Fast Burn (Body Armor #4)(62)
Brand nodded, uninterested in family dynamics when he’d rather be with Sahara. “I should go.”
To Chelsea, Grant stressed with strange emphasis, “Brand is here with Sahara Silver.”
“Oh really?” Gray eyes widened with mock surprise. “Sahara is here?”
“Downstairs,” Brand said, wondering if everyone knew Sahara. “And since the tour is over, I believe I’ll join her.”
“Nonsense.” Chelsea latched onto his arm. “I’ll finish showing you around.” She dismissed Douglas with a glance. “Go tend to your party. I’ll handle this.”
As if he’d been ordered by the president, Douglas smiled and walked out.
Brand decided to follow. “Thank you, Chelsea, but I better get back.” He attempted to free his arm.
She held on, even leaning closer so that her perfume filled his head and her boobs rested against his biceps. “Sahara does hold a tight leash, I know, but surely she can manage without you for a few minutes more.”
Irony at its finest, since it was Chelsea who wouldn’t let go. “You know her well?”
“I hired her agency once, back when her brother ran things.” Her other hand brushed his thigh. “She was underfoot even then, making a nuisance of herself.”
“A nuisance?” Brand already disliked the woman. He stepped back, away from her wandering fingers. “If you really do know Sahara, you know that’s not true. Whatever she does, she does better than anyone else could do it.”
Chelsea leaned in again, and this time she more boldly caressed him. “Well, well, she has you smitten, doesn’t she?”
Brand laughed even as he took her wrist and removed her hand. “If you mean I think she’s amazing, then yes. Hell, she’s the smartest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
Chelsea blinked, at a loss for words. Unfortunately, it didn’t last. “Maybe there are things about her you don’t know.”
There was nothing he wanted to hear from Chelsea Tuttle. “And maybe you’re just jealous of her?” When she gasped, he added, “It’s understandable, but still unattractive.”
She was so surprised by the direct insult, he finally managed to free himself.
Unfortunately, as he headed out the door, she followed, and before he could make it down the stairs she’d plastered herself back to his side, determined to boldly grope him.
For some reason, that made him even more anxious to get to Sahara. He had a bad feeling about things. Concern spiking, he ignored Chelsea and lengthened his stride.
He needed to know Sahara wasn’t in danger. He needed to see her now.
*
SAHARA AND DOUGLAS’S SISTER, Lisa, whom she hadn’t seen in a year, moved to a quieter corner to speak. She remained in plain sight, just opposite of the busy bar. Still, she watched for Brand. He was so protective that she wouldn’t be surprised to see him back in five minutes.
“You’re smiling,” Lisa said. “Does the happiness have anything to do with that godlike hunk you brought along?”
Odd how the sister could be so nice, and the brother be such scum. Sahara let her smile widen. “It has everything to do with him.”
“Are we getting serious?”
“Actually,” Sahara said, “I tried to convince him to work for me. He’d make an amazing bodyguard.”
Lisa leaned closer to guess “But he refused because he’d rather get busy in bed? Nice.”
Since that was so close to the truth, Sahara laughed. “He’s actually an MMA fighter, but he’s thinking of retiring from that. Until he makes up his mind, though, I don’t stand much chance of getting him to hire on.”
“Hello, Sahara.”
That particular deep voice, coming so close behind her, stole Sahara’s breath. She jerked around—and came face-to-face with her kidnapper. At first, she merely gaped. How had he gotten in here? How dare he approach her so publicly?
Seeing him in a lighted room, in a comforting crowd, gave her a whole new perspective. Yes, he was still big, and she realized he could still be threatening, but freshly shaved, his sandy brown hair combed back, his suit stylish, he seemed less a monster and more a controllable man.
You can do this, Sahara. He wouldn’t dare hurt you here.
For a few seconds her pounding heart kept her silent as they stared at each other, unblinking, her astounded and him pleased.
“What are you doing here?” she finally got out.
“You and I have unfinished business.” His gaze moved over her, belying any menace in those words. “God, you’re beautiful, even more than I realized.”
Hoping for a few minutes to think, Sahara turned to Lisa—but she was gone, drawn away into conversation with a nearby group. Her thoughts scrambled as she tried to decide what to do, and a second later she felt a big firm hand clasp her upper arm.
That was alarming enough, but then warm breath said into her ear, “Don’t run off. What are the odds of us meeting like this?”
She’d bet the odds were pretty damn good, since he’d obviously kept tabs on her to know where she’d be and when. Her entire body urged her to flee, but she wasn’t a coward and here, in this safe setting, might be her best chance to question him.
That is, if she could get some moisture back into her dry mouth, and tamp down on the internal trembling.