by Raine Miller
A stack of letters and papers waited on her desk for her inspection. Truly not in the mood for mundane things, she gathered them up and started to sort out the junk mail when an all too familiar square envelope dropped onto her desk. A sick dread pushed all other feelings aside.
Carra, her assistant, stepped into her office. The usual morning smile melted off her face like a Popsicle on a hot day. “Is that another message from the stalker?”
Cold chills pricked Lexi’s arms. She looked up and nodded. “I’d hoped the police would have something by now. This guy is being a real pain in the ass.”
After setting down her coffee up, Carra took the note out of the envelope and silently read the contents. “He wants to get married now.”
A frustrated breath swished between her lips. “I want to think it’s harmless.”
“Not me.” Carra declared with the determined set of her jaw. “I’m calling in extra security for tonight’s event. Five hundred people will be there. That asshole stalker could be among them. I’m not taking any chances.”
Due to little sleep, Lexi’s head hurt and her eyes burned. She’d completely forgotten about the dinner party. How would she ever make it through a three-hour event? “You handle it. I have several meetings today, and I need to catch up on a few things.”
“I’ll take care of it right away.” Carra turned to leave, but stopped, her hand on the door jam. “Didn’t you go to Vegas this weekend?”
Lexi raised her head. “Just for a day. I returned Saturday afternoon.” She shrugged and picked up her mail. “Too much excitement for me.”
“Boring.” Carra waltzed out the room, a smug smile on her face.
Lexi watched her walk away, thinking if she only knew.
That brought to mind everyone’s perception of her. Smart. Educated. Charming. Boring as hell. Friday night danced through her mind, and she pressed her lips tight to keep a saucy smile at bay.
CHAPTER 5
Jack caught up with his team late Sunday night, but they’d been too swamped with immediate issues to find out much about Howard. Jack let it go in lieu of a good night’s rest.
Sleep dodged him like someone behind on their credit card payment would a debt collector. No matter how tired he was, he couldn’t close his eyes, much less fall asleep.
Monday morning, he hit the floor, putting out fires and verifying background checks. He’d planned to do a little digging tonight only to be a man short on a last minute assignment.
Frustrated, he rushed through his day and made arrangements to dedicate tomorrow to finding his missing lover.
After parking his vehicle, Jack entered the Governor’s Gala at the Convention Center held at the Gaylord Texan. He went through the usual check points to make sure every entrance was covered and only ticket holders made it into the event.
He’d been apprised of at least one serious threat, and there were always nutcases. A lot of important people were attending the function. The Governor had his own security, but Jack’s team had been hired to back them up should anything happen.
Glad for the distraction, he did his job methodically, thoroughly, and professionally. Nothing would be left to chance. His security service was held in high esteem because he stayed one step ahead of the bad guys.
People milled around in masses, sipping champagne and munching on appetizers. All served by the staff of the hotel dressed in black pants, vests, and white shirts with black ties. He’d checked every employee of the hotel, and they all appeared to be who they said they were.
But Jack was a careful man, and he knew how easy it would be to disguise as a server just to get into the party. And do what? He had no idea, but he and his men kept alert should anything go wrong.
Tapping the earpiece, he checked that all his men were online and in position. Randy, his second in command, covered the back door, while Kevin, the bouncer, took the kitchen and Bud, the rowdy one, had the balcony. That left Jack as the free roamer. Meaning, he looked for anything suspicious. And in his line of work, he had to be a cautious person.
Any hint of a glitch and he’d stop the whole procession. No incident could be allowed. If anyone made a fast move, hundreds of people’s lives were at stake.
The overhead lights flickered, indicating it was time to be seated. Jack moved to the back of the room and watched the stage.
The Governor appeared to a huge round of applause, and Jack made his way closer to the stage. The fifth guy, Jenkins, Jack’s go-to guy, was stationed behind the curtain to make sure everything back stage went as planned.
Jack didn’t listen to the speech; his eyes roamed over the people serving the tables. Each one discreetly centered the fine china without glancing at the stage. Still, Jack continued his diligence.
After the silverware and glasses quieted down, a familiar voice spoke in his ear bud. Pausing, he focused on the other side of the ballroom. He stopped and turned around. After a few seconds, he walked closer.
“Report to station two,” rang through his earpiece.
Careful not to raise attention, Jack made his way across the room and through the swinging doors to the kitchen. Kevin and Randy had a man on the floor, his hands zip tied behind his back.
“What’s going on?”
“Manager came up to me and said this guy isn’t an employee,” Kevin replied. “He was dressed to fit in, but I’d alerted the kitchen chef earlier to be on the look-out for an imposter trying to pass himself off as a regular employee.”
“Good job. Let’s get him to his feet.”
Kevin and Randy each grabbed an arm and pulled the man upright. The perpetrator was in his early thirties with balding brown hair and wild brown eyes. With a smirk on his face, the detainee spit on the floor. “What do you think you’re doing?” he shouted. “I want a lawyer.”
“Police are on their way,” the manager blurted out.
“We’ll let the police sort this out. But if you’ve been stalking our client, the penalty is pretty stiff.”
