Protecting His Interests Read online

  She glanced over at me and slid her hands into her lap. “Frightened, then. I mean, a killer is on the loose. Aren’t you, at least, a little bit scared?”

  “Scared?” I leaned closer and lowered my voice. “Scarlett, I’m terrified, but terror isn’t going to keep you safe.”

  She widened her eyes. “Do you think he’s connected to the Escort Killer?”

  “It’s possible, although I have no idea why you’d be attacked. You’re not an escort.”

  “Neither was Henri, although he frequently hired escorts.” She blinked at me, and I could tell where her thoughts were heading. She had hired me for the week, and doing that could have put a target on her back.

  “Don’t jump to any conclusions,” I said. “There is still a lot we don’t know. Until the police figure out what’s going on, we need to focus on keeping you out of harm’s way.”

  “How can you keep me safe? We don’t know who this person is, or what he’s up to.”

  I leaned back in my chair and was careful to keep my expression blank. “I have my ways.”

  She gave me a funny look and then rubbed her temple. “Look, I appreciate what you are trying to do, but I really have to get back to the show.”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “No?” She raised her brows. “You don’t understand.”

  “I’ve been thinking about it. Whoever grabbed you back at the convention center is still out there, waiting for another opportunity to strike. There’s no reason to believe that he won’t try something again.”

  “He wouldn’t dare. Not in front of all those people.”

  “There is no better place to hide than in the middle of a crowd. Trust me.” I had used that technique more than once myself. Until I knew who we were dealing with, I didn’t want to take any chances.”

  “I can’t just not show up. People are expecting me. I have clients and buyers—”

  “I understand that your show is important to you, but your safety is important to me.” I leaned forward and lowered my voice. “Everyone is going to expect you to be at that show—including whomever attacked you. I say we shake up your routine and keep him on his toes.”

  She took a sip of her coffee and studied my face for a moment before answering. “Even if you’re right—and I’m not saying you are—then who is going to cover for me?”

  “Violet.”

  “Violet?”

  “I heard her talking to Bridget earlier. She knows her stuff. She could easily arrange things so that you have a presence there without being there physically.”

  She shook her head. “The panels—”

  “If you can’t send Violet, then just skip them.” I leaned my elbows on the table. “It’s only for one day.”

  “One day?”

  “You’ll still have the rest of the week to make the rounds.”

  She took a sip of coffee, considering my words. “I suppose I could change some of my appearances to later in the week.” She set down her cup and sighed. “Lord knows I don’t want another run-in with that monster.”

  “That’s my girl.” I leaned back and considered our options. Law enforcement needed to know about this, but I couldn’t very well go down there with her and give a statement. People would recognize me, and then things would get messy.

  “So what do we do?” she asked as she raised her cup to her lips. Her gaze seemed to suggest a silent challenge. It was almost as if she knew what I was thinking.

  I leaned back in my chair and thought for a moment. “First, you’re going to call Violet and arrange coverage for the rest of the day.”

  “And then?”

  “Then, I’ll call a friend I have down at the police station and see if we can arrange for you to give a statement.” I held up my hand before she could protest. “Privately.”

  “No cameras?”

  “No cameras. Or reporters. He’s a close friend from my military days. He’ll be discreet.”

  Scarlett shivered and put down her cup. “I’ve had bad experiences with cops in the past.”

  It was difficult to hide my surprise. “You have?”

  She glanced up at me and considered me for a moment before speaking. “Before Henri, I dated this cop in New York.” She toyed with the edge of her cup. “We only went out a couple of times before Bridget put an end to the relationship.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Bridget put an end to the relationship? Why?”

  Scarlett shrugged. “She was my mentor, and I had an image to maintain. I still do.”

  An uneasy feeling rippled through my gut as I realized what she was hinting at. “A cop doesn’t fit your image.” I set down the cup.

  “No. Well, not exactly. It’s the fact that they are too harsh. They also lack a certain . . .” She waved her hand in the air as she searched for the right word. “Polish.”

  “Polish.” I couldn’t quite keep the disbelief out of my voice.

  “Yes. Certain situations require a delicate touch, and cops tend to be rather . . .”

  I fisted my hands under the table. “Barbaric.”

  “Blunt,” she corrected. “And hard, yes. They tell it like they see it, and often in this business subtlety is key to winning people over.”

  “Bridget told you this?”

  “Yes.” She lifted her chin. “And it’s the truth. The guy I dated back in New York had no social graces. He stood out like a bull in a china shop.” She shook her head. “My job is made or broken on the relationships I form. If someone comes across as too abrasive, well . . .” She waved her hand in the air. “I could lose a lot of business.”

  “I see.” Now I really didn’t want my coffee. Thanks to Bridget, Scarlett thought cops were caveman-like barbarians.

  “Bridget thought that he’d make me look weak to art investors, and he did, so I broke up with him.”

  “He didn’t fit in your little world, so you broke up with him, just like that.” It was difficult to keep the edge out of my voice. “I suppose an escort is no better.”

  She looked up at me, a silent question in her gaze. “We aren’t dating,” she reminded me.

