Sworn to Protect (2 page)

“You’re not on the clock and I’m not here to work. But I am looking forward to your presentation on Monday.” He shot her a quick grin before kissing Belle on the cheek and heading for the back door. Athena knew where he was going, too.

And if the expression on Mara’s face was any indication, she knew what he was doing as well. “Men and their toys,” she murmured, smiling at Athena as she followed her husband.

Grant, who was also Harrison’s younger brother, had just gotten a new addition to his already ridiculously large grill that was apparently drool-worthy. Or something to that effect. Athena didn’t really know or care. She was just as bad at cooking as Belle—much to her mother’s continuing disappointment—and a grill was a scary thing.

“Is there anything you want me to do?” Athena asked Belle as she slid off her chair. They’d had the party catered—though Belle wasn’t telling anyone but Athena that—so all the food and drinks were arranged artfully in the kitchen and on the lanai. And there was a full self-serve bar set up by the pool.

“Yes, enjoy yourself,” she said as Lizzy and a slew of other people spilled into the kitchen.

As Belle started greeting guests, tall and gorgeous Lizzy, who also worked for Red Stone, hooked her arm through Athena’s and dragged her toward the back door. “I know there’s a bar out there and I’m kid free and done breastfeeding. I need a good drink.”

“I’ll make you something fun,” she said, allowing herself to be propelled outside, laughing at her friend’s enthusiasm. “Where’s Porter?”

“With Grant, looking at a new gun.” Lizzy shook her head as she spoke.

That was a little weird to Athena, but she knew the Caldwell brothers and pretty much anyone who worked for Red Stone Security owned more than one weapon. Most of the men and women in the security department anyway. They were all former military and it was like a thing with them. And they really liked to compare weapons.

She’d recently been hired as an event planner of sorts at Red Stone and her first official day was Monday—though she’d technically been working from home for the past three weeks to get ready for her first day. She was helping out with an event in Vegas in a little over a week and had needed to communicate with various companies out there. Coming into the office hadn’t been necessary and she’d liked the freedom to make her own schedule these past weeks.

“Are you nervous about Monday?” Lizzy asked as they rounded the pool. It was filled with multicolored floating candles.

“A little bit. Not about the job, but the presentation itself I guess.” For the last two years she’d done contract work as an event coordinator all over the world. Not local wedding type stuff, but big things—tradeshows and festivals. She taken her first job the week after she’d graduated college and because of her willingness to travel—and a lot of freaking hard work—she’d landed a lot of contract jobs. Some better than others. She’d majored in hospitality and minored in public relations, both of which had been an asset to her career.

In the beginning she’d had assistant positions but for the last year she’d taken on bigger projects solo. She shot Lizzy a look when she didn’t say anything. Athena could read into the silence. “Okay, I’m nervous about the job too.”

“You’re going to do great,” Lizzy said as they reached the mini Tiki bar. The air was cool in the high fifties and the scent of various meats on the grill filled the air. Even though they’d had the party catered, apparently Grant had insisted on grilling some things himself. “I wouldn’t have recommended you apply for it otherwise.”

Athena ducked behind the bar and grinned at the array of bottles and other garnishes. She’d been friends with Lizzy the past couple months and knew her friend’s tastes by now. As she started mixing up their drinks she said, “If I fail, hopefully they won’t blame you.”

Lizzy just snorted but eyed the drink mix curiously. “Purple?”

“Just wait. You’ll like it.” She rolled the rims of the martini glasses in sugar as she spoke.

“Where’d you learn to do this?”

“I bartended a little in college and there were a few occasions on the job where I had to assist because staff called out sick for an event.” There’d been a huge festival in Madrid she’d helped out with a year ago where three of the staff had gotten food poisoning, so in addition to everything else she’d been in charge of, she’d had to help with drinks on and off. That had been such a chaotic, ridiculous job.

“At least you’ll have something to fall back on if you do fail,” Lizzy teased.

