His To Keep

by Stephanie Julian

  “Nic.” Annie’s voice drew his gaze to the doorway, where she stood looking from him to papers in his hands. “You got another call, didn’t you?”

  He wanted to stuff the papers in his desk drawer, not let it infect her more than it already had.

  “Yeah.” He laid it on his desk. “Jimmy’s gonna–”

  “What did he say this time?”

  He shook his head automatically. “You don’t want know.”

  He knew the second the words were out of his mouth he’d screwed up.

  Her eyes narrowed, but he saw the hurt there before she submerged it under anger. She had her mouth open and was ready to blast him before he cut her off.

  “Sorry. Annie, I’m sorry. But it’s bad. I just didn’t want…” The hell with it. “No. You’re right. Come here.”

  He motioned for her to come around the desk.

  She didn’t come right away. She stared at him for a second, looking into his eyes, then she moved. When she stood by his side, Nic punched up the recording.

  He watched her flush then go pale, watched her swallow, her hand trembling as she looked between the brothers.

  “Well, that was…creepy.” She took a deep breath and visibly stiffened her spine. “So, what does this tell us about this guy?”

  If he hadn’t already been in love with her, he would have fallen hard right then. She was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman—strong, smart, beautiful and brave. He’d make damn sure nothing happened her.

  He stood, put his hands on her cheeks and drew her up on her toes. He didn’t say anything. Just looked into her eyes, watched hers dilate and darken. And then he kissed her with every bit of emotion he had inside, leaving her limp and breathless. Okay, leaving them both breathless.

  When he drew back, it was only far enough to look into her eyes. Only Jimmy’s low whistle brought Nic back to reality.

  “Is it me or did the temperature in here just go through the roof?”

  Annie blushed pale pink but shot Jimmy a haughty glance that made both brothers laugh.

  “Well, I’m glad you two are amused. But since we all have work to do, maybe we should get back to it.”

  She headed for the door then turned at the last moment to give Nic a smile before disappearing.

  Jimmy let out a low whistle. “Oh, you are in so much trouble, brother. You’re not gonna know which way is up.”

  Nic grinned. “Yeah, but it’s gonna be a hell of a ride.”

  *

  Nic spent the rest of the morning going through the list Jimmy had generated then spent lunch with Annie, a surprisingly low-key hour that helped ground him.

  After lunch, he wound up in Jimmy’s lab. None of the names or numbers kicked off any warning bells but there were at least fifty numbers that had no names attached or were obvious aliases.

  Those he separated onto another list to examine more closely.

  “God damn, this sucks, Jimmy. It’s getting us nowhere.”

  Nic pushed his chair away from the table and got up to pace. He thought better on his feet and, as big as the lab was, it was still a completely enclosed space. Below street-level, it had no windows, the walls were lead-lined five feet of concrete and there was only one way out.

  It was huge compared to the elevator he’d been trapped in during the earthquake in Mexico City, but with an irrationality that infuriated him, it didn’t matter to his brain. His brain wanted to panic, wanted him to run for the steps, to get upstairs and out on the street, out in the open.

  And since Nic refused to let that happen, he forced himself into the basement every once in a while to prove he still controlled his own responses.

  “He’s smart enough to disguise his voice but he hasn’t come at me or Annie at all.”

  “Maybe you need to start questioning some of your top suspects. See if anything jumps out at you.”

  “If I do that, I give the guy a heads up that I’m on to him. And I could interview twenty guys and still not know who it is. I don’t have Mom or Janey’s knack for reading people. I’m a soldier. Point me in the direction of the bad guy and I can take him down. But this…”

  Damn it. He didn’t have time for his insecurities to get in the way. Jimmy and Janey got most of the brains. He was the brawn. He’d made peace with that years ago. He was good at what he did but he needed to be better for Annie’s sake.

  “You’ve always been the bravest person I’ve ever known, Dominic. You never falter. You never give up. And I’ve never known you to fail.”

