Courting Gossip

by Kimberly Dean

  Rielle shifted uncomfortably. ‘I tried to call, but nobody answered. I got nervous.’

  ‘Sorry,’ Genieve said. ‘I’m still not used to that phone. I tried to pick a ringtone, but I might have muted it. Or it might have fallen under the be – bureau.’

  Brody said nothing. If the phone had rung, he hadn’t heard it. He didn’t even know if it had been in the room.

  ‘I could have dropped by the office for the contracts,’ he said. They were taking a chance coming here like this. He’d tucked Genieve away for a reason.

  ‘It’s not a problem,’ Darien said, once again looking like the Rock of Gibraltar. ‘Rielle wanted to check on how things were going.’

  And make sure her friend was safe? Brody fumed. She was safe with him. He wasn’t as sure about her safety at Luxxor.

  He held out his hand. ‘She’s good. We’ll sign now, and you can take Nina back her copy.’

  ‘Oh, Brody,’ Genieve said. ‘Do they have to go so soon?’

  He looked into her crestfallen face. She had been going stir-crazy out here alone. He’d given her a backup phone, but it wasn’t the same – especially if her friends couldn’t get through.

  Rielle gestured towards Darien. ‘It might have been presumptuous, but we brought food.’

  The guy was carrying plastic bags. The scent of Chinese food wafted through the foyer. On cue, Genieve’s stomach let out a growl. She’d missed lunch because she’d been angry with him.

  ‘Please, Brody. Can they stay? I want to hear all the latest.’

  He relented. When she looked at him like that, he couldn’t say no. He was a loner, but she needed to be social. Nina had warned him, and he could deal with her friends. Her work was becoming a more bitter pill to swallow.

  ‘It’s probably a good idea to get caught up.’ He pointed down the hallway. ‘The kitchen’s that way. Just give us a minute, and we’ll join you.’

  The moment he got Genieve to the safety of the hallway, she bounced up and planted a hot kiss on his lips. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Don’t thank me,’ he muttered. ‘Death by Chinese food would have been embarrassing.’

  She laughed. ‘Darien’s not that bad.’

  ‘Just put on something modest,’ he said. Her friend might have the guy on a leash, but there was no need to put a steak in front of a wild dog.

  Uneasy with strangers in his house, Brody quickly put on a white shirt and shoes. Not formal, but not as casual as he’d been with Genieve here alone. He was rolling up his sleeves when he passed the guest bedroom and heard female voices. Rielle had apparently joined Genieve for some girl chat, leaving him alone with…

  Great. The Terminator.

  Brody nodded as he stepped into the kitchen, and Darien jerked his chin up in response. Brody wanted this over and done as quickly as possible. He looked at the set-up. There was room for four at the kitchen table by the window, and, with food in boxes and Styrofoam containers, it seemed like the best option. The lower-key he kept this, the better.

  He moved to the cupboard to get plates. ‘You work for Luxxor?’ he asked.

  ‘Nope.’ The man wasn’t forthcoming with his place of employment.

  Brody nodded towards the spot where Darien was unconsciously rubbing his stomach. ‘Do you need some ice or something?’

  He planted his hand on his hip. ‘I’m good.’

  ‘An injury?’

  ‘Got knifed.’

  Brody’s head swung around. ‘You’re screwing with me.’

  Darien shook his head slowly. ‘Someone came after Rielle. I wasn’t going to let that happen.’

  Brody put the plates on the counter. ‘I get that.’

  ‘I thought you might.’ The man crossed his arms over his chest, and his biceps bulged. It wasn’t that he was overly big or bulked out. It was more about the way he held himself, and the way he watched everything as if he was always on guard or ready to strike. ‘I was sent here to make sure you’re treating Red right.’

  Brody paused while getting the silverware out of the drawer.

  ‘Am I going to get stabbed again?’ Darien asked dryly.

  ‘You’re getting close.’

  ‘Good,’ the tough guy said. He broke rank and went to the table to unload the food from the bags.

  Brody frowned.

  ‘I’d break your wrist before you could get close, but it’s the thought that counts.’ The man opened a container and peered inside. He put it at the seat next to him. ‘Genieve’s important to Rielle and the people at Luxxor. It’s good to know she’s important to you, too.’

