Executive Protection

by Jennifer Morey

  “You do,” Darcy said for him. “I can tell.” When Thad would have protested, Darcy cut him off. “I know you. You love her.”

  He didn’t want to love her.

  “If you throw it away, you’ll never forget her, and you’ll never find anyone like her. If you’re really sure you’ll never get married, you’ll get exactly what you ask for if you let Lucy go.”

  The truth of that reverberated inside him. What if he was making a mistake letting Lucy go? Was he letting her go?

  No. Something powerful inside him rebelled against that. And yet...

  “It scares you,” Darcy said. “You’re afraid. I get that. But there comes a point when you have to leap forward and take a chance.”

  “I need time to think about it.”

  “Don’t take too much time. Lucy won’t wait for long.” Putting his bowl of popcorn aside, Darcy stood. “I should get home to Avery. She’s getting off work right now.”

  Thad stood, too, and then followed him upstairs. Seeing him out the door, he heard voices in the kitchen and went there. His mother and Lucy were still up and they were deep into a serious conversation.

  “You’re well enough to take care of yourself,” Lucy said. “You don’t need me anymore.”

  Was she going to leave? The swell of regret gripped Thad. No. She couldn’t leave yet.

  “Perhaps. And there couldn’t have been anyone more capable than you, Lucy, but I’d like you to stay regardless. You’re safer here.”

  “I was never in danger. Cam wasn’t involved in the shooting.”

  “Lucy. We don’t know what the shooter will do or who is working with him. You could be vulnerable.”

  “I don’t see how.”

  “You mean something to Thad. You could be used against him.”

  “I don’t mean enough. He’s barely spoken to me over the past few days. I think it would be better for both of us if I just left. I need to get on with my life. Go back to work at Duke...”

  Her voice trailed off, but what she would have said next hung in the air.

  “Find a man,” his mother said.

  Lucy sighed.

  “Give it a little more time,” Kate said. “At least until after Trey’s wedding.”

  His older brother’s marriage was coming up next week, at the end of March.

  “I don’t know if I can.” Lucy sounded sad, her voice low and without energy.

  Thad turned away from the door and leaned his back against the wall, letting his head fall back. He had avoided her since they’d come back from the Outer Banks. So full of confusion, he didn’t hear Lucy and his mother leave the kitchen. Lucy was the first to appear through the doorway. He lifted his head. His mother stopped behind Lucy, both surprised to find him there, both knowing he’d heard what had been said.

  “I’m going to bed.” His mother left them alone.

  Thad straightened from the wall and faced Lucy, at a loss for what to say.

  “I should go to bed, too.” Lucy started to walk away.

  Without knowing why, he took hold of her arm and stopped her, gently bringing her back to him.

  “My mother’s right. You should stay.”

  She eased out of his grasp. “Why?”

  For him. But he couldn’t say that, so he didn’t say anything.

  Disappointment dulled her usually bright green eyes. “Did it mean nothing to you?”

  “No. It did.” She had to know Carova had meant something. It meant too much. “I just...”

  “Feel safer running away.”

  Many thoughts bombarded him, all of which he should verbalize so that she understood him. If only he could organize them all and start with one.

  “Lucy...” He reached for her, wishing she wouldn’t put so much pressure on him.

  She stepped back. She’d made her requirements clear. She was asking him to be open to whatever the future brought. But he couldn’t do that. Although she claimed not to expect marriage, he knew that she did. If not with him, then someone. The idea of her with another man gathered in a tight ball in the pit of his stomach. But then, so did the idea of getting married.

  Watching him, Lucy’s lips quivered subtly. He thought she would cry. She turned away before he could be sure. He didn’t go after her. If he did, he’d comfort her, reassure her, and where would that lead? Down an unknown road with bends and curves he’d rather not travel.

