Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Danica walked onto the patio. Noah was out on the lawn, talking to Tanner and another man. She wanted to go over there and find out what they were saying about the investigation. But she also knew that Noah was capable of handling this, far more than her.
She hated giving up control, though. Type-A ran in her family, and she didn’t apologize for it.
Faith nudged Danica with her elbow, noticing where she was focusing her attention.
“I’m sure you already realize this, but Noah’s an incredible guy,” Faith said quietly in her faint Texan drawl.
“He helped Tanner and me get together when we were both being total idiots.” Her laugh had a musical lilt to it.
“And Noah’s been such a good friend to Tanner, including through some tough times. We all want to see Noah happy.”
“He’s not usually happy?” Danica asked.
Faith pushed her blond braid over her shoulder.
“I mean, he smiles all the time, and he’s always ready to have fun.
He would do anything for his friends, just like Tanner.
But to me, Noah seems like he wants more out of life, and he hasn’t found it yet.
Maybe…he has now.” She held up her hands, shrugging.
“I’m just keeping my fingers crossed. That’s all I’m saying. ”
Noah appeared at Danica’s side. He wrapped his arm around her, that dimple sinking into his cheek. “Why’s Faith keeping her fingers crossed?”
Instantly, the blond woman’s face turned bright red. “We were having some girl talk. It’s none of your concern.”
Tanner edged into their circle, holding two plates of food. He gave one to Faith. “Uh oh, girl talk? That’s code for comparing notes on you, Noah.”
Faith poked Tanner in the side. “Shush. Not another word.” They took their food and found a place to sit.
Once they were out of ear shot, Danica turned to Noah.
“What was Tanner talking about? Comparing notes?”
He dragged out an exasperated sigh. “I took Faith on a date once. Half a date. I hadn’t realized she and Tanner were practically in love with each other. And apparently, neither had they, until that night.”
“Oh.” Danica was surprised at the twinge of jealousy in her chest.
Noah kissed her on the forehead, just another of the small intimacies he’d been showing her all night. And she knew it wasn’t real. Even this party wasn’t real.
But it still felt…good. After the terror she’d experienced the last few days, including that morning, she actually felt relaxed. She’d had fun chatting with Aurora and Faith. Enjoyed the music and laughter and casual banter this group shared.
And she liked Noah’s arm around her. Liked it so much more than she should.
“So,” she said. “You and Faith?”
“There was never any ‘me and Faith.’”
“It’s fine. I don’t care either way.”
His expression said he suspected this was bullshit.
“But she’s way too nice for you, anyhow,” Danica said.
“Too nice? I don’t deserve nice?”
“You don’t want nice.” She remembered their interactions from that long-ago summer. The heat in his gaze whenever she bossed him around or challenged him.
And earlier that afternoon? When they’d been arguing over the terms of this assignment? Pure chemistry, even though he’d tried to brush it off.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
“Oh, really?” Danica was annoyed that he was denying it.
And she was feeling just a tiny bit possessive. She wanted to prove her point, and prove to everyone else in this room that Noah was hers.
Not really hers, of course, but…supposedly hers.
She grabbed the collar of his polo, pulled him down, and kissed him.
Noah reacted immediately. He made a sexy hum, like this was just the thing he’d been craving. His hand touched her hip, the other sifting into her hair.
His mouth opened as hers did, their tongues meeting and sliding over each other.
Arousal sped through her like a shot of tequila, lighting her veins on fire.
This was a lot more PDA than she usually went for at a party. But she didn’t want to pull away.
Noah tasted too good. The heat of his mouth and the firm grip of his hands were making her knees weak.
Her teeth bit into his lower lip, and Noah moaned, his fingers traveling along her hip toward her ass.
“Damn, Vandermeer,” someone shouted, “get a room.”
They broke apart, their eyes wide. Then Noah grinned. “I guess you’re right,” he murmured. “Whatever that was, it wasn’t nice. But I liked it.”
“Let’s get some dinner.” Her skin was still burning. That had gotten way out of hand.
But had she enjoyed it?
Yes. God, yes.
After she ate, Danica took plates of food around to Rosie and the other Valoris bodyguards. Rosie accepted the offering. “Thanks. This looks great.”
“I’m going to stay here tonight,” Danica said. “Just FYI.”