  Brody cleared his throat. ‘My client needs this swept under the rug. It only makes sense to give her a place to hide.’

  Darien laughed. ‘Right. And you decided to tuck her into your bed for safekeeping.’

  Brody went glacial. Friend or not, the guy needed to tread carefully when talking about Jenny. He might not be able to beat him in battle, but, with a name and not much more, he could find information to end him. ‘Watch it.’

  Darien looked at him impassively. ‘You know, I heard you were a viper, but in this case I think that may be a good thing.’ He pointed a stern finger. ‘Just don’t fuck her over.’

  Brody bristled, but heard the steady stream of female chatter coming down the hallway. ‘You take care of your girl, I’ll take care of mine.’

  Darien nodded. ‘Fair deal.’

  Rielle and Genieve walked into the room, and Brody’s gaze naturally honed in on the redhead. She was wearing the sundress she’d managed to save from the bread fiasco. It looked breezy and sexy on her. She was infused with energy, and the smile on her face made him ache. She’d given him that smile a time or two now, but he only now realised how much this situation had worn on her. She should be smiling like that all the time.

  Her grin widened as she took a deep whiff of the food they’d set out. ‘Oh, that smells good. I’m so hungry.’

  She tucked up against his side, and Brody draped his arm around her uncertainly. He supposed it was no secret. They’d been stripped down when their guests had arrived and they were bringing them a stinking sex contract, but still…he wasn’t used to such open and natural easiness around people. Or such trust.

  He pulled out a chair for her while Darien passed a white box to Rielle. ‘Here’s your broccoli beef.’

  ‘Mmmm, thank you for bringing this,’ Genieve said.

  ‘I got orange chicken for you, but we weren’t sure what you like, Brody.’ Rielle smiled softly. ‘We brought an assortment.’

  Brody decided he liked the pretty brunette. She was sweet, but there was an element of iron beneath it. She’d stood toe-to-toe with him at the door to get in to see her friend. ‘I’m not picky.’

  They dished up an assortment of way too much food and sat down together.

  ‘How are things at the office?’ Genieve asked. ‘Are they quieting down?’

  Rielle and Darien shared a look.

  ‘Um…no,’ her friend finally responded. ‘There were reporters staked out outside the building today.’

  Brody went still. ‘Looking for Jenny?’

  She nodded.

  He’d known they’d be digging for more information. ‘How far did they get?’

  ‘The address,’ Darien said dryly. He took a drink of the iced tea Genieve had brought to the table. ‘The building is secure. They can’t get in, and nobody is talking to them.’

  ‘But they’re digging into Luxxor?’ Genieve asked.

  ‘Nina is dealing with it,’ Rielle said, patting her arm. ‘I think what they really want are pictures of you.’

  ‘You mean pictures of me crying,’ Genieve said with a roll of her eyes.

  Brody’s jaw set. Those photographers were going to be waiting a long time. He wasn’t above much when it came to spinning a story his way, but he wouldn’t make her do that.

  ‘What about Luxxor’s computer systems?’ he asked. She’d been working on database information all afternoon.

/>   ‘Secure,’ Darien said.

  There was no hint of doubt there. Brody looked at the man for a long moment, then decided to take him at his word.

  Rielle patted her mouth with a napkin. ‘Nina was called down to the police station for questioning, but I think she nipped the investigation into Luxxor in the bud.’

  ‘Morgan?’ Brody and Genieve asked at the same time.

  ‘Cleared her.’ Darien and Rielle echoed each other, too. ‘And Luxxor.’

  Concern still lined Rielle’s forehead. ‘But Nina needs to step carefully. That’s why she sent me over here.’

  ‘We weren’t followed,’ Darien said.

  Genieve slumped back in her chair. ‘I thought things might be getting back to normal.’

  Normal. Brody swirled his fork in his lo mein. He was going to have to change her definition of that. Life at Luxxor was not normal, even at the best of times.

  He levelled a look on Darien. He had a sense that maybe he had access to information he himself hadn’t been able to get. ‘Has there been any progress on finding out who put in the anonymous tip to TMI?’

