by LENA DIAZ,
“Morning.” His sexy, deep baritone had her pulse racing much faster than she could blame on the fright that he’d just given her.
“Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said. “I was admiring the paintings on the back wall. The name’s Jace Atwell, in case you forgot. I’m here like you asked, to discuss a possible job.”
“I remember your name.” She relaxed her fists, feeling foolish for overreacting. But, really, what was it with people sneaking up on her lately? “Give me a minute.”
She grabbed her ruined shoes and padded across the carpet to the closet door beside the private bathroom to exchange them for another pair. Others might consider such luxuries an unnecessary extravagance. But at least she had clean clothes on hand for when her workload required all-nighters at the office. Or like this morning, when she broke a heel.
She joined him in front of the desk, standing back so she could meet his eyes without craning her neck at an uncomfortable angle. Yesterday, she’d noticed he was handsome. But she’d been so focused on the wreck, and the gunman, and trying to figure out why her father seemed suspicious of him that she hadn’t allowed herself to take in all the details. Like the oh-so-masculine dark shadow on his jaw that even his fresh shave couldn’t hide. And the way his tailored charcoal-gray suit, with a tie this time, hugged his broad shoulders.
He was certainly appealing. And his muscular build gave credence to his claim to be a bodyguard, and before that, a Navy SEAL. But she wasn’t taking anything at face value. Not until she got some answers. Like why he’d been in her office when she wasn’t.
In spite of his smile, there was obvious tension in the tiny lines crinkling at the corners of his eyes. He looked tired, drawn, as if he’d gotten very little sleep or was worried about something.
Like being caught snooping?
A quick look around confirmed that nothing seemed out of place. And she’d taken home anything confidential that she didn’t want her father or his assistants to see, as she did every night, thus the ridiculously cumbersome, heavy book bag that had just gasped its last breath.
“Miss Cardenas?” He arched a brow in question, his smile fading.
“Melissa,” she absently corrected him, before snagging the coffee cup and taking a much-needed shot of caffeine. Heck, with what she was planning this morning, maybe she should have laced her coffee with whiskey. She was already near her limit of what she could handle and now she had to deal with one more thing. Or, more accurately, one more person.
A look of concern entered his intriguing gray eyes. “Melissa? Are you okay?”
She realized he was holding his hand out toward her, and she hadn’t taken it. She set the coffee down and shook his hand. The solid strength of those warm fingers wrapped around hers had her feeling uneasy. Jace Atwell would make an intimidating adversary. But his strength could also make him a useful ally. The trick was to figure out which category he fell into or whether she’d completely misjudged that incident on the road. Maybe Jace really was an innocent passerby who’d stopped to help her when she was in need and wasn’t mixed up in whatever her father was mixed up in.
Bodyguard? Navy SEAL? With a gun in his car. Who happened by just when she had a crazy gunman after her? All coincidences?
She frowned. Maybe. It could also be a coincidence that a gun-toting madman chose to go after her not long after she’d become suspicious and started investigating her father and his associates. Yeah, those could all be coincidences. But she wasn’t betting on it. Her instincts were screaming that the gunman and Jace were both involved, somehow, in whatever was going on at EXIT, and that Jace was one of the good guys. Or, at least, she hoped he was.
However, all that speculation was going to have to wait. The clock on the wall behind him was a glaring reminder that time was running out. Her father would be here in just a few minutes. If she wasn’t upstairs before him, then getting here early and suffering through a smelly cab, broken shoe, and broken book bag would all have been for nothing. She forced a smile. “Sorry. It’s been a bad morning, all around.”
“The sun’s not even up yet,” he teased, “and you’re already having a bad day?”
She frowned. Bad day? She wished all she was having was a bad day.
“If you want me to come back later—”
“Actually, I’m surprised to find you here so early, and in my office. Alone. Care to explain that?”
