Hard to Hold (Bennett Dynasty Book 4)

by Kate Allenton

  “Essie liked you,” Harlon blurted out of the blue. “I read her mind when I picked you up. She thinks you’re stubborn too.”

  Nina grinned. “Yeah, well, maybe the tea leaves in my cup were actually telling her the truth.”

  “Manny’s doctor, Gordon, originally thought you were fraud. He didn’t believe we’d get anything from Manny. He thought we were grasping at straws.”

  “You read his mind too?” she asked.

  “Everyone’s thoughts jump into my head. Everyone’s except yours. I can normally block all the noise, but not when we were touching Manny and not when I showed up at Essie’s house. After spending hours with you, I’d let my guard down since I didn’t need to have it up. I just forgot to put it back in place.”

  “Mhmm.” Nina chuckled. “I’m glad you can’t read my mind.”

  “I wish I could.” Knowing her thoughts would take the guesswork out of figuring out what made Nina tick.

  “I’m glad you can’t,” Nina said, taking a sip of her coffee. “But I’m sure it helps in other aspects of your life.”

  “There isn’t much of a challenge,” Harlon answered, withholding the fact that he’d read the mind of a killer before. It had been dark and dangerous and twisted like black taffy. He’d only experienced that once in all of his years of security work.

  Chapter 16

  After eating and getting dressed for the day, he led me to the garage where Dean was waiting.

  “Ms. Bennett, Harlon.” Dean nodded in acknowledgment as he opened the back door.

  I smiled at him as I slid over leather seats. Waiting for Harlon to get settled, I asked, “How come you made me leave my wallet and purse upstairs if I’m supposed to be going shopping?”

  “I brought you here under duress, so it’s my responsibility to see that you have everything you need. It’s the least I can do,” he said, picking up the awaiting newspaper.

  “You’re going to Pretty Woman me?”

  “You aren’t a hooker, and you wouldn’t need a new dress if it wasn’t for me. So…” He snapped the newspaper open and cut off the conversation.

  The ride through downtown New York was everything I thought it would be. Passing Times Square and the vendors selling their wares to the tourists made me wish I had a bit more time to explore beyond the two days remaining.

  Knowing his sister was alive helped to ease some of the pressure I’d been feeling. But not being able to find her was starting to weigh me down. I clung to my sketchbook and pencils, the only things Harlon would let me bring on this excursion.

  Dean paused outside an iron gate before it opened and we drove through rows of warehouses set inside a port area next to a river. Huge ships with stacks of containers sitting on their decks floated at the docks as we progressed toward a set of distant warehouses.

  “What are we doing here?” I asked.

  “Ruby is supervising the shipment of our next round of animals coming in to train.”

  “You ship in the animals?”

  “Some of them come in by boat, others by plane from all over the world. We bring them in and train them.”

  “To become guard dogs?” I asked.

  “That, and police or service dogs. We even specialize in training the animals to help with seizures and a few of the others are able to sniff out cancer.”

  “Impressive,” I said.

  “A few come in partially trained. That’s why some of the commands are in German or another language. Instead of trying to retrain the animal, it’s easier to have the new owner learn those specific words in the foreign language. Each case is individualized.”

  The car rolled to a stop, and Harlon got out and held out his hand.

  I slid my hand into his palm and got out of the car. Saltwater from the breeze caressed my face, contrasting with the smell of dead fish and sewage. The large warehouse’s doors stood open. The sound of barking dogs competed with the whine of running equipment.

  Ruby was standing in the entrance with her trusty clipboard pressed against her chest. She watched as we approached.

  “How did they appear?” Harlon asked.

  “The shipment was short two Dobermans,” Ruby answered and led us down a row of large kennels that each held a dangerous-looking dog. “Five are semi-trained attack dogs.” Ruby stopped in front of a pair of growling animals. One was pawing the ground like an angry bull before all chaos ensued. The dog in the kennel next to it had started barking too.

  I took an instinctual step back, and Harlon’s hand landed on my back.

  “They smell fear,” he said.

