Protecting Her Heart (Seals Security Book 3) (7 page)

That was odd. What was Laney doing here?

Opening the door, she was surprised to find Craig, Tina and two other men she didn’t know with Laney. Evie raised a curious brow, wondering why they were on her doorstep.

“Hi, we’re here to help you move in,” Laney said grinning. She was holding a basket with three bottles of wine in it. Evie looked at the others to see Tina holding a bag of what looked like cups. None of the men were carrying anything, which seemed odd until Tina spoke.

“I’m assuming that the little moving van downstairs is where the furniture is and if you give them the keys, the boys will head down to start bringing stuff up,” Tina told her, a bright smile on her face.

Evie felt her eyes sting and her chest tighten. Her new employers were amazing. They didn’t need to be asked to help anyone, they just did it because they were good people. She was kind of amazed and a little overwhelmed by it.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said they had issues with boundaries, were you?” Rory hissed quietly in her ear. She looked a little gleeful about it too when Evie glanced at her, shaking her head at her friend’s assessment.

“Oh, I almost forgot, this is Alex and his boyfriend Tom. And I assume you’re her roommate Rory?” Laney said, indicating the two men with them who waved before she held out her hand to Rory for a shake. She juggling the basket in one hand. Craig reached out, steadying it when she would have dropped it. Laney offered him a tender smile that made Evie’s heart ache a little because the affection in it was so obvious.

Rory took her hand, grinning as she said, “Hi, nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too. I’m Laney, this is Craig and that’s Tina. Oh, and my brother’s downstairs by the moving truck. He would have come up with us but he had a phone call that he had to take so he’ll be up in a minute,” Laney was saying.

Evie was surprised Luke was here. She felt her heart pick up speed and she wanted to hide in her room until Luke left. It felt different knowing he was here in the building about to come up to her apartment. She had enough fantasies of molesting the poor man at the office to deal with already so adding ones of him in her apartment wasn’t a good idea. She felt a flutter in her belly and tried hard to shove it down because she didn’t need to keep thinking about her boss in a sexual way, for cripes sake. Trying to cover the nervous energy filling her, she headed to the kitchen to grab the keys from the counter. She stood there for a moment after she entered and took a deep breath, trying to get her feelings under control.

“What’s taking you so long?” Rory demanded and Evie let out a sigh; her friend really was annoying sometimes. With a little huff, Evie grabbed the keys and headed back toward the door with a bright smile plastered on her face.

“Geez, you’re impatient. I was just admiring the kitchen again,” Evie told Rory to cover her quaking insides as she handed the keys to Craig. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hand them over now that she knew Luke was here but she knew if she refused she’d have to explain why. That wasn’t something she was willing to do, at least not in this lifetime.

“Well I don’t want them to change their minds and not lug all that furniture we were going to have to struggle all day to get up here. I was even considering calling Robby,” Rory said, rolling her eyes. Robby was Rory’s ex-boyfriend. Evie thought them breaking up was a good thing because Robby was an asshole.

“Glad they showed up then because I hate that jerk,” Evie told her.

Rory stuck her tongue out at her and she blew her a kiss to be a smart ass. Everyone still at the door laughed at the teasing.

“We’ll get started. You girls can open the boxes when we get them up here,” Craig said, kissing Laney’s cheek before heading towards the elevator with Alex and Tom behind him.

“Let’s open up a bottle of this wine in that kitchen you were admiring,” Tina said, hooking her arm into Evie’s and dragging her towards it. Laney laughed as she followed them with Rory bringing up the rear.

“Shouldn’t we help the guys bring stuff up?” Evie asked, earning an eye roll from Tina.

“Heck no, why do you think we brought them? It wasn’t so we could work, that’s for sure,” Tina said, shaking her head sadly as if Evie had disappointed her.

“Yeah, that’s true. Wait a minute. I don’t see your husband here. Where’s Brent? He was supposed to be here to help too,” Laney complained as they entered the kitchen. She set the basket down on the counter and pulled out a bottle of wine while Tina opened the cups.

“He will be. He had to stop by his parents’ because Cole ended up in jail again and this time it might be for up to three years for possession. His mom is really upset. He’s never been caught with drugs before. Most of the times he was locked up it was because he was high and did something stupid or he stole something to get money but it was never bad enough to keep him locked up for more than six months. This time it looks like he isn’t going to be able to get out of it.” Tina grimaced as she explained her husband’s absence.

Evie was surprised she was talking about something so personal in front of her and Rory but Tina didn’t seem to be fazed by it at all. Glancing at Rory, she saw the pained look on her face and wondered if she was thinking of her mom. If anyone understood what dealing with a person who had an addiction was like, it was Rory.

Evie took the cups Tina offered her and handed one to Rory. Laney had the bottle opener out and was popping the cork on the wine, her eyes on Tina.

