by Marie Tuhart
Max frowned, and he did something Lara didn’t expect. He sat down on the floor next to the sofa. Max lifted his hand and waited. Colby nodded, then Max picked up her hand from where it rested on her leg.
“Lara, first off, everyone signs an NDA, and if anyone violated the NDA, they would be in a world of hurt. Trust me. Jordan, Damon, and I would never let that pass without serious consequences to the person. Second, no one gets in who doesn’t belong. Not only is there a gate that is only opened with a code, but they have to check in with Ralph; if they’re not on the list they’re escorted off the property, not that anyone has ever gotten that far.” Max chuckled. “Okay, one person, but that was Sierra, and she actually knocked.”
Lara nodded, feeling a little better.
“If it helps to know, we’re doing some upgrades that will include cameras not only at the gate but outside. The club’s address is attached to my personal address, and unless you really know about the club, you won’t find it. Plus, the computer system we use is air-gapped and encrypted.”
“I see.”
“The worry is still there.” Max’s gaze shifted from her to Colby. “What is going on?”
Colby glanced at her, and she let out another sigh. “My family.” Damn, this wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go.
“Her brother told her he was watching her,” Colby clarified.
Max’s gaze turned hard. “That is a good thing to know.” Max squeezed her hand. “Lara, please don’t be afraid to tell me if you’re worried about someone who shouldn’t be getting in. We’re very diligent. But I appreciate the information.”
“I’ve caused a problem, haven’t I?” That was the last thing she wanted to do.
“No. You’ve made me aware there could be a problem.” Max squeezed her hand. “I don’t want you to worry about it. I’m very security conscious. Privacy isn’t just the gate, but the NDA, the background check, and the classes.”
“Thank you, Master Max.” Her voice was soft.
Max squeezed her hand again before he rose to his feet. “Colby, demo on Saturday night?”
“Yes, I remember.”
Max nodded and walked away.
“Demo?” Lara asked.
“I promised a month ago to do a flogging demo on Saturday.”
“Do I get to watch?”
“If you want.”
“I do. Are you good with a flogger?”
“The best.” He leaned over. “If you were ready, I’d use you as my sub.”
Lara squirmed. To feel the touch of Colby’s flogger made her squirm in anticipation. “Maybe I am.”
Colby grinned. “You need to walk before you can run.”
Her lips turned up. “Then I guess you’ll have to show me.”
“It will be my pleasure.” He dropped a kiss against her lips. “It’s after ten, and I know you have to work tomorrow.”
“Yes.” She wished she didn’t have to go to work tomorrow. That was a first for her.
“Come on. Let’s get you home.” He slid her off his lap, helped her to her feet, and guided her out of the club to the ladies’ room. “Five minutes.” Colby kissed her hand, then pushed her inside.
Lara was grinning when she opened her locker. She grabbed her jacket, and that’s when she looked down and gasped. Her top was totally open. How long had she been flashing everyone? Oh my God, she was exposed when Max talked to her. Her boobs right there in front of his face.
She laughed. Max never let on. Colby must have undone her blouse at some point, and she never noticed. Was that a bad thing? Nope, she decided. This was part of learning to walk. Lara slipped on her jacket and grabbed her purse.
Colby was waiting for her when she walked out. “When did you undo my blouse?” She needed to know.
“While you were watching the flogging scene. I kept you busy so you wouldn’t notice.”
“And I didn’t.”
“Does it bother you?”
“No.” She grinned.
“Let’s go.” He held his hand out, and she put hers in it.
* * * *
Friday afternoon, Colby put the finishing touches on the flogger he wanted to use at the club tomorrow night. He laid it down and picked up his phone. While he’d seen Lara at the café this morning, he missed her. Plus, he wanted to take her out tonight.
Colby: Dinner
Lara: Sure. Where are we going?
Colby thought for a moment.
Colby: Would you like to go out or stay in?
Lara: You choose.
He let out a laugh. His independent woman was deferring to him more and more. He liked that.
Colby: BBQ
Lara: Works for me
Colby: Pick you up at six
Lara: See you then
Colby smiled when he saw all the emojis she put after her message. He made a reservation at the restaurant and began cleaning up his work area.
Chapter 9
Colby pulled up at Lara’s home with a frown. There were two police cars there. He forced his panic into the pit of his stomach as he climbed off his motorcycle and raced up the steps. The door was partially open. He knocked. “Lara?”
“It’s okay,” she said softly to someone. “Come in, Colby.”
He pushed the door open with his elbow. “What’s going on?” Colby saw Logan standing near Lara. At least he knew Logan from the club. Lara was sitting on her sofa with her aunt.
Logan walked over to him. “Keep your cool, Colby,” he said softly.
He frowned at Logan’s words. “Are you hurt?” Colby asked, leaning around Logan to stare at Lara.
“I’m not hurt.” She shook her head.
Colby looked at Logan. “Let’s step outside,” Logan said.
“Fine.” Colby didn’t like this, but he needed to know what was going on. He stepped out the door onto the stoop. “What the hell happened?”