“I seriously hope not.” She set the two glasses on the bar and strained the purple concoction into them. With the twinkle lights strung up around the lanai and the ones glittering in the pool, the sugar seemed to sparkle around the rim. “This is called a wildcat.”

“You have to make me one of those too!” The unfamiliar female voice made Athena look up.

Her eyes widened as her gaze locked with Quinn freaking Brody, the too-sexy-man with an aversion to virgins. He was with the tall woman who’d just asked Athena to make a drink. But she had eyes only for Quinn. Her heart about jumped out of her chest. What was he doing here of all places? At least he looked just as surprised to see her.

She ignored him because she knew if she stared into those dark eyes she’d lose the ability to speak and then she’d inevitably embarrass herself.

The tall, built-like-a-goddess woman with pale blonde hair he was with smiled widely at Athena. “Only if you don’t mind,” she continued, nodding at the drinks. “They look so good.”

“Ah, you can have this one. I made an extra for the lush here.” She tilted her head at Lizzy with a half-smile. Athena had planned to drink the second one herself but didn’t trust her hands not to shake if she made another. She couldn’t believe Quinn was standing right in front of her, looking all casual and annoyingly sexy in dark jeans and a long-sleeved sweater shoved up to his elbows. Why did his forearms have to look so good?

“Ha, ha.” Lizzy snagged her drink as Athena stepped out from behind the bar. “Athena, this is Quinn Brody and Dominique Castle. They both work for Red Stone but Dominique is almost as new as you.”

Forcing a smile on her face, Athena nodded politely at both of them—and tried to ignore the way Quinn was staring at her. She’d had no freaking idea he worked for Red Stone. He looked a bit like a hungry wolf. Just like on their last date—two months ago. When he’d decided she was too much trouble, being a virgin and all. Jackass. “It’s so nice to meet you both.” She did a mental fist pump when her voice sounded normal. “I promised Belle I’d help out inside but I hope to see you both around tonight.”
Liar, liar.

“Me too. Thanks again for the drink,” Dominique said cheerfully while Lizzy just gave Athena a strange look.

Athena wasn’t sure what Quinn’s expression was because she’d decided to do the mature thing—and studiously ignore him. When she looked at him it was just a reminder of all those intense kisses they’d shared. He’d lit her body on fire like no one ever had. They’d gone on half a dozen dates and she’d thought they were on the same page, had wanted the same thing. Obviously not, and she thought she’d been over it.

No, she
was
over him. She simply needed to get it together before she saw or talked to him again.

Lord, talk about totally unexpected.

Since she didn’t know everyone at the party it was easy enough to make her way inside without having to make small talk. She hurried to Belle and Grant’s bathroom, not bothering to use one of the guest ones. Not when she just wanted a couple minutes of privacy and she knew her cousin wouldn’t mind.

As she shut the bathroom door behind her, she leaned against it and let out a stupid rush of breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding in. The man should not be able to affect her at all. Not two months after…the hottest dates of her life. She’d been so sure—

No. Just, no.

She would not think about those midnight dark eyes of his and the dirty things he’d whispered to her as he’d nibbled along her jaw, making his way to that sensitive spot on her neck.

When she suddenly wondered if he and Dominique had come here tonight together, as a couple, it was as if she’d been doused with that clichéd ice water. That certainly cooled Athena’s thoughts down. Those two probably were together. Worse, they
looked
perfect together too. Both tall, sleek and too sexy for mere freaking mortals like herself.

Sure, Athena might be named for a goddess but she wasn’t some siren. Ugh, and she’d worn a boat-neck cashmere sweater, jeans and ballet slipper type shoes.
Super sexy
, she thought sarcastically, wishing she’d opted for heels at least. Even if she did think heels were ridiculous. At five feet two, she could use a bit of height but she liked her feet too much to constantly subject them to torture. God, just seeing him here, with someone so seemingly perfect for him, made Athena feel like that chubby girl in high school again. The girl with the big personality. The girl everyone wanted to be friends with. But not date.

