Under Pressure (Body Armor #1)(6)
She leaned closer to him to peer over the front seat and out the windshield. Several cars were ahead of them, and the line moved slowly. “Could we walk in? I need to use the restroom.”
“We’ll be at the hotel in just a few minutes.”
Blue eyes stared into his. “I need to go now.”
Leese wasn’t sure how he knew—she didn’t blink, didn’t lose eye contact—but he had no doubt at all that she planned to run the second she got out of his sight. “All right. I’ll wait by the door and Justice can wait right outside.”
She scowled.
He grinned.
Giving up, she sighed. “I don’t even know your name.”
“Leese Phelps. The big guy up front—”
“You’re both big.” She peered toward Justice. “But yeah, you’re gargantuan. Justice, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
A dimple appeared in her cheek. “I like your style, Justice.” Sitting back again, she turned to Leese. “Credentials?”
A little late, but at least she finally wanted to see them. Leese removed his folded leather holder and flipped it open to show his ID.
She studied it longer than necessary, looking from the photo to him to the photo again. “Okay, so you’re really a bodyguard.”
“You had doubts?”
“Sure.”
By the second she became more of an enigma. “And still you went to sleep?”
“I was seriously depleted and needed the rest. Besides, what was I supposed to do? Try to fight my way free?”
Justice snorted.
“Exactly.” As they pulled up in the line to buy food, her stomach rumbled. “Besides, even if I was a hulk like you two, I’m beat and I’m hungry. Fighting about the inevitable didn’t seem worth it.”
“Inevitable?” Leese asked.
“You were taking me, regardless of what I had to say about it. Right?”
What did she think? That he was holding her hostage? He was about to explain when it became their turn at the order window. Justice took and shared her food preferences, then ordered for himself and Leese too. Once they had two big bags of food, they drove away again.
Catalina sniffed the air. “Wow, that smells good.”
“We’re a block away from the hotel. Before we get there, you should understand something.”
She awkwardly pulled on her coat, working around the fastened seat belt, bumping Leese a few times. “What’s that?”
“I’m not holding you against your will.”
One of her brows lifted.
“I’m here to keep you safe.”
“So you’ve said. But if I chose to leave?”
He gave her the truth. “I’d follow.”
CHAPTER TWO
“I HAVE HER HAT.”
“What the fuck am I supposed to do with a hat? I need her, Tesh, not her wardrobe.”
Refusing to be riled, Tesh fingered the hat, then stuffed it back into his pocket. “I meant it as a confirmation for you that I have her in my sights. She left the hat behind at the bus station after some idiots tried to accost her. The bodyguard stepped in.”
“So he found her.”
Making a sound of affirmation, Tesh said, “And I followed him.” He could have found her on his own. Contrary to what little Cat Nicholson thought, she wasn’t all that clever. But she’d have recognized him right off and booked again.
Having a different face, a less menacing face, track her down worked to his advantage. “I’ve been following her since, not too close because I don’t want to spook her.”
“Fine, what’s the plan?”
“I’ll grab her in the morning.” Despite the wishes of anyone else, he didn’t want her killed. Not his sweet, wild kitten. Given half a chance, he’d tuck her away and keep her safe.
All his, and his alone.
It’d be worth giving up everything. She was worth it, and when he finished taming her, she’d be not only agreeable, but grateful.
“Keep me posted.”
Tesh nodded. “Will do.” He disconnected the call, and thought about how to proceed. He had his orders. And he had his preferences. If things went right, he could have it all.
*
CATALINA WASN’T SURE what to think. Leese Phelps, her new “bodyguard,” looked sincere enough. But she knew how it worked.
For much of her life, and especially the last few months before she’d been forced to run six weeks ago, too many things had been done “for her own good.” These days, she had a hard time knowing who to trust, but it was rarely those people claiming to have her best interests at heart.
Leese, with the gorgeous blue eyes and tall, solid physique, looked the part of a hero. But looks could be deceiving. He also said the right things, painting himself as a good guy. But good, too, could be subjective.
He’d made mincemeat of Wayne’s bullyboy, taking him out in such an effortless way. Then with a look alone, he intimidated Wayne.
He had a gun and he spoke to his massive chauffeur friend as if the guy wasn’t an enormous pile of muscle and badass ’tude.
She sighed. What to do?
Gaze teasing, Leese lifted one bag of food as enticement. “Why don’t you come up to the room and at least eat before making any decisions? I have a feeling we need to talk out a few things.”