Into the Fury (BOSS, Inc. #1)(61)

“You’re right,” she said. “It’s hard to believe. It’d be more likely Sadie was a ten-year-old kid.”

He smiled. “I wouldn’t believe it either if it weren’t for the info the woman comes up with.”

Val relaxed back into her seat. “So what’s our next move?”

“Our?” He shook his head. “Sorry, honey. You’re a hundred miles from Dallas. That’s as close as you’re getting to this case. My next move is searching the Internet for stores in the Dallas area that sell handmade furniture. If that was Jacob Mahler’s trade, there’s a chance that’s what his son is doing for a living. Heath Ford will be following that angle. If he comes up empty-handed, I’ll have Sadie take a look.”

“Heath was the guy on the phone? Your detective friend?”

“That’s right. I’ll let him have a go at it while we’re driving back to the city.”

She leaned forward, tilting her face into the cool air blowing out of the air-conditioning vents. “I’ll be glad when we get there. I turned the A/C down when we left the suite so it would be nice and cool when we got back.”

He flashed her a sideways glance. “Considering how hot I plan to make your luscious little body as soon as I get you upstairs, that was very good thinking.”

Her big blue eyes widened.

“Maybe you ought to take a nap on the way. I promise you won’t be getting much sleep tonight.”

Val made a funny little sound in her throat, and Ethan chuckled. He wondered if she thought he was kidding. He might have to work this new lead for a while. After that, he meant to keep his word.





It was late afternoon when Meg preceded Dirk back into her suite. She’d convinced him to take her and Isabel shopping at the NorthPark Center, home to some of the most exclusive stores in Dallas. Grudgingly, he had agreed.

Unfortunately, as soon as they went into the mall, Dirk began to complain. He didn’t like the limo having to park so far away. It was darker inside the mall than he liked, and more crowded. He wanted to go somewhere else, someplace safer. It took Izzy’s considerable charm to convince him to stay.

“No one even knows we’re here,” Isabel said. “And you’re here to protect us.”

Meg smiled at him sweetly. “We know you can keep us safe.”

Dirk wasn’t fooled for a minute, but clearly he was torn. He wanted to please them, but it was his job to protect them. He was cute when he was frustrated, Meg thought. Of course, he was cute when he was angry and cute when he was being sweet, which he was by taking them to the mall.

Her gaze ran over his masculine carved features, the way his mustache curved down to his hard jaw. Maybe sexy was a better word than cute.

“All right, fine, you can stay,” he reluctantly agreed, as Meg was sure he would. “But you’d better stay close, and if anything happens, you do exactly what I say.” He drilled her with a glare. “Understood?”

“Of course,” she said breezily, because it was true. Dirk wasn’t the kind of man you disobeyed.

Still, the whole time they were shopping, he was moving, constantly on alert, always on the lookout for trouble, which made it hard for Meg to relax. Fortunately, Izzy’s incessant chatter helped keep up her spirits. They deserved to have some fun, whether Dirk Reynolds liked it or not.

Inside the air-conditioned corridors, they continued perusing the mall, darting from one store to the next, shopping until Dirk began to grumble again and even Isabel’s energy was beginning to fade.

Dirk phoned the limo driver and the car was waiting when they reached the exit. They climbed inside, loaded down with purchases, Izzy with a fantastic Chanel designer handbag and three pairs of Manolo Blahnik shoes. Meg had found two pairs of Jimmy Choos on sale and bought a sexy, backless little black sheath at Neiman Marcus.

Mostly, she’d purchased kid’s clothes, stuff for little Charlie, including a pair of miniature Burberry jeans lined with red-plaid flannel that were just darling.

As the limo drove back to the hotel, she looked over at Dirk, who lounged on the seat a few feet away. Every time she’d purchased another item for her son, his mood seemed to darken. It made her chest hurt to know how deep his dislike of children ran.

Once they reached the hotel, Dirk escorted both women through the lobby to the elevators, a bellman in their wake carrying their packages.

“Grazie, Dirk,” Isabel said, “for putting up with us this afternoon.” Izzy leaned over and kissed both his cheeks. “Now, I must have my beauty nap. Ciao, darlings. I will see you on the plane.”

“Keep the door locked,” Dirk grumbled as the heavy door slid closed. They headed for Meg’s suite, the bellman following with her packages. Dirk checked the rooms. The bellman set the shopping bags down on the coffee table, walked out, and closed the door, leaving them alone.

Fatigue rolled through her. Meg felt the weight of Dirk’s dark gaze and, knowing the cause, her heart filled with an aching sadness.

“You don’t have to stay,” she said softly. “There’s a guard just down the hall, and aside from Valentine, none of the other girls have full-time bodyguards.”

“You have the day off and so do I. I’d rather spend my time with you.”

It wasn’t true. He was just overly protective, and for some reason those protective instincts had zeroed in on her.