He gave her a quick kiss. “I’m sure it’s nothing,” he lied, suspecting otherwise. As he made his way downstairs, his heart pounded. When he’d looked out her bedroom window, he saw the cop car parked in her driveway, and the shadow of a burly male figure filling her doorway. With the hacker never far from his mind, he hoped to God this wasn’t another attempt to torment her.
When a fist beat against her screen door, Peanut went on a barking rampage.
“Coming,” Trey announced. He swiped Peanut up with one hand, unlocked her deadbolt and opened the interior door. The police officer’s stone-faced expression changed to one of surprise and then amusement, which Trey assumed was due to his rumpled state and the tiny dog in his grasp. Trey ran a hand through his sweat-slicked hair. “Can I help you?”
The officer coughed into his fist. “Sorry to interrupt—er, bother you. I received an alert from the security system at this address. It’s policy if the owner doesn’t answer the phone, we send someone by to assess the situation.”
“Must be a mistake. Everything’s fine.”
“Do you live here?”
“No, but the lady of the house is…indisposed.”
The officer glanced into the foyer. “I need verbal confirmation from her.”
“Sure.” Trey called over his shoulder, “Devon, honey, can you come down for a minute?”
He heard her light footsteps dash across the bedroom floor and through the upstairs hall. She ventured downstairs wearing his dress shirt, which she held closed over her breasts.
Testosterone still raging in his veins, his body amped up on sex hormones, he hardened at the sight of her in his shirt. She looked small and fragile swamped by the fabric.
A territorial surge heated his blood. He didn’t like the cop seeing an eyeful of her wearing next to nothing. “This officer needs to know everything’s all right here.”
Eyes wide and wary, she swallowed. “Fine. No problems here. What was the alert, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“We don’t receive those details, ma’am.” The radio at the officer’s hip crackled and a dispatcher questioned if he was at the residence. He unclipped the radio and held it to his mouth. “False alarm.”
“Can you hang on a minute?” she asked him. After the officer agreed, she went to the security panel attached to the wall near her door. “Huh. That’s strange.”
“What?” Trey went to her side. Peanut’s miniature growl made the dog’s ribs vibrate against his palm.
“You saw me disarm my system when we got here…” She checked the small clock perched on the narrow table beside the door. “Forty-five minutes ago.”
Trey nodded.
“All three lights are flashing, red, yellow and green. That’s not supposed to happen, at least I’ve never seen it before.”
“You’ll have to call the security company for details, ma’am,” the officer said. “I just answer the calls when they come in.”
“Sure, I understand. Thank you for responding.”
“Glad to see everything’s okay.” He touched the brim of his hat, turned and headed to his car.
She rubbed her temples. “I hate to call Logan yet again.”
He couldn’t stand seeing her beautiful face lined with stress and anxiety. And while he wanted Logan and his team here ASAP, based on Devon’s reaction the last time the hacker made his viral attack, he also didn’t want her to go through that again.
“At least try the call center,” he suggested.
After holding for ten minutes, during which time Trey returned upstairs and dressed in everything except his shirt and shoes, she finally reached a customer service rep. She put her cell phone on speaker so Trey could hear the woman’s reply. “Looks like the alarm was triggered from a remote location.”
Her cheeks turned pale, her eyes churning with panic. “What?”
“That’s impossible,” Trey said. Agitation crawled across his skin. “We disarmed it from inside the house.”
“I’m not sure what to tell you.” The woman sounded apologetic. “I can request an inquiry, but it could take up to forty-eight hours to perform a thorough investigation.”
He clenched his jaw. “This can’t wait.”
“I’ll do my best to expedite your request.”
“Do that,” he barked.
The sound of typing echoed from her phone. “The order will take a few minutes to process. I can send you a text message on your cell phone to let you know when the request goes through.”
“Please.” Devon’s tone contained the same defeat as her eyes. Wanting to ease some of her tension, he rubbed small circles against her back.
“We’ll be in touch with you shortly.”
