For Her Protection: 1 (Personal Protection) (16 page)

She fingered a reply into her phone, setting up a breakfast
date before work the next day, then wandered into the kitchen. A large pink box
on the counter halted her. Her heart flipped. Someone had been in her house
without her knowledge.

Gregory
?

A chill seeped over her skin. She licked her lips and looked
around. The house was quiet—that still, airless kind of silence. Charlize shook
her head. More likely it’d been Connor. He still had a spare key. She’d become
used to having someone else in the house in such a short time. She listened to
the quiet and her chest panged with the need to have him there again. She
walked to the box and tugged at the ends of a bountiful white bow. The ribbon
cascaded over the marble countertop.

The lid slid off easily. A dull gold key and folded card
nestled on top of layers of tissue paper. She picked up the key and squeezed it
in her palm. Looked as if she didn’t need to worry about asking for it back.
She held it to her chest and exhaled deeply. How freaking ridiculous…why should
she care that he’d returned her key without saying a word? Why did it hurt so
damn bad to know he was officially out—couldn’t enter her home without her
letting him in? She’d asked for this, after all.

She shook her head and opened the card, not sure how she’d
cope with more apologies, more sweet words that lured her toward caving in.

In case you decide to stop hiding
.

Charlize’s lips tightened. Seven words. Nothing else, just a
cryptic message. She tore open the tissue paper and stared dumbly at the
contents.

Glistening violet fabric.

A deep, luminous shade she recognized at once—a shade she’d
seen shimmer against her skin. She could still feel the heat of Connor’s gaze
on her as she turned in it. Her cheeks warmed and she pulled out the dress, let
the skirt fall to the ground and held the bodice to her body.

A greedy little part of her wanted to put it on, wear it now
and to the awards night ceremony. The part of her that wanted to look pretty—to
look like Connor’s girl. Her cheeks went from warm to scorching hot and she
piled the gown back into the box and shut the lid.

Stupid
.

She was Charlize the CEO—not pretty Charlize the owner’s
daughter, not Charlize the lawyer’s finance, not the trophy girlfriend. He
still didn’t get it. She’d go to the awards night next week on her own, in her
boring black dress. Because that’s what people expected of her. And she
intended to meet those expectations—then exceed them like a boss.

* * * * *

Morning sun dappled the sidewalk through the hanging
branches of a tree. Charlize stood at the restaurant entrance and glanced at
the arrangement of tables. From the far side of the room, Rebecca raised a hand
in greeting and Charlize walked to the table.

“Hi, Rebecca.”

Rebecca looked up from behind dark glasses. A snug black hat
covered her brown hair. “Hi.”

Charlize’s eyebrow quirked involuntarily. She’d deliberately
chosen a place outside the immediate vicinity of Halifax for privacy. So why’d
Rebecca feel the need to come to breakfast incognito? Charlize glanced over her
shoulder and nodded to Jason, who lingered on the sidewalk. He stepped back a
few paces and leaned against a wall.

She pulled back the spare chair and lowered herself into it.
Rebecca remained as still as if she’d just seen Medusa.

“Can I get you a coffee or something for breakfast?”
Charlize asked with a smile.

“No thanks. I just want to get this over with.” Rebecca
pulled a folder from her lap and held it to her chest. “I just hope you
understand I was only doing my job, I don’t even know if it’s anything—”

“It’s fine, Rebecca. Whatever you have to tell me will be fine.
You won’t be held accountable for what your superiors have asked you to do.”

Rebecca’s chest quivered. “Thank you.” She glanced around
then handed Charlize the folder under the table.

Charlize took it and held it at her side. She opened the
folder and slid a couple papers out, just far enough to read a few lines.

Invoices, account details, employee wages.

“I knew there was something off when they asked me to pay
for invoices that didn’t correspond to any vendor details registered in the
system. Then there were paychecks issued to employees who apparently didn’t
exist. I wanted to say something but until you had lunch with us yesterday I
didn’t know who to go to. You said we could contact you about anything.”

Charlize pushed the papers back into the folder and gave
Rebecca her best reassuring smile. “You’ve done the right thing.”

Rebecca tugged a nail with her teeth.

“Who asked you to process these?”

“Gregory—I thought this might have something to do with why
he was fired so suddenly.”

Her stomach churned. “No he was fired for being
uncooperative,” she muttered then strengthened her voice. “Since he’s been gone
has anyone else come to you with requests like this?”

