Guarding Jess

by Shannon Curtis

  Noah nodded. Well, if it quacked like a duck…he noticed she’d neatly sidestepped the subject of her own social life.

  “Anyway, I don’t know what I’ve done to attract this person’s attention. I don’t understand why this is happening to me.” She stared down at the hands clasped primly in her lap.

  He could hear her need to control her world in her words, in her tone, in the frustrated breath she sighed.

  “You probably didn’t do anything but smile at the guy as you walked past.” He wondered at his instinctive reaction to try and make her feel better about her situation. He’d handled a few celebrity stalkings in the past. He understood her need to find a reason, an explanation for what was happening. Most of the time, though, this kind of case defied logic.

  He checked the mirror again. The car had followed them from Jessica’s Pacific Heights neighborhood all the way into the business district. Any other day, he wouldn’t question it, but the constant nature of the travel, always two cars behind, and following the extra turns Noah had thrown in for good measure, had him thinking the very person they were trying to find was right there behind them.

  He pulled the car over to the curb.

  “I’m sorry,” Jessica said, eyeing the street. “I realize you’re just doing your job. I’m finding it hard to adjust to having a bodyguard. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  Noah glanced at her dryly. She thought he’d stopped because she’d upset him? Oh, this woman had a lot to learn. He didn’t care enough to get upset. She was the target. His duty was to protect. He didn’t get involved. Not on the job, and especially not with society belles. He’d read her file. She was niece to Jacqueline Pennington, the home-furnishing queen worth millions. Undoubtedly born with a silver spoon in her mouth. He’d prefer to do another tour of duty in Afghanistan than make himself emotionally vulnerable to a woman like Jessica Pennington. Upset? Never.

  “Stay here.” He checked the side mirror. The sedan had pulled up a couple of car lengths behind them. He got out of the car and tugged his jacket into place. It was about time he and Jessica’s stalker had a quiet word. He took a couple of casual steps down the street toward the sedan.

  He noted the license plate and was memorizing it when he heard the motor rev.

  He squinted. The sun was glinting off the windscreen. He couldn’t see the driver.

  The car lurched forward, tires screaming. Noah stiffened as the car came straight for him. He turned and bolted for Jessica’s car. The other vehicle was almost upon him. He dived over the hood. Rubber burned as the wheels turned at the last minute to avoid a collision.

  Jessica’s blue eyes met his briefly through the windshield, before he whipped his head around to stare after the car quickly tearing off up the rise of the next hill, weaving through the traffic.

  “Oh, my God, are you all right?” Jessica cried as she opened her door.

  “Stay in the car.” He kept his gaze on the retreating car as he pulled his cell phone out of his inner coat pocket and hit Speed Dial.

  “He’s gone. Are you okay?” Her head rose above the roof.

  “Get back in the damn car,” he growled. He ignored the concern in her voice. The stalker had been right behind them, damn it. So close. Didn’t she realize the danger?

  “Noah. What’s up?” Drew Michaels, colleague and comrade, answered his call within the first two rings.

  “Drew. I need you to run a plate for me.” Noah gave him the details as he slid off the hood and opened the driver’s door.

  “Hey, Reese told me about the case you’re working on. Your target sure is easy on the eye.”

  Noah grunted as he slid in behind the wheel. His target was currently giving him a death glare. His gruff instruction must have upset her.

  “I hear she’s into teaching manners and stuff. She can correct me, anytime.”

  Noah rolled his eyes. Drew would flirt with anything in a skirt. He glanced at Jessica as he turned the key in the ignition. Drew was the charmer. He was the type of guy who would easily make the small talk that Jessica was undoubtedly used to from her men. The thought that she’d have more in common with Drew, would probably be more comfortable with his smooth-talking colleague than with him…he dismissed the thought.

  “Just get me the damn information.”

  “Woo-hoo. Somebody’s impatient. You know, your target could probably help you with your people skills.”

  “Drew,” Noah growled in warning.

