he hadn’t noticed the moment he stepped into the bathroom she was mistaken. He would have to be blind not to notice. He was just sensible enough to know he shouldn’t mention it. He realized from her frantic response to him going into her bathroom that she was embarrassed by his seeing her underwear. He didn’t feel a need to mention it. That is he didn’t mention it until he realized she was going to go back to the store with her panties in her hand, and then he felt obligated to say something. It was one thing for him to get a glimpse at what she wore under her clothes, but a completely different thing for anybody passing by to see.
She was a private, independent person. He couldn’t find fault in either trait. He was the same way. His reasons for buying property in Arizona and building his home there instead of going back to New Mexico where his family was had a lot to do with his need to get away, to be his own man and live his life without having his father control his every action. Alyssa’s brothers weren’t anything like his father, he was sure of that, but he still could understand wanting to find her own way. What he couldn’t understand was why she had gone for aesthetic improvements first over security improvements. She had clearly painted, decorated, and put a new floor in the store. He had seen her upstairs too and he could tell she had put in some work up there, not just with paint, but with new appliances as well. Maybe the appliances had been a necessity. She had bought the store and then made her home above it; maybe the previous owner hadn’t used the upstairs as a living quarter. Judging from the small bathroom he was nearly sure of that. It had probably just been for storage, and maybe a break room area. There was an employee bathroom in the hall leading to the stairs for the upstairs flat, so he was sure whoever previously had possession of the store probably would have employees use that one during store hours. It wasn’t a bad setup from a business standpoint, but it was horrible from a security standpoint.
“Maybe she needed the kitchen equipment,” he shook his head as he gathered some of his supplies. “But she didn’t have to paint.” He thought security came first, and it should have. She didn’t have to put in a new tile floor when she opened her shop. She should have updated her camera, her locks, all of it, before she tried to make the place look pretty. Had he known her place was in the Dark Ages he would have loaded his truck before he left this morning.
He decided to change into something he could work in before heading back. A pair of dark blue jeans and a fitted white t-shirt that stretched across his body like a glove. He changed his dress shoes for his work boots and then did one last check to make sure he had everything he needed for today. This wasn’t a task he was going to accomplish in one day only. Updating her security was going to take some time, but at least he would be able to get a few things done today. The locks were priority, then the security camera after hours if she would be okay with that, if not he was going to have to do it during store hours and he didn’t like that idea at all. It was too open and too many people would be able to tell what the security updates would be. He really needed to do it after hours. After he got that situated he would work on getting those windows secure. She really needed something with a thicker pane and sturdy locks.
He had a lot of work to do if he wanted to get those locks changed before the close of business today. He could work on the cameras tomorrow if he had to, but he wouldn’t sleep well tonight if he left knowing she had the world’s most pick-able locks.
He punched in Valencia’s number as he climbed into his truck. When she answered he had three words for her. “It’s a go.” He was in and he wanted Valencia to know that so she could report back to whomever she was doing this for.
“So she hired your guy?”
“She hired me,” he said.
“I see,” she said evenly. He hoped he hadn’t made a mistake here. Had she really wanted him to get somebody else on this after all? “I trust you can handle her.”
“You mean her security?”
“That too,” she said. “Thomas has already warned me that she’s a spitfire when it comes to her independence. And from the woman I met at his wedding I’d say that was an understatement. Good luck.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I think.” He shook his head. “I’m updating her security today, and I’ll check in with you to let you know the progress as I go.”
“No need,” she said. “I trust you. If there’s a problem, call me. If I have a problem or need information I’ll call you. I’ll just let her brother know she’s in good hands and if anything comes up I’ll be in touch with you. You don’t need to give me a weekly progress report.”
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“Good thing,” he said because he really didn’t want to have to give weekly status reports. If things changed and something happened that he needed to report then he would let her know; otherwise, he’d save his dime on the call. He disconnected the call before starting the engine on his truck, cranking up the air condition and heading back to Scottsdale.