“No it was only ever Gregory.”

Charlize tapped the edge of the folder and glanced toward
Jason. Perhaps Gregory had operated alone but she doubted it. Most likely the
rest of the rats had smelled the cat. Well Charlize intended to keep prowling
for answers.

“Do me a favor? Let me know if anything comes up, anything
at all?”

Rebecca nodded. “Of course.”

“Thank you, Rebecca. This means a lot to me.”

A waitress came to the table just as Rebecca slipped out of
her chair.

“Can I get you anything?” the waitress asked, gaze following
Rebecca’s retreating back.

“Actually I might just get a couple of coffees to go…”

The waitress rang up the order. Five minutes later Charlize
walked out of the restaurant and handed Jason a tall coffee.

“Drink up. We’re going to be busy.”

A week—a goddamn week since he’d touched her. A week since
he’d poured his heart out to her and she’d walked away. Connor strode through
the hall to her office, his limbs heavier with each step. Every hour waiting
for her to come to her senses only made him ache worse, only built the fear
that she wouldn’t ever change her mind. He’d hardly made an appearance at
Halifax in the last week. Couldn’t stand the way she avoided his gaze. Couldn’t
stand seeing Jason posted outside her door. Couldn’t stand knowing that if
Gregory showed up, Connor wouldn’t be the one there to protect her. He wouldn’t
be far away though.

He walked through the empty reception area and a peal of
laughter halted him at her office door. The sound touched his heart like a lick
from a flame. That warm, husky sound. The last time he’d heard it he’d been
tangled in her limbs—tangled in her.

Lia stood next to Charlize, a hand on her shoulder as they
leaned toward the computer screen. That laugh rang out again and he couldn’t
stop his blood, his cock from responding. She’d be the death of him. There was
no resisting her, only wanting her. He’d always known she’d be the kind of
woman who could break his heart—the kind of woman who’d never give all of
herself.

Yet she had so much to give, she just couldn’t see her
worth. Was too busy hiding anything that didn’t fit into the rigid cage she’d
carved for herself. Lia’s high-pitched giggle joined Charlize’s and Connor’s
chest expanded. He watched them, watched Charlize cover her lips with her
fingers and glance at Lia. Charlize was socializing. Fucking socializing. With
her assistant. A tension he’d been carrying around since he’d met her finally
dissipated. He smiled—a smile that started in his heart and spread its way
through his body to his face. He longed to step in, grab her and kiss the marrow
right out of her bones.

The uptight she-cat he’d met that first day wouldn’t do
this. Something had changed. Something that told him he wasn’t done with her
yet. Charlize glanced up and the words she’d been speaking died on her lips.
Her beautiful eyes flared, moved over his face, took in his grin. Her cheeks
flushed, her tongue darted out to wet her lips. His smile evened in response to
her. They held each other’s gaze. A thousand things passed between them in that
one look—he felt each one like a shotgun firing into his soul. The pain, the
desire, the yearning and something more. Something he couldn’t bring himself to
acknowledge. Not now, not like this.

Lia straightened then patted Charlize’s shoulder and left
her side. Connor nodded to Lia and stepped out of her way. Charlize hadn’t
moved, hadn’t twitched a muscle, just stared at him as if maybe she might leap
up and remove his marrow with a her lips. Those lips. Those fucking sexy lips.
His heart sped up as if he was a nervous schoolboy. She had that effect on him.
Unmanned him. Cut through the confidence he’d built over a lifetime. Cut his
thirty years right in half.

I’m so screwed
.

“Connor?” She blinked, found her tongue again, flushed
brighter.

He stepped into the room, leaving the door open—the only way
he’d control himself—and approached her desk. “I wanted to tell you personally
that Jason will not be available to escort you to the awards ceremony tonight.
I’ll be taking you myself.”

Charlize glanced at her desk. Her chest rose and fell
rapidly, although her face gave away nothing. “There’s not anyone else?”

Disappointment hit him between the ribs. “No. It’s going to
be me.”

“Because you’re the only one available or because you want
to?” Her gaze flicked back to his.

He swallowed. “How has everything been? Was the information
I gave you helpful?”

She leaned back in her chair, only the hesitant twitch of
her mouth acknowledging his unsubtle attempt at changing the subject. “Yes it
was. I’ve hired the forensic accountant you recommended. As far as anyone knows
it’s a standard external audit looking at staffing.”

