Ramsey Security (Ramsey Security #1-3)(77)

"It's my job to think about you."

Brad's gaze lingers on my face. I'm dissected, studied, and what? Does he embrace what he finds in me or am I unworthy of this pretty boy's interest?

"This might surprise you, but I don't have much experience with women."

Sizing up his large build again, I doubt his statement. He doesn't lack for women. I refuse to believe such bullshit. Yet with him focused solely on me, I'm lost in his blue eyes.

No, I refuse to bow to him. A woman is only as powerful as her ability to say no. I am powerful, and I tell myself repeatedly "no" whenever I swoon for this handsome man.

"You've spent the last ten years hiding in your house with your mom, so I'm not actually surprised by your lack of a social life."

My words strike Brad at his male core. I might as well mock his manhood by claiming he possesses a small dick. The temporary hit to his ego passes. He scratches his chin and wags his finger at me.

"I'm onto you."

Even struggling for a blasé comeback, I remain speechless while he walks past me and leaves the room. A few minutes pass as I stand dumbfounded by his behavior. Finally following him, I continue pretending I'm unaffected. Brad stands now in the kitchen, smiling slyly at me.

"If you're fine in here, I'll check the perimeter."

"Is that code for taking a walk?" he asks, still grinning. "I wouldn't mind a stroll."

My mind searches for a reason for why he can't join me, but I find none. Brad likely wouldn't care if I have the best reason in the world. He seems rather intent on tempting me today.

Once Brad follows me out of the side door, his dogs race to him. I dodge their interest, but he smiles big for them.

"You like dogs?" he asks, petting the bouncing animals.

I keep walking, leaving him with the animals. "No."

"Why?"

"They lick."

Brad says nothing, and I finally glance back at where he's giving me a sly grin.

"I'll make a mental note about your licking aversion."

Staring at him, I pretend I don't understand. He stares right back at me, daring me to keep lying.

"You're behaving oddly. Should I call your mother?" I ask.

Brad throws his head back and laughs while walking past me. "Yes, I'm sure we'll enjoy that conversation."

I hurry to catch up with his long strides. He strolls down a pebbled path leading to a garden. All the added pollen sends a sneeze rising fast inside me. The sound of my squeaky sneeze stops Brad. He glances over his wide shoulder and smiles at me.

"Allergies? We have plenty of pills inside the house."

"No, I'm fine."

"You hide it well."

"I won't take the bait."

Brad grins. "Not yet, but you will. It's killing you to play coy."

"No, it's..." I stop myself from saying anything else.

Brad now follows me while I walk along the fence, searching for weak spots. I reach the spot where I lost the lurker from last night. I climb the fence enough to see over the side for anything the target might have dropped when he ran. What I find is a makeshift ritual site with a slaughtered rabbit surrounded by candles.

I wish I'd taken the shot.

"Problem?" Brad asks, doing his best to sound uninterested, yet I recognize the fear in his voice.

"Nothing important. I still want to set up surveillance in this area," I say, jumping down. "This is an area of the property where someone could slip in without anyone noticing from the road. I'll call the office and have them fix this blind spot."

Brad stares at me, showing me none of the feelings behind his cool blue eyes. "You found something, right?"

"I'll deal with it."

"How about we do this? You don't treat me like a child, and I won't treat you like an employee."

"I'm fine being viewed as an employee."

A flash of something in Brad's eyes startles me. Before I can speak, a smile spreads across his handsome face.

"No, you're really not." Brad begins walking again. "My first girlfriend was a redhead," he says after we've walked half of the property. "She ate glue and bit me when she was mad, but I loved her."

My laughter breaks free before I even register the feeling. I don't know why I find his comment hilarious, but I just do. Only when I gaze at his amused expression, do I understand why I laugh. This man crawls under my skin, infecting me. I'm forced to control my every breath to avoid giving away how much power he possesses over me. All that tension builds until I need this release.

"What was her name?"

"Melanie. She liked puppies and rainbows."

"You remember all that?" I ask, walking away as my flushed face cools.

"Yes. She was my first love. Mom insisted she wouldn't be my last, but I was convinced."

"How long were you together before she dumped you?"

Brad scoffs. "For your information, I dumped her. The biting thing was painful, but that's not why I had to say goodbye to my love. See, while I had no interest in kissing her in kindergarten, I knew one day we'd grow up and kiss like adults did. The glue thing was a real deal breaker for me."