by Addison Fox
When it had become evident early this morning they weren’t going to get any sleep, Abby had suggested to Campbell they shift gears and head to the office. Although a shower had gone a long way toward reviving her, the lack of sleep was definitely kicking in now that she’d been at her desk for the better part of an hour.
On a resigned yawn, she clicked on the first link and watched as an image of her next-door neighbors instantly downloaded to her screen. The portly man with the ruddy complexion looked pretty much as she’d remembered and a quick read-through of the text confirmed her suspicions.
The statuesque Celine was a relatively new acquisition.
The couple, dressed in formal wear, had her thoughts drifting to the evening before, along with a powerful image that hadn’t quite faded from her mind.
Campbell Steele in a tuxedo.
Since the search program was still open, she went with instinct and typed his name into the open box.
The list of links associated with him numbered in the hundreds, which wasn’t a huge surprised based on his lineage. Although Kensington had always played it down, the Steele family had a long and storied history, both in England and here in the States.
What she did find curious was that very little existed about the man beyond his family connections.
In the current day and age of social media, near-constant updates by friends and family and the press’s fascination with anyone who possessed even the remotest bit of wealth, the lack of information was a surprise.
“You are a mystery, Mr. Steele.”
Her gaze caught on a link to his parents’ obituary and she clicked it, despite knowing the basics of their death. Fueling up on another hit of caffeine, she read the article. Even as someone who’d lost both of her parents, the story of the car crash that killed Charles and Katherine Steele on their twentieth wedding anniversary trip in the Welsh countryside never failed to leave her with a restless sort of sadness in her heart.
The question of why hovered briefly in her mind, even as she knew there were no answers for the vagaries of life.
As the why over Campbell’s parents faded, two questions rose up to take its place in rapid succession.
Why was she so interested in him? And why was she fighting it so hard?
They were a couple of healthy, unattached adults. Although there was the slightly messy connection with Kensington, it wasn’t insurmountable, especially if her friend’s eager nosiness last night was any indication. A fling with Campbell would have very little—if any—impact on her friendship with Kenzi.
So why was she holding back?
The heavy knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts—and from answering the question.
“Stef. What’s up?”
“You’re in early this morning.”
“No rest for the weary. And I know you’ll be happy and relieved to be rid of me for a week.”
Stef flashed a wide grin before offering up a quick wink and extending a heavy file folder. “I’m counting down the minutes.”
Abby reached for the folder, groaning at its heft. “What’s in here?”
“I know, I know. You’re trying to get out of here and there are a million things to do. I’ve held back what can wait, but I need everything in there signed off on.”
“What is it?”
“Several memorandums to the foreign offices, the proposed insurance plan changes for next year that require your final signature and a review on one of your patents.”
“That can’t wait?”
Stef shrugged. “You’re the one who’s brilliant enough to even need to file a patent on your ideas. Do you think it can wait? You’re the boss.”
“No.” Abby shook her head as she dropped the folder on her desk, the heavy thud going a long way toward adding to the bone-weary exhaustion she felt. “I’d best get to it, then.”
“Can I at least get you a refill on the coffee?”
“Only if you want me to get down on both knees, sing your praises and possibly propose.”
Stef’s grin only widened as she reached for the near-empty mug. “That’s my guy’s job. And if this past weekend’s any indication, I think he’s getting close.”
Whatever fatigue she felt vanished at the happy news. Jumping up from her chair, Abby crossed around her desk to pull Stef into a tight hug. The woman’s body was momentarily stiff and Abby had the strange sensation she might have overstepped before her assistant wrapped her up in a return hug.
“Sorry.” Stef waved the mug as they pulled away. “I didn’t want to break the mug.”
“No, no, I’m the impulsive one.” Abby waved it off, well aware she wasn’t known for her personal interaction with her team. “This is wonderful news. You need to call me the moment he proposes.”
“I can’t do that while you’re in Paris. You’ll be busy.”
“Of course you can. All the details will give me something to smile about as I’m sitting through one meeting after the next.”
“Probably thinking up new ideas to patent.” Stef’s tease was just that—and it was shared in the tone of someone who knew her well—but Abby fought the strange sense of hopelessness that welled up at the woman’s words.
Her assistant’s description wasn’t far off the mark. She was a patent-filing thinker who always had a million projects on her plate. She’d always been invigorated by working and living at that pace, so what had changed?
A quick glance at Stef and she saw almost a mirror image of her thoughts, the woman’s face drawn and slightly wan.
“Everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah. Lot on my mind.” Stef lifted the mug before pointing over her shoulder with her free hand. “Let me just get you a refill.”
“Sure thing.”
Abby watched Stef’s slim, almost frail, frame cross the room before she exited to the welcome area outside the office. Could it be she was working the woman too hard? She’d thought over the past few months it might make sense to add a second assistant. One who oversaw the more personal aspects of her life, freeing Stef to focus on the day-to-day urgency of the business.
