Finn’s home was open concept, so she moved to the kitchen where she could keep an eye on him. “Hey, Tyler.”
“Another one of Finn’s ex’s is dead?”
“She’s just missing…isn’t she?” Sometimes Tyler had information before the authorities.
“I suppose, but we both know they’ll find her body. Someone wants to hurt him.”
“There hasn’t been a direct threat yet. It might not be about him.” Not that she believed that for a moment. “How did you even hear about it? She’s been missing less than twenty-four hours.”
“I have my ways.”
No doubt about that. “I’m working on a list of people for the techies to research, but it’s small.”
“That’s because everyone loves him. Well, except for millions of opposing team fans.”
“If someone is doing this to hurt him, they’d have to know him pretty well to target people close to him,” she said.
“Maybe, maybe not. You can google his name and compile a pretty accurate list of his dating life.”
That flare of jealousy sparked again. What was that? “Can you get someone researching Darcy Driessen? I know nothing about her except she claims to be the president of Finn’s fan club, and she’s been known to stalk him.”
“On it. Let me know when you have other names to check out.”
“I will and Tyler, we haven’t discussed the fact that you neglected to notify Finn about my arrival.”
“Oops, did I forget to do that? Sorry, Kayla.”
“That sounded genuinely sincere, Tyler,” she said facetiously.
“Okay, I’ll admit that I didn’t tell him because I was afraid he’d refuse the protection. But you’re there now, and I feel so much better. Please watch out for him, Kayla. He’s a good man.” Tyler was always the goofball, the office clown, so to hear him speak so seriously was jarring.
“You have my word.”
She disconnected and glanced up to see Georgiana had threaded her arm around Finn’s again. He looked visibly uncomfortable as she stroked his biceps. The woman was certainly not subtle.
She decided to help him out. “Finn, Tyler needs to speak with you.” She wiggled her phone in the air. “He said it’s urgent.”
Relief flashed on his face. “I’ll be right there.”
The pout on Georgiana’s face was so immature and childish, Kayla had a hard time refraining from a serious eye-roll.
“But Finn, darling, I thought we could go to Sunday brunch. My driver’s waiting for us.”
“I have to decline, Georgiana. I’m sorry. I need to take this call.” He was able to herd her to the door and outside despite her sputtering protests. He turned around with a relieved sigh. “She’s a bit much, huh?”
“Definitely. She wants you bad.”
He scoffed at the notion. “She just wants to keep in touch with her players. Don’t say it,” he grinned when she opened her mouth to do just that. “Bad choice of words. Is Tyler on the phone?”
“No…well, he was, but I was giving you an out.”
“Thank you. If you hadn’t been here, I’d have been roped into lunch with her.” He glanced at his phone as a text came in and groaned. “Damn. With Megan’s disappearance and the cops showing up, I forgot all about the game tonight. Are you sure you don’t want me to cancel?”
“No. As I said, I’d like the opportunity to observe your friends.”
“You surely don’t believe it’s someone close to me.”
“I like to cover all bases.” Even though she was a darn good poker player, she needed to sit back, analyze his friends and watch the interaction to ascertain if any of them looked guilty. “Who will be here?”
“My teammates Arnie Roman, Jacques Boucher, Dmitry Petrov, and Barrett Jarvis. Also, Shawn Langer, my agent, and Clint Groves.”
“Let me see if I get this straight. Dmitry is the left defenseman, Barrett the right. Jacques is the left winger, and Arnie the goalie. You’re the center, so that’s only five of the starting six. What about the right winger?”
Finn made a face. “Trevor Short. You could probably add him to the suspect list.”
Her eyes widened in understanding. “He’s the hot-shot rookie who sat out the playoffs.”
“Yeah, because of me. He blatantly flaunted breaking team rules. He even bragged about his transgressions and posted them on social media. As captain, I called him on it. He’d been a distraction most of the season.”
“Missing the playoffs could definitely be motive,” she agreed, mentally adding him to her list. “You said you’ve known Shawn and Clint since high school?”