“Sorry, I don’t suppose there is anything we can do to help, is there?” Laney asked as she set the bottle opener down and poured wine into Tina’s glass.

“No, Brent is taking care of them but it’s a little rough on him and Monica is going to be upset I’m sure. Craig’s kind of written him off after cleaning up so many of his messes in the past. He cares about his brother but he also realizes that if Cole doesn’t want help, then there isn’t anything he can do about it,” Tina explained, taking a sip of the wine and shaking her head.

“That’s awful,” Laney said.

“Not really. There’s only so much fixing a person can do before they realize the love they felt for that person has been soured by their behavior,” Rory said and both Tina and Laney glanced at her. She turned a little red and tried to back pedal. “Umm, sorry, it’s not any of my—” Rory began but Tina interrupted her.

“Oh hon, I’m sorry. Who was it with an addiction in your family?” she asked, looking sympathetic.

“My mom,” Rory replied, her eyes watery, and Evie realized it was time to change the subject because Rory was about to start crying. Laney must have had the same thought because she steered the conversation to the task at hand. She suggested that they head back into the living room to wait on the boys to bring up stuff. They all trooped into the living room to find Luke and Craig lugging in the couch while Alex and Tom carried in two boxes each.

After that the day went by in a whirlwind of unpacking and laughter. Four hours later they were all sitting around the room on various furniture chatting. Brent had shown up with pizza about an hour ago when most of the stuff was already unloaded. Luke and Craig had teased him relentlessly for waiting till the work was almost done to show up. He’d shot them the bird but the ribbing eased some of the tension she could see in his shoulders.

Evie watched them with awe as they fought over the last of the pizza. It made her realize that this was what it would be like for her if she stayed with Seals Security. She would have friends who helped her when she needed it and it was kind of a nice feeling after what she’d been through. She’d always had Rory but now she would have this motley crew as well. Evie couldn’t help the happy grin that covered her face or the warm feeling that spread through her. Looking at the mess covering the table, she sighed and stood up.

“I’ll start cleaning up.”

She looked at Rory, who leaned back on the couch with her eyes closed. Evie shook her head and kicked her lightly to get her attention. Rory opened her eyes and stared at her questioningly. Evie grabbed a few of the cups and plates from the table.

“What?” Rory asked, making Evie shake her head at her friend’s lack of manners. The least they could do after everything this group had done for them today was clean up this mess so that they didn’t feel obligated to help before they left. Evie knew Rory was clueless when she just stared blankly at her.

“Help me?”

“Yeah, in a sec. I just need another minute to chill,” Rory said.

Evie realized she wasn’t going to help and grunted before she headed into the kitchen to toss the trash, realizing she would have to do it herself because Rory was useless. While she was in the kitchen, she threw away the empty wine bottles and was about to head back into the living room for more when Luke came in carrying a pizza box full of plates. Evie watched him push the box into the trash before turning to her. She felt hemmed in and a little nervous. Mostly because he was here and he looked delicious in his jeans and tight blue t-shirt.

The t-shirt hugged his muscular chest like a second skin and showed off his washboard stomach and his tight pecs. Evie felt herself tingling in places she wouldn’t normally tingle.
Damn
, she needed to get a grip on her libido for cripes sake. Luke turned to her, his eyes dark blue as he watched her silently as if waiting for her to say something. Evie just stared back, her mind incapable of processing the penetrating look he was giving her.

Unable to take the silence any longer, she managed to squeak, “Thanks, but you really shouldn’t have. You’ve done enough for me for one day.”

He seemed to find this offensive and waved his hand in the air taking a step towards her. They were only inches apart and the counter was behind her so she couldn’t step back. Luke’s intense scrutiny unnerved her and she felt a shiver run up her spine. She wanted to shove him back and run into the other room but she was afraid touching him would send her desires for him into overdrive and since she needed this job, that wasn’t a good idea.

“Evie,” he began, but was interrupted by Rory entering with more trash. Luke stepped away from her and turned to look at Rory, who didn’t seem to notice she’d interrupted anything. Evie was grateful she didn’t and glanced between her and Luke as she tossed the stuff in her hands into the trash.

“Hey, you need to help, you evil hussy. No hanging out in the kitchen to get out of it.” Rory laughed and grabbed her arm, dragging her from the kitchen. Evie was glad Rory had come in but when she glanced over her shoulder and saw Luke’s frown, she wasn’t so sure he was.

Evie rubbed her eyes trying to focus on the screen in front of her. She was tired today and was glad she could leave in an hour. Luke had been extra demanding this week for some reason. After two months she was settling in nicely, but Luke had been a bear for the past week, most likely because they’d had a few setbacks while trying to get the office in Texas up and running. Apparently the contractor hadn’t passed a fire inspection not once but twice and it had put Luke in a terrible mood. Speak of the devil, she thought as she glanced up to see him walking out of his office. He walked over to her desk and handed her a list.