  * * *

  Wiping the tear that tickled down her cheek, Lucy saw Kate peeking out her bedroom door. She waved Lucy to come inside. Wondering what she was up to, Lucy went into Kate’s spacious master suite.

  “You poor thing.” Kate shut the door.

  “I’m moving home in the morning.”

  “No. I was about to tell you something when we ran into Thad.” She took Lucy’s hand and led her to the sitting area before the windows, a lamp on the table between softly lighting the room.

  Lucy sat down, tired and sad.

  “I know he loves you, Lucy.”

  Love? “Oh, I don’t—”

  “I know my son. He’s in love with you. Why do you think he’s been avoiding you?”

  “He’s afraid I’ll drag him to the altar.”

  “He’s afraid that’s exactly what he wants. He’ll come to his senses eventually. But I have an idea that might speed up his decision process.”

  Lucy lifted her brow. Politicians could be wily, but what did Kate have in mind?

  Chapter 18

  Thad came down to grab some dinner before he met Darcy to work the investigation. That had kept him away the past few nights. He hadn’t had many encounters with Lucy, and those he had were benign. In fact, she didn’t seem to mind the distance between them, which had made him relax. He no longer felt cornered. His mother told him she’d gone to see her parents one night, and then met some friends another. He may have been apart from her, but he was still concerned for her whereabouts.

  Lucy sat on the bench in the big window across the kitchen, cell phone in hand, a partial smile sneaking up her mouth. She was texting someone. And not one of her friends...

  Thad kept his eye on her as he took out everything he needed to make a sandwich. Servants were busy cooking for the rest of the household, and he declined assistance in getting something to eat sooner.

  Lucy stood from the bench and put her phone down on the kitchen island close to where he stood putting ham and cheese on some wheat bread. The screen was still illuminated, and he saw the texts.

  See you at seven was the last one.

  “Going somewhere tonight?” Was she back on her online dating site?

  “Dinner.”

  When she turned her back to pour iced tea into a glass, he picked up her phone and opened her browser.

  “With a girlfriend?” He froze as he looked down at the dating site, which was open to the last screen she’d used, one where she’d responded to a man who was interested. She’d given TakeYouToTheMoon@gettogether.com her cell number. That was who she’d just been texting.

  Lucy snatched her phone from him.

  “TakeYouToTheMoon?” What man would call himself that on an online dating site?

  “His name is Matt.”

  Thad clamped down his rising ire. He had no right to be angry. He’d turned away from her. But how could she start dating again so soon?

  “Didn’t you learn from your last experience that online dating is dangerous?” he asked instead.

  “That was one instance.” Carrying her phone and the glass of tea, she left the kitchen and Thad standing there with everything male in him against her going out on a date. A date, for God’s sake!

  Yanking his phone out of its holder, he called Darcy.

  “You’re on your own tonight,” he
said.

  “What? Why?”

  “Lucy’s going out on a date.” He disconnected before Darcy could comment and then went to wait for Lucy. She’d ensconced herself in her room with the door locked.

  An hour and a half later, Thad paced outside Lucy’s room. She sure was taking her time getting ready. He heard her on the other side. Finally, she opened the door.

  “What are you—” He stopped short when he saw her. She wore a dark red dress that dipped low in front and exposed her knees. He’d never seen her in anything that sexy.

  “I thought you were going on another stakeout with Darcy tonight,” she said.

  Was she hoping he wouldn’t find out her plans for the evening? “You’re not going anywhere in that.” The thought of another man enjoying her dressed that way made him crazy.

  “What gives you the right to tell me what I can and can’t do?”

  He didn’t understand why her going out on a date bothered him so much. He couldn’t give her what she was after, so why stop her?

  She didn’t wait for him to respond. Walking down the hall, she headed for the stairs. The dress hugged her curves, hips rocking, legs going on for a mile and arms swinging with a tiny purse in one hand.

  He followed her. “Lucy, don’t go.”

  “Don’t go? Why not?” She stepped down the stairs, and he kept up with her.

