Protection

by Shelley Munro

  “Where’s the letter?”

  “On the table,” Alice said.

  Luke bent over to read the message. “James said he picked it up off the floor when he arrived home late last night. You didn’t hear anything?”

  “Not a thing. I received several calls last night and in the end I took the phone off the hook.”

  “Who rang?”

  “My mother and sister,” James said. “I know they don’t like the way I live but I can’t believe they’d threaten Alice.”

  His friend let out a bark of amused laughter. “Hell, no. I can’t imagine your sister dirtying her hands, but I’ll speak with them both, ask a few questions in my official capacity. Did anyone else ring?”

  “There was a third phone call. I didn’t answer it. I just picked up the phone and left it off the hook,” Alice said. “I thought it would be Mrs. Bates or her daughter again, and I didn’t want to speak to them.”

  “I don’t blame you, sweetheart.” James wrapped his arm around her waist in a possessive manner. She let him, his touch calming her jittery nerves. “I hang up on them all the time.”

  Luke produced a plastic bag from his pocket. “I’ll take this note and have it checked for prints. James, look after her. Don’t let her go anywhere on her own.”

  “I won’t.” James’ deep voice sent her heart into a vigorous pitter-patter until she remembered he intended to leave. Despite everything they had going for them as a couple, he was still departing Sloan.

  Luke left and shortly afterward, James and she locked the house and drove to work.

  “I visited the bank manager yesterday. I think everything is okay now. There was a problem with the budgets, and I told him I would take another look at them. I—”

  “Good.”

  A man of few words. Alice noted his set face and clamped jaw and decided to tell him about how she’d sorted out the predicament another time. His mind was obviously elsewhere. Even when they’d tested the condoms this morning, he’d remained silent. Maybe it was something to do with his family. She shuddered, remembering the venom in Mrs. Bates’ voice. For all their faults, her parents and brothers and sisters would help her in the blink of an eyelid. No matter what their differences, she could ask for their help at any time. Apart from monetary aid since they were all hopeless with money.

  “I intend to collect the test results from the board members and work out which sample numbers we need to delete from the test,” she said. “Do you want me to check with you before I go to see Rodney?”

  “No, I’m visiting some of our customers today.”

  “Will I see you tonight?” The moment she said the words she wanted to recall them. James didn’t want permanent. He’d never made a secret of the fact yet she sounded like a…a girlfriend.

  “I’ll ring you this afternoon and let you know.” He glanced across at her. “Make sure you don’t leave Fancy Free on your own. Luke’s right. It’s obvious this bloody clown and dog friend have kangaroos in the top paddock. Take care, huh?”

  Alice nodded, relief flooding her at his concern. Maybe she hadn’t sounded as possessive as she’d thought. She offered a cautious smile before climbing from the SUV and heading for her office. He didn’t return her smile and that hurt.

  Voices from the boardroom grabbed her attention as she neared her office.

  “Hi, Rita. Joseph. Ben.” She noticed Joseph and Ben had their clipboards with them. “Oh good. Are those for me?”

  Rita grinned. “They’ve been telling me about their preferences. Oh good news. The bank seems to have changed their mind and given us a little slack. I’m not sure why they’ve had such a change of heart, but I wasn’t about to argue.”

  Alice smiled back, hiding her worry and suspicions about Rita. Maybe she had made an honest mistake with the budgets. “Yes, I went to see the manager yesterday.” The board members and James might trust Rita implicitly, but Alice remained open to possibilities especially since speaking to the bank manager. Friendship didn’t blind her the same way. She decided to have a quiet word with everyone testing the condoms, ask them to give the results directly to her and not to discuss them with anyone, not even each other. This morning, she’d scrutinize the budgets again. If it meant she hurt feelings, then so be it.

  The company must succeed. Her future security depended on it. “Would you like to come to my office, so we can discuss the results?”

  “We can do it here,” Ben said.

  Alice shook her head. “I have the paperwork locked in my office. It would be easier if we went through everything with all the information.”