  “Okay, okay. The car is registered to a rental agency. Hills Car Rentals.”

  “Find out who was driving it just now. He tried to run me over. I think it was our stalker.”

  “Okay. I’ll get back to you. If Ms. Pennington needs anything, just let me—”

  Noah disconnected the call.

  He checked the traffic and pulled the car out into the street. He just wanted to get his target through the day without her getting killed.

  * * *

  Jessica strode across the hotel lobby, innately conscious of the man by her side. She flicked another glance at him. He was talking on his cell phone to someone called Drew.

  “Why is it tricky? The company leased the vehicle. Who to?” He listened silently. “A fleet vehicle? For which company?” He sighed. “You’re kidding. What about Luke? Can’t he hack into the system? Oh, right. Well, find out. Fast.” His eyes flicked to Jessica, before he turned away. “Yes,” he ground out. He was silent a little longer. “Bite me.” He closed his cell phone with a snap. Jessica blinked. O-kay. Maybe they could work on his phone manner.

  She waited expectantly until he turned to face her. “No luck with the car?” she asked softly.

  He shook his head once. She waited. He didn’t add to it. “We couldn’t get the rental details?” she asked.

  “It’s a fleet vehicle.”

  She nodded. She’d heard that much. She tapped her fingers against her skirt. Noah apparently didn’t do small talk.

  “And…?” she prompted, rolling her hand to encourage him to talk.

  He sighed. “It’s leased to LyonHeart Communications.”

  “Ah.” She understood now. LyonHeart Communications was a subsidiary owned by her close friend’s brother, billionaire Jeff Lyon. LyonHeart owned a number of companies in town, including her publisher, as well as several newspapers, television and radio stations. A fleet vehicle could be from any one of a dozen different sites. She could understand the frustration at not having the driver’s information immediately at hand, but that didn’t explain Noah’s reaction during the phone call.

  “And who is Luke?” she wondered aloud.

  “Luke Fletcher is our electronics guy. He normally handles these enquiries, but he’s on his honeymoon.”

  “Oh.”

  Noah grimaced. “He also designed LyonHeart’s network security so that guys like us can’t just hack into the network.”

  “Oh, he’s that good, is he?” Jessica had gone to boarding school with Eleanor Lyon, and had known Jeff Lyon for nearly as long. Jeff surrounded himself with only the best of the best.

  Noah nodded. “Yeah, and he and his bride are on strict no call orders.”

  She wondered briefly what had caused him to disconnect the call so abruptly, but let it go. She was happy with the information she was able to drag from him. Things were happening. Slowly, but surely. They now knew more today than she had yesterday. In only a couple of hours Noah had managed to find a trail, a clue to her stalker’s identity. Once they discovered who had driven the car that had nearly run Noah down, they could identify her stalker. She already felt a lot safer with him on her case.

  His expression was serious as he scanned the hotel interior. She saw his eyes focus on the black surveillance bubbles in the ceiling, before turning his head to survey the exits, his hair brushing the colla
r of his leather jacket.

  Her lips firmed. He hadn’t changed. He still wore the same outfit from this morning. The one that made him look like a dangerous thug. A really sexy dangerous thug, she had to admit. “We’ll schedule a shopping trip for this afternoon,” she informed him.

  His gaze slid to her. “Why?”

  Hmm, how to put this delicately? “I have to attend some events over the next few days. We may need to add to your wardrobe.”

  He shook his head. “Nah, I’m good.”

  She pressed her lips together. “I’m sure you are.”

  She fought the hot tide washing over her cheeks as his lips quirked up at the corners. She was referring to his professional ability, darn it. She didn’t want to think what else he was potentially good at. “I still think we need to go shopping.”

  They walked into the bar and paused, searching the interior for Oliveria. He drew the eye of every woman, and nearly every man, in the venue. The former wanted him, while the latter probably wanted to avoid him, Jessica thought. She didn’t even try to delude herself into thinking they were looking at her, the minor celebrity. Noah’s mere presence commanded attention.

