Protecting the Boss

by Beverly Long

  “Fine,” her sister said. “No different from when you asked me two hours ago.” She said it without angst. She knew Megan worried. And tried to be a good sport about it. She was sweet like that.

  But under all that sweetness was a rip current of manipulation, Megan had realized, when two days ago, her sister had no trouble using Megan’s concern to her advantage to get Megan to agree to hiring security.

  Megan had been excited to be away from Carmel, away from the craziness that had permeated her life for the last few months. The craziness that nobody else had heard, seen or believed, especially the police. The craziness she hid from Abigail.

  The way her life had been going lately, she should not have been the least surprised that it was Seth Pike she’d shared a dry spot with earlier that afternoon. Coincidences, both alarming and not, seemed to abound lately.

  “Mr. Pike,” she said, extending her hand to him. He was still standing by the side of his desk. His shirt and pants were drying but he looked as if he could use a good iron. “Good to see you didn’t melt.”

  “Oh, I’m not that sweet,” he said.

  No, but he was a bit of eye candy. Lean and tall, but not too tall. Probably just under six feet. His dark brown hair was cut short and he had very light brown eyes. His skin was tanned.

  “Ms. North, I presume,” he said.

  “Please, just Megan. After all, we have history.”

  Abigail looked at Seth, then Megan. “Do you two know each other?”

  They both shook their heads. Megan turned to her sister. “Earlier today, I got caught in the rain. As did Mr. Pike.”

  “Seth,” he said.

  “As did Seth. We shared a canopy before I had to dash to the bank. Which, by the way, went well.”

  “Good,” Abigail said.

  “Now that I see the two of you together, the resemblance is definitely there,” he said.

  She was six years older, seven inches taller, and had dark hair. But she understood. Their eyes were the same shape and almost the same color. They both had their mom’s smile and their dad’s long fingers. “Most people don’t see it,” she said.

  “I have always taken some pride in not being most people,” he said.

  There was a pregnant, no pun intended, pause in the room. Megan looked from her sister to Seth Pike. “So, did you two get the details all worked out?” She tried hard to keep the irritation out of her voice.

  “I think I’ve got the basics,” Seth said. “You and I will need to work out some of the finer logistics. Which should not be as painful as your last root canal,” he added.

  Ouch. Maybe she wasn’t doing that good of job of keeping her feelings at bay. “Of course,” she said.

  “Two rooms have already been booked,” Abigail said. “Our assistant did that weeks ago when I thought I’d still be able to go.”

  “Excellent. If you’ll give me your email address, I’ll send over the contract this afternoon.” Seth pushed a piece of paper her direction and held out his pen.

  Once the contract was signed, it would be too late. This was her last chance to put a stop to this nonsense. She could find another way to give Abigail peace of mind.

  She stood up. “Actually, Seth. I—”

  Chapter 2

  “Oh, good,” Seth interrupted. “You made it.” He waved his partner in. Earlier, Trey had mentioned stopping by to say hello. Now his timing was impeccable, because Seth had a feeling that Megan North was about to pull the plug on the whole deal and all he knew was that he didn’t want that. “Trey, this is Megan North and her sister, Abigail Chevalier. Ladies, my partner, Trey Riker.”

  Trey shook both women’s hands. “Kellie’s mom mentioned that you were expecting, too,” he said to Abigail.

  “I can’t believe you’re having twins,” Abigail said.

  “We’re still sort of in shock,” Trey admitted. “But stoked.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “And Kellie is feeling good?” Abigail asked.

  “She’s a trouper,” Trey said. “Doc says both babies are over three pounds right now. Due date is two months away.”

  Seth was happy for his friend. Trey and Kellie were lucky to be alive. Kellie’s diabolical former boss had tried to kill them, and only because they were both supersmart and resourceful, they were here to tell the story.

  “It’s been a while since we’ve seen the McGarrys,” Abigail said.

  “Actually, that’s why I wanted to stop in. We’re having a little party tonight, a combined baby shower for Kellie and me and a wedding shower for Rico, another partner, who is getting married soon. We’d love to have both of you join us. It will give you a chance to catch up with Kellie.”

  Seth saw the quick look of distress in Megan’s eyes. “It won’t be pizza,” he said, reminding her that she’d let the cat out of the bag that she had a free night, “but I can promise the food will be good.”

  “That sounds like so much fun,” Abigail said.

  Megan turned to her sister. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”

  “Absolutely. Where and when?”

  “Here, and any time after six,” Trey said. “And please, no gifts. I know this is a last-minute invite and I don’t want you worrying about that.”

  “I guess we’ll see you then,” Megan said.

  “About that contract?” Seth asked. “Should I email it over?”

  Abigail nodded. “We’re just so grateful that you were able to see us on such short notice and that you’re available for the assignment.”

  He looked at Megan. She was staring at her sister.

  Finally, she turned to him and very deliberately picked up the pen that he’d previously offered. She scribbled down her email address. “Yes, so grateful,” she echoed. The pen dropped back onto his desk with a thud.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Trey said. Both women moved toward the door.

