Kissed Blind (Hot Pursuit #2)(3)

“But you’ll be—”

“I don’t care. Turn around.” His voice was flat and firm.

I spun and placed my palms on the glass doors. My skin tingled against his virgin wool. He moved my hair forward, dripping water in a steady rivulet over my shoulder, between my breasts, and down further before absorbing into the cotton between my toes. His lips pressed to my neck as he drank from my skin. My pulse quickened, and my breath hitched as the bulge below his waist pressed into the small of my back.

My phone rang.

“Leave it,” he said. “It’s just Vance. It’s the third time he’s called.”

“It is? Why didn’t you tell me?” I twisted out of his hold and snatched my phone.

He groaned and grabbed the phone from my hand, silencing it.

I sighed. “You know it’s not normal. Something has to be up.” I took it back.

“He’s not the most patient person. Make him wait.”

“Gabe.” I scowled. “Maybe something happened with his dad.”

He nodded and stepped back, his shoulders sagging. “I guess you better call him back then.” He grabbed a towel, wrapped me up, and kissed me so deeply my toes tingled.

“I’ll see you later and we can finish what you started?” I asked.

“Can’t. I have to work late.”

“There’s always a big deal going down, huh?”

“I’d suggest you come here after you finish your day, but I know how you hate to be here when the house is empty.”

“It’s too big when you’re not here.” The walls echoed an emptiness when it was only me inside. “It makes my skin crawl.”

“You’re so strange.” He shook his head, grinning. “I don’t think I’ll ever quite understand how you like living in your little shoebox.”

I shrugged with a half-smile. “I like my shoebox. It’s cozy. But I need to check in at home anyway and get my mail. I’ll talk to you later?”

“Damn right you will.” He spanked my bottom.

After he shut the door, I returned Vance’s call. “What’s lit a fire under your butt this morning?”

“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you,” Vance snapped.

“Yeah, I noticed. Patience, grasshopper, I was in the shower. What’s up?”

“Cavanaugh called. We have a new assignment and need to get going ASAP.”

“What’s so urgent?”

“Where are you?”

“Gabe’s.”

“That’s what I figured. I’m already on my way. I’ll be there in less than twenty.”

“What’s going on?”

“Hollywood called. Oliver Pierce just hired us.”





Two





Had I known I was going to be working for Oliver Pierce, I would have stayed at my apartment to have had my full wardrobe to choose from, but my boring black pants and blazer would have to do. Vance and I had protected plenty of high profile people but never a Hollywood star, let alone the freaking King of Hollywood.

I gave my makeup one final check in the mirror. Everything that was supposed to be concealed was concealed, and all that was to be enhanced was enhanced. I called to Gabe as I stepped out the door. “Have a great day!”

“Have fun working for Oliver Pierce!” he answered. “And be good!”

Vance honked out in the driveway.

“You too!” I shuffled out into the crisp, spring morning. Pulling open the door to the Black B&B Range Rover, I was met with a warm rush of leather scented air and slid into the front seat.

“You look nice.” Vance’s eyes darted over my face.

“Thanks.” I flipped the visor down and tucked my hair behind my ears.

“Wearing your hair down today, I see.”

I’d had an extra minute to run a flat iron over it, a change from my usual low ponytail. “Well… yeah. You really think I look nice?”

He gave me a pinched look. “Are you serious? Since when do you care what you look like?”

“Since Oliver Pierce. Oliver. Pierce. I’m freaking out a little.”

“Just keep in mind we’re working.” He flipped my visor up, nearly catching my nose.

“I don’t need reminding. Geez.” His eyes were surrounded by a darkness he only got when he’d had a sleepless night. “You’re in a mood this morning. Everything all right?”

“Sorry, got a lot on my mind.” He forced a smile.

“What’s up?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Okay, even though that’s obviously a lie.” I pulled the visor down again and checked my lip gloss. “I’ll listen if you need to unload.”

“I know you will. Later.” He batted his eyelashes and fanned himself, raising his voice to mimic mine. “We’ve got Oliver Pierce to worry about.”

I closed the visor again. “I hate you.”

He scoffed. “You couldn’t if you tried.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know there’s a difference between confidence and arrogance.”

“Your point?”

“You walk a fine line sometimes.”