  ‘Morgan is working on it. He’s like a bulldog. He won’t give up until he knows who did it – and why.’

  Rielle shrugged. ‘Well, it does involve Nina.’

  Yes, but it also involved Genieve, and Brody didn’t want the detective finding out about her line of work. That solution wasn’t a solution for them at all.

  ‘Gunderson seems to be coming out of it smelling like a rose,’ Darien said. He lifted an eyebrow. ‘How does that work?’

  Not well, and it was getting clunkier all the time. Brody pushed his food around his plate. He worked for Gunderson, but he wanted to protect Genieve. The two goals didn’t always converge.

  ‘It’s my job,’ he said flatly. He dropped his fork and sat back. Genieve looked at him worriedly, but he patted his full stomach. He wasn’t going to ruin her evening for her. ‘That hit the spot. Thank you.’

  ‘Mmm, so good,’ Genieve agreed as she snagged another egg roll.

  Rielle nudged Darien. ‘I told you so.’

  She stood up to clear plates and between the four of them the cleanup was quickly handled.

  ‘Well, I suppose we should get down to the matter of business.’ Rielle said the words crisply, but her expression had turned uncomfortable.

  Brody watched her steadily, not giving an inch. It made him feel better that not everyone at Luxxor took this so casually.

  ‘Let’s go to the living room,’ Genieve said. She sent him the evil eye as she grabbed her drink and breezed on by.

  They gathered before the fireplace. Brody took a seat next to Genieve on the sofa and watched as Darien and Rielle settled into the easy chairs across the coffee table. The tough guy had quieted down again and, from being the energy in the space, had gone back into protector mode.

  Brody didn’t like all the watchful eyes. This was something personal that he and Genieve had already worked out together, but he wasn’t backing down. Not with reporters swimming around DC like sharks, looking for her. He needed to keep her here, safe and sound. If he had to pay to do it, he would.

  ‘Where do I sign?’ he asked.

  ‘Not so fast.’ Rielle pulled two copies of the contract out of the envelope and put them on the table. ‘This has our standard terms of payment, liability and confidentiality. Please read that last part carefully. You’re bound to disavow any knowledge of Luxxor, its employees or its line of work.’

  Brody nodded. There better be a confidentiality clause. He wasn’t planning on going from the frying pan into the fire. He read through the agreement carefully, but frowned when Genieve just turned through the pages. How many of these had she signed? His shoulders stiffened until his neck pulled, but he got through the verbiage. It was pretty standard contract fare, but airtight in the places he needed it to be.

  Rielle tucked her hair behind her ear with an unsteady hand. ‘Nina said the two of you would work out the…uh…scope?’

  The kink in Brody’s neck twinged, but Genieve just pointed at the notebook still on the coffee table. He flipped through the pages and tore out the one they’d negotiated. He grabbed a pen to write down the addenda and stared at the list hard.

  ‘What was that last condition you added?’ he said quietly to her.

  Her green eyes flashed dangerously. ‘No mention of my job.’

  Right. That mistake that had nearly gotten him banned to the couch for the night. After the afternoon they’d spent together, he hoped that wasn’t still in force.

  He showed her the list. He couldn’t remember any more.

  She skimmed it slowly, showing more interest. It assuaged some of his irritation with the whole process. This wasn’t standard practice. He didn’t care how they acted.

  She nodded and he got up. ‘Let me make a copy of this.’

  He went to his office alone and stood over the copier, wanting to punch it as it spewed out the guidelines for their personal relationship. This wasn’t what he’d wanted at all – but he had to take what he could get. Without a Luxxor contract, he would never have met her in the first place. He reined himself back in before rejoining the others in the living room. He put the papers face-down on the table and returned to his seat.

  ‘OK,’ Rielle said with relief. ‘I guess the only thing left is time frame? I left that blank, because I didn’t know what you were thinking.’

  Thinking? He hadn’t been thinking. He’d been playing catchup on this whole thing ever since he’d received that call from Genieve in the middle of the night. A scandal wasn’t something even he could plan for. He’d been spinning things as he went along, but now they wanted to know when it would end. The most important thing was to keep her protected. You didn’t put a time frame on that.

