Love Thy Enemy (Red Stone Security #13)(27)
Lizzy’s expression went pure wicked as she headed for the adjoining door. “If getting your phone takes your whole lunch break, just extend your lunch so you get to eat. I’ll tell Porter you’ll be longer than usual.” Without waiting for a response she opened the door and ducked inside. The lock snicked into place behind Lizzy.
At that, Dominique grabbed her purse and practically raced out of there. It was pretty rare that Lizzy came down to their floor during work hours and Dominique didn’t want to stick around for whatever was about to happen.
The elevator made four stops before finally reaching the lobby. It was weird not having her phone. She felt almost naked without it. Even though she’d had her phone locked she’d still changed all her passwords this morning too. Something she should have thought about last night, but she’d been consumed with thoughts of Viktor.
She blinked when she saw him standing in the lobby near one of the huge pillars, talking to Harrison Caldwell, of all people. He was one of the owners. His father had founded Red Stone, but since semi-retiring recently he’d left his three sons in charge of everything. It didn’t matter that Porter was Harrison’s brother—Dominique still felt nervous around him. The man had an edge to him. Not that Viktor was any less scary, but…she wasn’t afraid of Viktor.
As if he sensed her, Viktor turned and pinned her with those icy blue eyes. Though his look was anything but cold. A blast of heat radiated off him, the hunger in his eyes clear as his gaze swept her over from head to toe.
Her surroundings melted away as she headed toward him. She’d called him early this morning and rescheduled their lunch so maybe he was here to see Harrison. Whatever the reason, she didn’t care. She was glad she’d run into him, regardless. Her heart rate was out of control as she drank in the sight of him. He had on dark pants, a button-down shirt, a custom-cut jacket and no tie. She loved the look on him.
“Hey,” she murmured as she reached him.
His mouth curved up ever so slightly and she wondered if that was his version of a smile. Whatever it was, she liked it. A lot. Seriously, how had this happened? How had she started to fall for Viktor Ivanov so dang fast?
“You look beautiful,” he said quietly.
The simple words took her off guard and pleased her at the same time. She started to respond when Harrison Caldwell—whose presence she’d completely forgotten about—cleared his throat.
“I’ve gotta go,” he said, nodding once at her before focusing on Viktor. “We’ll talk later.”
Viktor simply nodded before turning back to her. “I thought I’d walk with you to the phone store. Then lunch if you have time.”
She was irrationally pleased he’d decided to meet her here. “I think I’ll have time. I just saw on Twitter that one of my favorite food trucks is supposed to be a couple blocks from here for the next few hours.”
“Food trucks have Twitter accounts?” He sounded dubious.
Laughing, she linked her arm through his. “Everyone does. Even you.”
“No, some of my companies do… Lucy hired a team of people to head up our social media accounts. I’ve never looked at them.”
“Yeah, I can’t see you actually tweeting. Or using Snapchat.” She laughed when he just gave her a blank look. “You sure you don’t mind coming with me? I might not even be able to sneak in a lunch break if they’re too busy.”
“You will be able to.” He sounded ridiculously confident about that as they reached one of the big glass doors.
A rush of Florida heat rolled over them as they stepped outside. She savored the warmth after being cooped up inside all morning in the air-conditioned space, and slid off her light cardigan sweater. “Why does that sound as if you know that for a fact?”
“I know the owner of this particular store. I made a call.”
“Viktor…” She trailed off when he looked down at her, pinning her with such a heated look she felt it all the way to her core. A Florida summer had nothing on him. “What?”
“I like it when you say my name.” The words were a sexy growl.
She felt her cheeks flush and couldn’t blame it on the weather. Viktor had gotten under her skin, and she had no idea if she was ready for a man like this because she was pretty sure he was way out of her league. Deep down she wondered if he was going to freak out when she told him about her lack of experience. Part of her didn’t want to tell him, but she was beginning to really trust Viktor—which scared her too.
*
“So, it’s good information right?” his contact asked.
He tried to keep his tone disinterested, but this was gold and the man had to know it. “Very good.” Last night he’d received pictures of the blonde woman and Viktor out at a restaurant and it had looked like a date. “How’d you get the pictures without him seeing you?”
There was a short pause, then, “Because I’m very good at being invisible.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. It was easy to follow him. I placed a tracker on his SUV last night so I didn’t need him in my line of sight. I just followed the tracker.”
“Have you removed the tracker?” He didn’t want Viktor to know anyone was targeting him. Not yet. Not until it was too late for the f*cker to do anything about it.