  “Why are they going crazy?” I asked.

  Ruby glanced down at her clipboard. She scowled then jerked her head and gestured toward an office. “I know why. You two come with me.”

  We followed her up a set of stairs to the glass-enclosed space. She closed the door. “Those two were trained in narcotics.” She glared at me and held out her hand. “Where are you hiding the drugs?”

  “Me?” My hand flew to my chest. “I don’t do drugs, and I didn’t even bring in a purse.”

  “Lift your shirt,” Ruby said.

  “Ruby. Nina doesn’t use drugs. They must be picking up something else.”

  “Empty your pockets, Ms. Bennett.”

  “Fine, but only if you two empty yours.”

  I pulled out a lip-gloss, my ID, and a mint and tossed them onto the desk, leaving my pockets pulled out.

  Ruby had on a dress with no pockets, but she tossed down the clipboard and pen and pulled a phone out of her bra and set that down.

  We both turned to Harlon. I rested my hand on my hip, and Ruby crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Fine,” he said and took off his jacket, pulling stuff out of his pockets. An expensive pen, his wallet, which he opened and showed us. A pocket knife, his gun holster, the paper football, and a baggie of orange hair. “That’s Mittens’ hair.”

  “If none of us have anything, then why is the dog alerting?” Ruby asked.

  “Probably alerted on the cat hair. Another predator?”

  I didn’t know a thing about training dogs, but while they discussed it, I picked up my things to put them back into my pockets and accidentally knocked everyone else’s stuff off the desk.

  I dropped to my knees and started picking up the items, including Mittens’ orange and white mixed hair. When I grabbed the paper football, a tab pulled free, and the football opened. A little plastic baggie sat inside.

  I tugged on Harlon’s pants leg and pointed to the white substance in the smallest bag I’d ever seen. “I’m no expert, but is that something that might have set the dog off?”

  Chapter 17

  Harlon picked it up and offered me a hand up off the floor. He frowned in confusion until his gaze shot up to Ruby. “My sister doesn’t do drugs either, Ruby.”

  Ruby snapped her mouth closed. “It’s not polite to read my mind without permission, Harlon.”

  “Your thoughts were too loud to be ignored,” Harlon said before clearing his throat. “You two should go now. I’ll take care of this. Ruby, buy her whatever she needs and wants. Put it on the company card.”

  “But, Harlon, I didn’t mean—” Ruby began to say.

  “Dean is outside, waiting to drive you into town.” His tone held a sharp edge: chilly, unwelcome, with a hint of despair. His face turned stone cold as he relieved her of the clipboard.

  I squeezed his arm in passing. “I would say to call if you need me, but I don’t have a phone.”

  His sea-blue eyes darkened and clouded with gray as his gaze settled on mine. “Ruby will buy you one while you’re out.”

  My shoulders sagged. I didn’t want to leave him like this, even though he clearly didn’t want Ruby or me there. Drugs were so out of what I’d thought we’d find while searching for his sister. “You going to be all right?”

  His tight expression relaxed. His eyes softened. He pulled me into his arms and pressed a tender kiss to my lips. “I’l
l be fine.”

  “I can stay.”

  “Don’t be silly. You and Ruby go shopping.”

  “I’m sure there’s a good explanation.”

  “When we find Suzie, I’m sure she’ll have one,” he said, holding my gaze.

  Across the room, Ruby cleared her throat.

  “Go on.” He pulled open the door, done with the conversation. “You have a busy day.”

  I nodded and walked through the open door. Resting my hand on his chest, I met his gaze. “We’ll find her.”

  “I know. I just hope it’s not too late.”

  I gave him a slight nod and headed back down the stairs to where Ruby was waiting with Dean.

  He held the back door open for us. “Ms. Davis. Ms. Bennett.”

  She climbed in first, and I patted Dean’s arm. “You can call me Nina.”

  “Yes, Ms. Bennett,” he said with a smile as I climbed into the backseat.

  I grabbed my sketchbook and pen case off the seat and clutched it on my lap. “I’m sure he knows you didn’t mean it.”

