Holding on Tighter

  that person exited so I might be able to track him. As it stands now, we’ve no idea whether the culprit is someone working in one of the adjacent businesses, one of the cleaning crew, a random loon, the prowler from last night, or someone else entirely. These precautions will help keep us insulated from future incidents.”

  Jolie crossed her arms, wearing one of her stubborn expressions. “I recognize that I hired you to secure the facility, and I truly wish we’d been more prepared for the recent rash of problems. But I wasn’t anticipating anything intrusive. Isn’t there another way?”

  “Would video and audio recordings seem less pushy? They’re not much good for preventing a crime or stopping one in progress but are helpful in prosecuting after someone’s already been attacked or killed. Is that what you want?”

  “No. I thought you’d put better locks on the doors, maybe recommend a few more lights in the parking lots and a better firewall around our computers. This . . .”

  “Is my area of expertise. Should I review my qualifications with you again?”

  She sighed. “No.”

  “Fine, then. I’ve sent you a detailed e-mail with all the associated costs for the equipment I’ve recommended, as well as monthly maintenance fees. Let me know if you have any questions in the next hour. If not, I’ll spend this afternoon installing everything.”

  “You can do that yourself?”

  Why that surprised her, Heath wasn’t sure. “For the most part. I may call in an extra hand or two but I never use any equipment I can’t properly utilize. Too risky, otherwise.”

  She sighed and finally took a seat. “All right. When we’re done here, I’ll take a look and let you know whether to proceed. Let’s get down to the rest of our business. Do you have any other recommendations to make the building and all our intellectual property more secure?”

  Heath spent the next thirty minutes outlining those suggestions. He also returned her computer to her with added security and a mechanism that attached the machine via a locked cable to a bolt he’d have anchored in the concrete slab beneath her desk. She followed along, asked insightful questions, and picked apart his answers, negotiating for protocols she believed would balance the need between the safety of Betti’s employees and their privacy. She frustrated the devil out of him because she’d argue with anyone about the color of the sky if she thought it would benefit her business, but she really was one of the brightest women he’d ever met.

  Intelligence had never been a specific turn-on. Anna had been loving, joyful, and a bit reserved. She would rather have watched cute videos of puppies and babies and couples holding hands than anything about politics. She’d avoided discussing things like war, genocide, nuclear proliferation, the international economy, and terrorism. She hadn’t enjoyed the mental challenge of a good crossword. Not so Jolie.

  And he couldn’t deny that he found his temporary boss a refreshing change from all the young party girls he’d spent his evenings with for the past six years.

  Once they’d agreed in theory to his office security proposal, Heath sat back. Perhaps it would be more polite not to stare but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Negotiation made her eyes glitter a dazzling shade of green. And how interesting that, as silence fell, she looked everywhere but at him . . . Now that she’d experienced how incendiary they were together, was she having trouble walking away, too?

  That really made him wonder about her reaction to his next recommendation.

  “Once you’ve approved the proposal via e-mail, I’ll send everyone in the office the updated security protocols. In light of last night’s break-in and another potential breach today, I’m implementing all the measures effective immediately. I’ll be checking everyone’s access and, of course, be here to answer any questions. Most importantly, I will monitor all the entrances and exits around the building and investigate anything out of the ordinary.”

  “There will be pushback,” she warned.

  “As their boss, you can give them a bit of encouragement.”

  “I’m paying for this, so you can bet I will.” She gave him a sharp nod. “But none of that changes who they are. Gerard can’t be bothered with anything practical. Rohan will be cranky with the extra two seconds it will take before he has his nicotine fix. Wisteria will lose her badge, guaranteed. Karis may make a sign protesting Big Brother—or in this case, Big Sister. Arthur will complain if we impede his access to that damn video game. I think he’s got an addiction.”

  Jolie might not like to show that she valued their happiness. It probably didn’t fit with her tough businesswoman persona . . . but Heath saw.

  He hid a smile. “In Arthur’s defense, the RPG he’s immersed in now is quite well done.”

  “RPG? Never mind. I don’t think I want to know what that means. I didn’t know you’re a gamer.”

  There was a lot she didn’t know about him. “A casual one. In most cases, I’d rather read or go for a run.”

  Jolie wrinkled her nose. “Run? No thanks. If I’m going to sweat, I’d totally rather do yoga. Or Zumba. You like to dance?”

  “The only time my feet have moved in any haphazard fashion, I was dodging bullets.”

  She laughed, then seemed to remember they were supposed to be having a professional relationship. After clearing her throat, she stacked her papers, then studied him with a carefully blank face. “Is that everything?”

  “Not precisely. How much do you know about Richard Gardner?”