“Yeah, we played hockey together.”
“So, they know Tyler, too.”
He grimaced. “They weren’t the nicest to him. Once I befriended him, they were better, but I don’t think Tyler ever forgot how they treated him. They were just stupid teenage boys, picking on the weak. They’ve both matured into better people.”
She wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince her or himself. “Shawn’s your agent. What does Clint do?”
“He’s an athletic trainer for the Punishers. I put in a word for him, and they hired him.”
“How did three boys from New England end up in Pittsburgh?”
“I signed a contract out of college. Shawn was my agent even before he earned his degree. He’s damn good at it. Clint opted for the military before going back to school. He followed us here two years ago.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting them.”
“Before that can happen, I need to do some shopping. Chips, dip, the usual poker game accouterments.”
“Let me change, and I’ll be ready to go.”
What she really needed to do was grab her gun. She never left home without at least one. This would be their first official outing as a “couple,” so she applied makeup and changed her top, making sure to include her vest.
As they headed to the garage, she said, “We don’t know that you’re a target, but I’d like for you to wear a Kevlar vest whenever you go out. They aren’t bulky. You can’t even tell you have one on.”
She expected an argument. Instead, he agreed. “Okay. If you think I should, I will.”
Reaching into the back of her SUV, she withdrew the vest she packed for him and handed it over. He whipped off his shirt, and she tried not to ogle his ripped torso. After he secured it, he tugged his shirt back over his head.
That’d been easy. Hopefully, this would be, too. “Also, we need to take my SUV any time we go out. It’s fully equipped.” Meaning bulletproof side panels and glass. Plus, she’d have access to her arsenal if needed. Who knew when a flashbang or K-bar knife might come in handy?
He agreed again, and even though she had a hard time relinquishing control of the wheel, he knew the city. It’d be simpler for him to navigate the streets instead of giving her directions, so she reluctantly handed over her keys and climbed into the passenger seat.
Chapter Four
Kayla was surprised to feel a flutter of nerves as Finn’s friends started arriving. She was known for her calm composure in any situation. She could face down armed terrorists and deranged killers without breaking a sweat. When a bomb needed defusing, she had a steady hand to get the job done. Take out a gun-wielding madman from a hundred yards? Just hand her the rifle. But the prospect of meeting Finn’s inner circle had her stomach tied up in knots even the most skilled boy scout couldn’t unravel.
It mattered what the people closest to him thought of her. She spent time in the bathroom, getting ready. She rarely wore makeup, but she was a pro at applying it, thanks to her years as a beauty contestant. She even added volume to her hair. She told herself she was doing it for herself, but she knew it was for Finn. She wanted to look nice for his friends. She was acting like his girlfriend. She needed to look the part.
The evening called for dressy casual clothes, which she did not pack. When they went for groceries, she had Finn stop at a cute boutique while she
ran in to shop. She quickly found several outfits, pairs of shoes and pieces of jewelry and purchased them since she wasn’t sure how long she’d be in Pittsburgh. She wanted to be prepared for any occasion. She’d also picked up a snow globe for BeBe’s collection. Kayla and her coworkers tried to buy one any time they traveled for an assignment. The sheer joy on BeBe’s face when they handed them to her was priceless. Kayla was excited to find one with the Pittsburgh skyline that included a miniature Westfield Arena where Finn played hockey.
She chose the sea-green vintage-inspired halterneck-tie dress with a form-fitting cut and a cute boho floral print for the evening’s festivities. The knee-length garment was both flirty and feminine, with a dramatic open back. A pair of chunky sandals and simple gold hoop earrings finished the ensemble. She told herself she didn’t purchase the dress because it matched Finn’s eyes, but she was lying to herself. She’d been drawn to it the moment she walked in the door.
“Wow,” Finn murmured as she came down the stairs. His gaze took in every detail. “You look incredible.”
