Chapter 8
“ M ove back in here?” She couldn’t have heard him correctly.
“Yes, Maya,” her dad replied firmly. “Move back here.”
“I’m not . . . I can’t . . .” Just the idea of moving back in here had panic filling her. “I can’t move back in here.”
Her father frowned. “There will be a police presence here at all times to protect Kathryn and me when I’m here. Although I can protect myself. But I can’t send someone to watch you all the time. So you have to stay here. Really, Maya, it’s not too much to ask. Is it?”
It was everything. It would be the end of her entire world.
Then she reminded herself that she was an adult. And no one could make her do anything she didn’t want to do.
One deep breath.
Then another.
“I’m not moving in here.”
“Maya—” her father started to say sharply.
“I’m. Not. Moving in here,” she said. “I have my house. I have a life. I have my babies. I’m pretty sure that Kathryn doesn’t want several dogs, a cat, and a pig running through the house. And my hamster has a farting issue. It’s not pretty.”
She said a silent apology to Marshmallow. Sure, he farted. Who didn’t? But it wasn’t a problem.
Now, sometimes Tank got a bit nervous and could clear a room with one of his farts . . . shoot that was the example she should have used. It would have been far more believable than a farting hamster.
“Oh my God,” Kathryn said in disgust.
“I can’t leave them or move them in here,” she stated firmly. “I have a Staffy who has extreme anxiety. He won’t do well with being moved.”
“Who cares about a few dumb animals?” Vince muttered.
She glared at him.
Shit.
She probably shouldn’t have put it out there how much she cared about her pets. She didn’t want to give Vince ammunition to use against her.
“I could try to find them foster homes, I guess. But it could take a while.” She shrugged, pretending a nonchalance she didn’t feel.
She wasn’t sure that anyone actually believed her act, either.
“Maya, this is important,” her father told her. “It isn’t some game.”
“Sorry if I gave the impression I thought it was,” she said quietly. “But I cannot uproot my life.”
Her father gave her a frustrated look. “Right. We thought you might feel like this, so I do have an alternative. Reeves suggested that I hire you a bodyguard.”
Hire a bodyguard?
Wait. What?
“The owner of the company and the man who would be your bodyguard should be arriving soon.”
What was happening right now?
There was a knock on the door and Kathryn moved away to answer it.
“Dad, I don’t need a bodyguard,” she said urgently.
“These are very real threats, Maya. You need to take them seriously,” her father replied.
“But . . . but . . . won’t that be really expensive! I mean, who knows how long it’s going to take to find the person making these threats? I can’t have a bodyguard forever.”
“Not forever, no. But you know that I have some money from when your mother died. It will be a hit, but since you’re being stubborn and won’t move in here, I’ll have to use it.”
Matthieu came to an abrupt stop as those words reached him.
Wow.
He recognized the police chief’s voice. He’d met with him earlier this morning. The guy didn’t immediately scream corrupt. But Matthieu knew that the evillest minds could be charming.
You should never judge a book by its cover.
And listening to him speak to his daughter now, Matthieu knew that he’d been right not to judge too quickly.
Had he really just told her that? What an asshole thing to say.
“My husband is quite stressed right now.” Kathryn Monsoon, the chief’s wife, pressed closer to him. She gave him a small, polite smile but there was something in her gaze that put him on edge.
She was assessing, analyzing. He felt like a bug under a microscope.
“Of course,” he said. “Understandable.”
“It will cost us quite a lot to employ you. We will need to find this person who is sending these threats quickly.”
“Right. So you don’t lose too much money protecting your daughter,” he said dryly.
“Actually, she’s my stepdaughter and, of course, money isn’t as important as her safety.”
But she’d felt the need to point out that they weren’t related.
Right.
“It’s just that she’s being very stubborn. If she would move in here it would save us a lot of money.”
He barely managed to hold his tongue.
“Please, come and meet my sons.”
“And Maya.”
“Yes, of course,” she said. “I thought that was a given.”
This woman was interesting. On the surface, she appeared to be perfect. Someone who gave her time to charity. A pillar of the community. But there seemed to be another side to her.
