Chapter Two
“I should have put money on it,” Liam mused as they drove slowly up the winding drive to Devon Candler’s mansion.
There were extremely high brick walls surrounding the entire property, he was already counting security cameras, and they’d come through a security gate that actually lived up to its name for a change.
“I don’t get it. What are we needed for, exactly?” Kellen asked in perplexity.
“Physical equipment isn’t everything,” Liam reminded him as Inez parked the Hummer.
“C’mon, let’s find some answers. Keep your opinions, speculations, and conversation to yourself from this point on, okay?
” Without knowing what they were getting into, Liam didn’t want them spewing information.
Of course, he didn’t think his people would do that, but it never hurt to speak reminders out loud.
“Got it,” Inez agreed for them both.
Liam led the way. Each watched their surroundings warily as they were led through an enormous foyer and into a room at the front of the mansion.
“Well, the butler just let three heavily armed people into the house without so much as physically checking our identification.” Liam turned to cock a wise brow at Kellen.
“Whether we’re expected or not, that’s an unforgivable lapse.
Beginning to see why we’re needed?” Kellen nodded, his hand absently resting on the butt of his main pistol.
Liam was prepared to wait a while, considering their precipitous arrival, but a servant entered the room within only a few minutes. It actually pleased Nash to know Candler wasn’t going to play games with them, like Spencer had tried to do, by making them wait.
“You may have an audience alone, Mr. Nash, and your companions may make themselves comfortable until they’re needed,” the butler instructed carefully.
Liam nodded shortly in acknowledgment and he looked back at his team. He touched his watch and silently made a sign meaning “fifteen minutes.” They would make contact one way or another by then; comprehension was in their eyes.
Nash turned and followed the manservant out of the room and up a sweeping staircase that was the centerpiece of the entryway. From the tumbled travertine marble beneath the fine indigo carpet protecting it, to the highly polished brass banisters, it spoke of art and style as much as function.
He took note of everything he passed, counting rooms and hallways, marking exposures and exits.
It wasn’t much of an assessment because he was shortly led into a large room little different from the one he’d left Inez and Kellen in.
It was another parlor of sorts with plainly upholstered furnishings in a very spartan style.
There were minimal pieces, making the hung artwork the central focus.
Liam noted a second set of doors at the opposite side of the long room and at once realized this was where his future client would enter.
He wasn’t disappointed. When he heard the click of a turning latch a few minutes later, he faced the approach with nothing between himself and the door.
This left a long expanse of carpeting to act as a runway, and he would use the span to observe his prospective client.
The doors opened with a burst of energy, a no-nonsense movement and confidence, and in walked Devon Candler.
Time suddenly ground to a halt for Liam. Every single muscle in his heavily powered body contracted abruptly with shock.
Devon Candler was a woman.
She entered the room with a display of powerful presence, blatant femininity, and the most mouth-watering curves Liam had ever laid eyes on. And just like that, in the breadth of a nanosecond, Devon Candler robbed Liam Nash of his peace of mind.
If there was one thing Nash prided himself on, it was his unwavering professionalism.
Even when he was off duty he had to maintain a constant level of control.
These were dangerous times and there was no telling what troubles could crop up unexpectedly.
Considered a deadly weapon even if he were stripped naked, Liam had always taken his responsibility to exercise caution and discrimination very seriously.
His entire morning had been spent in high gear Field Leader mode.
That meant that nothing, absolutely nothing, could distract him from his obligations and purpose.
Devon Candler shouldn’t have made any impressions on him other than what was necessary for divining her intent in the coming transaction.
However, Liam’s reaction as she crossed the threshold to enter the room had nothing at all to do with professional focus.
She floated in on a confectionary cloud of white silk and deep, dark sable hair.
Her thick mane rippled down her back in long waves like ribbon candy, billowing around her elegant face and collarbone in a fall that exhibited its extraordinary body.
Liam felt his fingers twitching as a rapid-fire fantasy of plunging his fingers into that rich drape of dark chocolate hair spat though his mind like a burning acid.
She drew his attention with ever-increasing focus as she began to move toward him, crossing the long span from the doorway just as he’d planned. Or perhaps it was her plan, a part of his analytical and distrusting brain tried to whisper to him. And yet he ignored himself. Didn’t even hear himself.
She wore a white dress, if it could even be called a dress.
Its halter top caressed the back of her neck, falling over each breast with a neckline that plunged all the way to her navel, and then met up with an ankle-length skirt that fluttered like a banner against her hips and legs as she walked.
She might as well have not been wearing anything at all.
The material was so damn thin that he could see the dusky tips of outstanding breasts, the thrust of her nipples wickedly apparent even at such a distance.
The white lines of her panties promised she wore nothing more than a thong.
He could see every inch of her peach skin through the gauzy fabric, from her long graceful neck to her roundly curved hips and thighs.
Her waist tucked in right where a decorative but perhaps unreliable scarf tie kept the sheer silk dress in place on her body, and strong, beautiful bare feet made alternating appearances as she strode toward him.
She moved like a dancer, with precise and measured poise in every step.
Finding himself gawking at her body like a callow teenager, Liam quickly shifted his attention to her face.
It didn’t help much. He wasn’t even sure if he could call her pretty at first. Elegant and sly, her features reminded him of a feline …
or a vixen; a sweeping nose the center point, with the cheeks, chin, and brow all curved back and up toward her hairline in a way that was as graceful as it was unusual.
She had a mobile mouth shaped for ready smiles.
But it was her translucent jade eyes that gripped him above all.
The almond shape, the corners tilted up into the gliding lines of her bone structure, combined with dense, soot-black lashes to give her an exotic look.
They stood out sharply, vividly, and boasted a keen intellect behind them that was as much a turn-on as everything else about her.
Yes. It was a beautiful face, Liam realized quickly.
As she approached, he was swift to realize that her physical beauty only scratched the surface.
She displayed a highly sensual nature, this fact broadcast in the absent way her hands caressed her own body.
A simple drift over waist and hips, a glide against her throat.
Each and every self-stimulating stroke, no matter how unintentional, sent heated signals to Liam’s senses, making tight muscles clench even tighter and aware nerves twang tautly to attention with unholy expectation.
Liam struggled to regain control over the volatile responses.of a body turned unreasonable traitor in a span of thirty seconds.
He had no business responding so carnally in such an unpredictable situation.
If he started thinking with the wrong head he could get his entire team in trouble.
A beauty she might be, but could she be any more obvious?
Her mannerisms and her clothing were a blatant invitation and there was no way in hell he was going to fall for it.
If he wanted to get off on that type of thing, there were a hell of a lot of strip joints around town selling the same damn thing for a lot less cost in complication.
Firmly refocusing, Liam reminded himself that he still didn’t know her intentions, if they were honest, or if there was something hidden behind all of this that he ought to know about before he considered endangering the lives of his teams. The thought drew him harshly back into reality just as she came within his reach.
She stopped, tilting her head back to meet his hard eyes.
She was a good seven or eight inches shorter than he was, though still tall for a woman.
An anticipated flirty smile flashed at him as she extended a long, refined hand.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Nash. I’m Devon Candler, and I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance.”