A young woman dressed in a fluffy pink confection of a dress stalked into the kitchen. She stopped in front of the captured man. Pointing, she narrowed her eyes and hissed. “I bet that’s the guy. I’ve seen him hanging around the grounds.”
“I can be where ever I want.”
She reached out and slapped him. “Not now you can’t. Dickhead.”
Jack stepped between them. “Don’t hit a man with his hands behind his back.”
“I should punch him in the face. He’s a pervert, and he’s made the women in my office afraid to walk to their cars. We called the police, but he’s always gone before they arrive.”
“If what you say is true, I’m sure the prosecutor will press charges.”
“We also have all the freaky love letters he sent. The guy’s a real sicko.” Finished, she spun around and went back to the party just as a uniform walked toward them from the back entrance.
“Okay,” Jack said. “Return to your posts and stay sharp. We don’t know if this is the guy or not. But I’m not taking any chances.”
Jack showed the officer his credentials and explained the situation. With the suspect in custody, Jack went back to the dining hall and took up a position near the back of the room.
A round of applause filled the air as Jack checked that each man was back to his assigned location. His eyes traveled slowly over the crowd. Everything looked under control, and another speaker stepped up to the microphone.
He turned toward the sound. At center stage stood the woman he’d spent Friday night with.
Decked out in a beautiful black evening gown that artfully hid most of her luscious curves, Jack feared he was dreaming.
The air in his lungs seized, and he stared in disbelief.
State Representative Alexis Ryan.
He had her.
Slowly, he stepped forward. She was more beautiful than he’d imagined. Her ginger-colored hair piled elegantly on top of her head while tiny strands brushed against her neck. Her lips
were spread into a wide, welcoming smile, flashing teeth so perfect he knew braces had had to fit in her life at some point.
And he knew they were a perfect match to the tiny marks on his shoulder.
In the middle of the room, he listened to her speech, but had no idea what she said. Her pitch was perfectly executed, and she looked comfortable in the public speaking arena.
A politician.
That explained why they couldn’t release any information on her at the hotel.
In a matter of seconds, he stood directly in front of the elevated stage and stared.
He knew the exact moment when she recognized him. Her speech faltered. She verbally stumbled and almost knocked over the microphone.
***
The room grew silent. Faces motionless. Lexi’s heart paused when their eyes clashed like two souls destined to meet on a battlefield.
Everything in her power had been done to prevent him from learning who and what she was. Completely exposed, she drew in a lungful of stale air and found it impossible to pull her gaze away.
Dressed in a tuxedo, expensive dress shoes, and a crisp white shirt, he’d moved from absolutely handsome to knock-down, drag-out delicious.
She tried to pull her eyes away.
A blush of shame and uncertainty stung her cheeks. Trapped like a hunted animal, she imagined the surroundings hard, cold, unwelcoming like she didn’t belong.
The whole degrading scenario played out in her mind. Perhaps, no longer worthy. People’s eyes hardened as if she’d betrayed them somehow.
The shocking headlines of a ghost newspaper danced before her eyes, causing her career to spiral downward. Her constituents held little patience for foolishness. A scandal would destroy everything she’d accomplished.
Little did Jack Harrison know, but he held her world and her future in the palm of his hand.
One word.
Snapping back to reality, she finished her speech, yet couldn’t recall a single term. With as much elegance as she could muster, she bowed and walked across the stage to hide behind the curtain. There, she slumped against the wall and tried to calm her racing heart.
Carra walked over to her, her pink dress swishing as she moved. Concern pulled her features tight. “You okay?”
“Yes,” Lexi managed. “I’m just tired.” Then she saw him weaving his way toward her and sweat moistened her palms. Dread tiptoed up her spine. He stopped in front of her as if expecting an explanation. She had none.
Silence stretched out for an eternity. “Hello, Miss Ryan. That was an inspiring speech.”
“What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
He took up all the space. The air. Her thoughts.
Carra moved to stand in front of her. “Mr. Harrison owns Trident Security. They caught the man who has been stalking you.”
“What?”
“I hired them,” Carra repeated. “I told you this morning I was going to up security.”
She placed her hand on Carra’s arm. “Now, I remember.”
Carra cocked her head. “You sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine.”
With a smile, Jack stepped forward. “Miss Ryan and I have met before.” When her eyes met his, he backed away as if she’d slapped him. “Nice seeing you again.”
And then he was gone. Just like that. She blinked and licked her lips. He left, and the area expanded to its normal size.
Stunned, she walked then ran toward him. He turned and looked back. She stopped on her tiptoes. He stood, looking at her with a quizzical expression like he was unsure what she wanted. Questioning why she pursued him.
Surely he knew.
Didn’t he?
“Mr. Harrison.” The voice spilling from her mouth sounded desperate, beseeching and tight. She clenched her fists in anger. No, not anger…shame. Shame that he’d learned her secret, and shame that she’d assumed the worst.
That he’d tell.
He didn’t answer her. Instead, he clasped his hands and waited, giving her a chance to explain.