Rosie didn’t blink. “Of course, Ms. Foster-Grant. I had assumed as much. One of my colleagues will take over when I go off duty.”
“I haven’t heard from Blake since this morning. I hope he’s not still mad at me?” Danica was fishing here. But Rosie didn’t bite, even though she’d been over to the house that afternoon and must’ve seen the chief of security.
“Not that I know of, ma’am. If you need anything else, be sure to let one of us know.”
“Thanks. I will.”
Danica had wondered if Rosie might argue on behalf of Blake. But she hadn’t. Did that mean Rosie was trustworthy?
What about her dad’s chief of security?
It was bizarre for Danica to think that anyone close to her could be plotting against her.
She really hoped she’d been wrong. Yet Danica also had far too much confidence in herself to believe that was the case.
By eleven, Danica was sitting on the living room couch, eyelids heavy. Noah was saying goodbye to the last of his guests.
Rosie’s replacement, another bodyguard from Valoris, had taken up a post by the front door.
It seemed like the party had been successful. They’d gotten Danica’s laptop and phone into Tanner’s hands, with the promise that they’d quickly be returned.
Now, Danica was exhausted. And still unsettled. Too many thoughts and questions were swirling in her head.
And she was really trying not to think about that kiss on the patio. It had served a purpose—cementing their story that they were sleeping together. Childhood crushes thrown together by a stressful situation, finally reunited and unable to keep their hands off each other.
But they couldn’t repeat it. Even if she really wanted to.
Ginger swept into the living room with Noah’s grandfather behind her. “Don’t tell me the party’s already over?”
“It’s my fault,” Danica said. “I needed to call it a night early.”
A giant wool shawl draped around Ginger’s shoulders like a cape. “Oh, of course. I’m being thoughtless, after the day you’ve had. But you’ll at least have a nightcap, won’t you?” She turned to her husband. “Dearest, would you find Noah and bring us the Sauternes and some glasses?”
Ginger threw off her shawl and sat down next to Danica, tucking her legs beneath her. Ginger was as trim as she was, with defined muscle on her willowy arms. “I trust Noah’s been taking good care of you?”
“He has. This day actually hasn’t been so bad, considering how it started. Thanks for letting me take over your house today. I promise I’ll get out of your way tomorrow.”
She wasn’t sure where she’d go, but she couldn’t put Noah’s family in danger by sticking around here too long.
“It hasn’t been the slightest bit of trouble.” Ginger leaned over and whispered, “Noah thinks he’s being top secret, but he can’t fool me. I know he’s protecting you, and I thoroughly approve. I want you to stay here as long as you need.” She squeezed Danica’s wrist.
Danica was relieved she knew the truth. “But people are trying to kidnap me,” she murmured back. “The police caught some, but I don’t know if that was all of them.”
“You obviously won’t let anyone intimidate you. Well darling, I’m the same. When a friend of mine is in need, I don’t scurry off with my tail between my legs. Besides, the more people who are around you, the safer you’ll be. No?”
Danica had to admit, that made some sense.
Ginger patted her hand reassuringly. “But next time you visit, we’ll plan something nice and relaxing. I’m thinking a dinner party. No more than thirty or forty people. Catered with wine pairings.”
“You and I have different ideas about what’s relaxing. But I’d like that.”
Noah and his grandpa returned, carrying a bottle of golden-colored dessert wine and glasses. Noah held a plate of something, and he presented it to Danica.
Potato chips, each with a tiny dollop of caviar.
“Madame?” He had one hand tucked behind his back, his body leaned forward like he was a waiter. She took a chip and slipped it into her mouth, trying not to laugh as she chewed.
“I looked for brown-butter chocolate cookies,” he said, “but Ginger’s out.”
So he’d remembered. Danica had a sweet tooth, especially when she felt anxious. “That’s okay. This is just what I needed. Thank you.”
After their late-night snack and a few sips of wine, Noah and Danica excused themselves to head upstairs.
Noah started toward his bedroom. “You coming?” he asked, when he saw her standing in place.
“I was thinking we’d stay in a guestroom. The one with the blue curtains, where I showered earlier? If someone’s after me, they’ll expect me to be in your bedroom. Right?”
Actually, after the day they’d had, she felt like his bed was a little more intimacy than she could handle. Too tempting.
