by Laura Ann
Luke, however, had come from nothing, though Andrew knew that wasn’t the case now. They had started a company together and both men had more money than they could ever need, but Luke kept his money a secret, refusing to change his ways or his mannerisms. The only splurge he had ever allowed himself was the car sitting in Andrew’s driveway. When women asked about it, Luke told them it was second-hand and the subject was dropped quicker than a hot coal.
Despite their personality differences, both Luke and Andrew had one strong bond in common. They hated the attention of all the money-grubbing women of the upper classes. Andrew chose to run when they approached, where Luke made a game of using his charm to see how many he could get to pay attention to him, despite their thinking he was destitute.
Andrew’s wandering mind jerked back to the present when he realized Luke had gone silent. His friend was studying him intently, and Andrew had to shove down the urge to tug on his suddenly tight collar. “Why are you staring at me?” he finally snapped.
One side of Luke’s mouth pulled up into a crooked grin. “You met a woman.”
VAL FELT LIKE A SPECIMEN on display as Lola studied her intently. “You make him nervous,” the wealthy woman finally stated.
“Who?” Val feigned ignorance. She knew exactly who the elderly woman was talking about. Andrew had just stomped out of the room as if fire was licking at his heels, and Val knew it all had to do with her. What she couldn’t decide was whether she was relieved or not. She wanted to classify him the same as every other wealthy, egotistical man she had ever met, but after his little speech about his grandmother, she was struggling to do it.
She could admit to herself that he was attractive. Good heavens. Any woman with a pulse would find him good-looking. But he’s also athletic, confident and...family-oriented. And that was proving to be a very dangerous combination to Val’s concentration.
“Oh, please.” Lola rolled her eyes for the second time since Val had arrived. The movement was so teenage-girlish that Val nearly laughed out loud. Here was this wealthy woman with poise and grace, and she was acting like a young girl. “I’m old, not blind.”
Val knew her cheeks were turning pink, and she squirmed in her seat. “I didn’t mean to upset him.”
“I know,” Lola said with glee, clasping her hands together. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Wonderful?” Val frowned. “Excuse me, but I’m lost.” What’s so great about the fact that I yelled at her grandson, humiliated him in front of a bunch of other men, and now he can’t stand to be in my presence?
“It doesn’t matter.” Lola waved a hand in the air, dismissing whatever they had been talking about. “Now. Tell me about yourself, Valentina.” She smiled and cocked her head. “I have a feeling we’re going to be great friends.”
“I think I’m supposed to ask you that,” Val said hesitantly. This lady was throwing her off her game. Every time Val thought Lola would go right, she went left. Or maybe in a circle. I can’t quite figure her out.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get to that.” Lola winked. “Right now I’m more interested in you. Where did you grow up?”
Val frowned. “Washington.”
“State or D.C.?”
“State.”
Lola nodded. “Siblings?”
Val shook her head.
Lola’s eyebrows went up. “None?”
“None.” Val leaned forward. “Why is that so surprising? Did you have a bunch of kids or something?”
For the first time since Val had arrived, Lola looked something other than mischievous. Her eyes grew sad and her shoulders slumped. “No.” Lola’s blue eyes drifted toward the window. “I wanted a houseful, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
Val had no idea what to do. She’d never been a natural nurturer, so this type of situation made her uncomfortable. Do I say something or just wait? “Sorry,” she finally murmured.
Lola forced a smile on her face and brought her attention back around. “It doesn’t matter now. I have Andrew and that’s all I need.”
“Does Andrew have siblings?” Val asked casually. She was extremely curious about the enigmatic man, but she didn’t want to put any ideas in Lola’s head. It’s not a crime to think a guy is cute, right? No one has to know.
Lola sniffed. “Absolutely not. And it’s a good thing too. My daughter and son-in-law are pitiful parents.”
“Oh.” Val didn’t know what to say to that. “Sorry,” she lamely muttered once again.
“Nothing for you to worry about.” Lola grinned. “I took in Andrew as soon as I could, so don’t you worry about him. He’s been raised to be the best of men.”
Val nodded slowly.
“In fact, it’s why he’s still single,” Lola explained.
Val kept her mouth shut, but her eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline.
“My daughter was terribly spoiled,” Lola began. “Which, of course, was my own fault. And I had a front row seat to how it ruined her life.” Lola pinched her lips and shook her head. “She grew into an entitled snob.” She glanced sideways. “An elegant snob, but a snob nonetheless.”
Val was too stunned by all the information to say anything, so she just nodded.
“When I realized Margarite was going to raise Andrew the same way, I had to do something.” Lola smirked. “Having a baby had put a damper on their lifestyle, so it wasn’t difficult to convince my daughter to leave him with me.” She sighed. “This time I did much better. I raised him to work hard and value family over money.”
“Great,” Val murmured, feeling like she needed to contribute something. I guess that explains why he’s so attached to his grandmother.
“But he rarely meets a woman who feels the same.” Lola narrowed her gaze, and Val once again felt on display. “Most of the women his age in our circle of friends don’t have two brain cells to rub together.” She smiled slowly. “I have a feeling that’s about to change.”