  “Good family. Old money. His sister is a lovely woman. He graduated from West Point. He’s worth nearly a billion dollars.” She’d done her homework. “Gardner can afford to put a big stake in Betti and it would still be a baby investment for him. He knows nothing about fashion, just making money. He’ll be a great silent partner.”

  “You’ve met him?”

  “Socially. We had a long conversation at a recent AIDS fundraiser, which is how we decided to explore Betti as an investment opportunity for him. He’s a big advocate for LGBT causes.”

  “But he’s not gay.”

  “I never said he was.” Her eyes widened. “Tell me you didn’t investigate him.”

  “And lie to you? I won’t bother. So you know he’s a skirt chaser?”

  “It’s ironic you should accuse him of that.” Jolie leveled a sharp glance at him. “But I doubt Richard’s first concern is what’s under my skirt.”

  “Has he flirted with you?”

  She shrugged. “He flirts with everyone, even his brother-in-law’s ninety-year-old grandmother and his great-niece who just learned to walk. He likes females and has the kind of charisma many respond to.”

  Would she? The question disturbed Heath. “Do you want him to chase what’s under your skirt?”

  Jolie tilted her chin and sent him a measuring glance. “Would it matter?”

  It shouldn’t. Normally, it wouldn’t.

  He tried to phrase his next words carefully so he didn’t sound like a possessive prick. “I think you need him as an investor far more than as a lover. I hope for your sake that he shares your priorities.”

  Brilliant. That didn’t sound as if he might rip the man’s balls off and shove them down his throat if he made a pass at Jolie.

  Heath swallowed. Normally, he wasn’t the jealous sort. Of course, he never stayed around long enough to care. Hell, he hadn’t been half this angry when Axel had swooped in and stolen Mystery away.

  “But you’re not holding your breath?” she asked. “That’s what it sounds like.”

  “Precisely.”

  “As it happens, I’m not interested in mixing business with pleasure. I’d rather not muddy the waters or deal with more distractions. Besides, if I’m in his bed, I’ll be on his radar. I want a silent partner.”

  Heath felt some tension bleed away. Hopefully, that meant he wouldn’t need to restrain an urge to commit murder tomorrow night.

  “I’ll be watching your back to ensure everything goes smoothly,” he swore.

  T
hat put her on alert. She gave him a narrow-eyed glare. “At the restaurant? You can’t be there.”

  “I will,” he shot back instantly. “And I won’t change my mind.”

  “Last night does not give you the right to follow me to my dinner with Richard. It’s not a date; it’s business.”

  “The purpose is irrelevant. I’m going.”

  Her face closed up. “No. You’re not involved in my business, and I’m not discussing what happened between us last night.”

  Normally, that would suit him. He hadn’t “repeated” once since he’d started hooking up about a year after Anna’s murder. Normally, slipping away from a one-night shag was simple because he never saw the woman again. He never thought of them or missed them. He was never tempted to seek any of those women out once more.

  Jolie didn’t fall into that category. And he wasn’t willing to accept her brick-wall attitude.

  “Until we have more answers, I’m not comfortable assuming that whoever broke into your office won’t return. I don’t like the veiled threat in the note delivered with Karis’s candy. So I’ll not only be your security specialist, I’ll be your bodyguard. As such, I’ll be your shadow at dinner.”

  She shook her head. “But nothing violent has happened.”

  “This is non-negotiable, Jolie. I won’t bend because you don’t like it. The only way you’ll be rid of me is if you sack me.” Even then he didn’t think he could merely leave. “And before you consider that notion, think about the safety of your other employees. Do you want them unprotected?”

  “That’s manipulative.”

  “But true. So if you pop out to the grocery store, I’ll be there. If you decide to attend a yoga class with Callie, I’ll tag along. If you hit a pub with the girls, if you shop for clothes, if you stand on your balcony, if you go on a date—”

  “You can escort me from the office to my front door. I promise to go straight in and lock up for the night. Then you can go home, retrieve me the next morning, and take me to the office.”

  She wasn’t comprehending, so Heath intended to make himself perfectly clear. “Break-ins happen. So do assaults, rapes, and murders. I’m now your bodyguard. End of discussion.”

  She huffed out a little sigh. “You’re not spending the night again.”

  “I am. I won’t touch you but I also won’t leave you unprotected.”

  “How do I know this isn’t some ploy to seduce me?”

  “If that’s all I wanted, I wouldn’t be talking to you across this table. I’d be kissing you and reminding you that I know exactly how to make you scream in pleasure. Wouldn’t that be more effective if all I wanted from you was sex?”

  As if she didn’t have a good argument for his logic, she switched gears. “And my sister? I’m worried about her safety. No one has tried to reach me, just my computer. But she was here last night when someone broke in. She’s received gifts—”

  “I’ve thought of that. I’ll be calling in a few favors and finding someone to watch over her when she leaves the office.”