Her words came out sounding more accusing than she’d intended. But she didn’t back down or apologize. If he was hiding something, she wanted to know about it. She was sick to death of the lies and secrets that swirled around her every day, and even more resentful that she’d been forced to resort to lies and secrets as well. She had her father to thank for that.
The tension lines around his eyes deepened. “Your assistant, Jolene, suggested I wait in here instead of the reception area—something about the chairs out there having been chosen for looks while the ones in here were chosen for comfort. She just stepped out and said she’d be right back. Is that a problem? Should I have told her no and waited in the reception area?”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she blew out a breath of irritation. Jolene. Of course. Always smiling, trusting Jolene who would probably offer to cut off the handcuffs of a fleeing felon and compliment him on his black-and-white-striped suit. How Jolene had attained blue-haired-lady status without becoming at least a little jaded was one of the mysteries of the universe.
Jace’s jaw had tightened at her thinly veiled accusation, and that extra tension revealed a sexy dimple in his right cheek. Unbidden, memories of Thomas bombarded her. He’d had a dimple, too. She loved dimples. She also loved tall men, with narrow hips and broad shoulders. Men with deep, masculine voices that triggered all kinds of heating and softening inside her.
Men like Jace.
If he’d shown up in her life before the lying, married Thomas Hightower, before life and its many disappointments had destroyed her dreams of white knights and happy endings, she’d be flirting like a princess who’d just found her prince. But she already knew there was no such thing as a happy ending, at least not for her. And she had far more important things to worry about.
Like finding out the truth about whatever was going on at EXIT.
Jace gave her a curt nod and turned around, making her realize she’d been distracted once again while staring at him and hadn’t answered his question about Jolene putting him in her office. The man probably thought she was the rudest person ever. Her always-proper father would be appalled at her lack of manners and its poor reflection on the Cardenas name.
“Coming here was a mistake,” Jace called out over his shoulder as he headed toward the door. “You’re obviously preoccupied. And I’ve ticked you off.” He paused with his hand on the doorknob and looked back at her. “Let’s just call this what it is—a waste of time—and be done with it. I’m sure I can find a job elsewhere.”
“Jace, wait. Please.” She rushed across the carpet and put her hand on his forearm.
He gave her an irritated look. “I had a long, trying night with very little sleep. I have neither the patience nor the time for whatever you’ve got going on.”
“We have that in common.”
He frowned. “Which part?”
“All of it. Long night. Little sleep. No patience.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “You’re not catching me at my best. Not even close. I’ll get right down to business. I want to hire you. Not just as a way of thanking you but because you seem like an extremely capable man. I think you’d be an asset here. We can always use another tour guide. Your background’s excellent for that, for keeping our clients safe.”
He shook his head. “No thanks. Coddling eccentric, inexperienced tourists through dangerous terrain where they have no business being isn’t my thing. Instead of protecting them, I’d probably end up tossing them into a river just to shut them up.”
She laughed, genuinely amused. “I’m guessing that kind of attitude doesn’
t get you too many repeat clients in the bodyguard business.”
“The bodyguard business is about keeping people alive, not catering to silly whims that can get them killed.” His voice was tight and deadly serious.
“I see.” She smoothed one hand down her pencil skirt. “I take it you have an excellent track record then, in keeping those same clients alive?” Instead of his immediately saying yes, as she’d expected, his forearm stiffened beneath her hand. She dropped her hand and cleared her throat. “Is that a no then?”
His expression turned grim. “Every client who followed my instructions is alive today to talk about it.”
Her breath caught. “Are you saying that not all of your clients . . . followed your instructions?”
A muscle began to tic in the side of his jaw. “All but one did. And that, Miss Cardenas, isn’t something I’m going to discuss with you. Unless you want to hire me as a bodyguard, of course.”
His quip was obviously meant to be sarcastic, but it suddenly dawned on her that it might be the perfect solution to her dilemma.
