road leading to the house.”
Gavin rested his elbows on his knees. “How close is her nearest neighbor?”
“The houses are set on half-acre lots, facing the ocean. My dad installed more cameras and armed guards monitor the property around the clock.”
“Who knows Celia’s staying here?”
“Just the family.”
“How about her coworkers?”
Nicholas shook his head. “I wouldn’t know. She’s been away from the hospital since last July, so I’m not aware if she’s been in contact with anyone there. Maybe that’s something you can ask her.”
Gavin laced his fingers together. “Are you going to tell her about the break-in?”
“I was before you told me she’d hired you to protect her.”
“I’m not going to let anything or anyone harm her,” Gavin stated solemnly.
Nicholas forced a smile he didn’t feel. “I believe you. I lied to Celia when I told her I was in Kentucky on business. My father’s orders are to close up this place and take her to Virginia. Cole-Thom Farms is a fortress. Every inch of the property is wired and patrolled. No one can enter or leave without detection, and signs are posted around the perimeter stating: Trespassers Will Be Shot on Sight and If Still Alive, Then Prosecuted.”
Gavin suddenly had a newfound respect for Celia’s brother. Under Nicholas Cole-Thomas’s almost too-pretty masculine face was a man who would go to great lengths to protect his sister. He’d promised Celia he would protect her without regard to why he was in western North Carolina, and had given her brother the same assurance.
He’d received orders to hold his position and wait for Raymond Prentice to contact him; however, Gavin had no idea whether the undercover special agent would contact him the next day, week or month. “I’ve agreed to protect Celia because a client postponed an overseas business trip until late summer,” he lied smoothly. “But if his plans change and he decides to leave sooner, then I’ll arrange for a replacement.” He made a mental note to call his cousins to have a protection expert on standby.
Nicholas placed the mug on a side table. “I’d like to ask a favor of you.”
“What is it?”
“Can you bring her to the farm? She doesn’t have to know she’s not coming back here.”
Vertical lines appeared between Gavin’s eyes. “Why the subterfuge? Why can’t I just tell her where she’s going?”
Stretching long legs out in front of him, Nicholas crossed his feet at the ankles. “My sister was thrown and kicked by a horse—no, I take that back. She was kicked by a pony, so she has an aversion to beings of the equine persuasion regardless of their size. So, to suggest she come and spend any extended time with me is not going to sit too well with her. I’ve had to remind my parents that Celia is an adult and therefore she can’t be forced to do anything she doesn’t want to do. All I can do is talk to her, and hopefully she’ll understand where the family is coming from.”
Gavin pulled his lip between his teeth as he pondered an alternative to get Celia to Virginia if or when his orders changed. “How long are you staying in North Carolina?”
“I’d like to be home before tomorrow evening. Why?”
“Leave everything to me,” he whispered like a coconspirator.
“What are you two whispering about?”
Nicholas and Gavin turned to find Celia standing in the doorway to the porch. “Nothing,” they said in unison, while coming to their feet.
Celia rolled her eyes. “Please sit down. It may sound rather clichéd, but you two look like a couple of kids caught with your hands in the cookie jar.” She walked in, and sat on an off-white love seat with colorful floral throw pillows. “How long can you hang out with me?” Celia asked her brother.
He ran a hand over his curly hair. “I can spend the night.”
Kicking off her shoes, Celia pulled her legs up under her body. “I’d hoped you’d stay longer. We don’t get to see each
Gavin rested his elbows on his knees. “How close is her nearest neighbor?”
“The houses are set on half-acre lots, facing the ocean. My dad installed more cameras and armed guards monitor the property around the clock.”
“Who knows Celia’s staying here?”
“Just the family.”
“How about her coworkers?”
Nicholas shook his head. “I wouldn’t know. She’s been away from the hospital since last July, so I’m not aware if she’s been in contact with anyone there. Maybe that’s something you can ask her.”
Gavin laced his fingers together. “Are you going to tell her about the break-in?”
“I was before you told me she’d hired you to protect her.”
“I’m not going to let anything or anyone harm her,” Gavin stated solemnly.
Nicholas forced a smile he didn’t feel. “I believe you. I lied to Celia when I told her I was in Kentucky on business. My father’s orders are to close up this place and take her to Virginia. Cole-Thom Farms is a fortress. Every inch of the property is wired and patrolled. No one can enter or leave without detection, and signs are posted around the perimeter stating: Trespassers Will Be Shot on Sight and If Still Alive, Then Prosecuted.”
Gavin suddenly had a newfound respect for Celia’s brother. Under Nicholas Cole-Thomas’s almost too-pretty masculine face was a man who would go to great lengths to protect his sister. He’d promised Celia he would protect her without regard to why he was in western North Carolina, and had given her brother the same assurance.
He’d received orders to hold his position and wait for Raymond Prentice to contact him; however, Gavin had no idea whether the undercover special agent would contact him the next day, week or month. “I’ve agreed to protect Celia because a client postponed an overseas business trip until late summer,” he lied smoothly. “But if his plans change and he decides to leave sooner, then I’ll arrange for a replacement.” He made a mental note to call his cousins to have a protection expert on standby.
Nicholas placed the mug on a side table. “I’d like to ask a favor of you.”
“What is it?”
“Can you bring her to the farm? She doesn’t have to know she’s not coming back here.”
Vertical lines appeared between Gavin’s eyes. “Why the subterfuge? Why can’t I just tell her where she’s going?”
Stretching long legs out in front of him, Nicholas crossed his feet at the ankles. “My sister was thrown and kicked by a horse—no, I take that back. She was kicked by a pony, so she has an aversion to beings of the equine persuasion regardless of their size. So, to suggest she come and spend any extended time with me is not going to sit too well with her. I’ve had to remind my parents that Celia is an adult and therefore she can’t be forced to do anything she doesn’t want to do. All I can do is talk to her, and hopefully she’ll understand where the family is coming from.”
Gavin pulled his lip between his teeth as he pondered an alternative to get Celia to Virginia if or when his orders changed. “How long are you staying in North Carolina?”
“I’d like to be home before tomorrow evening. Why?”
“Leave everything to me,” he whispered like a coconspirator.
“What are you two whispering about?”
Nicholas and Gavin turned to find Celia standing in the doorway to the porch. “Nothing,” they said in unison, while coming to their feet.
Celia rolled her eyes. “Please sit down. It may sound rather clichéd, but you two look like a couple of kids caught with your hands in the cookie jar.” She walked in, and sat on an off-white love seat with colorful floral throw pillows. “How long can you hang out with me?” Celia asked her brother.
He ran a hand over his curly hair. “I can spend the night.”
Kicking off her shoes, Celia pulled her legs up under her body. “I’d hoped you’d stay longer. We don’t get to see each
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