  Noah turned to her slightly. “Why?”

  She smiled tightly. She thought he’d accepted her comments. Apparently not. “Noah, in my business, image is everything. I have several speaking engagements lined up to promote my book, as well as client meetings and training sessions.”

  “And I’ll be by your side at every single one of them,” he growled.

  She took a deep breath and relaxed her suddenly tight grip on her handbag. Tranquility. Ooze tranquility. His words were supposed to be reassuring, not worrisome. She would have another person shadowing her every move, not just the stalker.

  “My point is that your presence is noticeable,” she said softly.

  The muscles in his jaw tightened.

  “I think I’ll be able to conduct myself appropriately,” he ground out.

  Oh, lordy, he was getting the wrong impression. “My clients come to me for help. Some want to improve the image they present, others are concerned with building good business relationships,” she hurried to explain. “In all cases, their association with the Pennington Business Academy, and with me, is conducted with a certain level of discretion. Nobody wants their boss, or colleague, or perhaps even a competitor, to know they are seeking to improve their image and behavior.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “I don’t care who your clients are. My ‘services’ are strictly confidential. I won’t be running off to the tabloids to blab about who can’t use the right fork. My job is to protect you. You might have to dress to impress, but I don’t. I’ll be doing the same job whether I’m wearing a three-piece suit or if I happen to be buck naked.”

  Jessica’s jaw dropped, both at his response and the image his words conjured up in her mind. Him. Butt naked. All muscles and—

  Oliveria approached them. “Hey, guys,” she said in greeting. She quickly turned to Jessica. “Amelia Winthrop is waiting for you up in the lounge. That’s where they’re having the luncheon.”

  Jessica nodded. Naked. Amelia? The president of San Francisco Business Women’s Network? Picturing the portly woman in the nude had her snapping out of her daze.

  “Oh, of course.” She shook her head briefly. Focus. Ooze tranquility. Forget buck naked. “Let’s go.”

  Oliveria took them to the restaurant that was booked out for this monthly meeting of the San Francisco Business Women’s Network. She tried to forget about the sexy thug at her side and smiled and nodded at some familiar faces as she passed. She stopped to greet one woman in particular who stood a little apart from the crowd.

  “Jane, how nice to see you here. How are you these days?” she asked the young blonde. Jane Boden smiled tentatively, before looking up at Noah. Her face reddened, and her jaw moved slightly before she found her voice again.

  “Fine, thank you, Miss Pennington.”

  Jessica smiled. Jane was a former student, and battled chronic shyness. “Call me Jessica. This is, uh—” Her mind went blank. How should she introduce Noah? She didn’t want everyone to know of her troubles. A position of weakness could harm her image. “This is Noah Samuels, my…” Oh, what to call him? “…my associate.” Yes, that would do. Professional, distant. Not sexy thug. Noah briefly cocked an eyebrow before nodding.

  She fought her blush. “Noah, this is Jane Boden.” She turned back to the woman and leaned forward slightly. “I hear you’re working for Monroe Finance now. Congratulations.”

  Jane blushed and glanced down at her taupe heels. “Well, I wouldn’t be there without you, Jessica.”

  Jessica shook her head and reached over to pat the young woman on the arm. “No, Jane, you got there all by yourself. You should be very proud. You’ve worked hard and now you’re reaping the rewards. Why don’t you swing by the academy some time, and we’ll catch up over a cup of tea?”

  Jane nodded, beaming as she straightened her shoulders. “I’d love that, thank you.” She smiled at Noah and then, as though pulling courage out of a little pocket deep inside, she stuck out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Samuels.”

  A surprised expression flitted across Noah’s features before he took the offered hand and shook it. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Boden,” he told her solemnly, before winking at her. Jane smiled broadly.

  He was charming. Jessica stared at Noah for a moment before she excused herself and stepped briskly away as two women standing nearby approached Jane. Jessica blinked. So far Noah had growled at her. He’d grunted at her. With Jane though he’d just been, well, polite. Smooth. Charming.