  And just that fast, Seth was alone. The room seemed dimmer somehow, as if the sun had slipped behind a cloud.

  He was going on a road trip with a beautiful woman. Hadn’t seen this one coming. And didn’t feel bad that he’d used circumstances to stack the deck in his favor when it had appeared that Megan might back out at the last minute. Could claim that he’d done it to preserve the $30,000 fee. Their business was successful, but that wasn’t pocket change and would certainly help the monthly financials. But he hadn’t really been thinking about that. Had been solely focused on the fact that he’d let Megan walk away from him once and he wasn’t going to do it a second time.

  He didn’t profess to believe in fate but then again, he generally didn’t disavow the possibility, either.

  The dynamics between the two sisters were interesting. He wanted to know more. They’d certainly have time to discuss it. The distances between those cities were all one-day drives but in places, there wasn’t much to see.

  An hour later, Rico Metez walked by his office, whistling. For some reason, the man had started whistling after falling head over heels in love with Laura Collins and her four-year-old niece, Hannah, whom Laura had now officially adopted. Rico was going to become a husband and a father at the same time. And he couldn’t wait.

  “Why are you whistling?”

  “I’m just happy, man. Hey, Jane showed me the contract.”

  “I know you normally take care of those things, but it was kind of a rush job and I wasn’t sure when you were returning to the office. I will be back for your wedding.”

  “I saw that and the rest of it all looked good, too,” Rico said. “Ten days on the road and then finishing up the assignment with two days in Vegas. You want me to look in on your mom at Everpark? I know they watch their residents really closely but just in case.”

  “I’m going to run out there tomorrow morning before the assignment starts. If something comes up while I’m on th
e road, I’ve got you, Royce and Trey all listed as emergency contacts.”

  “And we’d all step in just this quick. Your mom is amazing.”

  “No argument here.”

  Rico smiled. “I’ll see you at the party.”

  “I can hardly believe you and Laura are finally getting married.” He knew Rico would have done it last fall, but Laura had really wanted to wait until everything with Hannah was all straightened out and that had taken a while. “By the way, Trey expanded the guest list.”

  “No problem. We have enough food for twenty more guests. Who?”

  “The new clients, Abigail Chevalier and Megan North. They’re sisters. Megan is the one I’ll be traveling with.”

  “I was talking with Trey about them yesterday. Sad situation with their parents, isn’t it?”

  He had no idea what Rico was talking about. “What?”

  “They were killed in a small plane crash.”

  He could hear the concern in Rico’s tone, knew that the man was trying to be sensitive given that he’d lost his dad in the same way. “Recently?”

  “No. Something like fifteen years ago. Kellie’s mom and Mrs. North were close friends and Mrs. McGarry tried to keep tabs on Megan and Abigail after the crash. But as the years went by, the visits were more sporadic and it was mainly a social media post here or there that kept them updated on each other’s lives. I got the impression from Trey that Mrs. McGarry was pretty impressed that Megan had done such a good job raising Abigail.”

  “Raising?”

  “Yeah, Megan is six years older. She was twenty and Abigail was fourteen. She gave up college to come home and take care of her little sister.”

  He understood about helping family. He’d move heaven and earth and whatever else was in his way to help his mom, who had sacrificed so much for him. And he didn’t generally like to talk about it, either. In the early days of Wingman Security, he’d worked two jobs once it became apparent that it would be better for his mom to relocate somewhere where her home wasn’t so isolated. Sure it had been hard. But family helped family.

  But she’d really been just a kid herself. He was more confident than ever that there was more to Megan than a pretty face.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet either of them. What’s your take on the sisters?”

  “They’re very different in looks but I could tell they were sisters. Abigail seems very sweet.”

  “Megan not sweet?”

  “I don’t know yet. She talks fast,” Seth said. “Dresses pretty stylish. I suppose that goes along with owning a boutique.” He paused, unwilling to share that she’d knocked him off his stride. His partner would never let him hear the end of that. “Not my type,” he added, shaking his head.

  Rico frowned at him. “I thought this was a work assignment, not a date.”

  “Of course,” Seth said. “Just making conversation.”

  * * *

  Megan rarely had trouble deciding what to wear. She loved clothes. Occupational hazard. But she wasn’t sure what one wore to an office party that seemed to be less about babies and weddings and more about the friendship of the four Wingman Security partners. She felt terribly awkward, as if she were crashing a private event. It didn’t matter that she had an invitation.

  More of a command performance.

  But it would be good to see Kellie again, who was closer in age to Abigail. Megan had been closer to Anthony McGarry, who she understood was now some renowned spine surgeon. She’d always felt sorry for the McGarry kids, in that they’d lost their dad when Anthony had been in high school and Kellie had been just a little girl.

  Of course, ultimately they’d been the lucky ones because they’d still at least had their mom. Odd how circumstances changed.

