CHAPTER FIVE
JOSH
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What do you need me to do?
First, Cassy, you need to stop looking like you want to spread your legs and beg me to do all the erotic things I’ve been imagining for the past ten minutes.
I didn’t know I was capable of switching between wanting to protect a woman and fuck her every ten seconds.
I am.
Over and over.
I watched her begin to spiral and then check herself. It was impressive. But it triggered something inside me and now I’m two seconds from changing into my fatigues and hunting this motherfucker down myself.
Which I can’t.
Technically.
I’m better off here protecting Cassy. If Isaac makes it to California, then I’ll happily introduce myself to him and the end of my gun.
But I’m surer than ever that I need to take this job on personally. I had this whole speech planned for Blaze about how my focus is black ops—well, I can’t tell him that, but it would have been a trimmed down version—and how I have a big team just as trained and experienced as I am.
Which is true.
But that’s not happening.
The moment Cassy licked her fucking lips, I knew. If anyone touched her, I would lose my damn mind. I have no idea what that means or why I care so much.
I do.
And that’s fucking that.
But I’m as keen as she is to have Isaac Miller back behind bars fast so I can turn around, know Cassy is safe, and go back to my life. Those bewitching eyes of hers are way too dangerous.
I have a very good reason to not have a woman in my life, and she feels like a solid threat.
So I’ll do the job, send the invoice, then wave goodbye.
Because this chemistry between us is not welcome by either of us.
I can see her scrunch her nose and grit her teeth.
I’m trained to notice every fucking thing.
Unfortunately, her resistance just makes her even more attractive to me.
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, a reminder to get on with this meeting. Cassy asked a question and while I’d love to tell her all the dirty things I want her to do, I can’t.
“I’m sure you don’t need reminding, but Isaac Miller is dangerous. First, I want to inspect your home and if I don’t find it sufficiently secure, I recommend you move into your father’s place while we update both properties’ security systems.”
“That sounds smart,” Blaze says.
“No,” Cassy says firmly at the same time.
I was prepared for that.
“I cannot guarantee your safety unless you follow all my instructions. Unless you do that, I can’t take the job. Black Hawke Security’s reputation is on the line.”
I will, but I need her to be far more obedient than she’s prepared to be right now. A submissive woman is sexy as fuck, but that’s not where I’m going with this.
Bullshit.
“As is my daughter’s life,” Blaze states angrily.
Cassy glares at me. “I’m not moving back in with my father. I have a home. A life. A fish.”
A fish?
For fuck's sake.
“Then,” I say, standing, adjusting my jeans after having six fucking erections while sitting there. “Cassy Cartwright, let’s go meet the fish. I’ll check out the house, then give you an answer.”
“Wright,” she says, placing her water on the table next to the sofa.
“Sorry?”
“It’s Wright, Cassy Wright. Not that it matters now that the media has ousted my new life.” She sighs. “I thought it would give me the anonymity I desired, but now the media has ousted my life it’s a moot point. Hell, forget it. Cartwright is fine.”
“Noted.”
“I’m sorry, darling.” Blaze says, shaking his head. “I should never have released this damn new album. I thought it would be safe.”
“Dad, it’s okay. You shouldn’t have to stop your life because of me. It made you happy, and it’s a great album.” Cassy says, rubbing his arm.
He keeps shaking his head and swirling the dark liquid in his glass.
I’m impressed by this woman. Honestly, I thought Blaze’s daughter was going to be a trust fund baby with a private Instagram account I’d not yet stumbled upon, spending her days partying and shopping on Rodeo Drive and taking selfies.
Instead, she’s created a new life for herself with a non-deplume, a business, and a fucking pet fish.
Underneath I know there will be scars from being stalked, but aside from being stupidly beautiful, she seems pretty normal, albeit highly independent. It’s the latter that will make my life difficult.
And potentially put hers at risk.
Still, I’m in charge now and it’s time to take the first step.
“Let’s go.”
I OPEN THE door to my Maserati and drag my eyes away from Cassy’s ass, mostly because her father is watching us leave. The fitted black pants do nothing to hide her toned glutes.
Then again, nor does the loose floral top, which only just covers her suntanned abs and hints at the pink bra she’s wearing underneath.
Beautiful women are everywhere in this town, and I thought I was immune.
Apparently not.
I’m partially amused by Cassy’s resistance to her attraction to me. It makes me more interested, which is a problem. The good news is she’s not going to get some god-awful crush on me, and that will help us get through the next few days.
I’m confident they’ll have Miller in custody by then.
I circle around and climb into the driver’s seat, then fire up the powerful engine.
“Guess you weren’t exactly going to drive a Mini,” Cassy mutters.
The radio chooses that moment to kick in as the digital dashboard comes to life and Radiohead fills the interior.
“Figures.” I see her lips move, but no sound comes out.
I turn my attention to the driveway as I press my foot on the pedal and suppress my smile. But I do lower the volume. “Where to, Cassy?”
“You don’t know?” she asks with a hint of humor.
One of my brows shoots up as irritation slices through me. If this woman thinks she can play, then she’s mistaken.
Now that her protective father is out of earshot, it’s time I set some boundaries.
I stop as the gates slowly open and turn my body to hers. Cassy lifts her face to mine and her smugness fades. Big green eyes hold mine.
Fuck.
Ignore them. Ignore them!
“First,” I growl. “Your father only phoned me today. Second, you’re not being investigated. Trust me when I say that if I’d instructed my team to do so, I would know every single detail about you right now. Every detail, Cassy.”
Including the fucking fish.
“So, either we drive around for a few hours looking at the lights while they do, or you can give me your fucking address.”
She swallows.