Before Val could ask why, Lola moved on.
“Hobbies?” Lola asked with a tilt of her chin.
“Uh...I do martial arts. Have since I was little.”
“Andrew is a black belt himself,” Lola said with obvious pride.
“I figured that out,” Val grumbled, her cheeks turning hot once more at the thought of her fight with him. One of these days, I’m going to prove to him that I can win. I don’t let any man walk away from me. She chewed her lip. But maybe I’ll wait until after I’m no longer employed by his family...just to be safe.
Lola frowned. “How did you and Andrew meet? You implied you knew each other at the office. And it obviously had something to do with that idiot, Nick.”
Val raised her eyebrow. “I think you should ask your grandson that.”
Lola gave her a look. “If he’s embarrassed about it, he won’t tell me.”
Val snorted. “Well, he should be, so...”
Lola got a naughty gleam in her eye. “Please tell. I’d really like to hear this.”
Val shrugged. “He got conned into helping a guy ‘save his girlfriend’,” Val used her fingers as quotation marks. “Only, the guy Andrew helped was actually a stalker. My firm was protecting the woman and we had set a trap, which stalker guy fell for. Andrew and I ended up fighting in the backyard as his so-called friend tried to get in the house.”
“And who won?” Lola pressed.
Val scowled. “Neither of us. We couldn’t pin each other.”
Lola’s laughter was loud for such a small woman. “I’ll bet that drove Andrew crazy.”
Val couldn’t help but smile. “It drove me crazy! I’ve never lost before.”
Lola nodded. “I can see how that would be frustrating.” She clapped her hands. “Now. As to why you are here.”
Val sat up straight and nodded. Finally, we get down to business.
“Andrew seems to be concerned with some of my...shall we call them hobbies?” Lola raised her eyebrows and smiled.
“Such as?” Val prompted.
“Why not just give it to charities?” Val asked.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Lola opened her eyes wide. “If I do that, I don’t get to see any of the action. No. I like it to be first-hand. I want to talk to people, get to know them. See the smile on their face.”
Val’s jaw had gone slack. “That’s...uh...”
Lola sighed. “Don’t tell me you think I should stop as well? I’m doing good!”
“Yeah, but...isn’t that dangerous?”
“That’s why you’re here!”
She doesn’t need a bodyguard. She needs a shrink!
“Look, dear.” Lola tilted her chin down and smiled indulgently at Val. “I have far too much time and far too much money at my beck and call. My only child lives in Europe with no intention of ever coming home. My grandson is ruling the business world and learning how to be a man. My husband has been gone for nearly ten years.” She sighed again and her eyes seemed to plead with Val. “Is it too much to ask that I be able to share myself and my possessions with others? You, a woman making her way in a man’s world, ought to know exactly what I mean.” She gave Val a pointed look. “You wouldn’t have made it this far if you didn’t push the boundaries a little.”
The impassioned speech caught Val’s attention. Maybe she’s not really crazy, just...eccentric. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” Val’s lips curled into a little smile. “There have been dozens of people who have tried to stop what I felt was my calling in life. So if you feel this is yours, then I’ll make sure you’re safe doing it.”
“Thank you.” Lola stood and offered her hand. “That’s all that I ask.”
Val also stood, shaking the old woman’s delicate fingers. “Out of curiosity, how does Andrew feel about your little adventures?’
Lola giggled like a little girl, her manicured fingernails pressing into her lips. “Do you know, he hates it? Thinks I’m going to get mugged or something.”
Val huffed, then froze. “Wait. If you’re calling me in, then something probably did happen.” She eyed the grandmother. “Has someone hurt you?”
Lola started walking toward the door, waving a hand in the air. A gesture Val was quickly realizing meant that Grandma Lola didn’t want to discuss something further. “No, no. I’ve never been hurt. But the police might have been involved a time or two.”
“What?” Val bounded after Lola. This might be harder than I originally thought.
CHAPTER 4
“Andrew!” Grams cried happily from her favorite cushy chair. “I wasn’t expecting you today.” She held out her arms and waited as Andrew walked across the room and leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek.
“Sorry. Should I start calling ahead so I don’t disrupt your busy schedule?” he teased.
“Nonsense.” Grams swatted his arm. “I’m pleased as punch to see you.” She smiled wide. “Although I’m on my way out, so you can’t stay long.”
Andrew paused midair as he was about to sit on the couch. “You’re leaving? Where to?” He slowly finished sitting down.
“We’re visiting the shelter today.” Grams clasped her hands together. “They just had a batch of puppies brought in, and I’m going to deliver a bunch of supplies in exchange for cuddling with them.”
Andrew’s eyebrows shot up. “We? You’re taking Val with you?”
“Oh, yes. This was Valentina’s idea.” Grams waved a hand. “Some nonsense about how dogs were more trustworthy than people.”
“She’s not wrong,” Andrew muttered. Huh. I didn’t peg her for an animal lover. “At least this time the police shouldn’t need to get involved.”
“It was one time!” Grams threw her arms in the air.
“Ms. Lope—oof!” Gerald grabbed his ribcage. “Val is here, Mrs. McPherson.”