Devon ended the call and scrubbed her hands over her arms. “It’s him. It has to be, that’s the only explanation. But how did he gain access to my security system, and why would he trigger it remotely?”
Because he still has eyes on you somewhere, and he knows I’m here. “No way to tell for sure until they do their investigation.” He kissed her forehead. “Get dressed and throw some things in a suitcase. I’m taking you out of here.”
“But this is my home.” Her voice sounded faint and watery as she leaned her cheek against his chest. He ran a hand over her hair. “I’m supposed to be safe here.”
“You’ll be safe. I promise you.” He set Peanut on the floor. “C’mon, I’ll help you pack.”
As she rummaged through drawers in her bedroom and bathroom, she moved slowly as if the smallest motion caused her pain. “I’m not staying with you.” Her words fell heavy on the silence. “I can’t. I’m just…not there yet.”
“That’s fine, sweetheart. But I’m going to make sure you’re taken care of.”
When her gaze lifted to his, her look of vulnerable uncertainty pierced his chest. He cared about her and hated what the hacker was doing to her, how she was shaking though trying to hide it. “Thank you,” she whispered.
She relinquished his shirt back to him and he threw it on without bothering with every single button. He took her suitcase then waited patiently while she secured Peanut in a travel cage and reset her alarm.
She sighed. “I hope this actually works.”
“I’m sure it will.” He had no idea, but she seemed to need his reassurance.
Placing her suitcase in his trunk next to his blueprints, he held the door open for her as she climbed in and set Peanut’s cage on her lap. Moonlight surrounded her in an ethereal glow. She was so damn beautiful.
He wanted to take her to a place he knew she’d be safe, which included someone on his payroll. He drove toward downtown and rested his hand over hers, her fingers cold and small in his grasp. A few minutes later, she clenched his fingers as though holding on to him for dear life. She was scared, and he hated that some faceless menace had tormented her into this place of fear and distrust.
Trey wanted to choke the life out of the guy with his bare hands. He wasn’t the violent type, preferring to solve disputes with reason and rational discussion. But the notorious Soren aggression kicked into high gear and he wanted to pummel something.
Instead, he gripped the steering wheel and let her squeeze his hand until his fingers went numb.
Eventually, he had to take away her anchor so he could downshift when they hit city limits. Within minutes he veered into the parking lot of Hotel Monico. Before he exited the car, he reached into his glove compartment, retrieving a gun within a leather holster, tucking it into the back of his pants. He didn’t look at Devon’s reaction or wait for her to protest against the added precaution.
They entered the lobby, where colorful art deco furnishings met classic contemporary design. Before they reached the counter, he walked up to the security guard on duty, a man who worked for Soren Security Bodyguards. “Hey, Will.” He held out his hand. “Trey Soren, from Soren Security.”
Will’s eyes widened and he nodded respectfully as he shook Trey’s hand. “Mr. Soren. I didn’t recognize you out of the office.
”
“No problem. I want you to meet Devon Leigh, our company’s IT director.”
He swept Devon with an appreciative glance. “It’s a pleasure.”
She offered him a faint smile.
“I need you to make sure she’s safe and well taken care of during her stay here.” Trey rested his hand on Devon’s lower back, a subtle cue that the request was personal. “If anyone asks for her at the front desk, I want you to confirm their identity and credentials. Have the staff call up to her room and verify she knows them.”
He nodded gravely. “Yes, sir.”
“Thanks, Will.” Trey returned the nod and led Devon to the counter.
They checked her in, but the woman with bouncy red curls, whose nameplate read Clare, sent a questioning look at the cage Devon carried. Trey paid using his credit card. After setting the room keys on the counter, Clare pressed her hand to the collar of her staff uniform. “I’m sorry, we don’t allow pets.”
“I’ll take him with me when I leave,” Trey assured.
Clare appeared uneasy about the arrangement, but she took one look at the dog and smiled. “As long as he’s here for a short time, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Devon stayed unusually quiet as they took the elevator up to the top floor and he led her to her room for the night, or however long she needed to stay here.