As he drove down the back roads, avoiding some of the Interstate congestion he couldn’t help but think of Alyssa. She had blushed when she entered the bathroom and she had quickly set about trying to take her hanging panties and bras down. He tried, boy did he try, but he couldn’t resist taking a sneak peak at some of the pieces still hanging. She hadn’t seen him, which was good because she probably would have been red as a tomato if she knew he was enjoying the view. Mostly he was thinking about her curves filling out those feminine undergarments. He wondered if she had on lace or cotton now. He had imagined her in something blue, a deep blue to offset her blue eyes, and lace, definitely lace. Of course, those thoughts led to thoughts of stripping whatever she was wearing off of her and exploring the body that had set his libido into overdrive with just one look. She was five feet and petite and he liked what he saw. He liked the images that flittered through his head, the ones that involved kissing those perfectly voluptuous lips of hers, holding on to that finely toned waist and getting inside of her. “Damn,” he mumbled. It had been a long time since he had that type of instant carnal attraction to a woman. He hadn’t gone without, but hell, in the past few years he hadn’t wanted any woman as much as he wanted her.
At first he thought the attraction was just some sexual need to conquer her body, but then he found himself offering products and services for practically free. He wouldn’t have done that for any other client. He would have sent them a bill, but for her he found himself giving her the best of his equipment for free. He wanted her safe. And the moment he realized he was going above and beyond what the job required, he realized his attraction wasn’t just about sex. There was something about her; something instant; something that sucked him in like an endless black hole. The gravity, the magnetic pull of Alyssa McGregor had him sucked in and he didn’t want to escape. Instead, he wanted to get closer, go deeper. She was a friggin’ goddess and she didn’t even know it. Maybe that’s what drew him in even more. She was beautiful, but she didn’t wield it like a sword. It was as if she didn’t even realize just how hot she was.
“You’re in trouble now,” he told himself. She had initially looked at him as if she was ready to flirt, but then he handed her the CV and her reaction changed. She would be opposed to dating an employee, but he wanted her in his life, in his bed—he wanted her. “You’re going to have to work for her,” he told himself. He was going to have to pull out all the charm and finesse that made him Shane Maxwell, because this beautiful vixen was not going to come willingly into his lair.
Alyssa saw Shane’s truck ease past her store and then make a quick left into the drive that led to the back of her lot. She shook her head. “Sexy man is back,” she smiled. It ought to be illegal for a man to look that good. Forget the looks; the sound of his voice was going to be her undoing. He had that bedroom voice that made her want to close up shop and take him upstairs. “Not going to happen, McGregor,” she told herself. Who cares if he walked with confidence, was sexy as the day is long and drove a big truck. She laughed at her last thought. The size of his truck was not an indicator of the size of his…no, she couldn’t think of that right now. “It’s been too long,” she mumbled. “You really have to start dating again.” She saw him round the corner just as a group of women walked past her store. Until they saw him come inside she was sure they were going to keep on going, but they did a one eighty and came right back.
She shook her head at their high pitched voices. She couldn’t understand why women thought getting loud would equal getting laid. Blond, brunette, red head, and probably not all natural, she thought. “May I help you ladies?” She decided to ask because if they weren’t in there to shop for jewelry she didn’t want them in their shopping for a man—especially not this man.
“We’re just looking,” the red head said as she looked at Shane’s behind.
Alyssa rolled her eyes. She, too, was impressed with the man in front of her. He had changed clothes and while she thought he looked good in a suit she was doubly impressed with the fitted jeans and the body showcasing t-shirt.
“I’m going to get started in the back,” he said before taking his leave. She felt herself watching him as he walked through the door leading to the hall and the backdoor.
The moment he was out of sight the three women who had invaded her store decided to leave—without buying anything on top of that. She wanted to close up shop and go watch him work, but she wouldn’t. Nothing good could come of lusting after a man she couldn’t have because she had just hired him and she was now his boss. There would be no dating employees—none at all, she told herself.
