“I recovered.”
Yeah, but would she?
Trudy groaned. She had kneed her client, and very well the sexiest man she’d ever seen, in the nuts. She pretty much assumed getting fired was a done deal now.
He was the kind of man that women dreamed about. Tall, dark and handsome–literally, he was the epitome of it. He looked to be in his early thirties and too young to run a large company. He stood over six feet tall and had a muscular frame. His dark hair was cut short, not a strand seemed out of place. His eyes were dark brown and unsettled her as he watched her. His clothes looked expensive, from his shirt to his shoes and even the wool coat that he wore. If she was the swooning type, she would be on the ground.
The man standing next to him was just as handsome as Kristof was. He was dark and tall like Kristof but he didn’t have the same muscular build. He had lean muscles like a runner, while even with them hidden underneath his clothes Kristof looked to be all muscle. The two men shared so many similarities Trudy was sure they had to be related.
The officers had everyone wait outside while they did a sweep of her house. She stood in uncomfortable silence with Kristof and Lajos. Now was not a good time to ask them why they traveled all the way to her house. She needed to put some time between her assault on him and begging to keep the contract.
She tried to keep her eyes focused on anything except for Kristof but, no matter how much she tried, she kept peering at him from her peripheral vision. She swore he was doing the same and watching her as well. What she really wanted to do was touch him.
Do it. Touch him.
She took a step in his direction before she caught herself.
What am I doing? I can’t go around fondling my clients.
She didn’t know why, but she had these urges to go to him, stand next to him, caress his body and make love to him.
Shit. Get a grip girl.
It’d been a little while since she got laid, but this was going way beyond horny. It wasn’t even the sex part that pulled at her. It went way beyond that. It was as if she was supposed to trust him…with her life.
She needed to touch him. There was a sense of urgency to it. She maneuvered Piper to one arm and stuck out her hand. “Trudy Hollander.”
Kristof took her hand in his and there was an instant–something. Trudy couldn’t even describe how she felt, because she’d never felt anything like this before. Her hand and his felt connected, as if they were one. He looked down at her and his eyes changed color again. Something behind them flashed with sexual heat and longing.
“Kristof Farkas.”
Fine prickles of heat sparked within their grasp. Too much. She pulled her hand from his and wrapped her free hand around Piper again. Florida was humid, even at night, but she knew that the heat spreading across her body had nothing to do with the weather.
Piper struggled and whimpered in her arms. “Cool it,” she warned. As Piper’s weight made her arm muscles strain, she made a mental note to put Piper back on that diet tomorrow.
“Why don’t you put the dog down?” Kristof asked.
“Um, she’s a runner. If I put her down, I won’t see her again for another two hours.”
Trudy looked toward her house. Piper’s leash was hanging on a hook by the front door. She’d have to wait for the cops to finish checking out her house and taking pictures before she could get to it.
Without warning Kristof took a step closer. Trudy froze. Her heart sped up. Kristof leaned down and held Piper’s snout in his hand and came almost nose–to–nose with her. “You are going to be put down. You will sit and stay. If you run away, I will hunt you down. Do you understand me?”
Trudy blinked. Did he just threaten my dog?
Piper whined and stilled within her arms.
Kristof straightened and nodded toward Piper. “We have an understanding. You can put her down.”
“But…”
Kristof held her gaze. His dark brown eyes seemed to shift to hazel then back to their original darker color. She put Piper on her feet and half expected her to bolt, albeit slowly because of her age and weight, for the park down the street.
Instead, Piper set back on her hunches and stayed.
“See? I told you that we have an understanding.”
Trudy eyed Piper warily, still expecting her to make a run for it. “I should probably still go get her chain. She’s a sneaky old thing.”
“You’re not going back into the house until the officers have done what they believe is their job.” Kristof turned to Lajos. “Is the house is clear?”
Lajos sniffed at the air then nodded.
Kristof turned back to her. “You said these were the same men who came to your office.”
Trudy closed her eyes briefly. They looked like the same guys. But could she spot them out of a lineup? The first time she’d seen them she’d been cowering for her life and this time she’d been scrambling out a window.
“I’m not sure, but I think so. But why would the guys who killed Mark come to my house? I didn’t do anything.” From all she knew, Mark hadn’t done anything either.
“House is clear!” The officer yelled.
Kristof and Lajos took a step forward while she and Piper hesitated.
“Are you ready?” Kristof asked.
Piper went to all fours and wagged her tail, ready to follow Kristof.
I’m ready to jump into bed with you.
Trudy shook her head.
Stop being a perv, el–stupido. He’s not trying to jump your bones. He’s here to fire you.
“Sure.”
Entering the house, she stepped over the shards of glass that was once part of the window on her door.
“Looks like they broke the glass in the kitchen and climbed through the window.” The police officer pointed to Lajos. “Your buddy here already copped to breaking down your door.”
“The company will pay for it,” Kristof said, assuring her.
