Sweet Seduction Serenade (34 page)

Did I trust him? Absolutely. At least I trusted him in this regard. Maybe they had traps set for any Russell that turned up here coming after me. Maybe they knew there was no chance of anyone breaking through ASI's security here at their HQ. Maybe he was using me as bait in an effort to catch the bad guys and end this once and for all.

That last thought was unwelcome and also didn't sound entirely right. Nick had done nothing but protect me since he'd walked back in my life, I was quite sure he wasn't about to stop now.

So, he had a plan. I trusted him enough to carry it out with minimal harm to me. And the bottom line was, this needed to be sorted. The Russells couldn't be left to do what they pleased and the threat of that hanging over me had to be removed - one way or another.

I climbed out of the car and started to follow Ben towards the internal door to the lift inside. Nick snagged my hand before I'd made it two steps, then wrapped his arm around my shoulder, leaning his face into the curve of my neck.

"Not gonna ask, angel?" he said with obvious amusement in his tone.

"Ask what?" I shot back, knowing full well what he was talking about.

"Don't think I'm setting you up as bait?" he offered innocently.

I flicked my gaze towards him, my eyes meeting the ice-blue, crinkle edge of his.

"Nah, cowboy. I trust you."

He stopped in his tracks, which made me stop as well, as his arm was firmly wrapped around me still. I'd returned my line of sight face-forward again, but at the abrupt halt, shifted my gaze back towards Nick. He looked a little shocked, his eyes blinked rapidly a couple of times, then swept over my face swiftly, trying to take me all in.

"You mean that?" he asked softly. I nodded, unable to voice any words under that intense winter-blue gaze. "You've no idea what that means to me, angel," he whispered, leaning forward and brushing his lips against mine in an only slightly-less-than-heated caress.

A clearing of a throat stopped the kiss from deepening further - and it had been deepening.

"You guys wanna carry that on inside the offices where security is tighter?" Ben suggested from over at the door. Nick slowly pulled back from the kiss, but didn't look at his guy, his eyes were still devouring my face. "Besides," Ben added, obviously thinking he needed to offer further incentive to make us move, "Eric will be makin' sure the boys get an eyeful of all of this in control. No doubt it'll go up on the board. Wanna give 'em more ammunition, boss?"

My face heated up with a blush and I watched Nick's eyes trail the reddening of my cheeks as a small smirk graced his kiss swollen lips. I started to tip my head forward, to stare at the ground, frown no doubt already in place, but Nick stopped the movement with his fingers on my chin. Then his lips hovered over mine, hot breath washing against them as he gruffly said, "Let 'em," then kissed me like there was no tomorrow.

"Fuck!" I heard Ben mutter, but was barely aware of what he did then, too wrapped up in Nick's tongue and teeth and mouth to contemplate concentrating on anything else.

Somehow Ben corralled us into the lift, but Nick didn't stop kissing me until the doors closed softly behind us with a muted
snick
.

"Remind me to give you a pay-rise at your next performance review," Nick said conversationally as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and turned to face Ben.

"Better fuckin' believe it. Your head is scrambled,
e hoa
."

"Not gonna fucking argue with you there. But, Ben?" Nick's ice-blue eyes met the dark chocolate ones of Ben's across the lift cage. "It's fucking worth it, my friend."

Ben started laughing, a deep rumbling sound from within his chest, just as the doors slid open to reveal ASI's reception area in all its sleek glass and steel furnishings, polished tiled floor and red and black colours. It screamed masculinity with bold lines and harsh angles. If it was meant as a representation of those who worked here, I was betting the interpretation was one of shock and awe. Hard working, smooth talking, straight shooting men. I liked it.

The desk was manned this time; a small rotund older looking woman, who was surely someone's cuddly grandmother and most definitely looked out of place in the slick environment of the ASI reception. I couldn't quite align her homely cardigan and plaid below the knee skirt with the gun-slinging, bad-boys of ASI. I wondered if they chose her as their receptionist to placate would-be clients when they first plucked up courage to seek a PI.

Then she opened her mouth and removed all images of sweet, old grandma soothing scrapes and bruises with a gentle hand and kind words.

"Nicholas Anscombe, where the fuck have you been? Don't you realise there's eight different cases on right now, one of which requires Ben's unique talents and you've got him gallivanting all over the city traipsing after you and your piece of skirt, covering your behind while you snog her senseless in the garage for all to see and take advantage of. Have you lost your ever-loving mind, boy?"

There were so many things to take umbrage at in that statement.
Piece of skirt?
I waited for Nick to put her right, or at the very least tell her to pull her head in. How dare she speak to the owner of the firm in that manner.

"Carmel, sweetheart," he crooned, giving her a wattage overloaded Nick Anscombe special smile. She huffed a sound out in annoyance, but I saw her lips twitch in a barely contained smile.

I waited for the hammer blow, for him to put her in her place and tell her I was more than just a piece of skirt. He'd diffused the situation brilliantly with that croon and sexy smile, now was the time to put the old hag in her place. I could almost feel a smug smile of my own tugging at my lips.

And then he dashed all my hopes and crushed my fragile heart.

"What job is Ben meant to be on?"

"It came in while you were on the plane," Ben offered, heading over to the door that led back to the rest of the ASI headquarters. He started punching in the code to get inside.

"Why wasn't it part of the briefing?" Nick asked, taking a pile of small notes from Carmel's outstretched hands as he walked past the desk. I watched him wink at her and her responding shake of the head as she sat back down behind the desk.

I trailed after both men, feeling decidedly like a third wheel and an imposter in this place. Carmel watched me with an impassive face. Not exactly unfriendly, but not welcoming either. I smiled, thinking a little cowgirl charm never goes astray, and received a raised eyebrow in return.