However, he hid his suspicions as he followed her into the room. And came to a stop as he saw the woman sitting on the sofa.
It was her.
The lavender-haired girl from yesterday. The girl who had barely been able to speak. Who’d run off from him.
For some reason he’d thought about her several times since, wondering if she was in some sort of trouble.
And here she was.
And she was definitely in trouble.
Had she been going to Callahan Security for help? Had something happened?
“I don’t need a bodyguard, Dad,” she said to her father. “I will be fine.”
“If Maya doesn’t want you to hire a bodyguard for her, I’ll take some time off and look after her,” one of the men in the room said.
Matthieu glanced over at him. He was around Maya’s age with dark hair and eyes. And a neatly trimmed moustache. He was smirking as he offered that.
And Maya actually shuddered before her head rose and she glared at the guy.
“Aww. Thanks so much. But the day I need your help, Vince, will be the day that hell freezes over.”
“Maya!” Mrs. Monsoon said. “That’s so rude! Apologize immediately!”
Was this woman for real? Why was she talking to Maya like she was a child?
Wait . . . Vince. Wasn’t that the cop that Reeves had said was harassing Maya the other day?
Matthieu took another look at him. Yeah, he could see it. The guy stunk of overconfidence and self-importance.
“It’s all right, Mrs. M,” Vince said with a slimy smile. “I’m used to Maya’s ways.”
Maya glared at him. Matthieu couldn’t believe this was the same woman that he’d seen on the steps of Callahan Security the yesterday. Then she’d barely been able to get a word out. She’d been shy and quiet.
Almost sad.
Right now she was full of sass and vinegar.
She was . . . magnificent.
Matthieu shared a look with Ink, who was frowning. Matthieu wasn’t sure what the other man was thinking.
The Police Chief stood as he saw them. “Good, good, you’re here. Come and meet Maya. Don’t mind her and Vince. They’re always like this. They’re very close.”
“We’re not . . .” Maya’s words died off as her shocked gaze hit his. “Oh shit.”
The last two words were a whisper, and her gaze immediately shifted away from him to Ink.
And that’s where it stayed.
Oh.
He did not like that. At all.
He wanted to demand that her gaze come back to him and stay on him. Matthieu had never felt possessive over a woman before.
But right now, he wanted to gather Maya close and demand that no one look at her. And that she only see him.
This could be a problem.
“Please tell me you’re my bodyguard,” she said to Ink desperately.
“Maya!” her father said, sounding shocked.
“I cannot believe how rude you are being,” Kathryn gasped. “I’m so sorry. This isn’t how she usually acts.”
“Yes, it is,” one of the other men said.
“This is always how she is, Mother,” another added. “Best they know what they’re getting into.”
“Well . . . I . . . this is . . .” Mrs. Monsoon actually stumbled over her words.
He was willing to bet that didn’t happen often.
“Actually, I’m Tracey Callahan.” Ink held out his hand to her.
Maya reached out and shook it.
Yep. There went that jealous beast. It rose up inside him, demanding to be set free.
They’re just shaking hands.
You can’t be jealous of that. She’s not yours. You don’t even know her.
“I own Callahan Security. Your bodyguard is going to be Matthieu. Is that a problem?”
There was a cold note to Ink’s voice and he saw that she heard it. Her chin tilted up and he waited to see what she was about to say.
“No problem except that I don’t need a bodyguard. Apparently it would cost a lot of money and I wouldn’t want that. I’ll be fine on my own.”
“You won’t be fine on your own,” Matthieu told her firmly. He wasn’t going to put up with this sort of nonsense from her. There was no way he would leave her on her own.
She’d obviously gone to Callahan Security seeking help.
And now she was getting it.
Whether she wanted it or not.
For some reason, she didn’t seem to want him as her bodyguard. But frankly, he didn’t care. She’d get used to him. Matthieu wasn’t quite sure what the problem was. She seemed to be shy around him? Unsure?
It was intriguing and so different from the Maya that she seemed to give other people.
“These threats are real, we’ve seen them,” Matthieu added. “We also saw footage of a vehicle attempting to run your father’s car off the road.”
It had been a stolen vehicle, and the footage had come from street cameras. Still, Ink had asked Brody to look over it and see if he could find anything that the cops might have missed.
