Primal Instinct (31 page)

Her lips moved, a tiny ghost of a smile. “I'm sorry I kind of accused you of…lying, or whatever. I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just…”

He held up a hand. “No apology needed.”

She glanced down at his card, still clutched in one hand, now slightly crumpled. “I've heard of Virtus,” she said, referring to the security company he ran with his father. The blue-and-gray logo was emblazoned across the top of the card he'd given her. She extended her hand across to him. “I'm Sierra, by the way.”

He nodded. In the back of his brain, he'd recognized her almost immediately, but his concern for her had taken precedence over everything else. “I know. I'm Sean.” He enveloped her small, delicate hand in his, and a warm, electrical tingle worked its way up his arm. Slowly she pulled her hand back, and damn, the friction of her skin against his felt good.

“I know.” She held up the card.

He rubbed a hand over his cheek, his closely cropped beard bristling against his fingers. “Right. So, any idea who might've attacked you?” He scanned the quiet parking lot again. No way in hell was anyone getting close to her right now.

She blew out a slow breath and shook her head. “Not a clue.” Some of the color dropped out of her face again, and he knew he needed to keep her talking. The urge to comfort her was nearly overwhelming. He couldn't change what had happened to her, but he could try to make the present suck a little less. He wanted to ask her about her own security, if she had anyone working for her, but thought that might come off like too much of a sales pitch, and that wasn't what she needed right now. So he headed in another direction.

“Were you on a panel?” he asked, tipping his head toward the convention center.

She nodded. “Yeah.
Family Tree
reunion. We do it every year for 90's Con.”

“I remember that show. You were cute.”

She smiled, fully and genuinely this time, and that smile aimed in his direction felt just as good as the slide of her hand against his. “Thanks. It was a long time ago. I'm surprised people are still interested in it twenty years after the fact, to be honest. Surprised, but glad.”

He tilted his head, considering. “People grew up watching that show. I know I did.”

Her eyebrows rose, and she leaned toward him slightly. “You did?”

“Sure.”

“I guess I thought…I don't know. That it was mostly dweebs who watched it. It was kind of a goody-goody show.” She shrugged, wrinkling her nose. Fuck, she was cute. His chest tightened again, but this time there was something else there along with the protectiveness.

He arched an eyebrow. “Who's to say I wasn't a dweeb?”

She laughed. “I seriously doubt that.” Her eyes skimmed down over his body again, this time leaving a trail of heat in their wake.

“And why's that?” His eyes met hers, and a flush crawled up her neck and to her cheeks. Her eyes dropped to his mouth, just for a second, and something hot and thick pulsed in the air between them. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and his fingers itched to repeat the motion.

Damn. She wasn't just cute. She was gorgeous.

“You don't look like a dweeb,” she said softly.

Several feet away the door swung open again, and Sean leaped to his feet, putting himself between whoever had emerged and Sierra. She stepped out from around him and into the arms of Rory Evans, her former costar and…what, exactly?

“I've been looking for you. Are you OK?” he asked as he held her.

She nodded, and Sean was surprised at the jealousy swirling through him at the sight of this woman—who was pretty much a stranger—in someone else's arms.

“I'm OK. I just needed some air.”

Rory smoothed a hand over her hair, completely ignoring Sean. “The police are here, and they want to get a statement from you about what happened.”

She nodded again, and started to walk back toward the convention center. Turning suddenly, she laid a hand on Sean's arm, giving it a squeeze. She smiled up at him and it was as if someone were squeezing his heart with a fist.

“Thank you, Sean.” Her hand lingered on his arm for a second, the air between them once again thickening.

How good would it feel to pull her into his arms the way Rory had just done? At least there she'd be safe. “You're welcome. Listen, if you ever…need anything, give me a call.” He pointed at the card still in her hand, reluctant to let her go, but knowing he needed to get back to the office. Trying to reassure himself she'd be all right, with her
friend
, or whatever the hell Rory was to her, and the police. “You sure you're OK?” he asked, wishing he could go back inside with her to keep an eye on her. Not wanting to let her go. It felt…wrong.

