CHAPTER SEVEN
JOSH
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I reach for a cold bottle of water and chug it down.
If Cassy sets up a yoga fucking mat in the living room while wearing some skimpy lycra, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.
Which is bullshit.
I am.
I’ve already sent a message to my tech team to get over here with the new security system I briefed them on after suspecting it would be needed. Most people don’t have more than a basic system and these days they’re close to useless.
I’m expecting them to arrive soon and they will no doubt enjoy watching her bend and twist in upward dog or whatever.
I was expecting her to pour a glass of wine and switch on the TV, not head upstairs to change, which is putting inappropriate images in my head.
What the hell am I doing here?
I have employees that can do this job. Men who have the skills while I focus on an upcoming black ops job I have.
I can do both.
It’s true, I can. It won’t be just me watching Cassy. I will have a team on this given the budget Blaze has given and Miller’s history.
He’s a dangerous man.
I expect the authorities to capture him quickly. He’s on the run wearing prison overalls, with no money and no contacts. It’s not like the guy was a career criminal, he was a journalist.
Which means he’s bright, but I’m hoping by this time next week I’ll be sending Blaze Cartwright my invoice and getting Cassy out of my system by sinking into some nameless woman as I imagine Cassy’s ass.
It’s a solid plan.
I find the recycling and toss the empty bottle, then glance around the kitchen.
I noticed the fish tank by the wall when I first walked in.
The rest is fresh and stylish, with a colorful bowl of fresh fruit on a table, fresh herbs on the windowsill, and a cozy nook with cushions and book laid open in the corner.
Cassy reads.
For some reason I like that.
She’s beautiful, smart, and a business owner. Instead of living off her dad’s money—although I suspect he contributed to this house as it’s worth at least twenty million—she’s doing something with her life.
Given her experience as a teenager, it’s almost twice as admirable.
Fuck.
I curse quietly and keep moving through the house, taking mental notes.
I don’t want to like this woman or be attracted to her, but I am. Still, she’s as resistant as I am, so between us, I’m sure we’ll just bicker and ignore our scorching chemistry.
I find the door to the garage and do a quick look. Then head back inside and make my way upstairs. I count two bathrooms and four bedrooms, spotting a couple of useless cameras that could easily be disabled before I reach the end of the hall.
The master bedroom.
The door is ajar, and I can hear Cassy talking quietly. Or is she singing to herself?
I smile.
Then wonder if she’s naked and my jeans tighten against my cock again. I’m wearing tactical pants from now on if I’m going to be hard the entire fucking time.
I rub my hand over my cock and close my eyes.
Jesus, I need to jerk off and get this arousal sorted.
Quietly, so as not to disturb her, I open the cupboard across the hall from her door, put my head in and tilt it up to look at the ceiling, then straighten and shut the door.
As I turn to leave, Cassy’s door swings open and she walks out, sees me, and screams.
Fuck!
I reach for her, grab her arms as she trembles, staring at me with wide eyes and a face as white as a ghost.
“Breathe,” I say firmly. “Cassy, breathe for me.”
“I-I- wabber, fah.”
I’ve seen this before in the field. She’s in shock.
I kick her door farther open and walk her backward until we reach her bed. Then lower her onto the edge of it. Only then do I take a step back and crouch.
Non-threatening.
She’s changed into her yoga outfit, wearing turquoise lycra shorts and a matching sports bra top.
Holy hell, she’s sexy, but this is not the time to be focused on that.
“Cassy, look at me. It’s Josh.” I say again, keeping my voice low but firm.
Her eyes flicker around, but I can see she’s coming back to the present. She blinks, then her eyes connect with mine.
“Oh, god. I’m sorry.”
Jesus.
“I don’t want an apology. I want you to keep breathing. Long slow breaths. That’s it.”
Her cheeks turn pink with embarrassment.
Good, that means her vitals are returning to normal. Although I hate that she feels ashamed. A dangerous and sick individual stalked her, and I surprised her upstairs near her bedroom, where she should feel safe.
I thought she was still singing and dressing.
“That was my fault. I should’ve alerted you to the fact I was outside your bedroom. I apologize,” I say, changing the leg my weight is on.
Cassy stares at the space between my legs and I’m not sure if she’s mentally elsewhere or gazing at my cock. The fact I’m even thinking that means I’m pretty sure I’m unfit for this job.
Yet, instead of excusing myself, I reach out and place my hand on the side of her knee.
Her eyes flick to mine and those pretty green eyes ignite something inside me.
“I won’t do it again,” I say gently.
Woah. Who the fuck am I?
Not the dangerous, gruff SEAL my team loves to hate.
“Okay.” Her soft reply has my chest tightening as I fight a strange and sudden urge to pull her into my arms and swear on my life to protect her.
That’s already a given.
But that’s all I can offer her.
Protection.
Despite this obvious attraction between us, and a spark of something more, I’ve seen the pain love can cause. The total destruction of a person. I can’t and won’t be making the same mistake my brother did.
As Cassy nods, my phone beeps.
“My team is here.” I stand and hold out my hand.
When she climbs to her feet, I don’t step back.
Stupid.
Her hands land on my biceps to steady herself, and I’m not mad. I like her touching me. Way too much.
“Thank you. Please don’t tell Dad about this. He worries about me. You just caught me in my personal space when I wasn’t expecting it.”
“You have my word.”
CASSY OPENS THE door, letting my team in as I stand a few feet behind her.
Aidan is with them, which surprises me. Especially as he is supposed to be on a date.
“Hey,” he says to me, then reaches out a hand to Cassy. “Aidan Black. The other half of—”
“Black Hawke Security. I get it. Nice to meet you.” She replies and gives the other three guys a smile. “Come in.”
“Nice home.” Aidan says, looking around, then glances at me and mumbles, “Don’t ask.”
Good one.
Of course I’m going to ask. Especially if the date was with Jessica.
“Change of plans?” I slide my hands into my pockets and rock back on my feet.
Aidan glares at me while Cassy wanders off, then does a double take, and I find myself standing with my team, watching her ass.
I snap out of it and shake my head.
“Okay, let’s get to work.”
I give them instructions on what needs to be done while Aidan wanders around the entrance.
“I can see why you wanted to do this job yourself now.” Aidan chuckles.
“You seem to have been stood up again. And maybe you could fuck off.” I cross my arms.
“She had a thing.” He shrugs.
Jessica always has a thing. A thing not with Aidan.
He slaps my shoulder and heads in the direction Cassy went. “Think I’ll stick around and update you on what we learned tonight about Isaac Miller.”
What?
I’m suddenly torn between hoping they’ve caught the fucker and disappointed I won’t see Cassy again. That’s about as fucked up as you can get in my line of work.
Told you I was an asshole.