Salvation (50 page)

Thinking they were in for an uneventful night, I headed inside.

“GOOD MORNING, KARA.”

Ross nodded his head and opened the rear door of the Mercedes waiting for me. At least I’d been given some forewarning that I’d be driven into work. Nate had called half an hour ago and informed me he’d prefer that over driving myself, even with Carl and Joe acting as escort. I hadn’t argued. I was learning to pick my battles with Mr. Blake wisely. “Morning.”

I waited until Ross climbed in before handing him a travel mug of coffee and some sachets of sugar through the front seats. “A gift.”

“You shouldn’t have.” He looked uncomfortable as he took it and cautiously sipped it. “But, it tastes great. Thanks.”

“Your boss has you running all over town for me. It’s the least I could do.”

Ross smiled widely and placed it in his drink holder. “Have a peaceful night?”

“Are you asking, or your overprotective boss?” I buckled up and caught his friendly smile, suggesting it was a little of both. “Well, you can tell him I’m still intact,” I confirmed, wrapping both hands around my cup.

“Mr. Blake cares a lot for you, Miss Collins.”

It was a small reassurance without overstepping the mark and betraying Nate’s trust, and it was much appreciated. Their relationship was more than employer/employee—they were friends, too. Nate valued Ross’ loyalty and discretion, he was a trusted confidante. “Why is he obsessed with my safety?”

“I’m not in a position to say.” That made me more suspicious. Celebrities had paps, crazed stalkers and much worse, yet most of them didn’t have armed guards. Having one made me
more
nervous, not less. Ross eyed me warily through the rearview mirror.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Ross smiled apologetically and started the engine. I barely heard my mobile phone ringing from the depths of my handbag over the advert on the radio.

“Are you with Ross?”

I rolled my eyes at Nate’s concern, then grinned when Ross caught me doing it as he quietened the volume. “Yes, you at work?”

“Been here a couple of hours.” I don’t know how he survived on the few hours’ sleep he got. Whilst I was an evening person, Nate was definitely a morning one. My mouth twisted wryly. Actually, he was a morning, noon and night man. “Without you keeping me warm, what’s the point in staying in bed?”

“I can keep you warm tonight. Do you still have that dinner?” My breathing space from each other had lasted all of a day before I was missing him.

“Unfortunately,” he mumbled dismissively.

Being with a group of businessmen while they hashed out the finer points of the Star deal wasn’t my idea of fun, and the last thing I wanted to do. Putting my needs aside, I asked, “Need a date?”

“Really?” he said, surprised by my offer.

“Yes.” I was a big step, one I was ready to take.

He cleared his throat and muttered, “I appreciate it, but it’ll be all business.”

“All right then.” I watched gated driveways and tall hedges pass my window in a blur. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you more,” he murmured, his voice achingly tender. “Remember that.”

AFTER a long day at work, I opted for a run over the gym. I set a gruelling pace, pushing myself to the limit. My body was coiled tight with sexual frustration and a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I let myself into my apartment and snatched my ringing phone off the kitchen counter. Taking a deep breath, I was still breathless when I answered.

“Um, think I have the wrong number,” Nate joked. “Didn’t realise I’d called a sex chatline.”

“You shouldn’t have those numbers anymore,” I panted, walking into the en-suite. I turned on the taps to run a bath then made my way back into the bedroom.

“Talk dirty to me, baby.”

I saw my already flushed face turn redder, but played along. “I’m all sticky…
very
sweaty…in need of a strong pair of male hands to give me a good rub down…” The catch of his breath spurred me on. “But, I’m alone, so it looks like I’m gonna have to do it
all…by…myself…
”

“Ah, Kara.” His voice turned raspy and ached with need. “Walk me through that, step-by-step.”

I laughed softly, catching sight of the time. “Wouldn’t want to make you late for dinner. Another time, maybe.”

His groan of agony sounded so sexual I had to sit on my bed. “I’ll be with you around eleven,” he murmured, “midnight at the latest.”

“Oh?” I said, toeing off my trainers.

“That too late?”

“Not at all, it’s just…I assumed we weren’t seeing each other. I was planning an early night.” Even with the two men keeping watch, I wasn’t comfortable about going to bed and leaving my door on the latch so Nate could let himself in.

“I wasn’t thinking. Lock up and get some sleep.”

Relief mixed with disappointment flooded me. I loved how Nate knew my thoughts without needing an explanation, but was still saddened not to see him. “Thank you.”

“Anything happen tonight?”

“Nothing. I even managed a run with my two new best friends,” I told him, referring to Carl and Joe who’d trailed me in their car. I balanced the phone on my shoulder and peeled off my leggings. “Can you call them off now? I’m sure you can determine better use of their time.”

“They’re doing their job. What better use could there be?” he replied smugly.

Exasperated, I shook my head and returned to the en-suite to turn off the taps. “If someone was out to get me, surely they could reach me at work?”

“Don’t count on it.”

I figured I was probably being watched there, too. “But,” he continued, “if tonight is uneventful, I’ll consider giving them a couple days off.”

I wiped the mist from the mirrored cabinet to see my face. Then I rolled my eyes at myself, but it was aimed at Nate. From tomorrow, we’d be together anyway so they wouldn’t be necessary. “Hope your dinner meeting is a success, Nate.”

“See you in my dreams, baby.”

HAVING recently got Nate back from a week of absence I was desperate to spend time with him. Alone. He’d given me remote access to his calendar, so mid-morning Wednesday I decided to use that privilege. I booked an hour out at 2 p.m., the only time he had free in a packed day. Then I text him:
FANCY A LUNCH DATE?