  Ruby turned her assessing gaze on me. Her cheeks held a faint pink glow. “If you believe that, then you don’t know him at all.”

  I shrugged. “You’re probably right, but cut Harlon some slack. His sister is missing, and his stepdad was injured. I’m sure he’s a bit stressed right now.”

  Ruby’s lifted her brow and tilted her head. “There’s only ever been one thing that can get Harlon to drop his job mid assignment and return home.”

  “His family,” I said.

  “Exactly,” she said, turning her gaze out the window. “Harlon doesn’t need the assignments to pay his bills, and yet he stays gone three-quarters of the year. He never stays long in any one place.”

  I sat back and let her vent. It was obvious she’d been storing it up.

  “Derrek Fields and his sons play an active roll in the daily operations. Quinton helps train the security specialists. Milton travels twice a year to locate guard dogs and set up vendors, and even Suzie trains dogs when they get here, and what does Harlon do?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “He puts himself in danger by working security.”

  It was like a light bulb flared to life in my brain. My words came out a whisper. “You love him.”

  She snapped her gaze to me. “Don’t be absurd. I care about him. He’s my boss and my friend.”

  I slowly shook my head, unable to un-see it now. “Have you told him how you feel?”

  “I don’t love him like that. I love him like a brother I never had. He’s a caring and compassionate man. Besides, even if I did, I wouldn’t have to tell him. He can read minds as well as body language.”

  “Not mine,” I answered.

  A twinkled entered Ruby’s eyes as a smile twisted her lips. “That must be driving him crazy.”

  I shrugged. “Oh, I think he’s still good at reading me, only he’s having to guess to do it.”

  Ruby laughed. “Is it true he saved your life?”

  I waved in dismissal. “I saved myself. He just helped me get the bear spray out of my eyes.”

  “Bear spray?”

  “I was searching for a missing kid in the woods. I found him, and then a bear found us.” I chuckled. “Bear spray is actually very effective.”

  She gave a little nod as if still confused. “You saved a missing kid from a bear?”

  I opened my sketchbook to the crumpled folded picture, which I’d put back inside after it had been in my pocket. I pointed to the child and the tree and the stream. “I found him.”

  She leaned away from me a smidge. “So, you’re like Harlon?”

  “I don’t think anyone is quite like the lumberjack.”

  She laughed. “You’ve seen his flannel obsession.”

  “You could say that. He lent me a shirt after he kidnapped me.”

  “I don’t think this conversation could get any more bizarre,” she said.

  “That’s why you had to buy me some things. I didn’t get a chance to pack. I was unconscious when he carried me onto the plane.”

  Ruby snapped her mouth closed just as Dean pulled up in front of a clothing store. The back door swung open, and Dean offered his hands to both of us. I brought my sketchbook in with me.

  “Well, if that’s the case, he owes you more than a pretty dress, and he did say to buy you whatever you desire.” Her gaze sparkled as she turned to the driver, speaking to him with a wave of her hand. “Dean, we’re going to be a few hours. I’ll call when we’re ready.”

  “Very good, ma’am,” he said and shut the door.

  Few hours? That didn’t sound good. “Ruby, I don’t need anything but a dress and maybe some shoes for this benefit-ball thing. I’m only here another two days.”

  “So, you brought everything you’ll need to wear underneath?” she asked.

  I let out a sigh. It wasn’t like I knew I’d be attending some fancy-schmancy thing.

  “That’s what I thought. Harlon Simmons is an important man in this industry. He can’t have just any ol’ woman on his arm. He needs her to be as sexy, beautiful, and deadly as the animals and security operatives he trains.” She wrapped her arm around mine. “But don’t worry, Nina. I’m just the woman you need to make that happen.”

  “Oh good Lord,” I whispered as I was kidnapped again, only this time by a woman on a mission and her boss’s credit card.