Not thinking about that kiss.
“Yeah. No problem. I’ll get changed and meet you there.”
Danica’s bag was already in the guestroom. She followed her nighttime routine, washing her face and brushing her teeth. When she came out of the bathroom, she found Lucifer the cat sitting on the bed.
She sat down, and Lucy stretched toward her. Danica’s mind worked as she scratched the cat’s soft head.
This was the first time in as long as she could remember that she had no idea what was going to happen. Apart from the gala, her schedule was completely up in the air.
But she actually didn’t mind it.
Uncertainty also meant freedom, and she hadn’t experienced that in so long. Nearly getting kidnapped twice was a sad excuse for a vacation. But taking some time off could be a good thing. A reset.
Eventually, of course, she’d return to her regular life, with all its benefits and drawbacks.
Which would also mean saying goodbye to Noah.
The door opened, and Noah stepped into the room. He wore only a pair of pajama pants. Dark hair lightly dusted his broad chest and ran down between his abs.
Danica averted her gaze before she could start to stare. “Really? You couldn’t find a shirt?”
“I usually sleep naked. This is already a concession. You’ll just have to keep your eyes to yourself.”
“Don’t worry, I will.” The man could be so infuriating. She grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at him. “I assume you’re sleeping on the floor? Since we’re keeping this professional.”
“The cat’s claimed the other half of the mattress, so I don’t have much choice. I got voted off the island.” He selected one of the extra blankets that was folded at the end of the bed.
Noah arranged the pillow and blanket on the floor, taking the side of the bed closest to the door. It was hard to imagine someone coming after her tonight in his family’s house. But she doubted she would’ve been able to sleep alone.
If she really started thinking about who might’ve betrayed her, she wasn’t going to be able to sleep, period. Not even with Noah right here.
Danica slid beneath the covers and turned so she could see him. “Did you talk to that West Oaks PD officer you mentioned?”
Noah put his arm above his head, looking up at her.
“Yeah. Chase Collins.” He told her what they’d discussed, and that Chase was going to make discreet inquiries.
“I have a friend in the LAPD, too. We can send him your drawing of the eagle tattoo and see if he can connect it to known gangs in the region.”
“Thank you.” Noah sounded confident they’d find a lead, and that shored up her confidence, too. “I want to be part of every step of the investigation going forward. I need to know what’s going on.”
“You will be.” Then he added, “As much as possible.”
“You had to qualify that statement?”
“I can’t predict every eventuality.”
She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. “You realize you’ll have to be my date for the museum gala on Thursday, right? I hope you have a tux.”
He scoffed. “I have more than one. I get a lot of assignments where I’m the guy in a monkey suit and sunglasses at a fancy event.”
“Except this time, you’re supposed to be my…boyfriend. Is that what we decided?” She felt silly saying it.
“I’ve been told I’m a good boyfriend.”
“I can’t promise I’m a good girlfriend.” She hadn’t had that many relationships, actually. The men in her past had complained she was too unavailable. They’d wanted her to fawn over them, lose herself in their lives and interests, which Danica would never do.
“And I don’t usually move this fast,” she reminded him.
“So you need to be wooed? A dozen roses and a diamond tennis bracelet?”
“Hardly. More like lots of persistence.” And caviar and potato chips, she added silently.
“You don’t think I’m persistent?”
“It’s only been a couple of days. Hardly impressive.”
“But combined with my extreme levels of sexiness?”
Danica grabbed another pillow and threw it at him. The jerk caught it easily and tucked it beneath his head. She couldn’t help laughing.
But somehow, that laughter stuck in her chest, turning softer and more tender as she looked down at him.
“Thank you for doing this. Helping me. If it wasn’t for you, I’m not sure where I’d turn.” Damn, her eyes were stinging again.
She’d hired Bennett Security, and she was paying for their aid. But she felt she owed Noah and his family so much more. That wasn’t a comfortable feeling for her. She’d have to find a way to pay them back.
Noah held out his hand, palm up. Danica reached down, and his fingers clasped around hers. “Dani, you’re not alone. Even if it wasn’t my job, I’d do whatever I could to make sure you’re safe.”
“I know. You’ve been saying that.”
“And I’ll keep saying it until you believe it.”