“Good…as long as no one knows you’re digging.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line and she linked her fingers
together. “They don’t.”

“What?” he said, narrowing his gaze at her.

“I need you to hang around this afternoon if you’re free. I
might need the extra protection.”

“What are you up to, Charlize?”

She sighed and glanced at the open door then leaned forward.
“I’ve made a kind of big decision, one that’s going to ruffle some serious feathers.”

He pulled out the chair opposite her and sank into it. “Well
you might as well tell me so I know what I’m up against.”

“Well I’ve always thought the problem with this place is
there are so many levels of management, finding out what’s happening on the
front line is like playing a game of “Telephone” in a nursing home. No one
knows what’s really going on.” She rubbed an invisible mark on the glass desk
with her thumb. “And I’ve had lunch with the girls every day this week. Women
from all departments… And what they’ve had to say—on top of all my other
investigations—has confirmed what I need to do…” Charlize glanced up, her lips
stretched over her teeth in a grimace. “I’m going to flatten the structure.
Take out most of the middle managers, people who hold positions like Gregory
did. It’ll open up communication through the organization and I’ll be able to
afford to keep the frontline workers, the call-center staff and our factory
workers.”

He ran his gaze over her, saw her hesitation, that flicker
of doubt. She wanted his approval. Something he was sure she didn’t realize but
the idea warmed him all the same. He may still be a caveman to her but she
valued his opinion. “That’s very brave but then I always knew you were.”

She shrugged, her cheeks a deep pink. “It makes sense. About
thirty jobs will go in order to save two hundred. Two hundred positions that
will directly impact the quality of our service and products. It’s common
sense. The only reason it hasn’t happened until now is because the people in charge
enjoyed their cozy situation too much. The executives will actually have to
work for their six-figure salaries now. No more allowing their
supervising-senior-management managers to compile reports for them. It will be
on them to know everything about their department.”

“Well I’ll be there when you give the news.”

She gave him a small, sad smile and smoothed back an
invisible strand of hair. “I’ll feel better knowing you are.” Her gaze
flickered over his shoulder and a line appeared between her brows.

Conner turned. Frank strode into the office and despite the
clean, refined lines of his suit the look on his face was far from civilized.

“Charlize, what is the meaning of the twit you’ve hired
rummaging through my department like a nosy buffoon?” Frank asked, coming to
stand in the space beside Connor.

Charlize stiffened but drew on a tight smile. “He’s an
auditor, Frank. One I may not have needed, had I not met with so
many…challenges when I tried to get the information I requested.”

Frank’s narrow jaw bulged. “We do not have time for this
ridiculousness. What about the contract? We will lose this deal if we don’t
act.” He leaned toward Charlize, his finger aimed at her chest. “And it will be
on your head. Are you prepared to be responsible for the destruction of
Halifax?”

Connor stood, uncurled every inch of his six-foot-three body
from the chair. Frank’s gaze flicked from Charlize to Connor. He didn’t need to
say anything, just stood, let his body do the talking. Frank’s posture changed,
his finger dropped but anger still rippled under the surface of his skin,
visible in his tight movements.

“I’m certainly not,” Charlize said. She didn’t blink, just
remained calm, controlled, in charge. Not like when he’d first met her. Not
fidgety, pretending to be calm—there was real conviction in her eyes now. “But
I’ll give you the courtesy of telling you in person. I will not be signing the
manufacturing contract. Not now, not ever.”

“What?” Frank’s head twitched, the gray patches of hair at
his temples flashing in the light streaming from the windows. He glanced at
Connor, and luckily for him, the prick held it together. “That’s not an option.
We won’t survive without the cost cuts.”

“That is true, which is why I’ve come up with an
alternative. I’ll be calling an emergency staff gathering this afternoon.”

Frank’s features shifted. “You’re calling an executive
management meeting?”

“No. Full staff—and it’s not a meeting,” she said, a small
smile crossing her lips. “Because I’m not asking for permission and I’m not
taking questions or participating in a debate. I’ll be making an announcement.”

Frank remained still then tugged the sides of his jacket
closer. “Care to let me in on the big announcement?”

“I think it’s best if everyone finds out together,” she said
then she looked at Connor. “Now if you’ll both excuse me, I have a memo to
send.”

Frank turned and left as if an insect gnawed his ass. Connor
lingered a moment then gave her a slow wink. She made a small huffing sound but
her lips twitched as if she fought a smile.

