Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Before Noah could answer, a knock at the door interrupted them. It was Rosie. “Ma’am, Blake sent a car for you. It’s outside.”
Danica sighed. “Thanks, Rosie. I’ll be down in a little while.”
“What do you want to do?” Noah asked.
She wanted to check out his Ducati. Maybe take it for a spin. Aside from that, she had no idea.
But going back to her father’s house? That was absolutely not happening yet.
“I guess I’d better stop avoiding Blake.” Until she spoke to him, he’d just keep bothering her. At least her pulse had finally slowed enough that she could function.
She sat up on Noah’s bed, crossing her legs, and switched her phone back on.
Immediately, it rang in her hand.
She answered. “Blake?”
“We’re ready to transfer you back to your home.” He’d practically barked at her. No doubt he was furious at her lack of responsiveness so far.
But Danica was pissed, too. His anger only fed hers.
“I want to know what’s going on. For the second time since I’ve gotten to town, men in ski masks have come after me. This time it was in my own neighborhood. After you told me yesterday to mind my own business.”
“Those were certainly not my words, Danica. I’m communicating with the police on the situation.”
“That’s not good enough. Has anyone stopped that van? Have those men been arrested?”
“The police are trying to locate them.”
“Then I’m not going anywhere. When you’ve figured out who’s been coming after me, let me know. Until then? I’m not interested in your opinions. If my father wants to convince me otherwise, he’s welcome to try.”
She ended the call.
Her voice had sounded confident, but inside, she was a mess again. Danica hung her head and closed her eyes.
The fear was creeping in. Deep down, she knew she’d barely begun to process what had happened on that hillside.
And Noah was right here, watching her. Probably seeing the uncertainty radiating from her being.
“What do you need?” he asked softly.
Danica rubbed her forehead. Get it together, she thought. “Um, I have to let my museum director know I won’t be in today at all. Lindley. We have so much work to do.”
“I have to think she can spare you for a few hours.”
“Probably. Yeah.” She started typing on her phone.
They exchanged texts. Of course, Lindley promised to handle everything on their agenda while Danica sorted this out.
A few hours. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a few hours to kill, with no plan, no work, no meetings to prep for.
“Could I see your motorcycle now?” she asked.
His dimple sank into his cheek. “Whatever you want.”
In the garage, Noah switched on the light. It was huge, climate controlled, with a row of vintage Ferraris taking up most of the slots.
“Are those yours?” Danica asked.
“My dad’s. He’s a sucker for a V12 engine.”
Danica remembered that his father had invented some computer connector back in the 90s, and the patent had sold for a fortune. “But your dad’s not living here.”
“No, he retired to his island with his new wife. I try to take the cars out, but it’s been a month or two.”
Funny how a month could seem like a long time, but over a decade could feel like nothing.
Noah swept the dustcover off his motorcycle. Gleaming black metal, a curvy black and red seat. Sleek, elegant, powerful.
A little like Noah, actually.
“It’s gorgeous.” Danica dragged her fingers over the leather seat. “Can I?”
“Go for it.”
Noah put a hand down to steady the bike as she climbed on. She swung her leg over the seat. Her knees stretched wide over the body of the motorcycle, and the sexual overtones of this position weren’t lost on her.
Danica closed her eyes, resting her hands on the bars. “I can just imagine it rumbling underneath me. Does it feel like flying?”
“In a way.”
“Aren’t you going to join me?”
She wanted to be close to him again, which wasn’t the same as feelings. They were just enjoying each other’s company.
And he’d started the flirting, not her.
Noah straddled the seat behind her. He’d left a few inches between them. “You gonna take me somewhere?”
“Where to?”
“Anywhere with no stoplights.”
She ran her fingers over the handlebars. “Sometimes, I imagine just taking off, driving out of town into the sunset. Getting away from all my responsibilities.”
“Really? The woman who hates changing her schedule?”
“I know. I don’t want to let anybody down, but a few days of freedom? Where nobody knows me or my name? That’s the kind of thing I fantasize about. Boring.”
“Not boring at all. I like your fantasy. You could make it come true.”
“Maybe someday.” Danica looked over her shoulder at him. “What do you fantasize about?”
His eyebrows lifted. “What do I fantasize about in general? Or the past couple days?” He had a naughty gleam in his eyes.
“You pick.”
“World peace. And a magical solution to global warming.”
She tutted. “Such a boy scout.”
Her heart rate was picking up again, but in a far more pleasant way. She could almost pretend it was that summer back when they were still in school. That her world wasn’t twisting into frightening shapes around her.
He must’ve seen the chill move through her.