Last night, during the long ride home in her father’s limo, he’d brought up their age-old argument about wanting her to hire protection, at least on the drive to and from work every day like he did. And she’d agreed to think about it. How could she not after what had happened? The only reason she hadn’t immediately capitulated was because she knew all of his bodyguards and didn’t like the idea of those particular men following her around. But Jace? He was completely different. Being easy on the eye was only part of it. He also was highly qualified to protect her. Assuming he was telling the truth about his background. And she certainly couldn’t hold his one bad case against him, not if the client put themselves in danger against their bodyguard’s advice.
“If you want to be a bodyguard,” she said, “I’m in the market for one.”
His brows lowered. “If that’s a joke because of what I just said—”
She put her hand on his arm again. His muscles jumped beneath her fingers, but she didn’t let go this time. She was too afraid he was ready to step out the door. “It’s no joke. After last night, my father is pressing me harder than ever to hire someone to protect me. But I have no desire to have any of the men who work for him sniffing after me. You, on the other hand, would be perfect.” Her face flushed hot as soon as the words left her mouth. “That, um, didn’t come out the way I intended.”
Amusement lit his eyes, and his muscles relaxed beneath her grip.
She cleared her throat. “What I meant to say was that I don’t have a lot of faith in the company he uses. A former SEAL is a big step up in the security department. At least, that’s my expectation. Will you consider it?”
He seemed to think about that for a moment, then nodded. “All right. As long as we can agree on terms.”
“Terms? As in salary? Benefits?”
“As in you do what I tell you to do or I fire you as a client. I won’t stand by while you do something foolish to put yourself in danger. And if you’re not willing to follow my orders, you’ll have to hire someone else.”
She laughed, but when he didn’t laugh, too, she sobered. “You’re serious? You expect me to follow your orders? Even though I’m the employer and you would be my employee?”
He gave her a crisp nod. “That’s the only way I’ll agree to be your bodyguard.”
The logical part of her brain told her that what he was saying made sense. But she was used to giving orders, not taking them. Could she take orders? She didn’t know. All she was sure of was that the idea rankled.
Later. She’d have to deal with the details later. The clock on the far wall kept ticking, and time was running out.
“I’m sure we can agree on the particulars. Consider yourself hired, pursuant to a successful criminal-background check and verification of your previous employment. I’ll need you to fill out forms in HR for that, and to get a security badge. I’ll have Jolene set up an appointment with HR this morning.”
“All right. Deal.”
They shook hands. Then she led him into the reception area to wait—comfortable chairs or not—while she gave Jolene instructions both about HR and about not allowing anyone in her office when she wasn’t there.
She checked her watch. Her father was probably already in his office next door. And in just a few minutes, he’d be heading to his next mysterious meeting on the top floor. A floor that was a construction zone and strictly off-limits for safety reasons while the contractor waited for the next round of permits to be approved. But that hadn’t stopped her father from going up there last week when he didn’t realize she was watching. And it hadn’t stopped her from running up the stairs to spy on him, either.
By the time she’d quietly worked her way through the maze of equipment and half-built offices to find him and hide behind a cubicle wall to listen in, the meeting was half-over. And she could only make out a few words exchanged between her father and the stranger he was speaking to. But she’d heard enough to know this next meeting, the one in a few minutes, was important. And that some man from out of state, Marsh, would be there, some kind of Councilman. She didn’t know what Council he was a part of, and what that might have to do with EXIT, but she was determined to find out.
After having to repeatedly reassure her assistant that she wasn’t actually angry about her letting Jace into her office, Melissa finally turned back to Jace. “You’re in good hands with Jolene. I’ll check on you later.”
He looked like he wanted to ask her something, but she couldn’t wait. She rushed into the hallway, past her father’s office, and headed for the stairs.
“MR. ATWELL?” JOLENE asked. “Do you want me to get you some coffee while I make your appointment? If you prefer, I can take you to the cafeteria on the first floor to wait. It should be open for breakfast by now.”