When they walked in, the room smelled like lemon oil and luxury cotton. Brightly striped curtains separated the main sitting area and kitchenette from the bedroom. The plush furniture and classy décor gave a homey impression. He hoped Devon would feel comfortable here, safe.
Removing Peanut from his cage, she set him on the bed. He curled into a tight white ball and went back to sleep. Fortunately, the dog was only yippy and hyper in the confines of its own house and not in public.
“What’s the gun for?” she finally asked. Her voice sounded thready and tired.
“Your peace of mind.” He removed it from the waist of his pants and, keeping it in its holster, set it on the coffee table. “I have a concealed carry permit.”
“Old bounty hunter habits die hard?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Never hurts to be packing heat in case you need it. I assume with your military background you know how to use a gun.”
Releasing a sigh, she nodded.
“Hand me your phone.” She sent him a questioning glance but complied. “I’m punching in Cade’s number. He lives in a penthouse a few blocks from here. He can be on your doorstep in two minutes.”
She hugged her waist. “Thanks for going to all this trouble.”
“No trouble.” His chest ached with a surge of protectiveness as he stared at her slender form and troubled eyes. “What I do isn’t just my job, it’s who I am. And I need to know you’re safe.”
Staring at the gun on the coffee table, she shivered and nodded again.
“You’ll be all right tonight?”
She shrugged. “Why don’t you and your gun stay with me?”
He paused and studied her. “I thought you didn’t want that.”
“I’d like you to stay with me. I just didn’t want to stay with you.” She exhaled. “It’s…complicated.”
He slid off his suit jacket and tossed it over a chair. “Sure, sweetheart. Whatever makes you feel better.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Thank you.”
Moving to her side, he cupped her chin between his thumb and forefinger until her eyes met his. “Stop thanking me. It’s unnecessary.”
“But you—”
“Devon.” He bent and brushed a kiss to her lips, then another. “It’s all good. I want to stay. I’ll take any excuse to be with you.”
The corners of her mouth tilted up in a hesitant smile. “Okay.”
“Excuse me for a minute.” He ducked into the bathroom to use the facilities, and as he zipped his pants he glanced at the large oval tub with Jacuzzi jets. He washed his hands, thinking that a hot bubble bath might soothe her. Taking the lavender-scented body wash from the sink counter, he poured the contents into the tub. Piles of foam filled the basin.
When he emerged, a trail of steam followed him. He took her hand. “Come with me.”
She entered the luxury bathroom and her lips parted. “A bubble bath?” Her face softened. “Trey, you’re a genius.”
“I try.” He went to the faucet, turned off the running water, and began undressing. She slid her dress off her shoulders, the material sliding down her slim body, whispering to the floor. He helped her into the tub then settled into the water with her.
The tension released from her face and a faint smile touched her lips, as he captured bubbles on a washcloth and slid it over her skin. Her nipples hardened, and he swallowed, forcing himself to concentrate on making her feel good, not what his libido wanted.
Turning to face him, she draped her legs over his, her fingers traveling from his shoulders down his chest and disappearing under the bubbles. He caught her hand before she found his erection eager for her touch. This wasn’t about him.
He threaded his fingers with hers and rested their joined hands on his knees. He needed a distraction, and a bounty hunter story seemed like a good way to dispel the sexual tension. “Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Four bounty hunters walk into a gay bar…”
Her eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
“Yep. We’d been tracking a guy named Butch Cassidy—”
“Was that his real name?”
“Some people have sick senses of humor when it comes to naming their kids. Anyway, Butch skipped out on his bail. Four months went by before I got my hands on some intel.”
“Is four months typical?”
He scoffed. “Not for us. We usually pop ‘em and drop ‘em within a week or two.”
“How did you find him?” she asked.
“Get this. Butch, a former body builder with a long rap sheet, decided to trade in the hetero life and go underground as a drag queen.”
A peel of laughter left her lips. “No way.”