  Ouch. She was right, but that didn’t stop the knife from going into my chest. I sat back in my chair and stared at her as I tried to process how the sweet girl I knew in high school had become so shallow.

  “My career is important to me,” she said, as if reading my thoughts.

  “More important than happiness?” When she started to respond, I shook my head, stopping her. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter.” I nodded to her purse. “You better make that phone call.”

  “Oh, right.” She reached around and pulled out her phone. She started to dial, then glanced in my direction. “Could I have a little privacy?”

  I blinked. She needed privacy to tell Violet to take over for the day? It seemed rather silly, but at the same time, I had my own private phone call to make.

  “Sure. I’ll just step out for a moment and call my friend at the station.”

  “Okay.” She returned her attention to the phone as I stood and made my way outside. When I reached outside, I glanced back into the coffee shop and watched her talk on the cell.

  I was such a fool. When I had first seen Scarlett standing there in the hotel foyer, I had thought . . . well, I had thought that perhaps we could pick up where things had left off. Now I knew that falling back into our old relationship wouldn’t be so easy. Scarlett considered cops to be too uncultured and brazen, too . . . rough.

  In other words, I wasn’t good enough.

  Snorting, I pulled out my cell and began to dial the precinct. It was probably just as well. I needed to focus on the case anyhow. Closing cases was what I did best, just like my father before me and his father before him. It was time to start earning my pay.

  * * *

  Sal was surprisingly fast. We only had to wait about fifteen minutes before he arrived in civilian clothes at the coffee shop to take a statement. Jake hadn’t checked in yet t
oday, but Sal said that he’d see if there was any new information before coming over. They’d also send some people over to the art show to look at security tapes and have a look around in case something was missed. I had already given him all of the details over the phone, so his interview of Scarlett was quick, which was a blessing. She was obviously nervous around him and my holding her hand didn’t seem to help much. Listening to her speak made me realize that she had indeed been through a lot today, and most likely needed rest. After assuring Sal that we’d keep our eyes open, he closed his notebook and declared that he’d look into everything for us. We all left the coffee shop together, and on the way out, he slipped me a piece of paper, saying to open it when I was alone.

  Her hotel was only a short distance away, so we walked there in silence, each in our own thoughts. She was shaking less, which was good, but I could see that she was still looking at the people around us with apprehension.

  “He probably won’t strike you here at the hotel,” I offered as we stepped off the elevator and onto her floor. “Not with me standing next to you.”

  “You don’t think so?”

  I shook my head. “It’s too risky. He might easily overpower one person, but two . . .”

  She stopped in front of her door. “I suppose you’re right.”

  “I’m always right, didn’t you know that?”

  She smiled. “No, I didn’t.”

  “Well, you should.” I leaned against the wall next to her. “Have I ever steered you wrong before?” I held up my hand as she opened her mouth. “Don’t answer that.”

  That made her laugh harder, and we both chuckled until an awkward silence fell over us.

  “Well, thanks,” she said as she leaned against the door. “Not just for being there for me today, but for yesterday, too. It helps to have someone to talk to.” My chest ached as I saw the pain and vulnerability in her features. I could tell that she was feeling a little lost after everything that had happened the past couple of days.

  I knew what that felt like. After my father’s death, I had felt adrift as well. Back then, I had no one to talk to, no one to rely on. My brothers were too young, and my aunt too stricken with grief. I knew that if our family was going to survive, it was going to be up to me. So I had committed to keeping my father’s memory alive, and in doing so brought myself and my family out of the darkness and helped us reclaim our lives.

  This situation was different, however. Scarlett wasn’t alone. She had friends and family. She had me.

  “Scarlett.” I took a step forward and cradled her cheek in my palm. The marks had faded, and a healthy glow spread across her face. As I watched her features soften, I suddenly wanted to tell her everything. It took all of the willpower I had to swallow the words back. I couldn’t tell her the truth, not here, not now. Once this case was over, I promised myself, I’d tell her everything. We had both wasted so many years apart. I didn’t want anything in between us anymore, not my job, not my family, and certainly not her prejudice about cops. I wanted to show her that I was different, that we could be different . . .

  But all of that would have to wait. Someone was out to harm her, and I needed to focus on that. Her protection had to be my top priority. Nothing else mattered.

  “I will always be there for you, Scarlett.” I rubbed my thumb along her cheek. “Always.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Scarlett

  His words made me feel cherished and loved, and boy, did I need that right now. As Gabe leaned in, I closed my eyes and parted my lips. He kissed me, just a feather-light press of lips, and desire surged through my bloodstream, making me feel light-headed. I let go of the door and leaned into his warmth, desperate for some human contact. After the brush with death this morning, I wanted to feel alive once more, and I knew that I could feel that way with Gabe’s naked body pressed up against mine.

  “Stay,” I whispered as he broke the kiss.

  He flicked his gaze up to meet mine. “What?”

  “Stay with me for a little while.” I opened the door and stepped back into the room, dragging him with me. When I was with Gabe, I felt in control of my life. Things made sense. With everything else in turmoil, I needed to feel as if I had control of something, even if it was something small like this.

  I reached for his belt and pulled on the buckle. “Close the door.”