“You sure you’re all right?” he asked.
“Trying to be. You’d think I’d be used to this kind of crap by now.”
“I hope you never get used to it.”
But they both knew the threats weren’t over. For a person in her position, there’d always be more.
She rested her back against him, and he leaned into her in response. His muscular chest pushed into her back.
“Noah,” she whispered. “I’m scared.”
This wasn’t easy for her to admit. But she couldn’t keep it in. Not with him.
“That’s okay. I’m here. I can hold you if you want.”
She did want him to hold her. So much. But earlier, Noah had asked what she needed.
The answer was starting to become clear.
Just an hour ago, she’d worried she was being paranoid by asking Noah to help her with a secret investigation.
But now? Somebody out there was determined to make her life hell, and they were doing a bang-up job of it. She couldn’t just assume Blake and the police would sort this out for her.
No matter what, Blake and his precious Valoris Security team had failed. What was the point of listening to the man’s instructions if he couldn’t even keep the streets around the house secure? This was the West Oaks hills, not Manhattan.
“I want to hire you. Not just to investigate. As my bodyguard.”
“Hire me?”
“And the company you work for. I don’t know who’s behind this, and I don’t know when they’ll come after me next. I thought I was safe at home, but I might not be. I need someone who I know is one hundred percent on my side.”
She’d worried he might not agree. Might even dismiss her concerns. But Noah didn’t hesitate.
“Then we’re hired. I’ll make sure you have whatever you need. The full resources of Bennett Security.”
Slowly, she exhaled. Having an extra line of defense would help her to sleep better at night.
Hopefully, without any more nightmares.
“Thanks. I want to keep this confidential.” At least until she could figure out what was really going on. She didn’t need to hear her father’s or Blake’s opinions about her security situation. Nor did she want to get Rosie fired.
“I need to make sure you know what you’re asking, though,” he said. “If I’m your bodyguard, I’ll be with you all the time. Unless I have a teammate from Bennett Security to discreetly replace me—if it’s essential—I’m not going to leave you.”
She looked back at him. “All the time? Even at night?”
“If we’re keeping it a secret, then yeah. Sleeping in the same room, staying with you all day. Which sounds a lot like being your boyfriend.”
“I don’t usually move that fast.”
He shrugged, and she felt the movement against her back. “I didn’t think you did. People might not believe it. Especially not your family.”
Crap. Those were good points. “Do you have a better idea?”
“We just need a good cover story. Basically, it’s the same thing we let Rosie think earlier, but you don’t turn me down.”
“I fall into your arms?”
Noah pressed even closer to her, and his large hands moved to her knees. She felt the scratch of his chin by her ear.
This was the most physical contact they’d had in twelve years. So many memories were overwhelming the fear and the uncertainty, even if they were bittersweet.
Danica rested her head back against his collarbone. “And how would we make this convincing?”
“If we were going to get together that fast—in this hypothetical world in which I’m suddenly your boyfriend—here’s how it would happen.
It all starts with the fact that I’ve wanted you since you were just my friend’s older sister.
But you were out of my league. Unattainable.
Even though I drove myself crazy with wanting you, I never got to have you. Hypothetically.”
His voice had dropped to a rumbly murmur. Her own breaths were moving faster.
“And?” she asked.
“Now that we’re older, and I’m not some twenty-year-old kid anymore, I know exactly what to do to win you over. How to make you feel safe and cared for.” His hands squeezed her knees, and Danica felt goosebumps rise on her skin. He probably felt them, too.
“Then what?”
“When you’re at my house after nearly getting kidnapped a second time?” Noah shifted, and his lips brushed her temple. A shiver passed through her. “I kiss you.”
“Do you?” Her voice was hoarse. “That’s forward.”
“I kiss you because I know you want me to. And then I pick you up and take you to my bed. Because you want that, too.”
Danica breathed out, making a tiny sound. Part surprise, part longing. His lips trailed back to her ear.
“What then?”
“I undress you.”
“And?”
“Touch you. In any way you ask me to.”
Shivers ran through her, straight down to her core.
He kept going. “And once we’re naked together? We can’t get enough. Maybe we’ll burn out hot and fast. But while you’re in town, you’re mine.”
She could feel his heart beating against her back. Boom, boom, boom. Danica’s mouth was slightly open, her chest moving as she gasped for air.
“What do you think?” he asked. “Will anyone believe it?”
There was a knock behind them. Danica startled away from him, turning around.
“Dears? I hate to interrupt.” Ginger was grinning at them. “The doorbell just rang, and I assumed you didn’t hear. There’s a police detective at the door. Danica, she’s asking to speak with you.”