Claiming Sarah (Ace Security #5)(21)

“Normally it wouldn’t be a problem,” she told him honestly. “I’m used to walking really fast in the hospital, but it’s these stupid heels. I’m not used to them.” Mentally smacking herself in the head for sounding completely stupid, Sarah gave Cole a weak smile.

“Right. I guess this is something I’ll also have to be on the lookout for.”

She frowned up at him. “What?”

“You trying to make me not feel bad for shit I do that is totally my fault. It’s okay, I’m a fast learner.”

“Cole, no, that’s not—”

“Come on, angel. The guys are waiting.”

Still confused about what Cole had said, she was silent as they continued walking toward the Ace Security office . . . but this time, Cole matched her steps, and she didn’t feel as if she were being dragged alongside him. His arm stayed around her waist, and Sarah could feel his fingers resting at her hip as if they were branded there. She seemed to fit against him perfectly, and every time their legs brushed against each other as they walked, she wanted to squeal in excitement.

She hadn’t had a crush on someone in a very long time, but she definitely had a big-time crush on Cole.

He held open the door to Ace Security for her, and the second she cleared it, she felt his fingers on the small of her back as he followed her in.

She couldn’t help but picture his large hand touching her the same way as she lay naked on her bed. He’d lean over her, brushing a kiss on the back of her neck, his calloused fingers tickling her as he put his hand on that sensitive part of her back right before he covered her body with his own—

“. . . to do this?”

She raised guilty eyes to Cole’s. “What?”

He chuckled as if he knew exactly what she’d been thinking. “I said, are you ready to do this?”

Blushing, Sarah nodded. God, she had to get herself together.

The smile still on his face, Cole flattened his hand on her back and put gentle pressure there, urging her forward. They walked past the desk in the front room of the space and went through a door behind it. Instead of a hallway, the door led into a large, open room. There were several desks littered around the area, each with a man sitting behind it. All four men stood, staring at her and Cole.

Sarah took an involuntary step backward and bumped into Cole.

“Easy, angel,” he murmured, before shifting his stance and taking her hand in his. He towed her toward the nearest man. “Sarah, this is Ryder. Ryder, Sarah.”

Sarah untangled her fingers from Cole’s and stretched out her hand. “It’s good to meet you,” she said politely.

“You too,” Ryder said in a deep, gruff voice.

He was tall, but not overly so. He had light-brown hair and hazel eyes that looked at her with such focus, she immediately wanted to blurt out everything she’d ever done wrong.

As if he could read her mind, Ryder said, “Relax, Sarah. We don’t bite.”

“Unless you want us to!” one of the other men said from their right.

Sarah turned to see who she knew was Blake, standing there smiling. Now that she wasn’t as freaked out, she was remembering who was who from her internet stalking of the brothers earlier.

“Shut it,” Cole grumbled from next to her.

Sarah smiled and reached out to shake the man’s hand. “I’m Sarah,” she said politely.

“I know. I’m Blake.”

“I know,” she returned with a smile.

Blake grinned and nodded.

“Nathan,” the tallest of the brothers said. He didn’t reach for her hand, just nodded instead.

“Hi,” Sarah said.

“And this is Logan,” Cole said, touching her back once more.

This time, Sarah barely felt his fingers on her—she was too nervous to meet the man she’d first contacted about Owen.

He held out his hand.

Sarah shook it and took a deep breath to try to relax. Logan was big, somewhat intimidating, and from everything she’d read about him, good at his job.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how serious your case was when you contacted me. I also apologize for getting the facts wrong. I thought the man in question was your ex. That was my mistake.”

Sarah nodded. “It’s okay. I mean, there are days when I’m not sure my case is all that serious.”

Logan shook his head. “Don’t do that. Don’t downplay it. I’ve seen way too many people, men and women alike, who’ve thought the same thing as you, that the other person wasn’t a threat, that they’d never hurt them, only to end up seriously wounded or dead. Let us figure out if Owen Montrone is a threat or not. Okay?”

Feeling as if she wanted to cry, Sarah simply nodded. It felt good that Logan, a man she didn’t know, believed her. For some reason, she’d kinda figured that Cole was an anomaly, that he believed her because he wanted to go out with her. But it was more than obvious from the serious looks on the brothers’ faces that maybe, just maybe, she’d been right about Owen all along.

“Okay,” she agreed. When she happened to glance over at Cole, he was eyeing her with a look so intense that she blushed.

Logan either ignored the look or didn’t see it, because he said, “As far as this douchebag Owen Montrone goes, we’ve got your back. What he’s doing isn’t cool. No matter that he hasn’t done anything but give you notes and presents. We all know that things can easily escalate from there, especially when he sees you out and about with Cole. I looked over your file yesterday, and we’d like to sit down and discuss your case with you . . . if you’re willing.”