  She hadn’t unpacked her clothes for the one night in Las Vegas, believing that she’d be staying in, ordering room service. Now she opened her large suitcase and pulled out a light blue silk dress with delicate cap sleeves. Then she slipped her bare feet into silver sandals. Changed out her gold jewelry for silver and was ready to go. Was halfway out the door when she remembered her umbrella. Definitely didn’t want to be caught in another torrential rain without it. She stepped back inside the room and scooped it up.

  When she walked out of the hotel and onto the Las Vegas Strip, there was no rain, just a light breeze. It was still very warm. Probably in the low eighties. There were lights and noise and all kinds of people on the sidewalks. She thought about walking the seven blocks to the Wingman Security offices but decided that her sandals weren’t necessarily made for that. She asked the valet for a cab and within minutes, she was on her way.

  And arrived too soon, because Vegas was made for people watching. She paid the driver and got out, glancing quickly across the street at the boutique. The Vegas store would be the last store to reopen. Remodeling efforts were still underway, but she had confidence in their general contractor and knew the place would be ready by the time she returned. There would be new fixtures, new flooring, new paint, new artwork and a cool coffee bar to support her and Abigail’s upscale vision. Right now, it was still chaos and the big windows were lined with brown paper so that people passing by couldn’t get an early look.

  She bent forward and gave a sniff to the sweet-smelling flowers that were in big planters, spaced every six feet along the wide sidewalk that ran between the building and the street. Just a few blocks off the main drag, this area was much quieter. Not deserted in any manner, thank goodness. That would be bad for business. But a shade calmer, befitting the vibe they were trying to create in their stores.

  She pulled open the door, felt the blast of air-conditioning and turned back to get one more breath of warm, fragrant summer air. And when she did, she caught the quick movement of somebody stepping inside a door across the street. Not her building, which housed her boutique and several other small businesses, but the one next to it. Moving so fast that she couldn’t even tell if it had been a man or a woman.

  Like they didn’t want to be seen.

  Had somebody followed her here? Was she being watched at the hotel? Had they flagged down a cab and chased her here?

  Or had someone somehow discovered that she was returning to this office tonight?

  Or was she simply losing her mind? Because that’s what it seemed like.

  It was more of the same that she’d been experiencing for months. Footsteps behind her. Doorbells ringing in the middle of the night and no one at the door. Hang-up phone calls from numbers that she couldn’t trace. Muffled conversation beneath her open second-story bedroom window.

  The overwhelming feeling that she was being watched.

  She debated running across the street and searching the other building. Knew the idea had big holes. She was ill-equipped for action in heels with no means to protect herself.

  And more importantly, she really wasn’t brave enough. Because whatever it was, it felt sinister.

  * * *

  It was twenty minutes to seven when she finally arrived. Cocktail hour was well under way but Seth hadn’t had a drink yet. And when the elevator door opened and she stepped out, in something pale blue and silky and several inches above her knee, he thought that was why his throat was suddenly dry.

  And maybe the music and the crowd of people in the lobby explained the humming in his ears and his general feeling of light-headedness. He crossed the room fast.

  “It...uh...looks...uh...different,” she said as he reached her.

  Her voice was shaky. And did she seem a little preoccupied? Maybe even upset? Had something happened? “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yes, of course,” she said, not meeting his eyes. Her hand was clenched so tightly around the handle of her umbrella that her fingers were white.

  Something definitely wasn’t right. “No rain expected tonight,” he said, deliberately staring at he
r clenched hand.

  She tapped the wooden nub at the end against the ceramic tile flooring. Nervously. “I’m going nowhere without my umbrella. Ever again.”

  “Ever is a long time.”

  He watched as she drew in a breath. Then another. Saw her fingers relax. “True,” she said.

  He reached for the umbrella. “Why don’t I take that and stow it back here,” he said, motioning to the credenza behind Jane’s desk.

  “Thank you,” she said. “I may need some of these,” she said, casually looking around at the array of small tables, “when we reopen the Vegas store.”

  “I’ll make sure Jane gets you the contact information for our vendor.” He had to admit that it looked good. Jane had arranged for small high-topped ones along with some leather bar stools to be brought in, to provide adequate seating for dinner. They were scattered throughout the lobby and in other areas. Strands of lights had been hung and candles lit.

  “Were you waiting for me?” she asked.

  He hadn’t been. Not really. But like before, her presence had changed the room. “Abigail arrived just a few minutes ago,” he said. He pointed across the room where Abigail was chatting with Trey. “I thought you might come together.”

  She waved to her sister. “I’m at the hotel, but her husband’s parents live in Vegas and she’s staying with them.”

  “I thought he was French.”

  “He is. They are. It’s a fish-out-of-water tale. They’re here for just a few years. Mr. Chevalier is technically retired but he’s mentoring some high potentials in his old securities firm. I imagine they’ll be back in France within two years. But them being here was actually a stroke of luck for Abigail and me. We’d been looking at properties and she saw the Vegas store on one of her visits. While it wasn’t being run well, we could see its potential. One thing led to another, and well, you know the rest.”

  “I imagine you’re excited about being an aunt.”