He nodded. “I had the whole thing set up ahead of time, had the exits guarded, a few of our guys waiting in the parking lot in case Butch made a break for it. But I didn’t tell Cade, Adam or Liam we were going to a gay bar. They walked in, scoped out the place, and I watched their realization dawn. I couldn’t help it, I started laughing. I choked on my drink and almost had vodka coming out my nose. I thought Adam was going to race across the room and plant his fist in my face.”
“That’s hilarious.” Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Oh, you don’t know the half of it.” He grinned. “Some skinny guy with a faux-hawk came up to me and called me a ‘big mountain man,’ then asked if I wanted to go back to his place and do some climbing.”
She laughed with a snort. “What does that even mean?”
“Who knows?” He shook his head. “I didn’t ask. Hey, everyone has the right to their preferences. I have to say, though, it was priceless watching men try to flirt with my tattooed, badass cousins. My brother took it in stride, but even he was threatening to murder me by the time Butch took the stage.”
“Oh, poor Cade,” she whimpered in sympathy.
“Yeah, he got the brunt of it. I lost count how many times he was asked if he modeled for a living. He attracted plenty of bi-curious women, too. I swear, that night he could’ve had a dozen threesomes every which way, if he’d wanted.”
“I’m sure you all had plenty of opportunity.” She resumed caressing his chest, running her palms up and down his arms, stoking the flame that burned low in his gut. “Did you catch the guy?”
“Yeah, and he put up one hell of a fight. Adam and Liam tackled Butch in the parking lot, a sight I’ll never forget.” He grinned.
Since the water had cooled during their conversation, he stood, stepped from the suds and whipped a towel around his waist. Then he took her hand and helped her from the tub. He grabbed a fluffy white towel and knelt before her, patting her pretty painted toenails
dry. Slowly, he dragged the towel up her slender legs and hips. He pressed a kiss to the small feminine swell of her abdomen, then the tops of her breasts, as he stood and finished drying her.
She lifted her mouth and caught him off guard with a sultry kiss. The impulsive kiss and the seductive taste of her lips made him hard beneath his towel.
Damn, he wanted to bend her over the sink and take her from behind. His erection throbbed as he pictured watching her expressions of pleasure in the mirror facing him. But staying the night didn’t involve him satisfying his needs. He willed himself to ignore the pressure pitching a tent in his towel, withdrew his tongue and released her lips.
Wrapping her towel around her, he tucked it under her arms. Then he grabbed the bottle of lotion from the bathroom counter and joined her in the bedroom.
With a swift yank, he threw back the layers of covers. He gestured to the bed. “Lie on your stomach.”
A sexy grin tugged her lips. “I like when you order me around in the bedroom.”
His towel bobbed at his groin, and he stifled a moan. Gripping the bottle of lotion, he warmed it between his palms.
When she dropped her towel, he salivated at the sight of her gorgeous body. She crawled to the center of the mattress and stretched out on the bed. Propped on her elbows, she sent him a come-hither look over her shoulder. “Well?”
He cleared his throat. “I’m admiring the view.”
She wiggled her ass in front of him. “I don’t like waiting for what I want.”
Without moving a muscle, he grinned. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
Seduction in her eyes, she ran the tip of her tongue over her lips. “I have no doubt.”
Hell. She wasn’t making his self-restraint easy. He wanted to lift her hips, send her face into the pillow and shove himself into her heat.
Instead, he bit the insides of his cheeks and clasped her legs together. He popped the cap and drizzled lotion up her spine.
“Mmm.” She arched. “Your hidden talent is definitely foreplay.”
Without responding, he splayed his hands on her back, setting his thumbs along her spine. He rubbed in small, gradual circles. Eventually, he eased the knots of tension gathered there. He increased the pressure as he moved up her spine, circling, smoothing, caressing. The lotion heated under his hands, turning her skin slick and pliant beneath his touch. Her sighs and moans nearly undid him. Ignoring his own needs, he moved to the middle of her back. When his thumbs found twin stone-sized knots in her shoulder blades, she let out a groan that made him hard everywhere.
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