Page 24 of Out of the Shadows

“But nothing, Frazier,” she said, opening an encrypted search engine. “Meeting clients isn’t my thing. Take someone else.”

“There is no one else.”

The desperation in his voice had her turning to him. “Sure there is. Xander, Wilson, Tash, any of the Tactical guys. Hell, bring Mel.”

He gave her a get-real look. “Be serious. Besides, Tash is on assignment, and even if she weren’t, she sticks out like a sore thumb. And Mel...” He shook his head. “That would just be weird.”

This time, her eyes rolled. “We’ve known each other a long time, right, boss?” She didn’t give him a chance toanswer. “In all that time, have I ever volunteered to go to any social function that included clients?” She waited a split second before she rushed on. “The answer is no. I don’t people well. You know this about me.”

The look on his face spoke volumes. He thought she was being dramatic. “You people just fine, Bean.”

She shook her head.

“Please, B?” he asked, meeting her gaze. “I’d like you there because this client doesn’t know you, doesn’t know you’re a part of Hudson Security.” He held up a hand to stall the question on the tip of her tongue. “We can come up with a cover for you, but I’d really value your opinion on this potential client.”

She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “Who’s the potential client?”

He shrugged. “Not sure. All I know is it’s a colleague and possible business partner of McClintock’s. He was vague on their exact connection and didn’t give me their name, said they want anonymity until we meet.”

She arched her eyebrow. Seriously? “That sounds a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”

He nodded, and she pursed her lips in thought, recalling the info she’d pulled up earlier on Edward McClintock. “He has a few start-ups going and a couple in the pipeline. There’s a handful of different business partners I know he’s working with. I can run them all for you if that would be helpful.”

“It would. Thank you.” He settled at the edge of her desk. “But I’d really appreciate you coming with me so you can see this person face-to-face. You have a good bullshit detector, and I’d really like your help. Please.”

She stared at him for a moment. Gavin Frazier rarely asked for help. The man just belted out orders and delegated.Everything else, he took care of himself. This asking-for-help business...

Bean let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. You owe me, though. Big-time.”

The corners of his lips twitched as he rose. “Thank you.”

“Wait,” she called out as he made his way to her office door. “Esme said she’s sending me dresses and stuff. I assume this is a formal event?”

Gavin nodded. “I’ll be in a tux. I talked with her earlier this morning, and she was confident you’d agree to go.”

“Obviously.” She chuckled. “I talked to her this morning too, and she’d already sent the packages here.”

He shook his head, humor lighting his face. “Of course she did. Sick and all, she said she’s working on our itineraries and will send them to us by end of day.” He opened his mouth to say something else but immediately slammed it shut. The wrinkle between his brows popped.

Her eyes narrowed. He was usually calm, steady, and to the point, but he was being... weird now.

Clearing his throat, he ran his hand over his jaw. “Thanks, B.” Before she could acknowledge his comment, he was out the door, closing it softly behind him.

If she didn’t know better, she’d say the man had been uncomfortable, borderline awkward. But this wasGavin Fraziershe was talking about. The man was never uncomfortable. He was scary efficient, beyond intense, and a super alpha control freak.

Turning back to her monitors, she shook her head. It must have been her imagination.

CHAPTER TEN

Bean was trying to hold on to her irritation, but it was slipping away.

She usually spent her Saturdays working in the comfort of her own home in sweatpants or leggings with zero need to dress professionally. There were no colleagues dropping in with last-minute requests, and she was able to work at her own pace, at her own leisure.

But no.

Esme had booked her Saturday solid. Down to fifteen-minute increments. Being a control freak herself, it was annoying simply because it wasn’t a schedule of her own making. And she hated being on other people’s schedules. But Bean went with it because she was too afraid to get on Esme’s bad side, and it meant she didn’t have to deal with Gavin.

Yesterday had been a Friday from hell. Quite possibly the longest day of her life. The guy had taken grumpy to a whole new stratosphere, and he’d been blowing up her phone with message after message about the charity event tonight eversince four this morning. This wasexactlywhy she left this kind of stuff to Esme.

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