Andrew frowned at the odd behavior of Grams’s butler. He’d never heard the man stumble over his words like that.
“Careful, Valentina,” Grams said as she stood up. “Gerald is almost as old as I am. We break easily.”
Val laughed as she walked into the room. “I warned him not to call me Ms. Lopez.” She sent a stunning smile over her shoulder at the butler, and the older man blushed before nodding and leaving the room, rubbing his side as he went.
Andrew clenched his jaw. It has been several days since he’d seen Val. They’d parted on awkward terms when he’d run scared out of their introductory conversation and now, here he sat, feeling jealous over the attention Val was giving an old man!
“Oh.” Val stopped suddenly as her eyes landed on Andrew. “Hello, Mr. McPherson.”
Since when did we become so formal? “Just Andrew, please,” he said softly. His eyes drank her in. She was dressed in workout leggings and a breezy tank top. The sneakers on her feet looked light and easy to move in, while her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail. In a word, she looked amazing. The outfit showed off her lean muscles and left Andrew’s mouth as dry as the Sahara.
Val nodded. “Andrew.” Her dark eyes stayed on him, and the air suddenly felt heavier than before.
Andrew could have sworn she said his name a little differently. A little more breathy and softer than when she had been speaking before. Probably just wishful thinking on my part. She’s already made her feelings about me clear. However, despite the tension between them, he found himself wanting to change her opinion. He wanted her to get to know him as Andrew, not the wealthy chump who was conned into helping a criminal.
“Are we ready, then?” Grams asked, breaking the staredown happening between Val and Andrew.
Andrew tore his eyes away and rubbed the back of his overly warm neck. “Guess I’ll just be on my way.” He stood and readied himself to leave.
“Why don’t you come with us?” Grams asked.
Andrew glanced at Val’s stoic face, then back at his grandmother. “Uh...I don’t know. I should probably—”
“You obviously have time on your hands or you wouldn’t have come to visit.” Grams gave him a pointed look. “So, come spend that time at the shelter with us. You used to love puppies. Begged for one for years.”
Andrew made a face. “Yeah. When I was ten.” Val snorted quietly and Andrew turned to see her trying to hide a grin. He raised an eyebrow. “What? You never wanted a dog when you were a kid?”
Val shook her head and pointed toward her chest. “Allergic.”
“What?” He looked at Grams. “I thought you said this was her idea?”
“It was.” Grams waved him off. “She’s already told me she’s allergic, but as long as she doesn’t bring them close to her face and washes her hands, she should be fine.”
Andrew frowned. “What happens if you do bring them close to your face?”
“Then my eyes swell and water like a broken faucet.” Val moved toward the door. “No biggie. Come on, Lola. Those puppies aren’t going to cuddle themselves.”
“Did you get the supplies I asked for?” Grams followed her bodyguard out of the room, Andrew right behind her.
“Yeah. I had them sent over.” Val opened the front door. “It was more than I could fit in the SUV.”
Grams nodded and walked outside.
“Is no one going to talk about the fact that Val is allergic?” Andrew called out, following them outside. He refused to question why he was so worried about someone he barely knew, especially someone who was quite capable of taking care of herself.
Both women stopped and turned to look at him.
Andrew skidded to a halt, feeling foolish for his outburst.
“We already talked about it, dear,” Grams said slowly, like she was talking to a toddler.
“But you’re still going,” he pointed out. “Why not do something that won’t leave som
eone in the hospital?”
An amused smirk crept across Val’s lovely lips. “I’m a big girl, Andrew. I can handle it.” She pulled a bottle out of her pocket. “I’ve got Benadryl with me in case something happens, but it’s not like I’ve never dealt with dogs before.”
“And if you can’t see to drive home?” he countered. “You were hired to help keep Grams safe, and if you’re out of commission, you can’t do that.” He regretted the words as soon as he said them.
Val stiffened and all amusement fled from her features. “I apologize, Mr. McPherson.” Val turned to Lola. “Your grandson is correct. If I have a bad reaction, I won’t be able to do my job properly. We can have the supplies delivered and go do something else.”
“Absolutely not!” Grams stomped her foot. She glared at Andrew, her hands on her hips. “Now look here, Andrew. We’ve planned a perfectly wonderful outing where I can hug cute, little animals and spend money to my heart’s delight. I thought I raised you better than to come in and rain on someone’s parade.” She looped her arm through Val’s for a show of support. “Valentina is an adult. She’s perfectly capable of knowing where her boundaries lie, and she told me she would be fine with a few precautions, and I believe her.” Grams tilted her chin down and furrowed her brows. “Having a bodyguard was your idea, so you don’t get to step in now and complain. Let her do her job.”
Andrew ground his teeth, frustrated that nobody seemed to be willing to listen to reason. I’ll just have to go with them, then. Guess it’s a good thing I’m not working today. He pulled his keys out of his pocket. “I’ll follow you.”
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Grams stepped sideways to block his path. “I don’t want you along.”
“Excuse me?” Andrew’s eyebrows shot up and he jerked back a little. “Aren’t you the one always complaining I don’t spend enough time away from work?”