  “All right,” Joseph said.

  “You know.” Alice strove for normalcy, so no one took offence or became alert to her suspicions. “Lindy made me some chocolate chip cookies. She was baking for the school fete. I have a tin in my office.”

  “You have a stash?” Ben asked, cocking his head. He stared at Alice for a fraction longer before turning to Joseph. “Damn, the woman has Lindy’s cookies. I intend to buy some at the fete tomorrow, but hell, I’m set to eat cookies now. Let’s go.”

  “Lindy made dozens for the fete. You can buy more tomorrow.” With a laugh, she led the way to her office. “Rita, would you be able to make us a pot of coffee?”

  “As long as you save a cookie for me.”

  Alice nodded in relief. Rita hadn’t suspected a thing or read her request as a slight. “No problem.”

  They discussed Sloan and Ms. Knowall’s column, due out later in the day, until the coffee arrived. Alice handed over two of the homemade cookies to Rita and waited until the woman left, shutting the door after her before bringing up the test results.

  “Do you have any favorites?” she asked, picking up a pen and grabbing a pad so she could jot notes.

  “I like number three—the one with the golden tattoo pattern. It’s easy to put on and fits firmly. Vera liked it,” Ben said.

  Joseph nodded vehemently. “That’s the one Maggie liked best. I like the striped one as well. Number four, I think. It vibrates a bit faster.”

  “I found that distracting.” Inwardly, she marveled at the discussion, the use and features of a condom, with scarcely a blush on her part. “I liked number three best as well.”

  A tap sounded on the door. After a brief pause it opened and Rodney stuck his head inside. “How are the latest tests?” He entered the office and shut the door behind him.

  “We’re discussing our findings now.”

  “Which one is the favorite?” Rodney’s gaze landed on the tin of cookies. “Can I have one of those?”

  Alice shunted the tin in his direction. “Grab a coffee. Number three is a clear favorite.”

  “Ah, yes. I like that one. The latex is thin so it feels natural but it’s still strong enough to cope with just about anything.”

  “What about that anal sex?” Ben demanded. “Is the condom all right for that?”

  As one, all the men turned to her. Bother, she’d thought she’d become blasé about sex, but it appeared there were still things that threw her. “Don’t ask me,” she huffed. “I’m strictly a vanilla girl.”

  Ben turned his attention to their inventor. “Rodney?”

  “That particular version is very good for anal sex. The vibrations work well in both alternative and traditional positions.” The man didn’t even crack a grin. When it came to his work, their inventor was very serious.

  “How do you know? Have you tested it?” Ben asked.

  “Yes,” Rodney confirmed.

  Alice would have liked to ask questions. It looked as if Ben wanted more information too.

  “When can we start marketing?” Joseph glanced at Alice. “It’s not your fault, but when your prospective inheritance was taken out of the coffers and slapped in that investment, it ran us short.”

  “I know.” Alice bit her bottom lip, distracted from thoughts of anal sex. She tried not to think about the will stipulation and her discussion with the bank manager. If the compa
ny failed…

  Unease slithered through her mind. Fancy Free was vulnerable and the fault belonged to her.

  “I’ve already done most of the machine tests. The human trials are the last step in the process. Shouldn’t be much longer before we can finalize packaging and start our advertising campaign.”

  Ben nodded. “Good. Good.” He eyed the tin of cookies with such blatant desire that Alice shunted it toward him.

  She sighed, glad the tests were almost completed, but it meant she didn’t need to spend personal time with James. Their sexual relationship would turn into a business one again. No fringe benefits. She swallowed and stopped that thought right there. She didn’t want to think about being alone again.

  * * * * *

  James whistled as he strode into the offices of Fancy Free with a package under his arm. His visits had gone well—very well—and he’d scored several more orders, which he’d already dropped off for dispatch. Alice’s door was closed but he tapped on it and entered when he saw she sat behind her desk. She had papers strewn everywhere and a laptop computer in front of her. Glasses gave her a serious air while the pucker on her brow made him want to kiss away her worry.