  “That was nice of you,” Noah said quietly as he kept pace with her.

  Jessica darted a look at him. “What do you mean?”

  “She was alone, and you stopped to talk to her. I’m just saying, that was nice.”

  Jessica discreetly looked back over her shoulder. One woman was staring after her and asking Jane a question. Jane smiled and responded.

  Jessica returned her gaze to the front and continued on her path across the atrium. “She’s doing fine. Part of my job is to make others feel comfortable and confident. She might be a little shy, but she’s sweet, and very smart. All she needs is an ice-breaker.”

  “You just gave it to her,” Noah observed. Jessica glanced at him for a moment, and then shook her head.

  “No, I just stopped to say hello to a friend.”

  * * *

  Noah eyed her briefly. He knew he’d annoyed her earlier. Well, tit for tat. She’d annoyed him. Her chin was lifted, her shoulders were straight, and a brilliant smile blazed across her face as she was greeted by one woman after another. She was “on.” He nodded briefly every time he was introduced, but it all began to sound blah-blah within moments. He surveyed the restaurant lounge. There were women everywhere, wearing suits of varying styles and colors. The gathering seemed ready to combust, as though all that synthetic fabric and pantyhose needed just a small flare to fire up the group. And apparently Jessica was the match. The women jockeyed for position to greet her.

  He could smell the hairspray. And the perfume. It was the sweetest-smelling shindig he’d ever visited. The tinkling of water over the fountain gave a deceptively relaxed air to the luncheon. And class. The women breathed it. He took a seat next to Jessica, and ignored the surprised looks from the other women at the table. Yes, he was a man in a sea of women, and blended in like a bull in a ballroom. Well, they could just get used to it.

  A woman stood at the podium, and started to talk. Noah didn’t bother to listen. He wasn’t here to participate in a damn tea party. He was there to protect Jessica. He wished he could pull out his cards and deal a game of solitaire, but that would take his attention away from the room. Crap. He might have to listen to this fluff, aft
er all. He was feeling a little disgruntled by her earlier comments. There was nothing wrong with what he wore. His clothes were a hell of a lot more comfortable than the outfit she now wore.

  She was dressed in a red suit with a silky cream confection ruffling up to her neck, and heels that made her legs look like they went on forever. Only he knew she was five-foot-six, so they couldn’t. False advertising. That’s what she was about. Pretending to be something she wasn’t. Well, Miss Prissy might dress to please everyone, but he dressed to please himself. Besides, what he wore had no bearing on his job.

  The job. He’d do well to remember this was just a job. He’d find the stalker, stop him, and then Reese would put him back on full active duty. His arm ached from tackling Jessica to the floor at the office, then rolling over her car, but it wasn’t enough to affect his performance. He had to focus on the job.

  Not Jessica’s legs.

  She had great legs.

  He silently surveyed the large room. He didn’t like this. He hadn’t had time to do much reconnaissance. He knew the general layout of the restaurant, and the hotel, but there were still too many variables for his liking. Some women stood near the entrance. Apparently all the seats were taken. They were blocking an exit. He shifted slightly in his seat. A waiter walked through a door, bearing a large tray of dishes. Noah made a note of the exit, and spent the next few minutes mentally working out alternative escape routes, if necessary.

  Jessica’s phone vibrated discreetly on the table. She surreptitiously lifted it from the surface to prevent more noise and glanced at the incoming message.

  Noah felt her stiffen next to him. He turned to her slowly. Her face paled as her hand rose to toy with that damn necklace. Her eyes flicked around the room before she switched the phone off and placed it in her handbag.

  Noah followed the movement of her hand at her throat. Her fingers played with a pearl before she realized he was watching her.

  Her gaze met his, and he read the anxiety there, before it was quickly masked. She smiled briefly, then jerked as her name was called out and the room erupted with applause.