Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Vandermeer? I’d like a word as well.” Blake crossed his arms, making the fabric of his suit jacket pull taut.
“Sure.” Noah faced him. They were still in the front entryway of the house, with guards stationed by the door. Noah didn’t see Rosie, and he wondered where she’d gone. “What can I do for you?”
“I’d like to know your intentions regarding Danica.”
“Isn’t that a question her father should be asking me?”
Noah smiled, but Blake didn’t react to the joke. “I’d like an answer.”
“I care about her,” Noah said. “She’s a very special woman.”
“Yes. And she credits you with saving her yesterday from the kidnappers.”
“Pretty sure she saved herself. I just helped out afterward.”
“Don’t give me that false modesty. I know your type. You’re the kind of cocky asshole who waltzes into a situation assuming he belongs there.”
“Excuse me?”
The other day, Blake had seemed like a nice enough guy. Someone the Bennett Security team could work with. Now, Noah was seeing the man’s other side.
“I don’t think you misheard. I spoke clearly enough, didn’t I?”
“I’m here because Danica wants me here.”
“I was under the impression you had a job. With Bennett Security?”
“I called in some vacation time.”
Blake closed in on him, doing his best to be intimidating. Noah’s pulse didn’t change its steady beat. But he was surprised Blake had chosen outright confrontation.
“I didn’t recognize you when you arrived with Max Bennett at the office a few days ago,” Blake said. “But I know your name. I’m familiar with your history with Danica’s brother.”
Noah tucked his hands casually into his jeans. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Thanks to you, Soren nearly ended up in prison. Since then, you haven’t communicated with Danica—or anyone in this family. But suddenly, you’ve insinuated yourself into a place of trust and access. Just a few days after William chose not to hire the company you work for.”
“I was just there when she needed me.”
“You saw an opportunity to impress Danica by playing her knight in shining armor? Is that it?”
Shit, had the guy seen through their ruse? Blake had realized Danica had hired him?
“You make it sound like an insidious strategy,” Noah said.
“Plenty of people want to get close to the Foster-Grants for their own ends. Social climbers always want to climb higher.”
Noah’s smile was vicious. He should’ve been pleased that Blake was so far off base.
But his annoyance won out. “I’m not after her money or her status, if that’s what you’re implying.
” It was true that the Vandermeer family had nowhere close to the fortune the Foster-Grants did. But social climbers? Hardly.
“Then maybe it’s some kind of vengeance you’re after? You didn’t do enough damage to her brother before?”
“I feel nothing toward Soren. He’s irrelevant to me.
But Dani and I have known each other a long time.
We lost touch because of factors outside our control, and in the last few days—when her father invited Bennett Security to his office—we reconnected.
It’s as simple as that. Our relationship is none of your business. ”
He felt Blake scrutinizing him. The moment dragged out before the man finally spoke.
“I’m going to be frank. If Danica wants you in her bed?
That’s her issue. But don’t go thinking that gives you a voice around here.
I don’t care if you were a SEAL. I don’t care if you’re James-fucking-Bond.
If you get in the way of my ability to do my job, I’ll deal with you as I see fit.
I protect this family from all possible threats. No matter where they come from.”