“Lara isn’t hurt. Shaken but not hurt,” Logan said. “Someone broke into her home.”
“I can see how that could be upsetting, but four officers? What aren’t you saying?”
“That’s not for me to say. We’ve gotten our report, so we’ll leave.”
Colby nodded, and they returned inside. The four officers left. “Lara?” Colby opened his arms.
In an instant, she was in his embrace. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“So am I,” Aunt Tammy said.
“Officer Wolfe said your house was broken into.” Once Colby got more information from Lara, he’d talk with Logan again.
“Yes.” A tremor shook her body. “This is crazy. The door was slightly open, but nothing was taken that I can see, and nothing is out of place, yet...”
“It’s a violation.” He glanced over his shoulder at the door. “How did they get in?”
“They had a key,” Aunt Tammy said.
“What?” Colby stared at Aunt Tammy.
“Aunt Tammy, we don’t know that.”
“Pshaw. How else did they get in? The door lock is intact as well as the windows, and your alarm was off.”
“I could have forgotten to activate it this morning,” Lara said.
“Not likely,” Aunt Tammy muttered.
“Are you okay, Aunt Tammy?” Colby asked, but he agreed with her. Lara was meticulous about her alarm.
“I’m fine. I was at my ladies group. They knew I wouldn’t be home.” She stood. “I’ll head home now that you’re here.”
“Hold on,” Colby said. He pushed Lara to arm’s length. “Will you be okay while I check out your aunt’s place?”
“Yes.” Her voice was soft.
“No need,” Aunt Tammy said.
“Every need,” Colby said. He guided Lara over to the sofa. “Sit down, and I’ll be right back.”
Anger simmered beneath Colby’s skin as he escorted Tammy home and made sure no one had entered her home. It was clear.
“Take care of my girl, Colby,” Aunt Tammy said.
“I intend to.” Colby jo
gged down the steps and back up to Lara’s place. She was sitting where he left her, gazing into space.
“I feel so violated,” she said softly.
“Sweetheart.” Colby closed the door and crossed over to her. He pulled her into his arms the second he sat down.
“Why would anyone break in and not take anything?”
Colby wondered about that too. “Are you sure nothing is missing?”
She nodded. “My TV is still here, my laptop is on the desk. Nothing looks out of place, yet I can’t shake that something is off.”
Colby didn’t blame her. “Do you want me to check around?”
“I know the police did, but yes, please.”
The tremor in her voice hit him hard in the gut. Colby let her go and stood. He checked her bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and family room. Her place wasn’t big. He frowned when he noticed the door in the kitchen to her garage was open. Her garage was on a lower level.
Quietly, he made his way over to her and leaned down. “Did you leave the kitchen door to your garage door open?” he whispered.
She shook her head. “I parked my car outside.” Her eyes went wide.
“Go to your Aunt’s,” he ordered.
“Colby,” she whispered.
“I can take care of myself, but not if you’re here.”
She shook her head. “There’s no way out of the garage. We’d hear the door open, unless he comes up the stairs into here.”
“What about the back yard?”
“There is that, but there’s no way out. The fencing is too high.”
“Go,” he ordered as he heard a squeak.
Lara stood and went to the door. Colby turned and went into the kitchen, but he had a view of the garage door and waited.
He didn’t have long; the door slowly pushed open and a person dressed in black and wearing a mask slipped out.
Two steps into the kitchen and Colby was on him, taking him to the floor. It wasn’t much of a tussle. Colby had surprised the man.
“Here.” Lara held out some rope.
“I told you to leave.” He used the rope to tie the man up.
“I didn’t listen.” There was anger in her voice. “I also called the police.”
“Which I thank you for.” Colby looked up to see Logan and another officer. “Let him go. We’ll take care of him.”
Colby didn’t like it, but he got up, and Logan reached down and hauled the man up to his feet.
Colby moved over to Lara and put his arm around her as Logan took the ski mask off the man.
“Lara, recognize him?” Logan asked.
“No.” She glared at the man.
“Colby?”
“Never seen him before.”
“Fine. We have you for breaking and entering. You have the right to...” The other officer started reciting as he led the man away.
“Any clue why he would be in your garage?” Colby asked Lara softly.
“Nothing there usually except for my car and some lawn equipment.”
Logan started at them. “When you have a moment, go check and make sure nothing is missing. Charges will be filed for the breaking and entering, and I have your first report. We’ll find out who he is and let you know.”
“Thank you,” Lara said quietly.
“I’ll be in contact,” Logan said and left, pulling the door closed behind him.
“Do you want to check the garage out?” Colby asked.
“Yes. I’ll never be able to sleep if I don’t.” She shivered.
Colby led her to the garage door. Lara flipped the light switch. “Please stay up here until I call for you.” He made his way down the stairs.
They weren’t steep, which was good. At the bottom, he paused and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place to him, but he noted some hiding places. With caution, he stepped into the garage area and began checking it out.
Nothing. He breathed a sigh of relief. “You can come down.”
Lara steps were soft as she made her way down the stairs. She paused and faced Colby. “Everything looks okay,” she took the last step into the garage and began walking around. “Yep, nothing missing.”