Jace tore his gaze from Melissa’s retreating figure. What was she up to? Why was she so nervous? And why had she raced toward the red door that was clearly a fire exit instead of taking the elevator?
“No, thank you,” he assured the elderly assistant. “No need to go to any trouble on my account.”
She smiled and waved to the chairs on the other side of the room as she picked up the phone. “Then have a seat. This won’t take long.”
He was about to give up his vantage point near the doorway when Cyprian Cardenas stepped out of the office one door down with one of his assistants—Sebastian. They headed down the hallway in the same direction that Melissa had gone but stopped at the elevator.
“Mr. Atwell? Is something wrong?” Jolene’s voice called out.
The two men stepped into the elevator, and the door closed behind them. Jace stretched and leaned against the door frame, aiming a lazy smile toward Jolene, who was holding her hand over the phone.
“Not at all. I just prefer to stand. I’ve been sitting all morning.”
She shrugged, then spoke into the phone.
He noted that the floor indicator above the elevator showed it had gone up, to the top floor instead of down. He’d gleaned enough during his surveillance to know that the upper floor was being completely renovated. And one of Mason’s contacts in City Hall had verified the work was on hold, awaiting permits. So why had Cyprian and Sebastian gone up there?
He glanced past the elevator to the stairwell entry. What are you up to, Melissa?
“HR can see you now.” Jolene rose from her chair, her cheery smile firmly in place. “I’ll take you down there.”
He held his hands up to stop her. “No need. I passed by the Human Resources Department when the security guard escorted me up here earlier. First floor, just past the lobby on the right. Thanks.” He hurried out of the office before she could tell him to wait.
When he reached the elevator, he hesitated. Stepping through those doors onto the top floor without knowing the layout or whether anyone could see him when the doors opened didn’t seem like a smart idea. Taking the stairs was a wiser choice. Was that
why Melissa had taken them? Had she gone up or down? He’d bet his last bullet she’d gone up and that she was spying on her father right now. It would explain why she’d been more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers earlier. And the only reason she’d spy on her own father was if she was suspicious about something. Otherwise, she’d have taken the elevator with Cyprian and Sebastian.
He hurried into the stairwell. When he didn’t see or hear anyone else, he quietly began making his way up to the next level.
He wasn’t sure what to expect once he found Melissa. Devlin and Mason had told him different theories about her. Mason believed she had to know by now what had really happened to her former boyfriend, Thomas Hightower, and her father’s role in his death. And since Melissa was still going to work every day and appeared to have a good relationship with her father, Mason was sure she’d gone over to the dark side and was just as corrupt as he was.
But Devlin thought the opposite, that she didn’t know anything about enforcers, government-sanctioned missions, or what had really happened to the Hightower family. She had a solid reputation in the community as law-abiding, honest, kind. She saw the world in black-and-white, not shades of gray—exactly the kind of person who made the Council nervous. While the Council was supposed to be a force of “good” and keep Cyprian from abusing his power, they were also tasked with keeping the government’s secrets from being exposed. If they suspected that Melissa knew their secrets, she’d be marked for execution.
Regardless of who her father was.
Jace didn’t know which theory he believed. But he was sure about one thing. If she fell into Devlin’s camp of thought, and she was caught spying on a meeting involving the secret side of EXIT, she was as good as dead.
The memory of Ramsey’s bruised-and-bloody body flashed through his mind. Austin had worked magic last night. He’d arranged the confidential medical help that Ramsey needed, so they could keep him out of the hospital and out of harm’s way. He was going to be okay. But it had been a close call for a while and a long night, especially since half of it had been spent on the phone arguing about the mission plan with both Mason and Devlin. All of them agreed the mysterious man who’d abducted Ramsey could be involved with EXIT, and the mission might be compromised. But Jace had told them that he’d invested too much time to quit now. He’d rather take the chance, keep his guard up, and see what happened.