  What claim did he have on her? He’d turned away. He knew that. He felt foolish for trying to stop her, but something compelled him, something strong.

  She left out the side entrance, where he saw his mother’s driver waiting. At least Lucy wasn’t going without protection. His mother’s driver was a Secret Service agent.

  Operating on an emotion he refused to name, Thad went to his Charger and began to follow the car. All the way to the restaurant where she must have agreed to meet her date, Thad questioned why he was doing this. He had no answer. He only knew nothing would stop him.

  Inside the restaurant, he watched her meet a tall man with dark hair, and then a hostess led them to a table. He went there as they both sat down. The man smiled and kept glancing at Lucy’s breasts.

  Aware of how irrational he appeared, Thad forged ahead. Before he reached the table he wondered if Lucy was doing this on purpose. The way her date smiled suggested he knew her. Any man would look at her breasts in that dress. He saw Thad first, his smile flattening. Lucy turned with a slack jaw to gape at him. She hadn’t expected him to follow her here.

  “We need to talk,” he said to her.

  “Thad?”

  “Let’s go.” He held out his hand.

  She didn’t move.

  “I’m ready to talk,” he added. And he was.

  She faced her date, who grinned.

  Why did he grin?

  The man stood. “I’ll call Kate.” With a nod to Thad, he walked out of the restaurant.

  “Well, now that you’ve ruined my date.” She motioned to the seat the man had vacated, her hand palm up. “Why don’t you join me?”

  “He wasn’t a real date.” Thad moved to the seat across from her and she studied him without asking how he knew. “Why is he going to call my mother? Did she have anything to do with this?”

  With a grunt, she picked up the menu. “How did you know?”

  “It’s okay. It worked.” He couldn’t believe how insanely jealous he’d gotten.

  Looking at him over the menu, her eyes smiled.

  But he didn’t feel like smiling. This wasn’t easy for him. “I need time to sort it all out, Lucy.”

  No longer smiling, she put the menu down. She understood what he was saying. He needed time to know whether he could come to her unconditionally, neither accepting nor rejecting the possibility of marriage.

  “Okay,” she murmured.

  She’d give him time. Relief loosened his tension.

  But Thad didn’t delude himself. If he took too much time, she’d eventually give up on him, and rightfully so. If she ever went on another date, it would be for real.

  “If I devote myself to this relationship, I have to be sure I come to you honestly,” he told her.

  Her face softened with what he could only call love. “I know.”

  She knew...

  She was an incredible woman. And Thad would be a colossal fool if he let her go.

  “Why don’t we start with you coming with me to my brother’s wedding,” he said. “Sophie, too.”

  “Are you sure you can handle that?” she teased.

  “Yeah, I’m very sure.” And he was. Maybe this would be easier than he thought. If he just let go...

  * * *

  A crowd of Trey and Debra’s closest friends and family filled the beautifully decorated ballroom at Kate’s estate. Lighted curtain panels knotted in the middle lined two walls of windows. Yellow flower petals on white napkins and numbered glass candles adorned tabletops. Huge vases of flowers sat on several tall cocktail tables and waitstaff abounded to cater to the guests.

  Lucy watched Thad dance with Sophie on the raised platform in the middle of the room. In a black tuxedo, he captured her gaze for lengthy periods of time. Every once in a while, he’d look over at her. The way he looked at her raised the temperature a few degrees. He’d noticed her in her long, black figure-hugging dress. Sophie was adorable in her white ball gown with bubble hem and flower in her hair. She’d had fun being girly at the hair salon with Lucy. They’d gotten their nails done, too. Lucy was going to have a hard time letting her go.

  “I’ve never seen him like this.”

  She turned to see Kate, who’d just come up to stand beside her. “The date did the trick.” Or, at the very least, stopped him from being so distant.

  Thad lifted Sophie and held her as he danced in a circle. Her laughter rose above music and people talking.

