Page 12 of Stolen Sun

She looks back at me to see I’m still watching her, but this time it’s through the veil of her hair. I let out a growl at the sight that now has me picturing her on her knees looking up at me through messy hair. I reach out to touch the curl just below her jaw. She sucks in a breath but doesn’t pull away. Instead she looks up at me surprised. I run my knuckles from her jaw down the side of her neck.

“So soft but so fierce,” I say, admiring how she handled herself moments ago.

“Declan,” she breathes out my name and closes her eyes.

She tilts her head just enough that I’m no longer touching her. I let my hand drop but stay in her space.

“May I show you to your seat?” I offer.

She swallows and says, “Please.”

She matches my stride as we walk over to our table. When I hold out her chair, she notices my name on the placeholder card next to hers. I give no explanation, and she chooses not to ask.

“Can I get you something else to drink?” I lean down to ask her, noticing she has already finished off the champagne.

“I’d like a martini, please,” she says looking up at me.

“Hey stranger, make that two,” a woman behind me says.

I turn to see a tall blonde in an ice blue silk dress. I’m about to tell her she has mistaken me for someone else, but Noel speaks up from beside me.

“Declan, you remember Kate Hartford?”

Once Noel says her name, I’m able to place her. She’s had some work done since the last time I saw her, but I remember her. She was buck wild in high school. I’m surprised to see that these two are friends. Opposites attract, I guess.

“Nice to see you, Kate,” I say.

“You too, and thanks for Noel’s plus one. I’ve actually been interested in attending this event. My brothers have been invited every year, but they always bring their wives.”

“Oh? Who are your brothers?” I ask. I don’t remember her having any brothers.

“Zach and Jeremiah Hartford. The Cozy Cup Coffee Franchise? That’s us,” she says proudly.

I nod. I don’t know them personally, but I don’t care to get into it.

“Have a seat, Kate. I’ll go get the drinks,” I excuse myself and walk toward the bar.

Zander, who is standing off to the side by a black door, nods to let me know he is ready for me. I text Claire about the martinis and slip into a dark hallway behind my best friend.

We walk in silence down the long hallway into a mostly empty storage room of sorts with only a few chairs pushed up against the walls. Two of my security guys stand on either side of the door with their legs open and arms crossed. The man sitting in the chair is unharmed but nervous, looking from one man to another.

“Mr. Sanchez, nice of you to join me,” I begin.

“Mr. Adams, I swear I didn’t know,” he says, quickly pleading his case.

“My policy is explicit. The driver checks all cargo before leaving with it. I supply your pistol and training to insure your protection in the event that a final check goes sideways. So, Mr. Sanchez, you are telling me you chose not todo your job as I am paying you to do it. Is that correct?” My voice is steady. I could be discussing the weather with a stranger.

“I did check, sir!”

Zander punches him, and his head flops over to the side, spit flying.

“Fuck!” He yells.

“Funny thing, Mr. Sanchez. I received a tip to check the cargo of your truck. They said your cousin was the one who loaded the extra boxes.”

“It must’ve happened after I checked everything! I swear I didn’t know!” He’s up from his chair to avoid Zander this time.

Both security guys grab him and hold him still.

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