  Bullshit. He’d failed Nino.

  “And don’t give me that crap about failing Nino.”

  Damn Jimmy for knowing exactly what he was thinking.

  He looked into his brother’s eyes. Such an odd color, as if genetics had tried to blend their mother’s green eyes with their father’s blue and ended up with a swirled mix. Those eyes had always been able to read Nic’s every mood.

  “You’ll find this guy, Nic. I know you will. You won’t give up until you do.”

  He’d never admit it, but Jimmy’s confidence in him made him feel a hell of a lot better.

  Still … “Since when do you get to give out pep talks?”

  Jimmy’s smirk played over his lips. “Since you went and lost your head over a girl. At least I’m smart enough not to do that.”

  Right again. “I’ll give you that one.” Nic sighed. “Alright, smart ass, let’s get back to work.”

  Chapter Eleven

  By Friday, there’d been no more calls. It was almost as if whoever had been threatening Nic had decided to take the week off.

  Even so, Annie knew Nic didn’t let down his guard. He was never more than a floor away from her.

  And for the past five nights, she’d been more content than she’d been since she was a kid. Every night, she made love to the man she adored and woke to find him curled around her.

  When they weren’t at the office, Annie trained for the competition that started tonight in the ballroom at the Airport Sheraton. Nic’s parents were on their way home from a trip to Washington, D.C., as was Janey, who’d gone from Pittsburgh, where she’d wrapped a case of corporate espionage, to New York for a consultation with a computer firm.

  Annie knew the second Janey looked at her, Janey would know exactly what had happened since she’d been gone. And Annie didn’t know what she was going to tell her best friend.

  Yes, she and Nic were sleeping together, but it wasn’t like he’d asked her to marry him.

  Leaning against the doorjamb to the bathroom, she watched him shave.

  “Your parents and Janey come home today. Are you worried?”

  Turning away from the mirror, Nic shot Annie a look, his gaze wandering down her body, stopping to take in her pink lace underwear and matching bra.

  “Are you?” he countered.

  She shrugged and let her gaze trail down his gorgeous body, feeling the slight tug of fear that got her every time she saw the scar on his back. He’d nearly died in Afghanistan. She knew that, but she didn’t like looking at such a vivid reminder. “Not really. Janey’s always known I wanted you. Even when I said I didn’t. Your parents, well …” she smiled, “they’re a different story. It will be a little strange. But I won’t be embarrassed. I’d never be embarrassed to be with you.”

  He didn’t say anything, just continued to stare.

  “Anyway,” she continued, “we probably won’t see them until tonight at the competition. If you still insist on following me everywhere, I have a hair appointment this afternoon and then nails and I have to be at the hotel by four to get ready.”

  She got a kick out of his automatic grimace. Nic could handle people shooting at him, but a hair salon made him cringe.

  Innocently, she added, “I could ask Tracy to squeeze you in for a trim and a manicure while you’re waiting for me.”

  She wanted to laugh at the horror that flared in his eyes before he realized she was needling him. Then he resumed shaving.

&n
bsp; “Hey, if you want me to cut my hair, I’ve got my own barber.”

  “Which I know you won’t do because you don’t want to go every month to get it cut.” Besides, she’d murder the person who cut Nic’s hair. Of course, what would he think when she walked out of the hair salon this afternoon? She’d been planning this for months. She wasn’t going to back out now.

  She hated the little voice inside her head that kept repeating, But what will Nic say?

  “So, what time is this appointment?”

  “Noon. You don’t have to stay—”

  “Don’t even say it.” That blue gaze flashed her way again. “I know there hasn’t been another call all week but that just means he’s waiting for me to get sloppy. And until I know he’s out of commission, you don’t go anywhere without me.”

  She knew the look on his face well enough not to argue. “So, we’ll go into the office for a few hours and then,” she took a deep breath, “then I hope to get through the day without hyperventilating.”

  “Are you worried about tonight?”

  She shrugged.