A glance at the thick file and Abby resolved to get on that when she got back.
“In fact,” she whispered to herself, “no time like the present. Email Human Resources right now while you’re thinking about it.”
Her gaze alighted on the article about Campbell’s parents and she shut out of the browser window, also shutting down whatever vein of curiosity had opened up this morning.
Whatever fanciful notions she might have about Campbell Steele needed to stop. What man would be all that interested in spending his time with a brainy workaholic who never sat still long enough to be in one city, let alone one country?
Nope, it just wouldn’t work.
They might consider a fling, but even that was probably a less-than-smart idea. She’d crafted a very full—and rather lonely—life for herself and this coming week was yet another raging example of that. Strange, mysterious threats or not, she had a major series of meetings and twenty people to entertain for a week.
After she hit Send on the email to Human Resources, Abby opened the file Stef had left behind.
She’d best get to it.
* * *
Campbell sifted through another layer of code as he kept up a steady conversation with T-Bone. Well, conversation might be a stretch, he admitted to himself, even if they were speaking intermittently on their mobile phones.
They had a strange sort of half language that consisted of a lot of swearing, fragmented sentences and another layer of swearing.
And they understood each other perfectly.
“I don’t believe this. How the hell did he do this?” T-Bone added a whistle to his frustration. “There’s no fingerprint on this.”
“He’s definitely a ghost and from the looks of it he’s been sneaking around for a while.”
“How’s he getting in?”
“Damned if I know.” Campbell ran a hand thro
ugh his hair, tugging on the longish ends he knew his grandmother would give him a hard time about next time she saw him. He mentally added “haircut” to his to-do list and knew it would vanish in mere moments.
Best intentions and all...
“I’ll be dipped—” T-Bone’s voice faded off as Campbell hit a few commands. “He’s been all over the system.”
“If I wasn’t so hell-bent to figure out who it was, I’d have to admire the guy’s style. He’s got some skills.”
“You’re not kidding.”
“You know who it might be.”
T-Bone let out another low whistle. “First thought was Juno but he’s been out of the game for a little over a year.”
“No one ever really gets out.”
“We did.”
“We just play for a different side, T. I’d say we’re about as in as you can get.”
A gruff laugh rumbled through the phone. “Well, rumor is, Juno’s really out. Got a wife and a kid and went legit.”
At the words wife and kids, Campbell was unable to resist the image of Abby in his arms. Their night before had left him with a steady dose of erotic images that refused to leave.
The tense moments at the bar, both of them fully aware of each other.
That tender interlude in the cab, wrapped up in each other in a “show” that felt far too real for comfort.
The press of her slender body against his in the hallway of her home as their mouths fused.
Hell, he could still feel the imprint of her body at every point they touched.
Would a wife and kids make him legit? Tame him, as it were? He’d always scoffed at the idea of ever wanting to get out, but what if there was an exterior motive to do so?
Could a person change you if you loved each other enough?
There were elements of the idea that were as appealing as they were appalling.
Wasn’t the person who loved and cared about you supposed to love you as you were?
Yet, if your choices weren’t the best for the relationship, didn’t you owe it to the one you loved in return to make changes for them?
Endless questions without answers.
Which was why he’d avoided relationships like the plague. A few dates. A good time. That was more than enough.
Especially since House of Steele had taken off beyond their wildest dreams.
When he and Liam, Kensington and Rowan had formed the company three years ago, they’d used it as a way to create something lasting while leveraging each of their innate skills. He was their e-man, Kenzi covered the running of the business, Ro knew art and antiques like the back of her hand and Liam...
Well, Liam did as he pleased and somehow always came out on top.
Literally and figuratively.
For a long time, that had bothered Campbell more than he’d wanted to admit. He loved his brother and knew they had each other’s backs, but everything had always come easy to Liam and it had taken more than a few years to understand that didn’t mean the man was happy or even remotely content with his life.
It had taken a few more years after that to accept that his brother’s choices had nothing to do with his own. And now, despite more than a few rocky years, he and Liam were in a good place.
A highly productive one, as well, if the projected profit statement Kensington had shared with all of them last week was any indication. They might be a motley crew—albeit with a touch of polish that got them in and out of the world’s most elegant environments—but with House of Steele they’d built something that worked.
“I still think the neighbors are the key.” T-Bone’s words interrupted his musings and Campbell pushed aside thoughts of his family.
“Abby’s hunting up their details this morning. She doesn’t know them all that well.”
“Not a surprise. Homes on Paris’s most exclusive street don’t exactly scream block party.”
Campbell couldn’t hold back the bark of laughter at the image that one evoked. “No barbecues and bocce?”
“Hardly.”
“Guess I need to make sure I pack a tie.”
* * *
Abby was still signing paperwork an hour later when Campbell gamboled into her office, two large paper cups in hand and a slim laptop tucked under his arm.
“I come bearing caffeine.”