“Matthieu is right. The threats mention you by name. Have you not seen them?” Ink asked.
“No, maybe I should,” she said.
“There is no need for Maya to see them,” her father said. “They will just upset her. And she should take my word that they are serious and should be treated that way.” His face was growing red, his forehead sweaty.
His wife stepped up behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “You are upsetting your father and it’s not good for his health.”
Chagrin and regret filled Maya’s face. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to upset you, Dad. It’s just . . . this doesn’t seem real.”
“Well, it is,” one of the other men replied. “So stop playing around and wasting all of our time with your dramatics, Maya.”
“Robert,” Mrs. Monsoon said in a quiet voice.
Robert. He was one of her two sons. All of her sons had been cops when she married Martin Monsoon.
Interesting how they’d all moved to Billings and then two of them had become detectives. Sounded fishy to him.
“I don’t mean to do that,” Maya said quietly. “I just . . .” Her gaze went to him and she fell silent. Then she dragged it away again. “I just don’t think a bodyguard is necessary. I don’t want you to waste that money.”
Merde.
He had to fight against grasping hold of her chin and turning her face toward his. Against telling her that he would decide what was necessary.
Easy.
She’s not yours.
And you’re not this person. You’re not a caveman like Ink and the others.
Right. No. He wasn’t. And she wasn’t his type. She wouldn’t be easy. Or uncomplicated.
That’s what he preferred.
Easy and uncomplicated.
“Then Vince will have to move in with you,” the police chief stated.
Maya turned her head toward Vince and he swore he saw fear on her face.
There was no fucking way she was going anywhere with that asshole.
“No,” she said.
“What?” Vince asked.
“No. I want him.” She pointed to Matthieu without looking at him.
He wasn’t quite sure why she had problems staring at him, but they’d figure that out.
Vince’s face darkened. Oh, he didn’t like hearing that, did he? Well, the batard would have to get used to it. His access to Maya had just been severed.
Matthieu would see to that.
“If I have to have someone, then I would rather have a trained professional.”
“You don’t think I’m a trained professional?” Vince demanded. “I’m a cop!”
“Exactly, you have a job,” Maya said. She turned to her father. “I want him.” Once more she pointed at Matthieu.
He didn’t want her pointing at him. He wanted her to look straight at him.
While she was on her knees . . . sucking his cock . . .
That was not what he should be thinking about right now. Or probably anytime.
She was the client. That meant he couldn’t get involved with her.
Matthieu was a professional.
“I’ll take him or I’ll leave the city.”
“Leave the city?” her father repeated, growing ruddier in complexion. “You can’t leave.”
“I won’t have Vince protecting me,” she said vehemently.
Her father looked from Vince to her. “Is there something I should know? Did something happen?”
Oh, Vince didn’t like being questioned, did he?
Matthieu tensed as the younger guy clenched his hands into fists. He obviously had a temper. And he was a person worth watching. Could he be behind these threats? Although what reason would he have to threaten the chief?
“You already know our history,” Maya said quickly. “Vince wanted to date and I’m not interested. That’s all. It’s awkward.”
Hmm.
Was that true? Was that the reason for Vince pulling her over and harassing her the other day? Because he wanted her and she’d rejected him?
He seemed like the type of guy to take that badly.
“All right, then,” her father said slowly. He still looked suspicious, which proved he was smarter than Matthieu had given him credit for. Then he turned to nod at Ink and Matthieu. “You’re still ready to start immediately?”
“I am.” Matthieu stepped forward and held out his hand to Maya. “I am Matthieu Beaufort. Pleasure to meet you.”
He saw her glance down at his hand and swallow heavily. It took her a while to raise her hand and he quickly wrapped his around hers. Her hand was freezing and he frowned slightly. Why was she so cold?
It wasn’t that cold in here. Was it due to poor circulation? Or fear?
She’d been alone, without any allies in here before they’d come along. But he wouldn’t leave her alone with the wolves again.
Perhaps he wasn’t going to be as professional as he’d thought. Guarding Maya might be very different from all of his other jobs.
And he wasn’t certain if that was a good thing.