  Splashing away excess shaving cream, Nic grabbed a towel and turned toward her, drying his face. “I’ve never seen anyone dance as beautifully as you do. But if you’re doing this to prove to someone other than yourself that you can, then don’t bother. You can only do it for yourself.

  She knew that, but… “What am I supposed to tell your parents and Janey when they ask what’s going on with us?”

  His expression showed nothing. “What do you want to tell them?”

  She wanted to tell everyone she loved him. She wanted to know if he loved her back. She still had so many unanswered questions but never found the right time to ask him for fear she wouldn’t get the answer she wanted.

  She wanted to know what happened after Nic caught the guy stalking them. Would they continue their current relationship or would they actually go back to dating? Would he take it further and—

  Shaking her head, she dropped his gaze. “I don’t want to lie.”

  “Me either. If you don’t mind telling them we’re in a relationship, then that’s what we’ll tell them.” He paused and waited until she returned his gaze. “And when this is all over, we’ll figure out what that means, exactly. Come on, Annie. Better get ready. Sounds like we’ve got a lot to do today.”

  *

  Nic stood inside the front door of the hotel, checking out the formally attired crowd.

  “Are Aunt Grace and Uncle Frank gonna be here soon?” Toni stood on his right, looking much older than her twelve years in small heels, a tiny bit of makeup and a midnight blue gown that bared her shoulders and covered her legs.

  Annie had sprung the fact that Toni was coming with them this morning. Turns out, Mags had called and asked if Toni could tag along, as she’d been driving Mags nuts about it since that day at the garage.

  He could have said no. Could’ve told Mags he didn’t want the kid anywhere near him for fear of getting her hurt, but he couldn’t do that either. He’d missed Toni and, truthfully, he didn’t think she was in any danger. Especially not tonight, at an event this large.

  “They should be here soon. Bored already?”

  In answer, Toni gave him a discreet shot in the side with her elbow.

  He and Toni exchanged a smile that made Nic so damn proud of her.

  His parents arrived then towing Jimmy, Janey and Mal. He put up a hand, catching their attention.

  “Hello, sweetheart.” His mom looked perfectly put together from her bright strawberry blond hair to her black evening gown to her shiny black pumps. Even in heels she didn’t reach his chin, so he leaned down for her kiss. “Did you enjoy the week without us?”

  He controlled the impulse to give himself away by glancing at Jimmy, who looked pretty damn good in a tux. “I don’t think I screwed up the office too bad while you were away.”

  Turning to shake his father’s hand, he looked closely, but Frank didn’t look any worse for wear in his custom-made tuxedo. Then again, his father had never looked sick, even right before open-heart surgery.

  “Didn’t expect to see you here tonight.” His dad looked into his eyes then glanced at Grace. “I didn’t know you bought him a ticket.”

  Grace’s brows raised. “I didn’t.” She turned to Toni. “Hello, beautiful, how have you been?”

  Grace could still get a hug and a kiss from Toni and so could Frank, apparently.

  Janey curled her arm around his waist and he drew her close with a squeeze, careful not to mess up her sequined dress. She’d always been his ally against their mom’s uncanny knack for reading their minds. “I can’t believe I don’t have a stack of files on my desk to be typed. Did you learn since I’ve been gone, Nic, or are you letting Annie handle that for you?”

  Okay, maybe his family was in cahoots. Or maybe Jimmy had ratted him out. He shot his brother a look but Jimmy just shrugged.

  Luckily, or maybe not so luckily, Annie’s mom chose that moment to arrive. On the arm of Colin’s partner, Sean.

  Nic felt the walls closing on him, and it wasn’t his claustrophobia kicking in.

  Luckily, after everyone said hello, they took their seats on the first level closest to the floor. Grace and Beatrice acted like old friends, including Toni in their conversation. Frank, Jimmy, Mal and Sean discussed the latest local scandal, leaving Janey to stare at him.

  “So, are you going to tell me what’s up or do I have to drag it out of you?”