“They were looking for something. Maybe jewelry or other items? Maybe they came here looking for something you brought home from the office?” The police officer asked.
“I don’t know what,” she replied.
One of the officers walked over to her. “It had to be something important. They wanted you pretty bad. They used something big and powerful on the bedroom door.”
“Their fists,” she corrected.
“Huh?”
“They punched through the door with their fists.” She would never forget the way the man had looked at her with hateful eyes as he tried to get to her.
The officer pulled his brows together. “No, I think they might’ve used a baseball bat or bowling ball. Ms. Hollander, do you own a bowling ball?”
She shook her head. There was no point arguing with him.
“I suggest you look around to see if anything was stolen.”
“Did you bring any of your work home with you?” Kristof asked.
“The only thing I have is my laptop. Everything else is at the office.”
She turned toward the small wood dining room table. Her laptop wasn’t where she’d left it. Someone had thrown it to the ground, smashing it into pieces.
She rushed to survey the damage. “No, no, no,” she cried. She picked up the pieces and tried to fit them together like a puzzle. “My work.”
“I’m assuming you had our files on that?” Kristof asked.
She looked up quickly. “Yes, but it was password protected and encrypted. This isn’t the only copy though. My computer at work has the same set–up.”
“I doubt if your computer at work is in any better shape,” Kristof said.
She shook her head. “No, its fine. They ran through my office and out the window. They didn’t stop to destroy anything.”
“When we’re done here, go by her office and see if it’s still there,” Kristof said to Lajos. “But I doubt it.”
“Me too,” Lajos responded.
Chapter Six
After she’d
given her statement, the officers turned their attention to Kristof and Lajos. As soon as Kristof began to describe what he saw, how one man was punching a hole through her bedroom door with his fist, she wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered. All she could remember was the crazed look in that man’s eyes. They looked animalistic–feral. She couldn’t stand to listen anymore.
She had to do something–anything. She walked aimlessly through her house, trying to return it to some semblance of normalcy. She righted the pictures hanging on the wall. She picked up the splintered pieces of wood that littered her hallway and bedroom–she guessed a bedroom door was highly overrated anyway. It took some effort on her part, but she was able to move her dresser away from the door, but getting it upright again was another struggle.
Kristof and Lajos shooed her out the way and, with what appeared as super–human strength, moved it back to its rightful place.
“Um, thanks,” she said.
When they started to pick up some of the items that had once been on the top of her dresser, she stopped them.
“I can take care of it from here.”
“It’s no problem,” Kristof said. “You’ve had a rough two days.”
It had been more than rough, but she plastered on a smile. “Really, I can take care of this.” As Kristof and Lajos stepped out of the way she busied herself with cleaning her floor.
The officer came into the room holding his notepad and stepped over the antique perfume bottles she hadn’t picked up yet. He looked around. “Ma’am. I don’t think you should stay here tonight. Do you have somewhere else you can go?”
She rubbed her sweaty palms across her pants. “My friend’s house or I can go to my parents.” Her parents lived an hour away, but she would gladly make the trip to get away for a while.
“I don’t think that’s wise,” Kristof said.
She turned to look at him. His eyes seemed lighter again–hazel. “Huh?” she knew it sounded dumb just as soon as the word left her mouth. But she’d been so caught up in his changing eye color that it had been the first thing that spilled from her lips.
The officer snapped his notepad closed. “Sir, she can’t stay here. Whoever did this may come back. She’ll need to get somewhere safe.”
Kristof’s gaze was intent on her. “She’s not staying here. She’ll stay with me, in my hotel.”
With him?
No.
At his hotel?
No.
His eyes flashed with such heat that she felt as though they bored through her clothes. Her body tingled in response.
In his room.
Yes.
In the same bed?
Yes.
What the hell am I thinking? I just met the guy.
She shook her head, trying to dislodge the inappropriate thought. “Um…that won’t be necessary.”
“You’ve had two life changing events in just over twenty–four hours. Do you want to risk the same men following you to your friend’s house or to your parent’s house? Will they be able to protect you?”
Meisha could probably hold her own against these guys, but that wasn’t a chance she was willing to take, although she was sure Meisha would be up for the challenge. Her parents definitely couldn’t protect her. She didn’t want to risk putting anyone in harm’s way.
“No they can’t, but I can’t go to a hotel with you.” Did it look like she was ready to drop her drawers for him? Maybe. “I can get my own room somewhere. Thank you.”
“We still need to meet,” Kristof said.
“You still want to meet? Tonight?” She looked around. Her place was a mess. Then she looked down at her clothes. She’d torn the side of her blouse trying to get out the window, her pants had grass and dirt stains on them and somewhere along the way she’d lost one of her loafers. If she wanted to she could feel her hair to assess her bun, but if the hair hanging down the side of her face was any indication, her bun was no more.
“Can we meet in the morning?” When she begged to keep the contract she at least wanted to look presentable.
“We need to talk. I’m leaving in the morning and what we need to meet about can’t be discussed over the phone.”