Another fierce tug yanked at his chest.

“Yeah. I am.” Her eyes held his for a second, and then she turned, slipping her arm into Rory's.

Sean pushed a hand through his hair as he watched Sierra walk away, his heart punching against his ribs as she glanced back over her shoulder at him one last time before disappearing back into the convention center. He took a deep breath, and then another, and then he walked back to his SUV. He looked back over his shoulder, contemplating going inside, just for a few minutes, just to make sure everything was under control…yeah. It couldn't hurt. He'd taken a few steps back toward the convention center when his phone rang, vibrating in his pocket.

“Owens.”

“Who are you sending on the Robinson job?” his father asked, no greeting, just a barking question. Typical.

“Davis and Anderson. Why?” Sean's jaw tightened, tension seeping down his neck.

“You don't think it needs a third?”

Sean shook his head, irritated but not surprised that as usual, his dad was questioning his judgment. “It's a pretty standard job, so no. I think Davis and Anderson can handle it just fine, and keeping it to two keeps it within Robinson's budget.”

“Uh-huh,” said his father, sounding unconvinced. “This goes wrong, it's on you.”

“It'll be fine. They've got it, and I'll check in with them regularly,” said Sean, yanking open the door to his SUV and dropping into the driver's seat. He rubbed a hand over his mouth, used to his dad's blaming him for everything that went wrong. But just because he was used to it didn't mean it went down any easier.

Especially the blame he deserved. After all, it was his fucking fault his mother wasn't around anymore.

Phone jammed between his ear and his shoulder, he pressed the ignition button and tugged his seat belt on.

“You check on De Luca?”

Sean grimaced. “Didn't get the chance. Something else came up, but I'll check in with him by phone. I'm sure he would've made contact if there were any issues. I'm on my way back to the office now. Did you get the proposal I sent about the revised marketing plan?”

His dad sighed heavily. “It's a waste of fucking time. Not to mention money.”

Sean leaned his head back against the seat, his jaw clenched tight. Nothing was ever good enough. “Let's talk about it back at the office.”

“Fine. But it'll take a lot to convince me you can pull it off.”

Sean almost snorted. Story of his fucking life, right there.

Necessary Risk

    
DUKE OF SIN
By Elizabeth Hoyt

   
Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is the man London whispers about in boudoirs and back alleys. A notorious rake and blackmailer, Montgomery has returned from exile, intent on seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. But what he finds in his own bedroom may lay waste to all his plans.

  

  
NACHO FIGUERAS PRESENTS: HIGH SEASON
By Jessica Whitman

   
World-renowned polo player and global face of Ralph Lauren, Nacho Figueras dives into the world of scandal and seduction with the first book in the Polo Season series, all set in the glamorous, treacherous world of high-stakes polo competition. It's the perfect beach-reading for fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jill Shalvis.

  

 
HOT COWBOY NIGHTS
By Carolyn Brown

   
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author Carolyn Brown brings us back to the Lucky Penny Ranch for some HOT COWBOY NIGHTS. Toby Dawson never was and never will be the settling-down type. But what harm could there be in agreeing to be Lizzy Logan's pretend boyfriend? They'll put on a show so all of Dry Creek knows Lizzy's over her ex, then be done. Yet the more Toby gets to know Lizzy—really know her—the harder it is for him to keep his hands off her in private.

  

  
PRIMAL INSTINCT
By Tara Wyatt

   
When Taylor's record label hires a bodyguard for her, she's less than thrilled to find it's her one-night stand, ex-army ranger Colt, who shows up for the job. But as danger from an obsessed stalker mounts, crossing the line between business and pleasure could get them both killed. Perfect for fans of Suzanne Brockmann, Pamela Clare, and Julie Ann Walker.

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