Chapter 8
“Oh, angel,” he murmured, after Solace had quietly left his office. It was only then he allowed himself to raise his head to take in the empty space where she’d stood, then higher to where his burning eyes fixed on the closed door. “It was for the best.”
Something that shouldn’t have happened.
Of all the words that had passed between them, those few she’d spoken in such a matter-of-fact tone continued to ring in his ears. Yes, he’d been the first to say it, but hearing her agree hadn’t set well with him.
Had he been relieved?
Of course, he had been. But only because he had to. What other choice did he have? Her safety came before his feelings for her.
What if that’s how she’s felt all along?
He swiveled his chair to face away from the door and let out a huff.
That intrusive thought wasn’t true. Each time he’d touched her.
Each time he’d taken her deep. Each time he’d released inside her hot, welcoming body, wanting nothing more than to bind her to him, she’d been just as enthusiastic as he had been.
But there’d been more. He’d felt it. Had seen it in her golden-brown eyes. It’s why he’d hoped the next time he’d been alone with her—when they could be completely alone—he’d have had her in his arms convincing her to give them a chance.
He didn’t see that scenario happening any time soon.
Or ever, at this point.
He’d made sure of that with the little show he’d just put on. He gave the closed door another quick glance. Causing the hurt he’d seen in her eyes before she’d quickly masked it wasn’t something he’d ever forgive himself for.
But this had taken her directly out of the crosshairs of whoever might be after him.
That was the important thing. Unless they’d been surveilling his home and had seen her leaving the other morning—at whatever time that might have been—which he doubted.
With all the additional security measures he’d implemented after the incident with Salazar, no one was getting that close to his home again without him knowing about it.
And her being at work as only part of the team shouldn’t bring her any added attention.
He sat back in his seat and rubbed his forehead, then took a deep breath to settle himself. It wasn’t over. There was more to do before his and Enders’ scheme to neutralize the threat went into full effect. And the next stage of that would begin in…
He checked his watch.
Fifteen minutes.
Enders…
He still couldn’t believe the man had passed up the opportunity at such a big payday.
“I don’t do that kind of work anymore,” Enders had said. Then he’d added in the caveat of, “Unless they need to be dead.”
It was a good thing Enders must have considered him someone who shouldn’t be unalived. Though he’d had to ask the other man what he could do to show his appreciation for the forewarning. And, of course, for not taking the contract.
“I have a couple of favors I’ll call in.” The man had given him a smirk. “If you’re still around to grant them.”
He checked his watch again and stood. Time to head to the conference room.
Once he set this in motion, the team would have questions. He shook his head. And not one of them could be answered. At least not truthfully. Not yet. Mainly because if they got wind of what he was facing, they’d be all in. He couldn’t allow that.
For their own safety.
And Haven’s. He couldn’t have his daughter in danger because of him.
Again.
Or his grandchild.
He shook himself out of those thoughts. Time was limited and he was wasting it. If Enders didn’t get the job done within the deadline he’d been given, Duncan and his would-be assassin had no doubt someone else would be called in to finish the job.
And he would be dead.
The usual sounds of his team laughing and talking led Duncan to the open conference room door. A twinge of regret about what he was about to do hit him as he stood there listening to them ribbing Cal about his impending fatherhood.
These were good people.
Hell, not just good. They were the finest people he’d ever known. He’d been honored to serve with most of them—his elite unit. With the addition of Noah Jennings and Chance Granger?—
“Solace.” Granger’s chuckling callout held him in place. “You’re not going to give Cal grief?”
“What was that?” If he’d noticed she sounded distracted, the team would notice too. “Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”
“What’s up with you, woman?” Wallace’s voice held true concern. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine. I?—”
“Bullshit,” Carter added in. “Something’s definitely?—”
“All right, let’s get started,” Duncan announced, stepping inside the room, before striding toward his seat at the head of the table. As usual, his presence shut down any chatter. He might not be able to claim her, but he could save her from an interrogation.
The suspicious glances he spied flashing around the table as he sat were another thing. With most of them landing on Solace. He was about to put a stop to those too.
“Jennings.” The man basically went to attention in his seat, focusing completely on him, while the rest of the team snapped theirs his way as well. “Report?”
“We had to keep a few superfans at bay, but she was gracious and signed autographs, which seemed to satisfy them,” Jennings said, his manner serious, as always. The other lead on this particular detail? Not even close. Granger’s lips formed a half-grin.
“Was there something else?”
From Jennings’ grimace, Granger obviously did have something to add that the other man didn’t want shared.
“Don’t say it,” Jennings muttered, proving his point.
“Noah ended up with a superfan of his own.”
Jennings’ chest expanded on a deep breath as he cast his darkened topaz eyes at the ceiling. “You’re saying it.”
“Oh?” Wallace said, grinning and crossing his arms. “And who might that be?” Duncan raised a brow. The whole team had been in on the event. So?—
“Our little starlet, Fallon St. James,” Granger provided with a huge smile, earning him a glare from Jennings, and an ah-ha moment for Duncan. They were about to give the young man a hard time.
“Your principal?” Wallace’s eyes held mischief. “Doesn’t fraternizing break some kind of bodyguard code?”
