Dangerous Times

by Moira Callahan

  “Rhonda had a company put in my system when I moved. It’s supposedly top of the line but that was a couple years ago,” she admitted.

  “Could likely do with a couple of upgrades, but we’ll worry about that after the inspection. What events do you think you’ll need a little extra muscle for?” he asked.

  “Uh,” Tamara frowned as she tried to remember her schedule. “I have a showing on Tuesday, but it’s at the Galleria on tenth, so they already have a security team in place.”

  “Too early to worry about the scumbag,” Rhonda said. “Think further down the line. It’s going to take him a good couple of weeks to figure things out before you start hearing from him.”

  She hated that Rhonda figured Damien would come after her. Not a question of if, but when, she said. Frowning at her friend, she huffed out a breath. “I have a bunch of portrait shoots scheduled, all at Danny’s, though. That’s for the next month. After that, I’ll have a showing at a small place for my work alone, about four and a half weeks from now. Another across town two weeks after that.” She shrugged. “Beyond that, I can’t remember. I’ll have to get you my schedule.” She couldn’t believe she was doing this. And that she’d pretty much agreed to let Shawn be the go-to guy for everything.

  She’d missed him, especially right after the attack. Tamara had wanted to ask Rhonda to find him, but chose not to. Shawn was a truly nice guy, one who didn’t need to be tainted by the shit going on in her life.

  “Well, we will do the walk through of your place and give you our recommendation,” Shawn was saying as she came back to the present. “I’ll get some of the contracts for you to look over, and we’ll sign a trial-run term and then go from there if you’re happy with our services.”

  She really had to hold back asking just what services he was talking about. Tamara didn’t think that was suitable discussion with Rhonda right there. Besides that, Shawn actually appeared to be talking about security and not what her pussy wanted.

  Nodding, she smiled slightly. “Sounds good.”

  “I’ll be right back then, ladies,” he smiled.

  Once he was out of the room Tamara punched Rhonda in the arm.

  “Ow! You bitch,” Rhonda hissed out a breath, rubbing at her arm.

  “You could have fucking warned me, you skank,” Tamara practically snarled.

  “And miss seeing the look on your face? Fuck that shit, you ho.” Rhonda laughed. “Oh, my God, I wish I’d had a camera. You looked totally stunned, and I am pretty sure you even started to drool a little there.”

  “Shut up. I hate you,” Tamara said, laughing softly. “Why the hell are you my best friend?”

  “Because you love me and I know all your dirty little secrets.” Rhonda shrugged.

  Shit, right. Only trouble with having a friend like Rhonda, one she’d known since grade school, they knew way too much about one another lives. “You still could have warned me,” she muttered.

  “You would have found some excuse not to come,” Rhonda said. “No pun intended, by the way,” she added, wiggling her eyebrows.

  “Good God, you have sex on the brain,” Tamara said, groaning.

  “Considering I was thinking I might have to call the fire department just from the two of you shaking hands. Uh, yeah!”

  “You so need to get laid,” Tamara told her, shooting a look toward the door.

  “Wonder if he has a brother.”

  “He does, two actually, both younger.”

  “Good god, did you two talk about everything?” Rhonda asked.

  “A bunch of stuff, in between other things.”

  When Rhonda just grinned, Tamara felt her cheeks warming up. Damn it.

  The sound of the door closing announced Shawn’s return. He didn’t appear to notice anything amiss, even with Rhonda grinning like a fucking loon. Smacking her friend’s arm, Tamara shot her a warning look. Not that her friend paid it any attention.

  “Here you go.” Shawn handed her a clipboard with several sheets attached. “The top one is for the trial period, we do a three-month length and then come back to the table to re-evaluate and proceed from there. The rest is just paperwork, authorizing us to look at your home’s security system and get a feel for what could be a potential issue. As well as a few sheets you can fill out for any events you feel you will need a little added protection at.”

  Flipping through, she nodded before settling in to read the top form, the temporary contract. Rhonda was reading over her shoulder, and when she got to the end she shot her friend a look. While Rhonda wasn’t a lawyer, she’d been around enough and worked the system long enough to know if anything was hinky. Getting a nod that all was good, Tamara accepted the pen he held out and signed that off.

  The walkthrough document was basic and listed off things they would be looking for. She had no issue with it so she signed that one as well. The others she slid off the clipboard and held onto as she passed the clipboard back to him.

  “When do you want to do the walkthrough?” she asked.

  “Sooner is better, especially since he’s already out. But, as your friend said, it will be a little while before he actually does anything, if he does. So, I’ll leave that up to you.”

  Biting her lip, she looked to Rhonda and wrinkled her nose. “I’m booked all next week so all I’ll be home, during any sort of business hours, is this weekend.”

  Shawn looked to his computer and nodded slowly. “We’ve got an open block from two until six tomorrow that Vincent and I can come by.”

  Nodding, she let out a breath. “That works for me,” she said.

  Then he smiled, and that damned dimple winked at her. “Good. I’ll just need your address and some other information.”