I’LL CLEAR MY SCHEDULE

ALREADY DONE X
I returned with a smile:
MEET U UP THERE AT 2. I’M BUYING

Shortly before I was due upstairs, I ducked out and bought a couple of wraps and smoothies from the local deli, then made my way to my man.

“Hey, Kara.” Ramón greeted me like I was an old friend when he stepped out of Nate’s office. “He’s waiting for you in there. You saved me a job today,” he grinned, nodding to the lunch. Then he winked, “I owe you.”

A little embarrassed, I told him it wasn’t necessary, then scurried inside.

“Kara.” Nate prowled towards me.
Those eyes.
Even from a distance they were luminous, sparkling with expectation. His index finger lifted my chin as he planted a kiss on my lips. “I wasn’t sure what devious plan you had for lunch,” he said, taking everything from me and walking towards the windows behind his desk, “so I did this.”

Outside, on a small shaded terrace, a small round iron table had been set with cutlery and folded white napkins. In the centre was a single white lily stolen from the display in Reception.

I linked my arm through his and bumped shoulders. “You’re a bit of a romantic, really, aren’t you?”

“It’s all for you.” We stepped outside, and after taking a moment to properly say hello, we ate an undisturbed lunch. It was a precious time, one I realised I’d had so many of already but hoped for many more.

“Are we going home together tonight?” Nate asked, finishing off his turkey and grilled vegetable wrap.

I smiled, loving how he thought of his place as our home. “Sounds good.”

“I’ll be done by five so we’ll leave whenever you’re ready.” He wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. I chewed my bottom lip and scooped up a piece of avocado that had fallen onto the wrapper from my wrap. “We’ll get dinner out, or eat at home. Your choice.”

His gaze was hot, the smile now teasing his lips carnal. I shifted in my seat to alter the pressure on my wanting clit. “You look like you want me for dessert,” I murmured, sucking my finger clean.

“You taste sweeter than any dessert.” He lifted my hand to his mouth. Again, he had me transfixed as he sucked each finger in turn, using his tongue the same way he did on other areas of my anatomy. Pressing his lips to my palm, he returned my hand to my lap and without preamble, asked, “Do you still have your period?”

“Yes.”

“Well, then,” he said, the backs of his fingers brushing my hot cheek, “you’ll have to have me for dessert instead.”

“We can’t spend all our time in bed,” I laughed.

“Why not?” I knew it wasn’t a serious question from the playful tilt of his head and dancing eyes. “You love being in my bed.”

His confident air caused a tight knot in my stomach.
How could he do that?
I’m certain I didn’t have the same effect on him, I don’t even think I could if I tried. Taking a sip of my banana ginger smoothie, I sought to halt the simmering need for Nate and restore some sense to my brain. “A meaningful relationship requires more than just sizzling sex.”

He flinched. “We have more.” He shoved his chair back so the iron legs scraped across the concrete and headed inside, throwing his rubbish in the bin before going into the bathroom.

“We do,” I called out from the threshold of the outer door. The running tap stopped and Nate reappeared, drying his hands on a towel.

“Go home after work.”

I approached cautiously, conscious I’d offended him. “I wasn’t brushing you off.”

“I know. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“We can leave together. It’s not a problem anymore.”

“Go home and change. I’m taking you out—on a date.” Nate threw the towel into the bathroom and took my hands, his eyes warm and affectionate. “We haven’t had many. It’s time to change that.”

A broad smile crept over my face. “Does this mean I get to lose my shadows?”

“When I’m not with you, they are. Get used to it.” He went to his desk and removed a file from the drawer.

I joined him and picked up the photo proudly displayed on his desk. It was taken at the beach, a headshot of us both with Nate pressing his lips to my temple.

“Do you recall what either of the men who harassed you looked like?” he asked.

“Not really, it happened so fast. Why?”

He opened the file and pointed to a security camera still. “This man was caught outside here a couple of weeks ago.”

I examined the image, but it was difficult to see his face beneath the baseball cap pulled low over his brow. “And you think it’s the same person?”

“Possibly.” Nate drew a deep breath and closed the file. “My security team are investigating. Whoever he is, he’s pretty smart at hiding.”

I clung to the photo pressed to my chest, resting my hip to the desk, and gulped back a frightened sob. “They’re after me?”

Nate moved fast, coming to me and prising the photo from my white knuckles. “I suspect you’re being targeted only as a means of reaching me,” he assured, gathering me protectively in his arms. “That’s why I need my team with you a while longer while we figure this out. I can’t let anything happen to you.”

It was further affirmation of his deepening feelings for me, and the kiss that followed was equally as loving. A no-holds-barred, uninhibited kiss, with no concern about where we were or who might see. “You can ditch the shadows later though,” he murmured against my mouth. “You’re coming home with me tonight. I need to feed you your dessert.”

NATE picked me up at seven prompt looking seriously hot in dark denim, a white shirt and unruly tousled hair. It was a warm evening, but I’d slipped on a short-sleeved black blazer over a red lace camisole with panties to match, black skinny jeans and the red heels I’d worn to the bar.

We’d passed the condo on our way, pulling up in Westwood Village before strolling to a small art deco cinema screening classic Audrey Hepburn, one of my favourite actresses. At the gilded ticket booth, the woman serving us fawned all over Nate, ignorant of my presence as she purred and flirted her way through the transaction.