“Thanks. So do you.” And did he ever. He’d showered and shaved, and the subtle woodsy scent of his cologne had her wanting to stick her nose against his neck and inhale. He wore a red polo shirt with the Punishers’ logo that accentuated his broad shoulders and khaki shorts that revealed muscular calves.
The alarm on the gate buzzed. Showtime.
She glanced out the window. “Is that a taxi?”
“Yeah, the guys all find rides here so they can drink. They’ll take a taxi or Uber home, but sometimes they crash here, especially Shawn and Clint.”
Two tall, beefy men entered with their fists out for Finn to bump. One stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted her, causing the other to crash into his back. Finn shoved them good-naturedly and then introduced her to Arnie Roman and Jacques Boucher. She’d watched them play on television, but she never would’ve recognized them without their hockey gear.
“Man, Finn, how did you get to be so lucky,” Arnie said, his gaze never leaving Kayla. “You get all the trophies and all the beautiful girls.” He shook her hand and then brought it to his mouth to drop a kiss on the back.
“Knock it off, Roman,” Finn groused. He emphasized the words with a slap against Arnie’s shoulder until he released her.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kayla,” Jacques said as he shook her hand.
Finn’s other two teammates arrived, and she suffered through Barrett Jarvis and Dmitry Petrov lavishing the same praise on her. This was why she rarely wore makeup or did anything other than pull her hair in a ponytail. Men were superficial. She was more than her looks, which came from her parents. She had nothing to do with them. She was smart, capable and skilled. Most didn’t look past the exterior. Finn did. Maybe that’s why she felt such a connection to him.
Finn’s phone dinged a text. “This can’t be good. It’s two words from Shawn. I’m sorry.”
The gate alarm sounded, and after checking the monitor, he groaned. “He brought Georgiana.”
Kayla groaned, too. She had no desire to deal with her again, but she would be civil to the woman who held Finn’s financial fate in her manicured hands.
Shawn entered first, mouthing another apology to Finn. His steps faltered when he spotted her.
“It’s good to see you again, Finn, darling.” Georgiana kissed him on both cheeks before stepping around him and honing in on Kayla. Kayla ignored her to focus on Finn’s high school friend. He was handsome, reminding her of a young Blair Underwood. He wasn’t as tall as Finn, maybe five-ten or so, and looked like he kept in shape. She smiled under his intense scrutiny. His direct gaze had her wanting to spill the entire story of their fake relationship. Instead, she inhaled deeply and schooled her features.
“Shawn, this is my girlfriend, Kayla.”
“Girlfriend?” Shawn glanced at Finn. “When did this happen and why haven’t you told me about her?”
“We just reconnected. It happened so suddenly, I haven’t had the time.”
Shawn turned his attention to her, his gaze direct and assessing. “I can see why he’d kept you hidden. He wanted you to himself.” He shook her hand. “You are lovely.”
“Thank you.”
“Isn’t she?” Georgiana inserted herself into the conversation. “She’s why I insisted you bring me with you. I know it’s a boy’s night, but I thought us girls could get to know each other better. Especially if you’re going to be a part of my star player’s life.”
Kayla hoped Georgiana couldn’t tell her smile was fake. The last thing she wanted to do was get to know the woman. She needed to observe the interaction between Finn and his friends. How was she supposed to do that with Georgiana distracting her?
The noise level in the house skyrocketed with each arrival. Everyone was talking and laughing. Finn was in deep conversation with Dmitry when his other high school friend arrived, so she let him in. He was around six feet tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He came to a complete stop, backed up, and looked at the outside of the house again before entering. “Am I in the right place?”
“Hey, Clint,” Finn said as he walked over. “This is my girlfriend, Kayla.”
She didn’t think she’d ever tire of him introducing her that way.
“Girlfriend?”
“It just happened recently.”
If she thought Shawn’s stare was uncomfortable, Clint’s was twice as intense. He took her hand and held on. “Marry me.”