  Chapter 18

  Shopping with a stranger wasn’t my cup of tea. The places we went weren’t malls. Some might claim, since each shop had its own entrance, that it might be compared to shopping in a small town on Main Street, that was if Main Street was endless, fashions were crazy, and the prices were triple. Yeah, only then might it compare to small-town shopping.

  Ruby needed to switch to decaf. Keeping up with her produced the same results as running a marathon. Every muscle in my body ached, my feet throbbed, and I didn’t see an end in sight until we stopped to refuel at a restaurant.

  Everyone was dressed and having power lunches, where deals were probably being made and hashed out on the expensive linens. I didn’t fit in. Even worse, the manager gave me a once-over and lifted a brow as if trying without words to tell me I wasn’t welcome. He was an idiot. I already knew that.

  Ruby got off her phone call, walked inside, and stopped next to me. She was greeted with air kisses on both cheeks by the manager.

  “Rinaldo,” she cooed.

  “Ms. Ruby. It’s always a pleasure.”

  “I need my usual table if it’s not too much trouble.”

  “No trouble at all. Who will be joining you?” The manager glanced in my direction. His brows arched like a major player at a hoity toity hotel.

  “Nina is Mr. Simmons’ personal guest from out of town. He wanted me to treat her to the best, and, well… we both know that it means your restaurant.”

  “Of course.” The manager cleared his throat, and we were shown to a table set for six, and it looked like the best seats in the house.

  “You come here often?” I asked as Ruby waved to someone across the room.

  “We entertain clients here,” she said, returning her gaze to mine and away from whomever she’d just noticed. “Do you mind if I step away and go say hi? We’ve been trying to close that group as clients for a month.”

  “Go right ahead.” I smiled and flipped open my sketchbook. “I’ll be here…”

  She was gone before I could finish my sentence. I was glad for the few minutes of reprieve. A sketch had been gnawing at the back of my mind, so I pulled out a pencil and started to draw, only to be interrupted by a waiter for my drink order.

  He took it and was about to walk away when I grabbed his arm. “Can you tell the chef to take his time with our order?”

  I needed the reprieve.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He nodded and walked away as if I’d stolen his puppy. Was he afraid we were going to hog the table and be horrible tippers?

  I went to work on my picture again.
A shadow crossed the table as two men appeared in front of me. One dressed in a suit like Harlon’s, with dark hair and deep chocolate eyes. The other blond, wearing a leather jacket.

  “So how are you liking your stay?” Suit asked.

  “I can see why he hasn’t let us come by to visit,” Blondie said.

  “Wait, aren’t you the guys who gave us a ride?”

  They exchanged a knowing look and smiled. “You remembered.”

  They glanced over their shoulder to where Harlon was standing with Ruby. His hand was on her lower back as the people around the table laughed at something he’d said. Wall Street was in the house.

  “My memory works just fine,” I answered, flipping my book closed.

  “I’m Milton,” Blondie said. “And that’s Quinton.” Blondie pointed to Suit.

  “You’re the friends who are helping find Suzie, and I believe Ruby told me that you’re Mr. Fields’ sons? The ones who don’t go running off risking their lives and acting as security guards.”

  “Ruby hates when Harlon works in the field. She can’t always reach him, and that drives her control issues into overdrive,” Quinton said.

  They each took a seat, and the wait staff hurried to the table with drinks they hadn’t ordered.

  “You guys must come here a lot if they know your drink preference.”

  “We come here enough,” Milton said, locking gaze with one of the waitresses as she passed. He turned his head to check out her ass as she walked by.

  They looked as different as night and day. Quinton appeared bored with the idea of having to do lunch, and Milton looked as though every woman in the place was here as his own personal buffet.

  Were Harlon's friends the equivalent of a devil and angel on his shoulder? Or maybe they helped to make him look like the normal one. My lips twitched.

  “Excuse the womanizer, he was adopted as a child,” Quinton announced.

  I chuckled as Ruby and Harlon headed in our direction. Harlon tapped Milton’s shoulder. “You’re in my seat.”

  “Oh, right. Of course, you want to sit by the pretty newcomer.” Milton rose from his seat and moved over, taking his drink with him.