  “Hi.” His gaze drifted across her face before moving lower. She still insisted on the bulky clothes even though they were ill fitting and did nothing for her. He’d had a private word with Luke before coming back to the office. From what his friend said, the intruders had hacked up most of Alice’s clothes, although he knew she kept some at his house. Luke didn’t like the situation, especially since the escapades had increased in frequency. Between them they’d agreed to keep an eye on her. “I bought you something.”

  A shy smile curled her lips, making him want to lean over the desk and kiss her until desire brought a sparkle to her eyes and color to her cheeks. “What?”

  “Open it and see.” He handed over the parcel and attempted to clear a space to perch on the corner of her desk. After sliding several pages aside, his mouth tightened. Budgets. Alice was working on the damn budgets again. Irritation swelled up in a crashing wave. Didn’t she ever stop thinking about money, profit and the bottom line? There were more important things in life than money.

  Alice opened the parcel carefully, peeling away tape and lifting aside tissue paper. Her hands hovered over the lingerie he’d purchased for her. She stared before she raised her head. “You shouldn’t have. They’re too expensive.”

  “I said I’d replace the ones lost in the river,” he gritted out, his anger growing.

  Her eyes widened. “But these are expensive. You didn’t need to pay so much. I would—”

  James gave an irritable shrug, pretending unconcern when fury gripped him hard. Why the fuck did people get so hung up on money? It didn’t make them any happier. “They’re a present. Take them or throw them away. It’s all the same to me.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t do that.” Shock colored her voice. “That would be a terrible waste of money.”

  “Is that all you think of?” he demanded, springing off the desk to put distance between them. Hell, he sure knew how to pick them. He should have learned by now that most women put money and material possessions in front of the things that mattered. Yeah, he’d watch over her and keep her safe, but at the end of the six months, he’d walk away without regrets.

  “What?” Confusion marred her smooth brow.

  Hell, she didn’t get it. “There are more important things than money,” James snapped.

  She straightened abruptly, her chair creaking with the force of her weight, and they glared at each other. “Money is pretty important.”

  “No. It’s not.”

  Alice’s eyes narrowed, her chin lifting in a stubborn manner. “Money gives security. It might not matter to you, but I need the security that comes with having money. I can’t do it again. I just can’t.”

  The hint of panic in her voice gave him pause. He studied her carefully and noticed the sheen of tears in her eyes. “Can’t do what, Alice?”

  “When I was twelve my father declared bankruptcy. It ch-changed everything. We had to move from our home.” She sniffed and a tear spilled over and ran down her cheek. “I had to sell my pony Holly and we…we couldn’t afford to keep our dog any more. We had to adopt him out.” She rubbed away another tear with the back of her hand. “All I want is the security a little money brings. What’s wrong with that?”

  Aw, damn. Her confession explained so much. The anger in him seeped away. James stepped around the corner of the desk and tugged Alice to her feet. He pressed her to his chest and smoothed his hand down her back. Her entire body was stiff, and guilt whacked him over the head. Hell, he’d practically accused her of being a gold digger, desperate for money. “I’m sorry.”

  “You weren’t to know,” Alice whispered.

  Yeah, but he’d judged her without the facts. “What happened?”

  Alice swallowed and avoided his gaze. James gripped her chin firmly but gently and tilted her head so their gazes met. “Everything changed after my father…” She winced and appeared to marshal her emotions. “We had to move to a new house and change schools. The other kids laughed and teased my brothers and sisters and me because of our clothes and where we lived. I hated school. I made a promise to myself I would never be in that position again. I worked an after-school job, went to university and studied hard. I never wanted to be dependent on anyone else again.”

  Which was why she took such care with her money and remained set on obtaining her inheritance. It wasn’t greed. Alice craved security. Now that he knew, her behavior made sense.

