Code Name: Genesis (Jameson Force Security #1)(10)
Now I’m stuck in this weird alternate universe. Someone is hunting me, and I have to pull off a fake relationship with the man I used to love and who broke my heart because I clearly wasn’t enough for him.
I give a cough to clear my throat. “That’s fine. I’ll put calls in now.”
“Good,” he says, then he checks his watch. “You can hang out in here. I’m interviewing someone for a position at Jameson. They’ll be here soon. Then we’ll go check into a hotel for the evening.”
“How long do you think this is going to last?” I ask.
“You mean before this guy will make a move on you?”
When I nod, Kynan’s eyes turn hard. “Hopefully not long. I know it’s not a comfortable situation for either of us.”
“Agreed,” I say softly. “But I do appreciate you doing this for me. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Thank me when we bring the guy down,” he mutters before pushing up from his chair. “If you can, work on setting up that meeting for the day after tomorrow. My meeting shouldn’t last more than half an hour.”
“Got it,” I reply, then pull my phone out of my purse.
I’m completely at Kynan’s mercy. I can only hope this plan of his—while dangerous and scary—produces results quickly. It’s just far too painful being near him and being reminded at the same time he was once the love of my life.
CHAPTER 5
Kynan
I leave Joslyn in the conference room to make my way back down to the first-floor entrance door. As expected, Cruce Britton is waiting there for me. I had given him the alarm code to the parking deck gate, which randomly changes every twenty minutes, but I wasn’t going to give him full access to the building until I’d officially hired him. He still needed to pass personal muster with me, which was the reason for this meeting.
“Glad you could come,” is how I greet him after I unlock the steel door and pull it wide. I offer my hand, and he gives it a crushing shake.
Cruce Britton is a big guy. He stands at six-foot-six. While I’ll never admit it to him, he’s my number-one recruit to join this new branch of Jameson.
“Got a real fixer-upper here,” he says as he steps into the warehouse and looks around.
“You’re not the first to say that.” I laugh, thinking of Joslyn’s words just a few minutes ago. “But not all is as it seems.”
I take Cruce the same route I had just taken Joslyn, up through the freight elevator to the second floor. He whistles low through his teeth in appreciation as we step onto the second floor.
“Nice cover,” he says as I lead him over to some black leather chairs where we can sit and talk. He notices Joslyn in the glass-walled conference room, where she paces back and forth with a phone to her ear. She’s far enough away her details are fuzzy, but her platinum hair and slight build would have any man looking twice.
“Who’s that?” Cruce asks as he thumbs her way.
“Client.” I give her a glance, hating how even from far away she still causes my skin to tighten.
Cruce cocks one eyebrow at my clipped tone.
I force myself to relax, embarrassed the woman makes me so uptight. “She’s got a stalker after her. He managed to break into her house, then tried to strangle her a few days ago.”
Because Cruce is a man who has spent his entire career protecting people, I’m not surprised by the hardening of his jawline with immediate concern.
“Got any leads?” he asks.
Before I answer, I motion with my hand for him to take a chair and I take another perpendicular to him. He folds his muscular frame in with surprising grace.
“I’m taking her back to California tomorrow. We’re going to try to lure him to come after her again.”
“Risky.”
“We’ll be ready for him, and she’ll be fully protected,” I assure him. “It’s low risk.”
Cruce makes a sound low in his throat that sounds like disapproval to me. And I like it, because I don’t need a team that thinks just like me. I want to consider all angles, and I’ve been looking forward to this interview with Cruce because it makes for an excellent opportunity to see how he thinks on his feet.
I ease into it, though.
“I have to say,” I drawl casually as I cross one leg over the other. “You certainly have the best letter of recommendation I’ve ever seen.”
Cruce chuckles, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. “Can’t really top the president of the United States writing a letter on your behalf, can you?”
“No, you can’t,” I agree.
Cruce Britton has spent his entire working career at the U.S. Secret Service. His resume gave me the bullet points. Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, eight years in the Los Angeles field investigative office, then four years protecting the newly sworn in Vice President Jonathan Alexander and his family.
When the president decided not to run for a second term due to health issues, Jonathan Alexander threw his hat into the ring and won an easy victory. He was sworn in three months ago as our country’s newest president, yet Cruce is sitting here in search of a new job.
“Why didn’t you take the presidential detail when Alexander took office?” I ask bluntly. “You spent four years protecting him as vice president. Based on the letter he gave me on your behalf, I’m guessing he wanted you by his side for the next four years.”