Page 13 of ELITE Justice
“I’m a lot of things, but sweet isn’t one of them.” He cupped her face and gave her an opening. “You can tell me anything. I’ll do whatever I can to fix it.” Maybe she was caught up in something huge and couldn’t figure out how to get away.
She seemed to contemplate that for a long minute. “Thank you, Jonathan,” then rolled her face to kiss his palm. Heat pumped through his body with the next heartbeat, shoving blood into his already semi-erection.
The vehicle made a sharp turn and Gwen fell into his arms as they pulled in front of the popular five-star restaurant.
She gently sat upright in the supple leather seat. “I’ll keep your offer in mind.”
Jonathan didn’t push for information during the wonderful meal. He kept the conversation light with stories of outlandish requests from people in Miami he’d been a bodyguard for and what he classified as dumb crooks. The meal seemed over too quickly.
He gave Gwen a hand up into the limo and was confronted with her heart-shaped ass once again as she ducked down for the door. It was perfect. He thought about taking her from behind and wondered if she liked it that way. He certainly did.
When he settled in beside her and shut the door, he took her hand.
“I had a wonderful time tonight.” Gwen’s smile was genuine.
“The night isn’t over…unless you want it to be.” Jonathan saw the hesitation in her gaze, then added, “I have something I want to show you.” He hoped his smile was enough encouragement.
“Show me?” she repeated.
“Yeah. I saw it while on a call last week. You’re going to be amazed.” Then he asked, “Trust me?” The question was meant on so many levels.
She nodded. “Where are we going?”
He looked out the windows to get his bearings. He was still learning the city. “It’s only a few more blocks.”
The driver pulled in front of one of the biggest banks in Texas. The high rise was its impressive corporate office. “Come on.” Jonathan took her hand and opened the door.
“I’ll just wait for you here if you need to use an ATM.” Gwen tried to pull her hand away.
He chuckled. “No, sweetheart, this is where it is…what I promised to show you.”
She peered out the door and looked across the wide, paved entrance at a twisted metal sculpture that shot water from all directions. She smiled and stepped down. As they walked toward the front doors, she slowed at the fountain. “I’ve never been one for modern art, but this is really cool.”
“Yes, it is.” He placed his hand at the small of her back to guide her on. They needed to move inside. The guard was waiting for them at the door. “Come on.”
She looked up at him in surprise.
“The fountain is interesting, but what I have to show you is fabulous.” He turned her toward the front doors.
“But they’re closed,” she insisted.
“Not to worry,” he said as they approached the door.
“Good evening, Mr. O’Neil,” the lobby guard greeted, although Jonathan was sure he’d never met the man. “Mr. Robertson has left you a gift.” He circled the security desk and set a silver bucket with a bottle of chilling champagne, two crystal flutes, and a tray of strawberries, chocolate dip, and cheese on the high countertop.
Jonathan was stunned. He’d enjoyed Mr. Robertson’s company last week—after spending hours with the gentleman as his building was cleared and it was determined there was no break-in—but he never expected anything like this when he’d called earlier today to ask permission.
One glance at Gwen confirmed he’d better explain. Not here, though. “If you’ll grab the tray, I’ll get everything else.”
Fighting a grin, the guard led them to the express elevators and unlocked the doors. He stepped in, inserted a key into the panel, and hit the top button. “Just drop the key off on your way out.” Then he stepped out, leaving Jonathan and Gwen alone in the dark-wood, executive elevator. The doors closed and they instantly started to ascend.
“I met Mr. Robertson last week when we received an internal alarm at our Operations Center. For such a high-profile client, I was required to check it out personally.” She didn’t need to know they’d brought in the Guardian version of a SWAT team and cleared each and every floor.
“Does that happen often?”
“That I have to go out on a call? No.” The elevator slowed, and the doors opened. He led the way down the hall and around to the end where he unlocked a door. He went up the stairs first so he could unlock the door at the top.
Jonathan stepped out onto the roof of the bank building and couldn’t stop himself as he breathed in the city from hundreds of feet in the air. He missed the moist breeze from the ocean that cooled Miami every night. Dallas was his new home, and he’d find nuances to cherish about it as well.