“Do you keep spare keys or anything like that hidden down here?”
She shook her head. “I think he must have been looking for a way out, and when there wasn’t one, he waited until the police were done.”
“Let’s go back up.” Putting his arm around her waist, he guided her up the stairs. Once there, he shut and locked the door, with a mental note to buy and install a heavier lock.
“Not the way I planned for tonight to go,” Lara said.
“Things happen.” Which reminded him— He pulled out his phone and called the restaurant to cancel their reservation. “We can stay here and have pizza delivered, or we can go to my place and have pizza delivered.”
Lara gave a laugh. “Pizza huh?”
“We have to eat.”
“Graziano’s is the best.” Lara stood and went into the kitchen, returning with a menu in her hand. “What would you like?”
Colby looked over the menu. “Anything with meat on it, no olives or onions.”
Lara called an order in and sat down next to Colby. He reached over and hauled her into his arms.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said, resting her head against his shoulder.
“I am too.” He dropped a kiss on top of her head and just held her in silence until the doorbell rang.
“Food,” she said sitting up.
“I’ll get it.” Colby walked to the door and checked to see who it was. He opened the door.
“Hi,” the deliveryman said. “Order for a large meat pizza, cheese bread, and for dessert, our special brownie delight.” He held the food out.
“Thanks, Johnny,” Lara said, smiling at the young man.
Colby handed the kid the money and took the food.
“Nice to see you, Miss Lara, enjoy.” He turned and jogged down the steps.
“That smells delicious,” Lara said. “Put it on the coffee table while I get plates and napkins.”
Colby carried everything over to the table and set it down. Lara was right; this did smell delicious. She returned, and they ate.
“Well, since tonight is kind of messed up, what do you want to do?” she asked after they polished off dessert.
“It’s fine.” He helped her clean up and put the leftovers in the fridge. He’d noticed over dinner that Lara kept looking at the door as if she expected someone to be there. “Are you worried about another break-in?”
“Yes, no...Maybe.” She let out a breath. “I’m glad you’re here, but I don’t get it. Why did he break in if he wasn’t going to steal anything?”
“Maybe you got home before he could?”
Lara’s nose scrunched up as she concentrated. “I was home a little bit earlier than normal, but still.” She shivered.
“I’m sure it was just a random break-in and you surprised him.” But he had to wonder. There were no broken windows or doors and there was the fact her alarm system had been turned off. “Why don’t we find something on TV to watch?” He pulled her close once again.
“You pick.” She handed him the remote. “I have several streaming services so I’m sure you can find something.”
Colby scrolled through the channels and finally settled on an action/adventure movie. “Is this okay?” he asked as it started.
“It is. I love superhero movies.” She settled against him.
Two hours later, Colby glanced down to see Lara was sound asleep. He wasn’t surprised. The adrenaline spike was gone. He shifted on the sofa so she lay on top of him. He pulled the throw from the back and put over her. The next movie started as his eyes closed.
* * * *
Lara snuggled against something warm and somewhat hard. The heat is what kept her close. It might be late April, but they still had some cool nights. She curled her arm over... Hair tickled her skin. She froze and opened her eyes.
Twinkling green eyes were gazing down at her. “Good morning, sweetheart.”
“Colby?” She was about to ask him what he was doing there when the events of last night came back to her. “You stayed?”
“You fell asleep on the sofa. I didn’t feel right leaving you alone, so I carried you to bed.”
Lara swallowed, glanced down, and blew out a breath. Okay, she was still wearing her panties. And Colby?
“Before you ask, yes, I undressed you, and I still have on my shorts. I didn’t think you’d appreciate either of us being naked when you woke this morning.” He tucked his chin down. “But I can remedy that if you want to play.”
Want and need filled her veins until she remembered. “What time is it?” She twisted in his hold to look at the clock.
“About six,” he said.
“I’ve got to get to the café.” She’d rather spend the day in his arms, but she had a business to run. “I’m going to be late as it is.”
“Then this will wait until later.” He gave her a brief hard kiss and released her.
* * * *
Lara grinned as she pulled into the club parking lot. She’d seen Colby several times today, including a few hours ago when he loaded the hot boxes into her car. He’d spent last night with her. Her heart warmed. He’d held her all night, keeping her safe. Lara hated that she hadn’t had time to spend with him this morning. Maybe tonight after they were done at the club. Actually, maybe she’d invite him back to her place tonight, and they could enjoy some sexy times in her bed.
She grinned at her thoughts. Colby was worried about how the burglar got into her place, so this morning, while she was at the café getting things ready for the club, he’d gone to the hardware store and picked up new locks. Not only for the front door, but the garage and Aunt Tammy’s place as well.
Lara shook her head and told him he was overreacting, but she hadn’t shut him down. While she was still processing what had happened yesterday, she had to agree that the door being unlocked bothered her as well.
As for the alarm, she’d called her alarm company asking them if there was a log of who used what code and what time. They were going to check for her and send her an email.
She grinned as she parked and saw Colby and Max come out the front door.