He’s going to fire me. “Ah, the reason you came all this way.” In person.
“Exactly.”
She took a deep steadying breath. “I understand. We can go to the couch. If you don’t mind, I’ll change though.”
He exchanged a glance with Lajos. “We’ll meet at the hotel. This house maybe compromised.”
She snorted. “Of course it’s compromised. It was just broken into.”
“No, I mean it could be bugged. The men who came here most likely planted bugs to gain more information.”
Bugs? “Oh, sure.” Because that happens every day.
He looked over at the officer. “I’ll take it from here, sir. I’ll get her to safety.” He handed him a business card. “Do you have one for me?” She watched as the officer gave him a card. They exchanged other information and the officer left with a promise to her that he would call her if they found out any information.
As she stood, seemingly rooted in place staring at him, Kristof said. “I’ll wait for you to pack a bag and, while you do that, Lajos can go to your office and see if your computer is still there. If it is, he’ll bring it to the hotel.”
“But you said it was probably smashed up too,” she said.
He smiled and she almost melted. “What’s the harm in looking?”
What’s the harm in looking?
“It’s too dangerous for you to go anywhere else but with me.”
It’s too dangerous. I need to stay with you.
“Go pack an overnight bag.”
Pack an overnight bag.
Head in a daze, she turned to her dresser and began pulling out the clothes she needed.
After she packed her bag, she made her way into the bathroom, where he assumed she was gathering her toiletries. He hated to force his way into her mind, but he couldn’t find a way around it. She had blocked and countered every suggestive thought he’d given her. While it wasn’t dangerous to forcefully put a thought into her head, it wasn’t the right thing to do ethically, and his kind avoided it unless it was really needed, which was now.
“What was all that about?” Lajos asked. “Why are you forcing her to go with you?”
“She’s a target for the information she has or what she might know. Going anywhere else will put more humans in danger.”
The side of Lajos’ mouth cocked up. “Sure, and being your mate has nothing to do with it?”
“Not at the moment.”
Lajos looked toward the bathroom door where light clanging could be heard. “Do you think she knows what happened to her?”
“Hopefully not. If we can get what we need, see to her safety and be on our way, I’d call this a successful trip.”
“Wait, are you thinking about leaving her behind?”
“Of course,” he said nonchalantly. “She’s human. She doesn’t have a place in our world.”
“But is that even possible? Will you be able to leave her?”
“Lajos, right now I need you to go to her office. I don’t need you poking your nose in something that doesn’t concern you.”
Lajos crossed her arms over his chest. “So you want me to look for a computer that isn’t there?”
“No. You’re going to her office to do your job, look for clues.”
Kristof waited for Trudy to return with a full bag in hand and a dazed and confused look on her face. He had a slight pang of regret.
As she started for the door, Piper began to whine. She briefly looked at her dog and scrunched her brow. Kristof knew she was probably searching her brain to figure out what she was supposed to do with the dog. After she figured that out, she’d start to wonder about the bag in her hand too.
Before that happened, he went to her side. “You might as well pack some food for your dog.”
“She c
an’t come to the hotel with us,” Trudy mumbled.
“Why not?”
“She’s a barker. She’s not used to the noise of people in the room next door or walking down the hall. The other hotel guests will complain about her. She’s the reason I’m a house owner. She got me evicted.” She added with a half–smile.
“Where can you take her?”
“To my friend Meisha. She lives in an apartment, but they’re used to noise over there. She’ll be happy to spoil her for the night.”
“Write down the address for Lajos.” When she retrieved a pen and paper and began to write, Kristof turned to Lajos. “Use the rental to take Piper to her friend’s house.”
“What about you and Trudy?” Lajos asked. “Do you need me to drop you guys off at the hotel first?”
“Trudy, do you have a car?” Kristof asked.
She nodded. “It’s a rust–bucket.”
“Well, I guess I’m driving a ’rust–bucket’ back to our room.”
Chapter Seven
After he showed her around the hotel suite and ended up in the bedroom that was meant to be hers, an awkward silence fell over them. Lajos was originally going to stay here, but Kristof said he could sleep on the couch for the night. When his phone rang it startled them both.
“Lajos,” he said, answering his phone.
Relieved to have a diversion, she set her bag on the bed. She didn’t intend to unpack the one set of clean clothes she’d brought. Her plan was to stay the night, get fired and sulk about it tomorrow.
He listened intently and, not wanting to eavesdrop, she tried to pretend that she wasn’t paying attention. But when his eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint, she knew something was wrong.
“What is it?” she whispered, finding herself going closer to him.
He pulled the bottom of the phone away from his mouth. “There’s been another attack.”
She took in a sharp breath. “Who? Lajos? Is he alright?”
“Lajos and your friend Meisha were attacked.”
“Meisha!” Trudy reached for Kristof’s phone. “Is she hurt? Let me talk to Lajos.”
Brought to His Knees-Tough Guys Laid Low By Love Page 4