The door opened and Ben proceeded us through, saying over his shoulder, "A shadow job. Some high profile daughter Pierce and Stone think is in on her Daddy's business. The details are on your desk."

"Good," Nick replied, holding the door open for me to follow behind both men. "She good for it, you think?"

"Yeah, no doubt about it, she knows somethin'. But she also knows how to play the game. Gonna be a fun chase." His full lips spread into a predatory smile, white teeth glinting in the lights of the hallway. Gotta like a man who loves his job.

Nick chuckled, then turned to face me. His eyes met mine briefly, but there was something different about them. As though as soon as we stepped off that elevator he had changed. Gone was the reckless man who kissed me with abandon in the garage despite the security risks. Replaced with a man who ran a tight ship and had a job to do. I was definitely not comfortable in this place.

Nor did I feel my presence was desired.

"Can you take Eva to the control room and dump her with Eric? I've gotta catch up on what's going on and you'd better get out on that job."

Ben nodded. I just frowned. What the darn hell was up with Nick? Dump me with Eric? I felt my temper begin to boil, but didn't have the object of my ire to give it to, as Nick disappeared down the corridor and out of sight before his words had finished ringing in the air.

"Come on, cowgirl," Ben said cheerfully. "You're gonna love Eric's cave."

I followed Ben numbly towards a locked door and watched blindly as he entered a code, then waited for the camera above the door to zoom in on him, before the lock clicked open and the door released. Ben led the way inside a techno domain right out of a sci-fi movie. Banks of monitors filled one entire wall, a huge padded swivel chair before them with a guy with broad shoulders and jet black hair sitting in it, pushing buttons, tweaking levels and jostling various joysticks, which changed camera angles on the screens.

The rest of the room had desks along the side walls, full of further electronic equipment and a few scattered smaller swivel chairs here and there. The guy in the chair swung round to look at us both, a huge grin gracing his gorgeous face, the greens of his eyes lighting up like jewels in a crown. Wow. What a looker.

"Hey there, cowgirl. Welcome to control," he said happily, then swung back to the bank of screens.

"Can you look after Eva for a bit, Nick's busy and I gotta get to that job," Ben said already heading back towards the closed door.

"No worries," the guy - Eric I guess - replied. "Grab a seat, Eva, there's much to keep you entertained."

I woodenly took a seat off to the side and prepared to just weather the storm. Surely Nick wouldn't leave me here for hours when I needed to get to my Dad before it was too late.

"Where's she at now?" Ben asked, hand on doorknob.

Eric swung his chair around to face a computer screen off to the side and hit a few keys, bringing up a series of code. He selected one and a map appeared on the screen. A few more buttons and he finally answered Ben's question.

"Bingo, Sweet Seduction! Must be grabbing a coffee."

"How long she been there?"

"Two minutes. If she sticks to routine she'll stay for a further fifteen, then head to work. You'll probably catch her easy, before she opens up shop."

"Good. I could do with an espresso," Ben said and knocked on the door twice.

I watched stunned as Eric turned to a joystick and manoeuvred the camera out in the hall to get a good shot of first one direction, then the other, then right in front of the door.

"All clear," he announced and Ben opened the door and offered a nod of his head to me, then slipped out of sight. These guys took security seriously. It made me feel safe, but it also made me feel trapped. I needed to see my Dad.

"Eric," I started.

"Yeah, Eva babe," he answered casually, eyes on the screens before him. How he could maintain a heightened level of concentration and not drift off to sleep staring blankly at all those screens, was beyond me.

"I need to go see my Dad. When can I leave?"

He didn't turn towards me, just shifted his chair to another joystick and began to zoom in on a form lying in a hospital bed.

"He's right here, Eva. Take a look. Sound asleep."

I jumped up from my seat and crowded ASI's control room man, staring at the supine figure of my father in a well appointed hospital type room. A lump formed in my throat at the sight of him. It had only been two weeks, but he looked like he'd lost another five kilos. He didn't have enough left on his frame to lose anymore. Dark shadows curved beneath each eye, greying stubble graced his chin and cheeks. His skin, even on the coloured monitor, looked pale and pasty. But he wasn't covered in a sheen of sweat, he wasn't fidgeting uneasily, he seemed at peace and indeed asleep.

"You watch him?" I asked, noting my voice cracked at the end.

"Yeah, keep an eye on him and the hospice. It's monitored twenty-four-seven. Key code access, perimeter alarms, only those on an approved sign-in list are allowed to visit. The place is wired, secured and impenetrable. There's no way they can reach him there."

They
being my relatives. I slumped down in a chair beside Eric's. Closer than I had been before. He didn't say anything, just left me to stare at the screen with my father in it and returned his attention to all the rest. Methodically moving from one to the next to keep tabs on any changes. I ignored him for a while and just watched Dad's chest rise and fall. A reassuring movement that seemed to settle my soul.

He seemed so close, but yet so far away. I desperately wanted to be sitting next to him. If the hospice was so secure, surely I should be able to.

"When can I go to him?" I asked, not removing my eyes from the screen.

"As soon as Nick says you can," Eric replied, tweaking another joystick and then leaning forward in his chair.

I went to open my mouth and demand he call Nick now so I could go see my father, but Eric held up a hand to still my words.

"Hang on a tick, cowgirl. Something's happening." He zoomed in on a screen, tweaked the joystick for a better angle and there they were.

Levi, Bailey and Leo, standing around a car outside of a house. The house seemed familiar. Perfectly trimmed green hedge, manicured lawn.

"Whose house is that?" I asked softly, already knowing the answer.

"Nick's," Eric answered, pushing a button on the console before him. The sound of a line ringing came out of speakers set into the desk. Nick's voice came on line when the ringing stopped.