  Now she’d done it. Giving him all her pertinent information, she watched him and wondered. Was he still interested or was it just business now?

  Chapter Four

  Once Rhonda and Tamara left his office, Shawn shut the door, something he rarely did unless he needed to think. Everyone would know what it meant. Of course, even when he ignored a knock, his damned partner would waltz right in. Like she was currently doing, damn her and her nosy self.

  “So,” Robyn said, dragging the word out. “That’s her, huh?”

  Turning his seat from the view out the window, he glared at her.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” she grinned and rolled her eyes. “Out with it, Shawn. I know you well enough to know something’s cooking in that head of yours.”

  “She needs protection from a psychotic ex who tried to kill her.” He picked up the folder Rhonda had couriered over to him and tossed it to her.

  Sitting back with a surprised look, Robyn began to flip through and read. While she was quiet, which wouldn’t last long, he turned back to the view.

  “Son of a bitch,” she said finally. When the folder hit his desk, Shawn swung his chair back around to look at her.

  “Pretty much,” he agreed.

  “Are you going to be okay taking the lead on this one?” she asked. That she didn’t ask if he was going to take the lead was telling. She knew him way too well.

  “Probably not, but I figure I’ll pull in Trent and Pauline if I honestly can’t. She’ll like them and they are some of the least intrusive people we have on staff,” he said.

  Robyn just sat and watched him for a time. “I won’t tell you how to handle your love life, since you don’t tell me how to deal with mine. But, if she clouds your judgement at all, I want Michael to take over lead. Trent and Pauline are great for backup, but we will need someone that can make the hard calls fast.”

  He thought it over and finally nodded. “Agreed. But if I call in Michael it doesn’t mean I’m backing off. There’s something about her. Something,” he broke off. He just didn’t know what the fuck he meant.

  “She means something to you, even after only one night. I get it. Trust me.”

  Yeah, Robyn likely did get it. She and her fiancé had connected after only one night, w
hich was why they were now planning their wedding. “Thanks, Rob,” he murmured.

  “All right, I’m off. Gotta go and deal with the Hunter Group and their current mess.” Pushing up from her seat, she stared down at him. “You know where I am if you want to talk, right?”

  “Yeah,” he smiled. He knew she’d drop everything, including her fiancé, to be there for him. Thankfully, Grant was secure enough in their relationship that the guy didn’t honestly mind. “So, handcuffs?” he asked, figuring he’d get a little back.

  Robyn’s face went bright red as she jabbed a finger his way. “Do not even go there, bub,” she said, before grinning. Shaking her head, she left his office and even closed his door behind her.

  Chuckling, he swung back to the view and let out a sigh.

  He could always count on Robyn to get him out of his own head. Damn pesky female.

  ****

  Going up the stairs to the second level entryway, Shawn cast a hard eye over everything. Wide stairs, good lighting with motion sensitive high-beam lights and no excessive brush to provide cover. The windows were all large but new triple panes, harder to get through quickly. The door was heavy duty. He found that out by rapping his knuckles lightly against it before hitting the doorbell.

  She had a lower-level garage and storage area, likely a mudroom that led out to the backyard of her condo. She was also on the end, which meant more light, but also more ways for an attacker to get in, as well as more ways for her to get out. Not a bad thing, but definitely with its own set of issues.

  The door had a peep hole and he could tell that she’d looked through, the loss of a bit of light giving it away. The sound of locks being undone preceded her opening the door.

  “Hi,” he said softly.

  “Hi,” she gave him a little, shy smile. Then her eyes widened as she looked past him. “Uh, come on in,” she said, stepping back out of the way.

  Stepping inside, he moved so that Vincent could join him. Most people saw the big, burly man and thought biker. Which wasn’t far off, but part of it was just for show. Vincent was a good guy, deep down.

  “Tamara Phillips, this is Vincent Bradley, my electronics and wiring fiend. He knows security systems inside and out. I won’t tell you what his other profession was before he came to this side of the light. Don’t want to make you nervous,” he said with a grin.

  “Vincent,” she nodded to his friend. “Dare I ask what he means?”

  Vincent shrugged and gave her a shit-eating smirk. “Bomb disposal in the Marines.”

  “Oh my.” Her eyes went impossibly huge as that sank in.

  “I was very good at my job,” He held up his hands and wiggled all ten digits. “Biggest testament to a man’s worth on that gig.”

  Shawn rolled his eyes. “Ignore him. Seriously, or he’ll start telling you horror stories of his time in the line of duty and you’ll never get him out of here.”

  She grinned at that and eased the door shut. “Maybe another time. I know you guys are on a bit of a schedule, if I remember correctly.”

  “A bit,” Vincent nodded. He was checking the door before letting it shut. “Good door, weighted metal and solid from the feel. Excellent locks, high end and heavy duty.” He nodded in approval. “Tell me about the system and how it’s wired, to the best of your knowledge, of course.” He grinned at her.