  “Scarlett.” His voice sounded strained, as if he believed the right thing to do was to leave, but he wanted desperately to stay.

  “Do it,” I commanded. My voice sounded confident, which was a stark contrast to how I felt. If he walked away, if he rejected me, I wasn’t sure I could take it.

  After a brief hesitation, he pushed on the door, and it closed with a bang.

  I finished undoing the belt buckle and dropped to my knees. “I want to taste you, Gabe,” I said as I eased his cock out of his pants. “I want to feel you inside my body.”

  “Scarlett.” He was already hard, already dripping moisture. Leaning forward, I flicked my tongue over the tip of his cock, making him shiver.

  “Oh God.” He threaded his fingers through my hair as I pushed my lips down his shaft. He filled my mouth, pressing against my tongue and sliding until he bumped the back of my throat.

  I groaned and retreated, then eased down his shaft once more. He tightened his grip on my hair and started controlling my thrusts, losing himself in the moment.

  Glancing up, I saw him close his eyes and tilt his head back. His actions made me feel powerful, beautiful. I reached for him, cupping his balls and gently tugging them as I moved over his length. Seconds passed as I focused on my task, listening to his moans of pleasure and feeling the desire come awake inside him.

  The air heated around us, and I pushed him deeper, wanting to take him as far as he could go.

  “Scarlett.”

  I gripped his base. Moaning, I stroked him with my fingers and mouth, determined to make him come undone.

  “God, Scarlett. Wait.” He tugged on my hair, pulling me away from his body. “If you keep this up, I’m not going to last.”

  “I don’t want you to last.”

  He groaned and pulled me up onto my feet. “You’re going to kill me.”

  Before I could respond, he kissed me, slowly sliding his tongue inside my mouth and brushing it against mine.

  Desire shot through my bloodstream, and I slid my arms up around his neck. I didn’t want to think, didn’t want to talk. I just wanted to feel.

  He eased his fingers around my waist and slid them down around my ass. With each squeeze, I became more needy and desperate. Slipping my hands down, I worked his shirt free from his jeans, and then slid my fingers under it. He groaned against my lips as I reached up and brushed against his nipples.

  “Scarlett.”

  I broke the kiss and helped him bring the shirt over his head. He leaned forward again to kiss me, but I put my hand on his torso and gently pushed him away.

  “Strip first.”

  He raised his brows but then did as I asked. As he worked his clothes off, I removed my dress and undergarments and slowly walked backward toward the chair next to the bed.

  He was magnificent. So tall and muscular, far more muscular than I remember him being in high school. I nibbled my lower lip as I sat down in the chair and hooked one leg up over the armrest.

  “Jesus.” Gabe ran his fingers over his face as my pussy came into view.

  “What are you waiting for?” I lifted my head in silent challenge.

  He quickly closed the distance between us and fell to his knees. Cupping his hands underneath my ass, he slid me to the edge of the chair. I grabbed his hair as he leaned forward and pressed his tongue against my center, sending a bolt of pleasure up through my core.

  “Yes.” I raised my other leg up and placed it on the other armrest, opening myself up to him fully.

  “You taste so good.” He curled his fingers into my flesh as he feasted on my skin. As his tongue darted in and out of my
body, I held him close, loving how good he felt against my skin.

  My skin heated as he worked, and tension filled the air. I could feel the desire inside of me growing, building up into a frenzy of need. He slid a finger into my core, pumping me as he flicked his tongue along my outer rim. He pushed me higher and higher, until I felt myself hovering on something vast and amazing.

  “Come for me, Scarlett. Let me taste you.” He shifted his mouth up and gently rubbed my clit as he quickened the pace with his fingers. I groaned and closed my eyes, losing myself in the moment. My breathing quickened, and the muscles tightened in my core. Then he scraped his teeth over my clit, and the flash of pain was enough to send me tumbling over the edge into oblivion.

  I called out his name and dug my nails into his scalp as the world fell apart around me. Pleasure poured through my body, filling every crevice and pore. He slowed his strokes, lengthening them until every last bit of ecstasy had been wrung out of my body. Then, when the last ribbons of joy faded, he stood, dragged me out of the chair, and hauled me over to the bed.

  “My turn.” He placed his palm in the middle of my back and pushed me forward until my hands were on the mattress. Then he slid his damp hand in between my cheeks and pressed his finger against the opening in my backside.

  “Gabe.” The word tumbled out of me with surprise.

  “Have you ever been taken here?” he asked as he eased the pressure.

  “No, but I have used beads.” I nodded to the corner of the room. “They’re in my bag.”

  He left me and went to the suitcase. It didn’t take him long to find the anal beads and oil I usually carried with me.

  He held them up to me and twisted his lips in a half smile. “Do you always bring such things with you when you travel?”

  “Sometimes.” I didn’t want Gabe to think that I was obsessed with sex, but the truth was, I had become dependent on toys in the bedroom. I discovered them while dating Henri. He hadn’t always satisfied me, and I needed something to take the edge off once he fell asleep. After we had broken up, I started using them more, becoming dependent on them to relieve a lot of my tension from work.