Page 38 of Some Like It Deadly
I can’t keep doing this.
She’d liked the man well enough when she’d gone to work for him, but with every minute she spent with him—every day—that like grew to respect and caring. He worked his ass off for his clients, he was a damn good friend to the grand duke and he didn’t take advantage of his position unless someone tried to cut it out from under him.
No, he was a good guy and he didn’t deserve the lies. Still in the towel, she walked into her borrowed room and picked up her cell phone. When Peterson had phoned and woken her up from the painkiller-induced nap earlier, she’d given him a status report. He’d called her on her level of involvement and warned her about the danger in taking the relationship too far.
She’d been unable to respond because Richard walked back out onto the deck. What the hell would she have said?No, I know fucking the grand duke’s best friend wasn’t in the plan,but my protectee started it, so suck it up?Perching on the edge of the bed, she stared at her phone.
They’d had a hell of a lot of fun. She adored it when he cut loose and relaxed. Remembering how she’d melted against him and the hard strength enveloping her as he seduced her senses—his ripping the bandage off hadn’t stung nearly as much as it might have. Riding an endorphin high, she hadn’t cared about the towel slipping, either.
Hell, half of her mind had already taken the next leap forward—dropping the towel and turning into him. She wanted to explore his body—find out what would make his pulse quicken, his body shake—and she wanted to have sex with him. Once would never be enough.
I’m falling for him.
At some point in the last few weeks—and she couldn’t pinpoint when it happened—he’d stopped being her protectee and had become so much more.
When the shots had been fired, all she could think about was keeping him alive because losing him would kill her.
Unlocking her phone, she dialed the tower and waited for Peterson to answer.
“Braddock?” Cool, professional and controlled, Peterson had always been a master of efficiency. He’d entrusted her with not one, but two, protectees and he’d invested in her based on the recommendation of an old friend. She’d always be grateful for that.
“You were right,” she said softly. “I have been compromised. Due to that, I am resigning my position for His Highness.”
“We can replace you,” Peterson said evenly. “Extract and send in another.”
“No extraction required.” She didn’t want to leave Richard. “But I can’t continue as his bodyguard.” Sucking in her first deepbreath in days, relief left her shaky and the noose around her neck loosened.
“Resigning your post does not relieve you of the agreements you signed.” He referred to the agreement stipulating the disclosure of any activities she’d performed in service to the Andraste family, specifically in their security detail.
“I understand, but as of…five minutes ago, I am done.”
“Kate.” Peterson shifted gears. “The threat is a real one and it’s still out there.”
“I know.” So very aware of it, in fact. “I’m not going tonotprotect him. I just won’t do it on the grand duke’s payroll anymore.”
“What if someone shoots at him again?” Worry coated the words and she heard his underlying concern.
“I don’t need a paycheck to want him alive, Peterson. Please express my regrets to His Highness. And a request?”
“Which is?”
“When we wrap this up, when we find the shooter, I need permission to tell Richard I worked for the grand duke.” He deserved to know the whole of it. She could tell him why she’d started working for him. He was a man who needed honesty and she wanted him to have it.
“I will pass on the request. Be careful. Kate—” He hesitated and she thought he was done when she heard the squeak of an office wheel and Peterson blew out a breath. “It’s harder to protect someone you love than you may realize. You can get wrapped up in them and miss something when it does go wrong.”
“I know.” She’d have a split-second to respond to the threat. “I won’t let him down. Thanks for understanding.”
“Be careful. As of this moment, you’re still the subject of a security detail. Let the others take point.”
Agreeing wasn’t as hard as she’d thought it might be. That detail’s job was to keep Richard alive. “I’m not the target. Remind them to protect Richard first.”
They spoke for another minute and when she hung up she let out a long, trembling breath. She couldn’t dive any further into this relationship as the servant of two masters—and only a fool would try to deny the very real chemistry consuming all the air between her and herformerprotectee.
Grinning, she bounced to her feet, not even the sting in her shoulder diminishing her good mood. She took her time in selecting a comfortable pair of denim shorts and a body-hugging tank top. To hell with the bra. Returning to the bathroom, she used a comb and blow dryer to tame the mass, which she left down. Richard liked it down. Eyeing herself in the mirror, she added a little lip gloss and grinned.
He wanted to play? He wouldn’t know what hit him.
Humming, she strolled out of the room barefoot and padded down the stairs, clearing the last step with a hop. Following the scent of cooking meat, she found Richard manning the grill. The table on the upper part of the pool deck had been set for two and music filtered through the speakers hidden in the eaves of the deck cover.