  He looked at her hard. ‘That’s up to you.’

  He was bastard enough to feel better when she shifted uncomfortably.

  ‘Open-ended until one of us decides to terminate?’ she said.

  ‘So an ongoing arrangement?’ Rielle suggested.

  ‘Done,’ Brody said.

  Rielle jotted down the agreement and, finally, leaned forward with two pens. ‘If you’ll both sign each copy?’

  Brody signed fast. He just wanted this over. The contract was a necessary evil. He dealt with those every day, but this one’s bite had a lot more venom.

  Genieve took more time. She wiggled the pen and ran her finger down the contract, line by line. Brody frowned and rubbed her back. Was she having second thoughts? She was the one who’d pushed things to another level.

  ‘If you don’t want to, that’s OK,’ he said softly.

  She let out a breath and leaned forward. The papers soon had her signature right beside his. Brody felt her hand slide into his and he gave it a squeeze.

  Rielle gathered up Luxxor’s copy and tucked it into her envelope. She sealed the end and then looked at them, watery-eyed. ‘I don’t know if you two can see it, but you’re good for each other.’

  ‘Don’t screw it up,’ Darien said bluntly.

  The visitors looked at each other. ‘I guess we’ll be going.’

  ‘Oh, no. Not yet.’ Genieve scooted forward on the sofa. ‘It’s still early. Stay.’

  Darien lifted an eyebrow. ‘Sure we won’t cramp your style?’

  Brody nearly growled at him, but he saw the look in the other man’s eye. He wasn’t being tactless. He knew this hadn’t been easy for either of them.

  Brody let out a breath and squeezed Genieve’s hand again. Whatever she wanted was fine by him. ‘What were you thinking?’

  She rubbed her chin as if deep in thought. ‘We could play darts.’

  ‘Darts?’ Darien said in surprise.

  A happy smile spread on her face. ‘Brody’s been teaching me.’

  An unexpected laugh escaped Brody, but he quickly covered it with a cough. The little con artist.

  She patted him on the back. ‘OK?’

  ‘Sure. D
arts it is.’ He looked at Darien and deadpanned. ‘She needs the practice.’

  Chapter Ten

  Genieve was dreaming about the markers she’d collected from Darien and how she was going to make him pay up when a shrill sound ripped her out of sleep. She jerked awake and was momentarily disoriented. When Brody sat up beside her, she remembered they were in his bed. After her friends had left, he’d helped her move out of the guestroom. It was the first time a client hadn’t jumped on her immediately after signing an exclusive contract, and it had given her a warm feeling inside.

  The harsh trill came again, and the warm feeling chilled. It was a phone. Brody got up quickly. Genieve sat up and pushed her hair out of her eyes.

  ‘It’s not mine,’ he said, ‘it’s yours.’

  She still didn’t recognise that ringtone. He moved to the dresser and brought it to her. She juggled it in her haste to answer. It was late…too late for someone to be calling. Her breath caught when she saw the caller’s name. ‘Nina? What’s wrong?’ she said in a rush.

  ‘Don’t panic, sweetie. Nobody’s hurt. Everybody is fine.’

  ‘OK.’ Genieve’s chest still felt tight. Brody turned on the light and sat down beside her. Her hand fell on his thigh and she squeezed. Nobody called at this hour unless it was something that couldn’t wait.

  ‘I’m sorry to call in the middle of the night, but I have bad news,’ Nina said calmly. ‘Honey, your house was broken into.’

  For a moment, Genieve didn’t understand. Her house? She’d become so immersed in playing house with Brody, she almost listened for intruders. But then it all came back. Her real life. Her home.

  ‘My rowhouse?’ She pulled her feet underneath her and got up on her knees. ‘Oh, God. What did they take? How bad is the damage?’

  The thought of strangers walking around her home and poking into her things made her queasy. Her house was her space. Her private oasis. Her stomach contracted, and the Chinese food didn’t sit well. She remembered Brody taking her there to get her things. Everything had been fine then.

  He took the phone from her hand and rubbed her back. ‘Nina? We’re on our way over there now.’