Page 5 of Risk Assessment
He reached out and steadied her with one hand. “You all right?”
“Um, yeah. Sorry.” She straightened up again. “I’m just really glad you’re going to come with me.”
“No problem. I promised Lauren I’d help.”
“I really appreciate it. When Lauren said she had a cousin who was a cop, I couldn’t believe it. I’m so grateful to both of you for your help.”
He still had his hand on her arm. The contact made her insides turn to jelly.
Her plan was to have Dylan take on the role of her boyfriend for the weekend. Then they could share a room with no one asking questions. She swallowed. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time. Now, as she looked up at Dylan, she wasn’t so sure.
“Uh, why don’t we go back into the living room, and I’ll tell you what you need to know.” Just having to pretend he was her boyfriend might prove to be well beyond her acting skills. Dylan Black was something to behold.
CHAPTER TWO
Dylan pulled out to pass a slow-moving truck. The traffic on the route eighty-seven was lighter than expected for a Friday night and they were making good time. They’d be at the resort shortly.
Dylan glanced over at Raleigh sitting in his passenger seat. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. Those green eyes that had been filled with terror and anger when he’d met her at her house were filled with something different today. Anxiety? Probably. Her shoulders were tense, and she hadn’t stopped tapping her finger on her thigh since he’d picked her up.
What in the hell had he gotten himself into this time? He’d pulled the local precinct file after he left her place a couple of days ago. The cops who answered her nine-one-one call the first time had believed her, but after calls two and then three more with no proof, they’d decided she might have some mental issues.
The stuff they saw daily made that a logical conclusion.
He sighed. He knew about mental illness; he’d see it up close and personal. He glanced at Raleigh again. The jury was stillout. This weekend would make it clear one way or the other. She believed what she was telling him about her stalker. It was obvious she was terrified. She’d fought like hell when she’d thoughthewas the stalker.
He cursed silently as the scene played out in his head.
Once again, instinct took over instead of following the rules. He should’ve waited at the door until she acknowledged him or even called for backup if he thought she was in trouble, but he’d charged ahead without thinking it through. A mistake like that had almost cost him is career and still might.
“Uh, I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.” Dylan swallowed and tried to focus on what Raleigh was saying.
“I was thanking you. I really do appreciate your help. This stalker situation…well, I’m at my wit’s end. I wouldn’t have felt safe coming out here alone, and I have to be here. The mother of the bride is one of the PR firm’s biggest clients. She wants her daughter’s wedding to be covered in all of the best social media and news outlets. I have to make sure it’s being presented properly.
“It’s a big deal. Lots of advertising money involved. If I don’t show, my boss will kill me.” Raleigh leaned back into the leather seat of his pickup truck.
She was a cute little thing. When he’d had her pinned to the bed, he couldn’t help but feel her generous curves. She’d fit perfectly against him, so it wasn’t going to be a hardship to pretend to be her boyfriend. And she obviously needed help, though it remained to be seen whether it was the kind of help he could give her.
“So, how’d you and Lauren meet?” Dylan asked trying to get a conversation going. Maybe it would relax her.
“We go to the same gym. She was at the juice bar raving about the yoga classes, so I decided to give them a try. She can be very convincing. And she was right. They’re great.”
“Lauren’s great at talking people into things.”Especially if you’re her cousin, then she doesn’t take no for an answer.That wasn’t true. He did owe her for letting him crash at her place when he first arrived in town. He’d just never expected to have to pay her back like this.
“She is,” Raleigh agreed. “She mentioned you were taking on a new role at work.”
He snorted. “Is that what she called it?”
“Um, what exactly does that mean?”
“I am currently on desk duty and reassigned from my position in the Emergency Services Unit of the NYPD.” He grunted.
Raleigh cleared her throat. “Ah, I see. No Lauren didn’t mention that.”
Shit. Now she was going to think he wasn’t capable. He frowned. “Don’t worry. I’m can still protect you. I was reassigned because…” What was the best way to explain it? Just don’t bother with details seemed like the best bet. “I disobeyed an order.”
“I see. Well, I’m glad you are able to come with me this weekend, regardless of the reason.” She gave him a tight smile but went back to tapping her leg. “Do you mind if we review the schedule for the weekend? Once we get to the resort, I have to connect with Phillip the photographer for the project and go over a few things.”
“Go for it.” They’d already gone over it in mind numbing detail over the phone but if she wanted to do it again, it was fine by him.