  “What are you going to do with Sophie?” Kate asked.

  Keep her...

  “I don’t know.”

  “She’s good for Thad.”

  Lucy glanced at her and then back to Thad and Sophie. His face did light up whenever he was with her. She didn’t acknowledge Kate’s comment. Turning her son into viable husband material was a big enough challenge.

  The song finished, and Thad brought Sophie over to them. Sophie hopped up on a chair at the table where they’d sat for dinner and dug into the rest of her cake.

  Thad extended his hand. “May I have this dance?”

  Lucy gave him her hand and went with him to the dance platform with butterflies of delight tickling her. Could it be that he’d change his mind about marriage and family?

  He brought her close, holding her hand and encircling her waist. She rested her hand on his shoulder and looked up at his face. His eyes had a happy light to them.

  “What are you doing to me, Lucy?” he asked.

  Smiling, she tipped her head up. “Stealing your heart.” She kissed him once on his lips.

  “You’ve already done that.”

  “Have I?”

  His eyes answered for him, and then he showed her with his mouth, kissing her softly, lingering.

  “Looks like you’ll be next, little brother.”

  They drew apart as Trey and Debra danced beside them. To Lucy’s delight, Thad didn’t cringe or stiffen. He just smiled down at Lucy. Hope soared and she had to reel it in a bit.

  Trey and Debra were so obviously happy, dancing close, eyes only for each other. Their wedding had been stunning in one of Raleigh’s oldest churches. There were several other couples dancing. Lucy spotted Sophie with Sam, who bent over slightly as he held her hands and twirled her around.

  As Thad danced her in a circle, she saw Sam’s friend Mike was here, too. He sat at a table watching them.

  The song ended and she a
nd Thad went to their table.

  “I’ll be back.” Lucy headed for the bathroom.

  A few minutes later, she came out of the bathroom and headed toward the ballroom. The loud bang of gunfire made her freeze. Someone was shooting a gun at the wedding! Lucy ran through the formal entry toward the ballroom. All she could think about was Sophie. At the doorway, she bumped into Mike. He had a gun.

  Oh, good. He could help.

  But then he grabbed ahold of her and put the pistol against her head.

  * * *

  Seeing the Secret Service agents dive for his mother and that she hadn’t been hit, Thad ran after Mike Harris. Mike Harris! He never would have guessed Sam’s good friend would try to kill Kate Winston. Why?

  The janitor at the building across from the hotel where his mother had been shot must have been mistaken when he said the man he’d seen had short hair. Mike was bald. The janitor had also said Mike had worn a hat, so maybe he had been mistaken about the hair. Every other descriptor matched.

  Mike being the shooter explained so much. Jaden leaving the window and door open. The ease of access to the estate. Without Jaden’s help, Trey’s wedding offered the perfect opportunity. Mike was invited.

  Thad emerged in the formal entry and came to an abrupt stop, aiming his pistol at Mike, who held Lucy around her torso with one arm and the gun at her head with the other. Her arms pinned, she stared at Thad with wild fear, but didn’t fight Mike.

  Thad stepped forward. As Mike backed across the entry, Thad moved to block an escape to the lower level of the house. Mike was forced to attempt his escape by going upstairs, where he’d be trapped, which was Thad’s intention. All that consumed him was saving Lucy.

  “Stay back or I’ll kill her!” Mike shouted.

  The shock of discovering Mike was the shooter began to wear off, and anger took its place. How could someone who was a friend of the family decide to kill their mother?

  “You won’t get away, Mike.” Thad kept his aim steady and his temper under control. “Let Lucy go. She doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

  “If you want her to live, you won’t follow me.”

  Where did he plan to go? Would he jump out a window or off a balcony? What then? Did he think he’d get off the estate? By now the feds were gathering. Mike would be surrounded. Already he heard agents running into the entry. A glance back confirmed that, along with Sam in the lead.