She tried to shake off the old insecurities. Gritting her teeth at herself, she took a deep breath and opened the door. She wasn’t going to hide in her cousin’s bathroom and berate herself. She’d had a few dates with the man. It hadn’t worked out. No big deal.

She was going to get another glass of champagne, enjoy herself and get to know her new co-workers. The thought came to an abrupt halt as she opened the bedroom door and found Quinn leaning against the wall opposite her, almost casually. But she wasn’t fooled by his stance.

Nothing about him was casual. Those muscular arms were crossed over his broad chest and there was an almost predatory gleam in those dark eyes. No, that look on his face couldn’t be mistaken for anything but raw lust.

Which wasn’t exactly a shock. Their attraction to each other hadn’t been the issue.

Chapter 2

Seeing Athena again in person had been like a punch to all of Quinn’s senses. Everything about her was sensual and he knew she wasn’t trying. She screamed sex appeal and it was all in her big blue eyes and sultry mouth. Her bottom lip was perpetually pouty and drove him just a little crazy. He couldn’t believe she was working for Red Stone or that she was at Grant’s place. He knew she came from a huge family and seeing her again, now the resemblance to Belle was clear.

Her lips pulled into a thin line for a moment, her expression one of annoyance before it quickly morphed into what he thought of as her fake, forced smile. He’d seen it once when a waiter had been rude to them.

Quinn didn’t like being on the receiving end of it. “It’s good to see you again,” he murmured, the urge to reach out and…hell, touch her, was so damn strong. And insane. He had no right to touch her.

Fake smile in place, she nodded once. “Yeah, nice to see you too.” Then her brow furrowed as she looked down the hall then back at him. “What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you.”

“Oh.” That smile faded only to be replaced by a look of bewilderment.

He wanted to reach out and smooth the lines of confusion from her forehead before claiming her mouth. He was a fucking idiot for walking away from her. The past two months he’d hadn’t been on any dates. Though he’d asked two women out, he’d cancelled for both dates, claiming work as an excuse. After Athena everyone else was too bland, too…
not
Athena. He didn’t want anyone other than her and that was disturbing.

She’d left her long, espresso-colored hair down in big waves he wanted to run his hands through. The last time he’d seen her she’d looked the same except for a single braid she’d fashioned as a headband of sorts. She’d told him it was Bohemian.

“Ah, I didn’t say we’d met because I thought it might be weird,” she continued.

He’d figured as much and he’d been too stunned at seeing her to say
anything
. He forced his gaze from her delicious mouth to her eyes. “When did you get hired by Red Stone?”

She lifted her shoulders in a jerky, awkward shrug and flicked a glance down the hall, as if she was biding her time to escape. “A little while ago. My first official day’s not until Monday. Is Red Stone the same company you’ve been with the last six years?”

He’d told her that he was in private security but hadn’t mentioned the name of the company and she’d been understanding. His rule was not to tell women who he worked for unless things turned serious. Things had never actually turned serious enough with anyone for him to be open about who he worked for. “Yeah. Listen, I’m sorry about the way things, uh, the way I…” Damn it, he’d never been tongue-tied around a woman before. Not even as a teenager. Looking at Athena now, he couldn’t believe he’d been dumb enough to walk away from her. When he’d realized how innocent she was it had freaked him out, to put it mildly. Had made him feel guilty for the dirty things he’d said to her, wanted to do to her. With her—

Her annoyed voice cut through his thoughts. “I really don’t want to talk about it. It’s not a big deal.” But her stiff stance and almost neutral expression said the opposite.

In his limited experience with her, her expressions had always been so open and animated. Now it was clear she was putting a wall between them. Even if he deserved it, it still irked him.

“Okay.” He didn’t really want to talk about it either. Clearing his throat, he continued, “Dominique is my cousin.” For just a moment out by the bar there’d been a flash of something in Athena’s gaze. Maybe he’d read into it, maybe not. Either way, he wanted it clear that he wasn’t with anyone else. Not that he was sure it would matter to Athena one way or another.