She didn’t deserve his courtesy. She hadn’t extended it to him.
No.
She’d assumed the worse.
“I owe you an apology.” The ten feet between them seemed to stretch to twenty. “I…”
“Are you afraid I’ll say something about what happened in Vegas?” His tone challenged her dignity, lowered her confidence, and politely put her in her place.
The truth started as a tiny flame in the middle of her chest and flared throughout her body like a forest fire. She couldn’t face him. Her cowardliness prevented her from seeking his face.
Instead, she turned and walked away.
***
Jack had left the dinner last night and had gone straight home. He didn’t hang around to exchange conversation with his client or make small talk with the team.
He went directly home, locked his doors, and sat down with a bottle of bourbon. Liquor, he could trust, liquor didn’t pretend, and liquor never walked away from a fight.
His hot little sex kitten had turned out to be a woman respected and admired by the entire state of Texas. Why didn’t he recognize her in Vegas?
Could be his mind had been so preoccupied with the hottest body he’d ever been next to that he didn’t recognize the obvious? A cruel, insane, unrealistic thought touched his mind.
Had she done that before?
He immediately dismissed the idea and resisted the urge to punch himself in the face. For some crazy reason, he wanted to protect her.
Her fear permeated the air backstage. He knew the last thing she needed was a scandal, and he damn sure wasn’t going to give her one.
Not him.
The betrayal in her green eyes had knifed his heart. She didn’t think him honorable enough to keep his mouth shut. He took another gulp of liquor.
What had he done to deserve her mistrust? Hell, he ran a security company. He could write a fucking book on the stupid things people did.
But he never would because he wasn’t that kind of man. He minded his business and that of his clients. He protected them from people who knew their secrets. Who protected State Representative Alexis Ryan?
After another sleepless night and feeling more confused than the one before, he walked into his office building and rode the elevator up to the fourth floor.
When he pushed the door open to his office, Janie, the receptionist with weird spiky black hair, stopped him with a worried frown. “Hey, boss, Alexis Ryan is sitting in the waiting room for you.”
“Did you show her to my office?”
Janie shook her head. “Said she didn’t want to be a problem. Insisted on waiting until you had time to see her.”
“Okay.”
“You know she’s a politician, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“She’s not the Governor, is she?”
“No, she’s a State Representative.”
Janie squinted one eye and scrunched her lips. “Does that make her higher than the Governor?”
“No.” He closed his eyes in disbelief and wondered what they were teaching kids today.
Jack went to the waiting room. As soon as their eyes met, she jumped to her feet. “Can I help you, Miss Ryan?” If she wanted to act like nothing happened between them, fine.
Her tongue flicked out to wet her lips, and Jack nearly dropped his briefcase. Today, she wore a very nice navy blue dress that fit like a latex glove. Not flashy sexy, but oh, the implications were there, all right.
“I hoped we could talk.”
He waved his hand. “My office okay?”
She walked beside him, carrying her purse in her left hand, her right dangerously close to his.
After he opened the door, she walked ahead of him and took the upholstered chair in front of his desk. The door closing made her jump slightly.
He hid a smile as he walked behind his desk and relaxed in his chair. She was so much more beautiful than he’d rememb
ered. During their raunchy night, he’d missed the golden flecks in her green eyes, the fine sculpture of her nose, and the gentle curves of her cheeks.
But he knew that mouth like his own name. Full, wet, inquisitive, and amazingly talented. The delicate flair of her dark eyelashes accented her entire face. A face that haunted him at night, a face he couldn’t forget, a face beautiful enough to grace a magazine cover.
“Talk,” he said. He wanted to know what she had to say. Listen to her excuses, her lies, and her charades.
“I’m sorry about last night.”
Surprise slapped him in the face like an ocean swell. His anger dissolved faster than salt in water. And Jack felt the world right itself.
She tugged at the hem of her dress; although, he couldn’t see that anything was revealed.
“No need for apologies.”
“Yes, there is. I judged you very harshly last night, and I’m sorry for that.” She placed her folded hands on his desk. “When I saw you last night, the first thing I thought about was my reputation and career. I shouldn’t have done that. I should have told you who and what I was on the phone.”
He smiled. Sexy, honest, and maybe a little humble. He liked that. “I can understand your concern. It’s only normal. After all, you don’t know me.”
“All the reason I shouldn’t have been so quick to assume the worst.”
“No harm, no foul.”
She stood, held out her hand, and said, “Thank you very much, Mr. Harrison.”
He accepted her hand, wanting to pull her across his desk and strip every thread of clothing from her perfect body. “How about dinner?”
First shock, then trepidation, then denial. She looked away. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why? Because we spent a night in a hotel room having a good time?”
A curtain of restraint masked her lovely features. Her eyes flashed back to his in a blink. “Are you asking for a repeat?”
“No. If I wanted that, I wouldn’t bother with dinner. I’d just ask for a long night of fucking each other.” While his words were calm, the meaning was clear. She brought it up first. She drew first blood. He wanted to see where the conversation would go. Just how fragile was she?
“That’s crude.”