  Hell, he could understand her attitude, but he could also see that Alice was taking things to the extreme to compensate for her need. He cupped her face with his hands, smoothing her hair out of her eyes. “Are you ready to leave?”

  “I wanted to finish my run through the budgets. There’s something wrong with them, and I wanted to go through the figures again.”

  James brushed a kiss across her pink lips, keeping it light and platonic when what he wanted was to distract her from everything except the idea of making love. “It can wait until tomorrow. Come home and model the lingerie for me. Please.” He’d imagined her in the silky lace and satin panties and bra, envisioned the way the fabric would enhance her luscious curves. Unable to make up his mind on color, he’d purchased several sets and styles in different shades. Kellie Anne had helped him with sizes and color choices. “Do we have more condoms to test?”

  Alice’s eyes closed for an instant and he cursed inwardly. Damn, he shouldn’t have mentioned the condoms. That brought them right back to money and the necessity of finishing the tests.

  “Yes, I have them packed away in my handbag. It’s the last lot according to Rodney.”

  “Good. Alice, would you like to go out to dinner with me?”

  She inhaled rapidly, drawing his attention to her breasts. “Dinner?”

  “Yeah.” A date. Shit, what the hell was he doing? Even though he knew now she wasn’t the money-hungry woman he’d accused her of, he still intended to leave Sloan. They had no future together. They were too different and had diverse goals and takes on life.

  Alice cast him a shy glance. “That would be nice.”

  Without giving her a chance to change her mind, he ushered Alice from her office, and after scooping up her handbag and the lingerie, locked the door. They drove to the Red Fox Tavern, a bar and restaurant on the far side of town.

  “I haven’t been here before,” Alice said when they walked into the entrance of the English-themed bar. “It’s very nice.”

  James gave the dark wood panels and hunting prints a cursory glance. Already Alice had relaxed, her expression no longer set in lines of tension. He knew then he’d made a wise decision bringing her to neutral territory. Just inside, they paused at a desk to speak to the hostess.

  “Hi, James. A table for two?” It was Katarina’s granddaughter. James remembered Katarina had said she wanted to save money to pur
chase a car.

  “Hi, Tina. Have you met Alice Beasley?”

  “No, but Nana talks about the two of you all the time.” Tina lowered her voice. “My father doesn’t approve of Nana spending time at Fancy Free, but I think it’s wonderful. My grandparents seem young again. They go out more and have fun together.”

  “Katarina and the gang keep us on our toes.” Alice’s wry tone and the cute wrinkle of her nose brought a smile to James. Alice fit in perfectly, handling the oldies with tact and good humor. Even though the two of them were often the butt of the oldies’ sly humor, Alice never raised her voice, treating them with indulgence and listening carefully to their opinions. He could see why Alicia had insisted on leaving most of the company to her goddaughter. Even though they hadn’t known each other well, Alicia had monitored her goddaughter’s progress once she’d left school. James wondered why she hadn’t helped the family when they’d obviously needed the money. He guessed he’d never know since Alice hadn’t seen her godmother often. She hadn’t even known Alicia ran a condom company.

  Tina showed them to a private table overlooking the cottage garden at the back of the building. Still relatively early, the restaurant was quiet with only two of the tables occupied.

  James turned to Alice. “Would you like a drink first?”

  “A glass of white wine sounds lovely.”

  “House Chardonnay?” Tina asked.

  Alice nodded.

  “I’ll have a Speights dark,” James said.

  Tina hurried off, leaving a slightly uncomfortable silence between them. His fault, and he badly wanted to fix the tension between them. He snorted inwardly, amused at himself. Women always flocked to him—he didn’t usually need to put himself out, but with Alice, he wanted to make the effort. And that scared him. To divert his thoughts, he picked up one of the menus Tina had left with them. “The roast beef is my favorite and anything on the specials board is an excellent choice.”

  “I might order the hot lamb salad. James, I’m sorry about the lingerie. No one has given me a present like that before. It threw me.”