She kept herself busy by organizing some of the jewelry in the case so that she could make room for a few new pieces that she had upstairs. She had a couple customers come in and make purchases. This was actually one of her slower days of the week, Tuesdays; she hated Tuesdays because they seemed to drag on forever. Monday’s were busy, Friday’s were really busy, and Saturdays were off the charts busy. Wednesdays and Thursdays were normal paced, but Tuesdays were like sitting in a cemetery watching the dead—Tuesdays were just plain boring…well, maybe not this Tuesday because this Tuesday had brought Shane Maxwell to her store and that, whether she would be dating the man or not, was definitely a plus in this Tuesday’s favor.
She wasn’t expecting Craig to find his way back in her store today, so when the door swung open and he walked in she was shocked. “Twice in one day,” she said, surprise registering in her tone.
“I brought you coffee,” he said as he sat a twelve ounce cup of coffee on her counter. She hated coffee. She hated the smell of it too, but since he had been so nice she decided she would just accept the gift. She could either pass it on to Shane or dump it in the sink upstairs.
“Thank you,” she forced a smile. He was trying to be nice and helpful, but the smell of that coffee was really starting to make her ill. Jeeze, what did he put in that cup? She didn’t think she had ever smelled coffee that wreaked that badly.
“Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”
Oh no. This was not what she wanted to have happen. She had been avoiding this conversation since she met him. “Craig…”
“I’m a good guy,” he pointed to his badge. She smiled. She still didn’t want to date him.
“It’s just that I’m coming out of a bad relationship.”
“So maybe now’s the time to enter into a good one.”
“I don’t want to,” she admitted and she wasn’t lying there—not completely anyway. A part of her had thought about having a relationship, but in all honesty, she hadn’t thought about doing it until Shane walked into her store. “It’s just not the right time for me.” The words, “but we can still be friends,” were on the tip of her tongue, but she refrained from actually uttering them. They weren’t friends now. They had a passing acquaintance, one that he seemed to be trying to make into something more regular.
“Maybe you just really need to get back on the horse, so to speak.”
The man just couldn’t seem to take a hint. Okay, so maybe she should be more direct. “Craig. I’m not—”
“You have a minute…Oh, sorry I didn’t realize you were busy,” Shane said in a tone that told her he wasn’t happy about their current visitor—or more like, her current visitor. She got the feeling earlier that Shane didn’t like Craig, and right now she was sensing the feeling was mutual.
Petrof had come in earlier, right before Shane left to pick up the supplies he needed. Shane had given him a visual appraisal, but he didn’t stay inside the store long enough to be privy to the entire conversation. Petrof had told her, and a slowly passing Shane
Maxwell, that he was “just dropping off some bagels.”Shane just nodded and kept on going through the door. “Craig told me you’re updating your security and deciding to have protection. I think I need to do the same myself. What company did you use? They don’t have very friendly employees,” he had said as Shane closed the door to the hallway behind him.
“A friend’s,” she had said with a smile on her face before changing the focus of the conversation. She wasn’t thrilled that Craig had gone off telling everybody of her new security. It wasn’t that she didn’t want people to know she had somebody there; it was just that she didn’t need Craig going to all the shops and spreading her business. It wasn’t any of their business who she hired, or his for that matter. Yet he had told their local bistro owner prompting an information quest visit under the guise of a fellow Row business owner bringing bagels. Petrof was in her store, with his spiked blond hair and his deep-set onyx eyes shining bright that morning, and never once did Shane give the impression that he felt the need to stay in the store throughout the entire conversation. Petrof was a lady’s man, as in all the ladies flocked to him, but not necessarily vice versa. Shane didn’t seem half as worried about that man as he did Craig. She wondered if Shane was a little jealous over the attention Craig showed her. While Petrof was gorgeous and nice, he wasn’t flirty. There were a few rumors as to why Petrof did not get too friendly with the ladies. Rumors did not equate to truth but she didn’t feel a need to ask for verification to determine the validity, or lack thereof, of the rumors. It wasn’t any of her business really. Besides, she rather liked that he didn’t flirt with her because she never wanted him too. Craig, however, was definitely flirting—throwing on the charm so thick that it was starting to scare her.
Betrayal of the Dove (Men of Action) Page 4