Into the Fury (BOSS, Inc. #1)(79)

Her smile returned. “Okay.” Besides, she was interested in seeing where he worked. She didn’t know if she could handle the dangerous sorts of jobs he did, but—Val broke off the thought.

What Ethan did for a living was none of her concern. They would only be together a little while longer. Sleeping with him was just a matter of sexual gratification, something that worked for both of them.

Or was it?

How much of a lie was she willing to tell herself?

“Grab your purse and let’s go.” He set a hand at her waist as she walked past him out into the hallway. Just that light touch sent shock waves the length of her body. They were definitely compatible physically. Still, she wasn’t ready for a complicated relationship. She had too much on her plate already.

It didn’t take long to reach Ethan’s Bellevue office. The sign etched into the door read Brodie Operations Security Services, Inc.

Ethan led her inside, into a black-and-chrome interior that was very tasteful and masculine. Nothing like the scarred wooden desks and linoleum floors she had imagined from old detective movies she’d seen.

She spotted Dirk the minute they walked in, sitting at his desk, his feet kicked up on top, staring off into space. There was none of the restless energy she always associated with him, only a darkness she knew instantly had been caused by his breakup with Meg.

“Hey, Dirk,” she called out.

“Hey, Valentine.”

“It’s Valerie now. Or just plain Val.”

“I know. Somehow Valentine always seemed to fit you.”

She smiled, wishing there was something she could say to make the darkness go away. She knew he and Meg were over. Her friend had called in tears. Meg was crazy about Dirk, maybe even in love with him, but she was sure it would never work, and she had Charlie to think of.

Meg was probably right. Neither one of them should have gotten involved with the men assigned to protect them. But when she glanced over her shoulder at Ethan, when she felt his solid, reliable presence behind her, she couldn’t regret a single moment they had shared.

Her chest tightened. She didn’t regret a thing, but looking at Dirk and thinking of Meg, she began to realize how much losing Ethan was going to hurt.

“Sadie’s office is on the second floor.” Ethan led her in that direction. Before they reached the stairs, the front door opened and Nick Brodie walked in, looking as handsome as he had the last time Val had seen him. The family seemed to have amazing genes.

“Hey, Val,” Nick said, then nodded to his cousin. “Ethan. I heard you two were back.”

“We ran into a little problem in Atlanta and the tour was cut short.”

“I heard. You still working the Larsen case?”

Ethan nodded. “That’s why I’m here. I need to talk to Sadie.”

“Good idea.”

“Tell Samantha hello for me,” Val said.

“Will do,” said Nick.

They passed by the conference room with its long mahogany table and black leather chairs. Beneath the staircase, Val noticed a big black gun safe, probably de rigueur for a successful security firm.

They climbed the stairs to the second floor, then headed down a corridor with doors off each side, stopped in front of an open doorway where a handsome blond man sat behind his desk.

The office was large, with a nice window looking out over the street. The room was furnished in the same black-and-chrome motif as downstairs, with a butter-soft black leather sofa against one wall. A little girl’s pink plush rabbit sat at one end, carefully positioned as if the animal were there for a visit.

“Ian, this is Valerie Hartman. Val, this is my cousin, Ian. He’s also my boss.”

Ian stood up from behind his desk, tall, athletic, nicely dressed in tan slacks and a yellow Oxford shirt. He walked around to greet her. “A pleasure to meet you, Val.”

“You too, Ian.” They briefly shook hands. She glanced over at the rabbit. “Ethan mentioned you were married. Do you have children?”

His friendly smile widened. “I have a beautiful little four-year-old girl.”

“She and Hannah must be great friends.”

Ian’s smile slipped. “I’m sure they will be, once Ethan gets things worked out.”

A noise sounded in the doorway before she had a chance to respond. Because she had no idea what to say, she was grateful for the interruption.

“Hey, bro. Good to see you.” A tall, lanky, amazingly good-looking man with sun-streaked brown hair and incredible blue eyes sauntered into the office. “This your lady?”

Ethan’s lady? Was she? And why didn’t she correct the impression before it was too late?

“Luke, this is Valerie Hartman. Val, my brother, Luke.”

Those brilliant blue eyes assessed her. “Nice meeting you, Val.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “My brother’s always had good taste in women. He’s definitely outclassed himself this time.”

“Thank you . . . I think. I understand you work here, too.”

“More or less.” At first glance, Luke seemed far more laid-back than his brother. But there was something about him . . . Perhaps it was the same core of steel she recognized in Ethan.

“It’s a family business,” Ian said. “Though Luke tends to be a bit of a wanderer.”

Luke grinned and a sexy dimple dug into his left cheek. In a different way, he was every bit as hot as his older brother. “Wandering’s kind of a job requirement. I’m a bounty hunter.”