That was his girl. His kick-ass girl.

* * * * *

Charlize smoothed her hands down the snug black dress then
pushed an earring through the hole in her right ear. She glanced at the clock.
Home early for once—and after the day she had, thank god. After the news had
gone down, frankly she didn’t care to stick around. She grinned at her
reflection. On the up-side, when she’d left—after having her announcement
blasted over the loudspeakers for the striking staff to hear—the picketers
outside had cheered for her.

Freaking cheered me
.

A shitload nicer than having things thrown at her. But she’d
done it—put Halifax back on its true path. And that was the single best feeling
in the world—maybe aside from one.

An image of Connor standing at the back of the room as she
spoke rose in her mind. She’d lied…hadn’t asked him there because she’d worried
a riot would erupt. She’d asked him because she’d known he’d be in her corner.
Not in the bulging muscles, smashing heads kind of way—in the silent, “I
believe in you” kind of way.

His presence reminded her she could do what had to be done.
And she had.

A distant sound broke through her thoughts. Someone rapping
on her door. She placed the other earring down and strode to the front entry.
Her heart kicked up speed. Had Connor come to pick her up when they’d agreed to
meet there? Their tentative truce had softened the tension between them but not
wiped it away. Her heart still leaped when she saw him, still beat a hole
through her ribs only he could mend.

She tugged the door open and her heart sank down into her
belly. The last person she ever expected to see stood on her front steps.
Charlize’s fingers tightened on the door handle.

“Hi, Charlize.” Joyce slid a pair of dark glasses into her
hair.

Charlize took a deep breath. “What do you want?”

“I thought we could talk.”

She tried not to groan. This talk had been a long time
coming. Was overdue. Aside from the incident at Aunt Bess’ house she hadn’t
spoken to Joyce since the night Simon had told her to move out. But Charlize
had shit to do tonight.

“It’s really not a good time.”

Joyce nodded but looked at Charlize with down-turned lips. “Will
it ever be?”

Probably not. But it was time to close the door on this
situation, let go and move on.

“Make it quick,” she said and opened the door wider.

Joyce followed Charlize inside. She walked into the kitchen,
opened her top cupboard, pulled out two wineglasses and filled them with cold chardonnay,
then slid one across the counter. This talk called for wine.

Joyce picked up a glass and looked around. “You haven’t
decorated?”

“Hasn’t been a priority,” she replied flatly.

“Right,” Joyce whispered, tapping a finger on the stem of
her glass then returning her gaze to Charlize. “I wanted to do this earlier but
I didn’t think you’d listen. But after Aunt Bess’ birthday, seeing that you’ve
moved on with Connor—I thought maybe you’d be ready to hear my apology.”

“Connor and I have broken up,” she said. The words grated
through her chest.

“I’m sorry.” Joyce’s brow wrinkled.

Damn, it would’ve been easier if she didn’t actually look
sorry. If Joyce wore her usual smug expression, Charlize could just kick out
her cousin and be done. She took a long gulp from her glass. The chardonnay
slid hard and dry over her tongue.

“Look, Joyce, you’re right. I have moved on and I’m willing
to put this crap behind us if that’s what you want, but honestly I don’t want
your apology. The last thing I want is to re-hash the whole thing. I’m not
saying we can be friends again but I’m willing to let it go.”

Joyce’s delicate ash-colored brows rose slightly. “Well I’m
glad, that’s not what I expected.” She swallowed and clutched her glass to her
chest. “But can I just explain? I really need you to know why I did what I did.”

“Is that what you need?” Charlize ran her tongue over her
teeth behind closed lips. “Well go on then, unburden yourself.”

Color crept over Joyce’s cheeks. “I’m not saying this is any
excuse but Dad had just passed away so suddenly—so unexpectedly. I was in
shock, I wasn’t thinking straight.”

Anger flared in Charlize’s chest before the look on Joyce’s
face squished it. Grief, real grief twisted her petite features. Her nose
scrunched.

“I went to your apartment because I needed someone to talk
to but you weren’t there. You’d already started working at Halifax. Simon
answered the door.” Joyce stopped and looked into her glass then her chest
expanded. “I was crying. He comforted me then he kissed me. I was upset—I just
needed something to cling to. I didn’t mean for anything to happen…” Joyce’s
eyes glistened and she sucked in her lips.