  “I don’t want a stranger staying in her apartment while she sleeps. Besides, you’ve seen how small it is. Where would she put anyone?”

  He stood and drew in a steadying breath. Jolie had worked herself up. Too much stress with all the unexpected lately. The anxiety of her investor dinner tomorrow night was likely weighing on her. He needed to calm her down, get her out of her own head for a bit. He had a fabulous idea how to accomplish that, but since they both had reservations about tangling the sheets again, he’d have to think of another way.

  “Leave it to me. I’ll make something work. You really don’t have to control everything.”

  Jolie looked as if she wanted to argue. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you think is happening here? Are all these incidents related?”

  He’d wondered when she would start asking the more difficult questions. Now that they’d settled most of the immediate issues, Heath figured she’d start digging for answers.

  Pacing the length of the whiteboard, he chose his words carefully. “The timing is awfully coincidental. I have no proof . . . but with the facts we have now, I don’t see another possibility. Someone is playing a head game with you. I don’t know what they want yet. I also can’t promise that whoever is causing this mayhem isn’t violent. So I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe.”

  “If he’s playing games with me, why involve Karis?”

  “Perhaps he’s using her to get to you because he sees her as your weak spot.” Heath knew well how those could be exploited. “Maybe the gifts are intended to butter her up so she’ll influence you or lull her into a false sense of security so she’ll help him with something intended to take you down. Without more information, I can’t say. I only know I don’t like dodgy pricks who threaten women in any way.”

  Jolie looked down pensively, as if she didn’t know what to say. “If he could use her to influence me, then he’d probably suspect he could use her to hurt me.”

  “Precisely. Until I can assign someone to watch her, maybe it’s best if she stays at your place so I can protect you both.”

  The suggestion clearly surprised her but she nodded in relief. “Thanks. I worry about Karis. Until we understand what’s going on, better to be safe than sorry.”

  “That’s the attitude. I’ll need a list of all your appointments for the next week so I can be in sync with you. I suggest cancelling whatever you can, especially anything public. If you’re a target, being out in the open makes you easier to reach. I also want to know the moment you receive any contact that seems remotely threatening. You won’t leave my sight.”

  Jolie gathered up her belongings and stood. “Try not to get in my way. And don’t think about seducing me again.”

  Heath knew he should let it go but . . . “Who surprised whom naked and waiting last night?”

  She flushed, then turned to open the door. “Go to hell. I’ll have your answer about the security equipment in an hour.”

  ***

  AT four o’clock, Jolie found herself frustrated and exhausted. After reading Heath’s security bid and agreeing, he’d gone straight to work, barking at Wisteria to take everyone’s picture. Now the sounds of power tools distracted her, and knowing Heath loomed nearby was killing the rest of her concentration. She had a few more finishing touches to put on her proposal for Gardner, but she could complete them at home later, in peace, with a glass of wine. And hopefully, Heath would still be here, installing the card readers and whatever else.

  Looking for a change of scenery, she ignored her untended inbox and texted Callie. I need to skip yoga. Meet me for coffee?

  Less than a minute later, Callie answered. Since I’m too pregnant to do much more than waddle to the bathroom, yoga is out of the question for me. Love to!

  As soon as they agreed on a location, Jolie tiptoed to her office door, peeking out. Everyone appeared hard at work for once. Gerard perched over a sketch pad as if inspiration had finally struck. He swooped his pencil over his pad feverishly, looking like his fingers were doing their best to keep up with his brain. Karis and Rohan murmured together in his cubicle about something on his screen. Arthur frowned as he balanced receipts against his records. Wisteria typed at a slow but steady pace on her e-mails, working around her long, canary yellow nails.

  And Heath had shucked everything above the waist except a tight ribbed tank while he installed the security equipment. As he drove a screw into the wall with a power drill, his biceps bulged. His shoulders flexed. Every bit of his lean torso bunched in silent power.

  Jolie swallowed her tongue.

  Why did the only man she’d ever craved have to be the one who made her feel so vulnerable?

  Yeah, some time away from the office—and him—would help her concentration. Heath would be pissed but she really didn’t need a bodyguard. The recent events had been admittedly unnerving, but no one had truly threatened her. Whoever had broken in seemed more
like a desperate business rival hoping to steal secrets and use her sister’s soft heart to get to her than a hardened killer.

  Grabbing her purse from her desk drawer, Jolie tucked it against her chest and crept out the door. With a sigh of relief, she drove away. She needed to clear her head before making the biggest pitch of her career. She wouldn’t get that if Heath was around.

  Fifteen minutes later, Jolie pulled into an upscale coffeehouse in a well-established part of Dallas. Glass and chrome gleamed everywhere, accenting an open fire pit, dark wood, and sleek lines. Everyone here sipping coffee in the late afternoon looked incredibly busy, impeccably dressed, and reeked of money.