She laughed and tugged her hand away, feeling strangely uneasy. She was used to people complimenting her beauty. She tried to be polite, but sometimes they made it hard. When she was working, her coworkers always treated her as one of the team. No one went easy on her because she was a woman. They challenged her, battled her, accepted her and never gave her an advantage. She appreciated that more than she could say.
#
Finn had the irrational urge to throw a blanket around Kayla to cover her up. Not that her dress was obscene or anything. It wasn’t. No cleavage showed, and it fell to her knees, but it showcased her fit figure, toned arms and made her legs look a mile long. Her muscles were defined but still feminine. She’d applied makeup and fixed her hair. He’d barely managed to suck his tongue back inside his mouth when he spotted her. She needed nothing to accentuate her features. She was stunning without a stitch of makeup. But now she looked drop-dead gorgeous and way out of his or any man’s league.
Despite wanting to cover her up and keep her to himself, he was so damn proud to show her off to his friends. With her dazzling smile and sweet charm, he had no doubt they all would fall in love with her—even the married ones. If he was honest with himself, he was half in love with her, too, despite barely knowing her. He felt both happy and content when she was around, like a piece of him he didn’t know was missing.
He’d admit that her beauty initially drew him to her. So much so, he asked Tyler about her. But having spent time with her, he realized she was so much more than a pretty face. He’d never tire of talking to her. She was intelligent, insightful and funny. He loved her sense of humor. She told him stories about the son of one of her coworkers that had him laughing out loud. He’d met Kai Costa at Tyler’s wedding, but he didn’t know about his brave heroics, which were no laughing matter. The kid was a genuine hero.
All the people he met at Tyler’s wedding had been incredible. He’d been shocked to discover Tyler’s bosses were married to celebrities. One was an Oscar-winning actress, the other a pop superstar. He’d met former baseball player Reed Steele before, so it’d been nice to reconnect. Reed was married to one of the agents. He’d had loved to spend more time with Tyler and his coworkers, but the call about Nina’s disappearance had him leaving sooner than he planned. He’d barely gotten to meet the woman who stole Tyler’s heart.
As he seemed to do whenever she was around, he sought Kayla. Jacques was showing her pictures, no doubt of his adorable twin girls. Kayla laughed and looked up, meeting his
eyes. Awareness zipped between them. Oh boy, he was in so much trouble.
Chapter Five
Finn ordered half a dozen pizzas, and everyone retreated to the game room in the basement. Kayla helped him set up the snacks on a table when they returned from shopping earlier in the day, so there was an assortment of food and drinks. He poured everyone a glass of their favorite beverage as they settled in to eat and play poker.
Kayla picked a bar stool where she could watch the action and laugh at the good-natured trash talking. Georgiana stepped behind the bar like she owned the place and perused his wine selection. “Red or white?”
She would’ve been just as happy with a beer, but she’d play along with the owner, hoping to gather some intel. The woman was too hung up on Finn. Was it possible she was eliminating any threat standing between them? “Red.”
“My choice, too.”
It wasn’t as if Kayla would taste more than a sip, anyway. She didn’t drink on the job, and evaluating the people closest to Finn was work. She needed to be sharp and focused.
Georgiana selected a bottle and uncorked it with expert efficiency. After grabbing two glasses, she filled them generously and placed one in front of Kayla. Finn had turned on several games on the television wall as they prepared to do battle on the poker table.
Kayla surreptitiously studied Georgiana over her glass. She was striking in a plastic way. Definitely a nose job, and Kayla would bet money her breasts were fake. Generally, the bottom lip was fifty percent thicker than the top, but Georgiana’s top lip was so puffy, it looked unnatural. She also detected faint scars along her ears—a telltale sign of a facelift.
“What are your intentions with Finn?”
Kayla slapped a hand against her mouth, almost spitting out the sip of wine she hadn’t even realized she tasted. Intentions? What right did this woman have to ask? She wanted to snap out a harsh response, but Georgiana held Finn’s future in her bejeweled hands. “We’re reconnecting. Dating.” Not that it was any of her business.
Iron Cross (COBRA Securities Book 20) Page 6
