The Norcross Rescue (Norcross Security)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Tugging at his bow tie, Vander Norcross wondered again why the hell he’d agreed to this.

Stopping at his kitchen counter, he checked his phone, hoping one of his security clients might have had a break-in or a cyberattack he needed to deal with.

Unfortunately, nothing.

Which meant he had to attend this fucking office party.

Haldon Capital was getting in a few months early and throwing their annual end-of-year bash for their employees and clients in their new high-rise office in downtown San Francisco.

Haldon was one of the fastest-growing investment companies in the city, and had plenty of very wealthy clients, including many of Silicon Valley’s most prominent tech founders.

They were interested in having Norcross Security take over all their security, so he’d gotten the invite to their party.

He’d planned to ignore it—since crowded parties full of people, and wearing monkey suits, were not his thing—but his wife had seen it. And when his wife got an idea in her head, she was like a damn bulldog.

Speaking of dogs. Their dog, Shadow, wandered over and butted his head against Vander’s leg. He scratched between the Belgian Malinois’ ears, and Shadow looked up with adoration.

The corner of Vander’s mouth hitched. A while back, he’d rescued his wife from some scum at an illegal dog-fighting ring she’d been investigating, and Shadow had given them a hand. Somehow, after the dust had settled, Vander had ended up with a dog.

Actually, he’d ended up with a lot of things that hadn’t been in his plans.

He glanced around their open-plan apartment above the Norcross offices. His gaze snagged on the boxes stacked against the wall, and the half-built baby swing his dad was working on piecemeal every time he visited.

The boxes were full of baby things—tiny clothes, a high-tech stroller, diapers.

He swallowed. Very soon, he was going to be a father.

Even though he’d spent several years leading a covert black-ops team on the toughest missions, into some of the shittiest places in the world, and now ran one of the most successful security companies on the West Coast, discovering Brynn was pregnant had knocked him off balance.

Fine, it had scared the shit out of him.

He’d adjusted to falling in love.

He’d dealt with being in love with a cop.

But bringing a tiny, innocent child into a world where he’d seen way too much of the worst people did to each other, had thrown him for a loop.

However, on an Italian vacation, he’d been abducted by the Mafia, and his pregnant wife had stormed in to rescue him. It had helped him realize they could do this. Together. They were a team, and with Brynn at his side, he could do this.

He slid a hand into the pocket of his tuxedo pants. Except, these last few weeks she’d seemed a little off balance. Her body had changed, she’d had to cut back at work, and her hormones were all over the place. She was doing all the hard work, and he felt goddamn useless.

They’d been looking at houses, because neither one of them wanted to raise their kids in a warehouse apartment above the busy offices of Norcross Security.

Besides, they didn’t have the room here for a growing child.

So they’d been talking to a Realtor. There was one house they’d both liked, but Brynn was worried it was too big and expensive, and wanted to keep looking.

She just seemed edgy, worried, and restless.

He heard the click of heels, and his wife appeared.

Damn. It didn’t matter how long he’d had her, how long they’d been married, or how many times he’d moved inside her, every time she walked into a room, his chest still hitched.

Mine. He still couldn’t believe that she was his.

She was fastening her earring as she came his way.

Part of her hair was pulled up and fixed behind her head, while the rest fell in soft waves around her shoulders. He loved trying to pick out all the colors in her hair—caramel, mahogany, bronze, honey, oak. Brown just didn’t describe it.

He let his gaze drift down her body. She was wearing a deep-red dress that only had one shoulder, showing off her toned arms, and the silky fabric hugged her body.

That included the large bump of her belly.

From the back, it was nearly impossible to tell she was pregnant.

Every day, he was in absolute awe at how her body had changed and what it was doing.

Growing a small person, making life, a life they’d made together.

“You look beautiful.”

She let out a sound and made a face. “I look fat.”

He frowned. “You’re pregnant, not fat.”

“I feel enormous, my center of gravity is off, and everything aches.”

His frown deepened. “We should cancel.”

She straightened. “Why?”

“Because you’re very pregnant, your center of gravity is off, and you ache.” She was due in three weeks and four days. He eyed her shoes. “You shouldn’t be wearing heels.”

She lifted a leg, and he shot out a hand to keep her steady.

“They’re one inch high, Vander. I’m fine.”

