nearly breaking at the sadness in his voice.
He
inhaled deeply then let it out slowly. “Things change… situations change. The
perfect moments always slip away, it seems.”
She
tilted her head to look up into his breathtaking face – with his dark hair and
hazel eyes. She wasn’t sure why, but she somehow knew the happiness she had
right now in this moment would be destroyed the instant she left his arms. The
thought made her wrap her arms tightly around him and bury her face into his
chest. Her lips trembled when the last boarding call for her flight was called.
“I
had a good time, thank you,” she said.
He
smiled down into her face and, for too brief a time, pressed his soft lips
against hers. “Trust me when I say, it was entirely my pleasure. I’ll see you
at the end of next week. I’ll call you at the gallery, okay?”
She
couldn’t reply as tears clogged her throat, so she just nodded her head. He
hugged her tight to him once more, pressed a kiss to her temple, then turned
and walked away without looking back. She wasn’t sure why, but she never wanted
to cry more in her life than at that moment.
Chapter 5
She wasn’t surprised to see Alex
Masters at her gate when she landed. He gave her a courtesy nod of his head,
but otherwise didn’t speak. She glared at him but didn’t speak either.
Silently, they walked to the black SUV. She slipped into the front seat and
fastened her seatbelt. Alex did the same and rested his hands on the steering
wheel and stared straight ahead for several long moments.
“Your
actions were very foolhardy. You know that, don’t you?” he asked quietly.
She
didn’t answer but leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
“Your
father has been very worried.”
Without
opening her eyes, she snapped, “Don’t talk to me about my father.”
“His
only concern is for your safety.”
She
snapped her eyes open and glared at him. “Was it you who followed me on all my
dates? Did you get quite the kick out reporting back all the intimate details
of my life to him?”
“Your
father was only concerned…” he started again before she cut him off.
“Did
he send you back to them to lay down his threats?” she hissed.
His
brows bunched in confusion. “Threats? No one
threatened anyone,” he said.
“Was
it you who wrote ‘Eliminated’ at the bottom of each of your investigative
reports?” she continued as if she’d not heard him.
“What
are you talking about?” he asked.
“Come
on, Alex! Don’t act like you don’t know. Wasn’t that what it was all about?
That way my father could continue to control my life?”
Alex
sat staring at her for a long time, trying to ascertain her meaning. “All my
firm was required to do was follow you to ensure your safety. We always keep an
itemized list of events happening during that time so we can document the time
spent on each case. We certainly didn’t ever threaten anyone. And never have we
written anything on a report.”
“My
father apparently was threatening them with life or limb if they so much as
talked to me again. I’m twenty-two years old and not allowed to go on a date
un-chaperoned. Don’t you find that disturbing?” she asked icily.
Alex
stared at her silently for a long time. With his lips set in grim lines, he
turned the ignition over and they traveled the rest of the way home in silence.
It
was late when they pulled into the garage. She was pulling the door lever when
Alex laid a restraining hand on her arm. She flashed angry eyes at him.
Alex
met her stormy eyes calmly. “No matter what your father has or has not done,
doesn’t negate the fact that someone is trying to kill him. Whether you want to
believe it or not, you’re in as much danger as your father. I would appreciate
it if you’d apprise my staff of your comings and goings.”
“No. Absolutely not. You and your staff will no longer follow me
around. I am over eighteen years of age, as such, I am an adult. I do
He
inhaled deeply then let it out slowly. “Things change… situations change. The
perfect moments always slip away, it seems.”
She
tilted her head to look up into his breathtaking face – with his dark hair and
hazel eyes. She wasn’t sure why, but she somehow knew the happiness she had
right now in this moment would be destroyed the instant she left his arms. The
thought made her wrap her arms tightly around him and bury her face into his
chest. Her lips trembled when the last boarding call for her flight was called.
“I
had a good time, thank you,” she said.
He
smiled down into her face and, for too brief a time, pressed his soft lips
against hers. “Trust me when I say, it was entirely my pleasure. I’ll see you
at the end of next week. I’ll call you at the gallery, okay?”
She
couldn’t reply as tears clogged her throat, so she just nodded her head. He
hugged her tight to him once more, pressed a kiss to her temple, then turned
and walked away without looking back. She wasn’t sure why, but she never wanted
to cry more in her life than at that moment.
Chapter 5
She wasn’t surprised to see Alex
Masters at her gate when she landed. He gave her a courtesy nod of his head,
but otherwise didn’t speak. She glared at him but didn’t speak either.
Silently, they walked to the black SUV. She slipped into the front seat and
fastened her seatbelt. Alex did the same and rested his hands on the steering
wheel and stared straight ahead for several long moments.
“Your
actions were very foolhardy. You know that, don’t you?” he asked quietly.
She
didn’t answer but leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
“Your
father has been very worried.”
Without
opening her eyes, she snapped, “Don’t talk to me about my father.”
“His
only concern is for your safety.”
She
snapped her eyes open and glared at him. “Was it you who followed me on all my
dates? Did you get quite the kick out reporting back all the intimate details
of my life to him?”
“Your
father was only concerned…” he started again before she cut him off.
“Did
he send you back to them to lay down his threats?” she hissed.
His
brows bunched in confusion. “Threats? No one
threatened anyone,” he said.
“Was
it you who wrote ‘Eliminated’ at the bottom of each of your investigative
reports?” she continued as if she’d not heard him.
“What
are you talking about?” he asked.
“Come
on, Alex! Don’t act like you don’t know. Wasn’t that what it was all about?
That way my father could continue to control my life?”
Alex
sat staring at her for a long time, trying to ascertain her meaning. “All my
firm was required to do was follow you to ensure your safety. We always keep an
itemized list of events happening during that time so we can document the time
spent on each case. We certainly didn’t ever threaten anyone. And never have we
written anything on a report.”
“My
father apparently was threatening them with life or limb if they so much as
talked to me again. I’m twenty-two years old and not allowed to go on a date
un-chaperoned. Don’t you find that disturbing?” she asked icily.
Alex
stared at her silently for a long time. With his lips set in grim lines, he
turned the ignition over and they traveled the rest of the way home in silence.
It
was late when they pulled into the garage. She was pulling the door lever when
Alex laid a restraining hand on her arm. She flashed angry eyes at him.
Alex
met her stormy eyes calmly. “No matter what your father has or has not done,
doesn’t negate the fact that someone is trying to kill him. Whether you want to
believe it or not, you’re in as much danger as your father. I would appreciate
it if you’d apprise my staff of your comings and goings.”
“No. Absolutely not. You and your staff will no longer follow me
around. I am over eighteen years of age, as such, I am an adult. I do
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