“Evie, here’s a list of the reports I need done before noon tomorrow,” Luke muttered, looking at his watch as he stood on the other side of her desk.

She glanced at it and wanted to growl because she knew she would have to stay late in order to get all these reports done before she left. Why did he always wait till the end of the day to give her this list? It wasn’t like he didn’t know at noon which ones he’d need the next day.

Damn it, why couldn’t he give it to her earlier?

“Of course,” she said instead of telling him he was an ass and she wanted to punch him in the kisser. She even managed to smile weakly at him. “I’ll get right on it.”

“Great,” he said and turned to head towards the door but stopped, turning back and digging a piece of paper out of his pocket. “By the way I need you to stop by and pick up my suit at the drycleaners before you head home. I have a date tonight and won’t be able to pick it up.”

Evie mentally counted to ten, trying not to scream at him that she didn’t give a flying flip about his date, she wasn’t getting his dry cleaning. She bit her lip trying to hold in the anger that was flowing through her. Her eyes were likely narrowed on him as he stood there holding the little dry cleaning slip out to her but she didn’t reach for it.

“No,” she finally managed to reply without yelling.

“No?” Luke asked, looking confused for a second. “No what?” he asked, his head tilting to look at her.

“No, I will not pick up your dry cleaning. It’s not part of my job to do that. Sir.” She added the last as an afterthought. Even though at first she’d been worried that she would lose her job if she didn’t do exactly what he wanted her to do whenever he wanted it, now that she’d settled in she was almost sure that wasn’t true. Evie was setting a clear boundary with Luke because she could see from the way he had begun to pile more work onto her as time went on that he would take advantage if she didn’t.

“You won’t—um, well—but you’re my assistant.”

“Yes, and nowhere in the description of my job did it say ‘pick up dry cleaning’. But I will stay late to do these reports you need for tomorrow. As for your suit, I would suggest leaving a half hour early so that you have time to go by and get it before your date,” Evie informed him before turning back to her computer to begin typing the event schedule for the charity ball next month that she’d been working on for Laney because Monica had to leave early for some reason.

Luke stood beside Evie’s desk staring at her in dazed shock at her refusal to pick up his dry cleaning on her way home. It wasn’t like he asked her to do things like that often and it was something Maria would do on occasion when he needed her to. Evie had started typing on her computer as if he were dismissed after her politely worded suggestion to leave early to pick up the suit himself.

Over the past months she had organized his life at work so well that he never questioned how she was doing it but now he wondered if she wasn’t staying later than he’d realized. Maybe that was why she’d just flat out refused to help him with his suit. He stood watching her type, noting the way her red hair fell around her face in a colorful wave of silky strands and how she bit her lip when she hit the backspace key. He wondered again what those lips would taste like. Would they be sweet or maybe they’d taste like honey? He was still watching her, his cock starting to harden, when she glanced up, her eyes narrowed as if she knew he was having inappropriate thoughts about her.

“Is there something else, Mr. Stewart?” she asked pertly.

Luke hated when she called him Mr. Stewart and he had no idea why. His lips tightened and he wanted to lift her up out of that chair and show her exactly why she shouldn’t call him ‘Mr. Stewart’ in that tone. Instead he clenched his hand on the paper dry cleaning ticket he was holding.

“No,” he barked.

Turning on his heel, he headed out the door toward Laney’s office. He stomped in without knocking, finding his sister on the phone and leaning back in her chair. Letting out a little growl, he plopped down in the chair in front of her desk and listened to her wrap up the call. She turned to him, raising a brow, after she laid the receiver in the cradle.

“What has your panties in a wad this afternoon?” Laney asked.

“Evie,” Luke replied sullenly. He wasn’t sure why her refusal had bothered him so much. Maybe it was the abuse her lip had taken after she’d said it or the way her hair had framed her face. Damn it, why was he still thinking about Evie’s lips? He shifted in the seat, his cock pressing hard against his zipper.

He shoved thoughts of Evie out of his head, trying to focus on his current issue. He didn’t have time to go get his suit and he needed it for the meeting he had with Farmer tomorrow. His date wasn’t going to enjoy waiting in the car while he picked it up on the way to the restaurant where they had reservations. Kate, a model, wasn’t exactly known for her niceness.

“What did Evie do? I’m sure whatever it is was done because you were being annoying again so maybe a better question is what did
you
do?” Laney asked, a slightly sly grin on her face.

“I didn’t do anything! I just asked her to get my dry cleaning because I have a date and can’t pick it up. She acted like I asked her to jump through a flaming hoop. I mean how hard would it be for her to swing by there? I know it’s on the way to her apartment so it isn’t out of her way, but her response was it’s not in my job description. Like that even matters.” Luke let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Well she’s right, it’s not in her job description,” Laney said, a slight snicker escaping her as she watched him. Luke frowned at her and she smiled back. He wanted to growl at her obvious lack of understanding. He hated when she was amused over his suffering.