  Intimidation had never worked well with his sister, but it didn’t hurt to try. He flicked a glance at her. “Nothing to tell, brat. How was your trip?”

  She paused. “Fine. You know Annie’s going to tell me whatever’s going on. So why don’t you just cut your losses and ’fess up now.”

  He felt a smile forming. “You know you’re as bad as Mom, right? Maybe it’s none of your business.”

  “That never stopped you before,” she teased. “Come on, Nic. You’re talking to me.”

  When she laid a hand on his sleeve, Nic had a flash of memory. Janey at six, tagging along with him and Jimmy in Florence. They’d just moved there and their parents had been too busy to take them sightseeing yet.

  They’d knocked off school and Jimmy had forged a note from their dad to excuse Janey. She’d overheard them planning their day and had blackmailed them into taking her along. She wouldn’t accept a straight bribe. And Nic hadn’t minded.

  They’d spent the day traipsing all over the city, checking out the Piazza Della Signoria and the gorgeous sculptures; the Gallery of the Academy and Michaelangelo’s David; and the Uffizi Gallery’s magnificent collection.

  It’d been the best day the three of them had spent together. But they lost track of time, and when they got home, Frank had been ready to enlist every American agent in the city to look for them. Nic was sure his parents were going to ground him for a month, but his mom took one look at Janey’s smile and the green pistachio gelati stains on her shirt and had cut off his father before he’d been able to speak.

  “Did you have a good time, Janey?” she’d asked.

  Janey had started to babble, repeating almost word for word what Nic had read to her from the guidebook he’d bought.

  And his mom had turned to him with a smile he’d never forget. She’d ruffled her fingers through his hair, which had been long even then, and told him to help Janey with her bath while she sent Jimmy up to do his missed schoolwork.

  Janey snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Hey, Nic, where’d you go?”

  Now he did smile. “You remember our day trip in Florence? You might not, you were only six—”

  “I had the best time that day.” Her tone held remembrance and pleasure. “Mostly because I was with my big brothers. But don’t try to change the subject. I know you, Dominic. Tell me what’s going on.”

  And why the hell shouldn’t he? He wasn’t ashamed of their relationship. “I’ve got a situation and I’m staying with Annie.”
r />   Janey blinked. “Say that again.”

  “I’m staying with Annie. For now.”

  It took Janey a little longer than usual to think of her next question, but he let her formulate, knowing she’d never let him off the hook easily.

  “What’s the situation?”

  Okay, not what he’d expected first, but he could deal with it. “I got some threatening calls. They all mention Annie.”

  Janey glanced at their parents, still involved in their various discussions, paying no attention to them. “Has the contact been only through calls or did something else happen?”

  “So far just calls but none for the past week. I don’t have anything to go on. Jimmy’s been trying to trace the calls but he’s getting nowhere.”

  She huffed. “And why haven’t you asked me to do that? You know I’m much better than Jimmy at that stuff.”

  “I didn’t want to worry you. Or involve you in any way. I don’t want to give this nutjob any more ideas.”

  Janey’s expression shifted. “Alright, I can see your point. But you will give me the information tonight so Mal and I can help.” Under her breath, he heard her say, “I can’t believe you thought Jimmy would be more help than me.”

  Suddenly the lights dimmed and a voice welcomed everyone to the competition.

  Nic lowered his voice to a whisper. “Of course he’s not, brat.”

  Shrugging, she pinched his arm. “And you’re going to tell me exactly what’s going on with you and Annie, too.”

  He didn’t answer that one because he still wasn’t sure what he would tell her.

  Instead, he turned his attention to the floor, where the dancers were now gathering. There had to be more than thirty couples crammed onto the floor, outfitted in sparkling sequins and bright, revealing costumes for the women, while the men wore black pants and shirts that matched their partner’s dresses.

  He looked for the bright flash of Annie’s long hair, frowning when he didn’t see it. This time, he sought out Colin and found him. And realized why he hadn’t seen Annie.