“I believe it does,” Carter said, matter of fact, nodding, his guileless features not fooling anyone. “Did you break the bodyguard code of ethics, Noah?”
“Look,” Jennings muttered, color creeping into his cheeks and deepening his brown skin. “Ms. St. James was just being nice to me. And if she did have any interest in me. And I truly mean if, sir…” He sat forward, turning his pleading gaze on Duncan. “I promise I didn’t encourage her.”
“You didn’t have to.” Granger waggled his brows. “What was it she said before we left her hotel room?”
“Chance, I swear…”
Granger loved to rile the serious, younger man. The whole team did. Could he put a stop to it? Of course. But only by divulging why Jennings came off as so restrained. If he did, they’d understand. At least most of them would, initially. He glanced at a laughing Carter. It might take others longer.
“This is priceless,” Wallace chuckled out, drawing Duncan’s attention to the grinning man who had made the initial discovery during Jennings’ background check. “There’s a sealed juvenile court record,” he’d said, his expression hard. “Do you want me to open it?”
Of course, Duncan had said, yes.
He flicked his gaze at the young man who still had his narrowed eyes on Granger.
Once he’d read what those records held and who would be impacted by the details, Duncan had been hesitant about bringing Jennings on board in case it caused a rift.
But after witnessing his ethics firsthand and how he enhanced the team dynamics, it had been a good decision to override those concerns.
Nothing that might happen later would change that fact.
Besides, everybody had some sort of baggage. Jennings just happened to have more than others.
So, was he going to reveal the man’s secrets?
No. Those weren’t his to tell.
When Jennings was ready, he would do it on his own. And when he did, the true reason why he’d joined the team would become clear. Would he face blowback? Without a doubt.
In the end, he had faith things would work out. Jennings would still be a part of the team.
But until that day came, he needed to loosen up.
He almost laughed at himself. He, Duncan Sheppard, calling out someone else for being too uptight was slightly absurd. And wouldn’t the team have a good time over that.
“Oh, yeah…” Granger batted his eyelashes, gaining Duncan’s attention.
That and the adoring look he gave a grimacing Jennings, while saying in a high-pitched voice, “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a beautiful man?
” Jennings groaned, while Granger continued with, “And then she suggested he might find success in modeling.”
Everyone burst out laughing, while Duncan held in his smile—something that he had to do often with this crew. It wouldn’t do to encourage them. They managed to encourage each other enough on their own.
He dared a glance at Solace to find her grinning and eyes sparkling with humor.
Good.
He was just about to look away when her gaze caught his.
From the way her features tightened, glancing might have turned into staring.
He gave her a slight nod. All she did was frown and look away toward Carter.
He focused on the other man as well, just in time to find him puckering up his lips and making kissing noises.
Thankfully the man’s antics had kept everyone else’s attention firmly on him.
“Awww, did she want to give you a kiss?”
Groans aimed at Carter sounded around the table.
“Please tell me you don’t kiss Hope like that.”
Rothe...
He needed to start thinking of him as Cal.
My son-in-law…
When he’d sent the team to protect Haven, he’d had no idea those two would make such a great match. Haven loved Cal, and Cal adored her. He also had no doubt the man would die or kill for his daughter if necessary. Hopefully, it wouldn’t ever come to that.
Duncan couldn’t have asked for more in a new son.
“She has no complaints,” Carter said with a self-satisfied smirk as he sat back in his seat and crossed his arms. “At all.”
“I’ve said it before,” Jennings cut in, basically grumbling. “And I’ll say it again. FAST meetings were never like this.”
“That had to have been boring as hell,” Granger added.
Jennings let out a harsh breath, then, of all things, a slow grin spread over his face and he gave a slight shrug.
“Yeah, they were.”
Maybe there was hope for him yet.
“So, Granger…” Duncan needed to get this meeting back on track. “We’ve been paid in full for the assignment?”
“Yes, sir,” he answered, turning all business. “Our subcontractors have been paid as well.”
“Very good.”
Granger had remained as their in-house accounting person, but that would have to change soon. The personal protection aspect of the business was taking off, and it was too much to ask of the man to be both an operative and their office manager/bookkeeper.
It was time for Duncan to begin taking on more staff—not just for the office, but for the field.
The current team was being stretched too thin.
And subcontractors were all well and good—and they’d done their jobs—but he wanted his own people not only in charge, but also on the ground.
He already had one person in mind—if he could convince him to change his career course.
Creed Landry.
He’d had a long conversation with him at Haven and Cal’s engagement/baby announcement party and had to admit the man had impressed him.
The only obstacle was Landry’s determination to finish the FBI Academy and take an assignment in the criminal investigations division.
He might have to have a word with Haven to get her opinion on whether he could be swayed or not.
When this is over.
During the next thirty minutes, each team member had a report to give on current or upcoming assignments. None of them were what he would consider dangerous. But, then again, with personal protection, one never knew.
“And that about does it,” Wallace said, after giving his update.
It’s time.
“I have something to add to the agenda,” Duncan said, scrutinizing the expressions on each of the faces turning his way—forcing himself not to linger on Solace. Mild interest was about to change into something else, and it was going to be fascinating to watch.
“I’m taking a three-month sabbatical.”