“Well maybe I should add it.”

“Oh stop. I can’t blame her for not wanting to open that can of worms really. Her last boss had her doing all types of personal errands that she wasn’t paid nearly enough to do and he didn’t care that it was almost an hour out of her way either.” Luke opened his mouth to protest but she held up her hand. “I know it’s on the way to the building you both live in so it would only take a few minutes but she’s already going to be staying late again with all the briefings you had this morning for those seven new jobs we’re bidding. And before you say anything, I know we pay her more than enough but it’s still not part of her job.”

“Wait, how do you know that she’s going to be staying late? She always seems to get those briefings done. Are you sure she will have to work late?” Luke asked, frowning again as he wondered for the second time how many times he had made her stay late without being aware of it. He left the office at four most days so that he could check on the teams so he wasn’t sure.

“She’s had to stay late three times a week for the past month, Luke,” Laney replied, looking surprised he wasn’t aware of that fact.

“Why the hell didn’t she say anything?” he demanded, suddenly feeling like an ass for making her stay late so much. He should have told her to do the ones for the morning and then worry about the ones for the afternoon later in the day. Damn, why hadn’t he questioned how long those reports he’d been piling on her were taking? He was an idiot.

“Because she’s a good assistant and she knows that those reports she prepares help you stay organized. Evie’s damned good at her job but if you want her to do those briefing reports long term, we may have to get your assistant an assistant before long,” Laney said with a little grin. 

“If that needs to happen then we do it. You know I don’t want to stress out the only decent assistant I’ve found.” Luke leaned forward, his hands resting on his knees. He felt like an ass because he hadn’t known about her dilemma. Shit, why hadn’t he questioned how she managed to always have five to eight reports ready for him the next morning when he brought them to her as he left the office?

“But you’re still upset she wouldn’t get your dry cleaning, aren’t you?” Laney asked with a little snort of laughter as she shuffled papers on her desk.

“Yes, damn it. I can’t ask my date to wait while I pick it up tonight and I need it for in the morning. Can’t we pay her extra or something and you tell her she has to do it this once?” Luke asked desperately.

“Umm, no. I am not going to be the go-between for you and your assistant. Like I said, she is likely going to have to stay late as it is.” Laney was shaking her head.

“What the hell am I supposed to do then?”

“Leave early to go get it? I don’t know. But you’re old enough to figure it out,” Laney told him, her eyes rolling and her lips compressed.

“Can’t you even offer to help me? After all, you’re my sister. And why are you parroting back exactly what Evie just told me?” Luke demanded. He was sure that he was pouting but hell, he was hoping to get lucky tonight and pissing off his date wasn’t a good way to make that happen. He’d decided he needed to get laid when he almost kissed Evie the other day as she leaned over his shoulder to get a pen in the conference room. He was sure the reason he was obsessively thinking about getting his assistant naked was because he hadn’t had sex in over four months.

“No, uh-uh, I am meeting my husband tonight so that we can spend some time together and I am not stopping to get your dry cleaning. I’ve not been able to see him in two days because he was doing that protection detail upstate. So leave early, big brother, or get it on your way to the restaurant but handle it. You’re a big boy, I know you will figure it out. Now get the heck out of my office, I have work to do.” Laney dismissed him as abruptly as Evie had, making him feel like pouting again.

With a heavy sigh, he checked the time and decided if he cut out his afternoon workout he’d be able to get to the drycleaners before his date. He still wasn’t too happy that no one was willing to help him with the task.

Evie juggled the bags of groceries she’d picked up on her way home with her keys trying to let herself into the apartment when the door was suddenly flung open and she almost fell inside.

“Dang it, Rory,” she exclaimed.

“Hey, I was trying to help,” Rory said, wiping her hands on the rag she held. Her brown hair was wild and she had blue and green streaks on the apron she wore letting Evie know she’d been painting today. Rory worked at a department store in town and her schedule varied so she must have been off today.

“Thanks but you almost made me fall because I was using the door as a prop so I could juggle to get the key in the lock.” Evie handed her some of the bags and they both headed to the kitchen after she kicked the door shut.

“Well how was I supposed to know that?” Rory asked.

“I don’t know. Sorry, I’m just a little cranky.”

“Why? I thought you loved your job now?” Rory glanced over her shoulder after taking the eggs and milk out of the bags.

“I do. I just might have made a mistake today by refusing to go get Luke’s dry cleaning. I was just a little upset when he brought me a ton of work at the end of the day and I knew I’d have to stay late again to get it done,” Evie said as she took out the boxes of cereal and stored them in the cabinet.