“I know.” He pulled her into his arms and nibbled her lips. “But wouldn’t you prefer to be cuddled up on the couch, watching Die Hard?” It was one of their favorite movies.

She looked conflicted for a minute, then reached up to straighten his bow tie.

“We can do that tomorrow. Haldon Capital is one of the biggest financial firms in the city, so I know they’ll throw a hell of a party.

” She pressed her palms to his chest. “Plus, I get to enjoy looking at my hot, handsome husband in a tuxedo, even if I’m not my usual svelte self. ”

He cupped her cheek. She wasn’t really worried about her looks, was she? She was gorgeous. Pregnancy hadn’t slowed down their sex life, either. In recent months, they’d had to get pretty creative, thanks to her growing belly. He didn’t mind. He was good at thinking outside the box.

“Brynn—”

“In a few weeks’ time, life is going to change.” She let out a gusty sigh. “We aren’t going to have the time or energy for attending any parties.”

Vander personally thought that was a positive.

She fiddled with a button on his white shirt. “So, I think we should go out, drink someone else’s nice champagne, and eat their fancy appetizers.”

“You aren’t drinking champagne, and I sure as hell am not.”

“Fine, you have a bourbon, and I’ll drink something non-alcoholic and wish it was champagne. I’m only going for the food, really.”

He scowled. “I’ll have to schmooze.”

She patted his cheek. “My poor baby. Just think of the millions of dollars in business it will bring in. Then we’ll come home.” She went up on her toes and nipped his ear. “And then we’ll have our own private, little party.”

Now, that was the best idea he’d heard all day.

“Okay, Mrs. Norcross.” He kissed her until her cheeks flushed. “You have a deal.”

The elevator whisked them upward.

Brynn resisted the urge to shift, because even her low heels were already making her feet ache, and her far-too-observant husband would notice. She smoothed a hand over her bump, and felt the baby kick.

She smiled. She couldn’t wait to meet their baby. They’d decided not to find out if they were having a boy or a girl. She could see Vander with both—holding the hand of a toddling, sturdy, little boy, or holding a little Daddy’s-girl princess against his chest. Brynn didn’t care which.

She stroked the fabric of her dress. The dress was nice, even if it was enormous. She swallowed a sigh. She’d thought dressing up and coming to this party would be fun, that she’d feel sexy.

Well, she didn’t.

She was used to being fit and agile. She needed to be for her job as a homicide detective. Now, she felt bulky and clumsy, plus her ankles were puffy. Not to mention her back ached, and she wasn’t sleeping well.

Her gaze moved to her husband, lingering on his face.

God, he looked good in a tuxedo. Hot and dangerous.

The Italian good looks from his mom, and the tall, fit body from his dad, plus that lethal intensity that was pure Vander, were a hell of a combination.

Every day, a part of her still couldn’t believe that this amazing, protective man was hers.

A pang of something hit her. As always, his rugged handsomeness hit her hard, but they were about to go into a party, no doubt filled with well-dressed, beautiful women who didn’t feel like battleships.

Of course, she knew he’d never look at another woman, but right now, her brain wasn’t interested in calm rationality.

“Brynn?”

He was picking up on her discomfort. She slipped her arm through his. “So, tell me about Haldon?”

“Global investment firm. They have a lot of ultra-high-net-worth clients, and manage over a hundred billion in assets.”

She whistled.

“They manage venture capital, private equity, real estate, and philanthropy for their clients, and with the advances in AI, security—both cyber and physical—is becoming a bigger issue. They need to ensure the security of their financial transactions and keep their clients’ data safe.”

Hmm, it wouldn’t be a good look to have thieves hack the system and steal their clients’ data and money. She knew Vander and his top tech guru, Ace, had been pouring a lot of money into beefing up the cyber side of Norcross Security.

“Haldon just moved into this building,” he added. “They needed more space to expand their headquarters. They have several floors, and are still renovating some of them.”

“Sounds fancy.”

The elevator slowed.

He turned his head and arched a brow. “We can still go home.”

She leaned into him, feeling his strength and warmth. “We’re here now. A few drinks and nibbles, we’ll meet the boss, then head home.”

He raised a dark brow. “Those heels are hurting already, aren’t they?”

“No comment.” The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Brynn hitched her glittery, black handbag on her shoulder.

The party was already in full swing.