“Do you have any answers to go with that coffee?”
“No answers, but T-Bone and I have ruled out a few suspects.” He set the paper cup on her desk before taking the chair opposite hers. “Any luck figuring out who your neighbors are?”
She watched him fold his large form into the steel-framed chair and wondered again why she was fighting her attraction so hard. The man was far too attractive for his own good. Dark hair fell over his forehead and the black T-shirt that stretched over his shoulders had kicked off an appreciative hum under her skin.
Kensington had run to Campbell’s house and picked up his clothes this morning, neither of them willing to leave her in the house by herself. Abby had thought the move silly at the time, yet despite her internal scoffing, she’d appreciated the company.
And she certainly couldn’t argue with the clothing Kenzi had selected and stuffed into a well-worn leather duffel.
With a sip of the rich latte to center herself, Abby passed him a few notes. “The second house hit is our best bet.”
“Etienne and Celine?”
“Yep. Former diplomat and wife number three. They travel a lot but make the Paris house their main residence.”
“Were they in town when the break-in happened?”
“Funny enough, they were on their first anniversary trip, in a private residence in Jean Cap Ferrat.”
“Convenient.”
“Too convenient, don’t you think?”
Campbell offered up a simple “Hmm” as he took a sip of his coffee.
His image wavered slightly before her eyes and Abby pinched the bridge of her nose. Even without the added concerns about security, safety and the company’s overall well-being, this was always a difficult week on her schedule.
“You okay?”
“Just tired.”
“It’s only ten and you’ve been here for four hours already. Let’s go out and get some fresh air.”
“Campbell, I can’t.”
The penetrating blue stare that greeted her protest brooked no arguments. “Half hour. You can spare a half hour.”
She’d gotten about halfway through Stef’s folder and lifted the remaining stack of papers. “This suggests otherwise.”
“It can wait, too. Come on.”
The urge to agree—to simply escape for a few moments—was too lovely to resist. “Half hour.”
“Scout’s honor.” He made some convoluted gesture with his fingers that didn’t look like any Boy Scout promise but she was up and around her desk, anyway, suddenly desperate for the break.
“You’ll need a coat.” He snagged the thin raincoat she’d left on her office couch and held it open for her. The brush of his fingertips across her shoulder blades had a delicious warmth drifting under her skin and her traitorous thoughts once again pushed the idea of a fling to the forefront of her mind.
Where her thoughts while doing paperwork had been hazy and full of a weariness she couldn’t get a handle on, two minutes in Campbell’s company had her waking up, her body humming to life. The sensation was as exhilarating as it was sexy and the same thought that had hit her several times over the last day punched up once more.
It was nice not to be alone.
A quick glance from the corner of her eye confirmed his gaze on her and Abby fought the urge to blush.
When was the last time she was so interested in a guy? And why did that scare her even as it invigorated?
They passed Stef in the outer area of the executive suite. Abby was struck once again by the woman’s slim shoulders as Stef bent over a mahogany credenza and she was glad she’d made the outreach to Human Resources to secure additional h
elp. “We’re running out, Stef. No more than about a half hour.”
“Can we get you anything? Coffee or some breakfast?” Campbell’s words were warm and genuine and Abby was momentarily bemused by his thoughtfulness. Where many would have walked past her assistant without so much as a glance, Campbell had done the opposite.
“No, no. I’m good. Thanks.” Stef waved them off with a quick smile.
“I’ve got my phone.” Abby patted her coat pocket.
“Of course you do.” Her assistant gave her a quick wink before she slid back behind her desk. “Get out for a few minutes.”
Campbell waited until the elevator doors slid closed behind them before he spoke again. “How long has she been with you?”
“About three years.”
“She knows you.”
“Too well.” Abby smiled, the years they’d worked together floating through her mind on a loop. “Unfortunately, I realized this morning that it’s time to accept I’ve overworked the poor woman. I’m finally giving in and adding another assistant to the team. Between the business stuff and the personal details Stef keeps up with, it’s too much. And she’s about to get engaged so I’m going to lose about three-quarters of her brain to that, anyway.”
“So she knows you exceptionally well and knows all your comings and goings. Does that ever worry you?”
“Stef? Oh, goodness, no. She’s my right hand. And many days, my left as well as both my feet.”
“She has carte blanche to come and go as she pleases.”
Warning bells clanged like a fire alarm as his questions poked through the warm buzz she’d departed her office with. “What are you suggesting?”
“That she has unprecedented access to you. Does that frame up any thoughts about her that might make you reconsider her loyalty?”
The elevator came to a halt on the lobby floor and Abby laid a hand on his arm. “Let’s wait and talk about this outside.”
She was grateful for the brief silence as they moved through the lobby of the large building that bore her name. Steve, one of her key security managers, nodded his head as she came up level with the gleaming chrome doors that were the centerpiece of the lobby. He set the revolving panels rotating for her as she walked up. “Morning, Ms. McBane.”