  “There are three panels, one here at the front door that I use some of the time, one downstairs at the entry in from the garage in my mudroom and one upstairs in my bedroom. All the doors are wired as are the windows. The windows have an anti-shatter something going on there and are all bullet-resistant glass.”

  Shawn watched Vincent’s eyebrows shoot up and knew he had a matching expression.

  Tamara just shrugged and led them deeper into the house, an open floor plan with just a few posts and minimal walls to cut up the rooms. “I have a fire-suppressant system,” she pointed up to the ceiling. “It’s hardwired into the system, as well as having its own separate line to 911. The same thing for the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. All the doors are fire resistant, but only the outer doors are metal. The others are some sort of special material that has a high temp rating with a solid metal core.”

  Vincent let out a whistle at that. “Damn,” he murmured.

  Shawn felt the same way, but stayed quiet. He knew her history and why she’d gone above and beyond. Vincent didn’t.

  “All the windows are dual swing, in or out from hidden hinges. The also all have triple locks on them, the obvious one and then two others that are carefully placed so that anyone on the outside can’t see them, and anyone inside would have to have their face up on them to find them.” She led them into the kitchen and pointed to a door. “That leads down to the mud room and garage.”

  “Okay.” Vincent looked around. “I’ll start at the bottom and work my way up if that’s cool with you?” He looked to her.

  “Sure, I have the system off right now so feel free to poke around without setting it off.”

  “Copy that,” he said and headed down the stairs.

  “I’m going to take a look at everything interior and exterior from the point of view of someone trying to get into your house. You okay with me tromping around out there?” he asked once they were alone.

  “It’s why you’re here,” she said, shrugging a shoulder.

  That had him looking at her and frowning. “Hey,” he said softly. “If you’d rather not do any of this, I’ll get Vincent and get out of your hair.”

  “No.” Tamara shook her head. Heaving a sigh, she shoved her hands through her hair and looked up at him. “I’m sorry. I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything. And obviously not doing very well at that, either.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Look, if it’s easier, I’ll get one of my other guys out here and you won’t have to even see me.” Not what he wanted, but if he was adding to her stress, he’d do it even if it killed him.

  She stared up at him and finally dropped her hands. “No.”

  Her soft voice drew him in.

  Stepping closer, she put a hand on his chest. “I don’t know why, but I trust you, Shawn.”

  Letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, he covered her hand with his. “I’m a very trustworthy person.” He smiled down at her.

  Shaking her head, she laughed softly at that. “Yeah, you are.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

  She gave another single shoulder shrug and chewed on her lip, which had his attention swinging to firmly land on her sexy little mouth. Which then led to remembering how soft they were, and her exotic taste. Not good, right then.

  “Maybe later,” she finally said. “Just not with anyone in earshot.”

  It took him a while to figure out what she meant and then he remembered Vincent. “We came in separate vehicles, so I can stay after we’re done if you want.”

  “I’d like that. I’ll even feed you,” she offered, smiling.

  Damn his dirty mind for heading straight for the gutter. Wrenching it back to the moment, he smiled at her. “You don’t have to cook, Tamara.”

  “Who the hell said I was cooking?” she asked, giving him an offended look.

  He burst out laughing. He couldn’t help it. She just looked so damned put out. “Okay, so you’re not cooking?” he asked.

  “I didn’t say that,” she smiled, batting her lashes at him.

  “And now, I’m confused. So, I’m going to start doing my checklist and you do, well, whatever you’re doing or not doing for dinner.”

  “Good plan,” she said, waving him off. “Go, do your thing, I’ll be down here plotting if you need me.”

  “Oh, darling.” He smiled slowly. “Not the thing to say right now.” He chuckled and got the hell out of there before he did something idiotic.

  Chapter Five

  Vincent and Shawn were consummate professionals. They stayed out of her way entirely and did their th
ing. When they were done, they’d reconvened to go over her system and general security.

  Overall, her system was great, according to Vincent, anyway. He said he had a few updates he wanted to do, but they were quick and easy to install and not even a major panic. Shawn had been happy with everything as well.

  Which made Tamara quite happy in turn. She’d seen Vincent off, but hadn’t missed his speculative look. That was something Shawn would have to deal with later, not her. Hopefully.

  Dinner had gone over well. She’d actually cooked. She could cook, but didn’t usually have the time to, or the inclination. It sucked to make a meal for only one person. She’d kept it simple, steaks and some salad. He’d dug in and had been rather pleased with her simple offerings, so score one for her.

  Now they were sitting in her living room, relaxing and drinking the last of the wine. She felt incredibly nervous for some reason, and she just couldn’t put her finger on it. They’d talked about nothing important the entire time, but she knew she’d have to talk about...him.

  Sighing, she swirled the wine still in her glass around before looking over at Shawn. “You’ve been pretty careful to avoid asking me anything about why I’m doing this.”

  “Figured if you wanted to talk about it, you would. Besides, Rhonda did give me all the highlights.” Leaning forward, he put his glass down and then turned so he was facing her more. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, Tamara.”

  “I know,” she whispered. “I don’t know why this is so hard, considering I told you pretty much my entire life story before.”