Close to Perfect (14 page)

They really needed to get their act together.

“Hi. You're new.”

Tess lowered her bottle of Perrier and smiled blandly at the young man who had just said she was new and seemed to be waiting for a response.

“This is really something, isn't it?” she asked, moving away from him to the model of the retail, residential, and commercial development Josh had succeeded in putting together. If the conversation circulating this room was true, he had succeeded where many of the other developers had failed, since the local politicians, citizens, and even the environmentalists had finally gone along.

Maybe they realized what Tess already knew in her heart—he was an honorable man, who instilled loyalty in his people. Peg might have given him a hard time, but she adored him, while the others treated Josh with genuine respect.

“Yeah, it is something,” the young man answered, since he had followed her to the model. “So, are you press or staff?”

Tess put up her forefinger as she faked a minor cough, took a prolonged sip of her designer water, then turned to the flurry of activity as Josh entered the room.

Despite the applause, maybe because of it, he seemed kind of embarrassed, and gestured for it to stop.

As it did, Tess saw his gaze searching this room. A lot of the young women flashed him welcoming smiles, though Josh didn't seem to notice.

At last, his gaze saw what it wanted, his bodyguard.

Tess's heart fluttered.

Josh winked.

It was more intimate than a caress, because it was meant for her alone, even though they were surrounded by a roomful of people.

Tess smiled. She put the press kit under her right arm and gave him a thumbs up.

He grinned, then turned to an older man who had just clamped him on the shoulder. As they exchanged a handshake and conversation that had them both laughing, that persistent young man asked, “So, you know Josh?”

Tess made her voice light even though she wanted to shoot this guy. “Doesn't everyone?”

He seemed surprised by her evasive answer. “I guess. How do you know—”

“Hold that thought,” she interrupted, then pointed to the podium. “I think it's starting.”

“Oh, yeah. So,” he persisted, “you're a member of the—”

“Do you have a pen?”

He looked down at the one he was holding. “Only this one.”

“Could you get me one?” Tess asked. “And more water, too?” She stroked her throat. “I have this tickling, you know?”

The guy's gaze followed Tess's fingers to the base of her throat where she was drawing lazy circles. “Sure. Be right back.”

She smiled. “I'll be here.” The moment his back was to her, Tess moved to another part of the room, glanced at her watch, then looked up at the microphone's feedback.

Josh was finally at the podium. As the others moved closer, Tess retreated toward a wall, leaning against it as this thing finally got under way.

Josh first thanked everyone involved in this project, encouraging the crowd to applaud each individual. After detailing the stages of construction, which was accompanied by a video presentation, and offering a dizzying array of facts and figures, Josh finally wrapped things up and asked if there were any questions.

A young male voice from the back immediately called out, “Did those naked photos of you in
Keys Confidential
hurt your credibility with the investors?”

Tess swung her head to that guy. She frowned. How dare he ask such a thing.

Before Josh even had a chance to respond, a female reporter asked, “Were you behind those photos being published, in a misguided attempt to gain publicity for this project?”

On the heels of that was another question, “If this wasn't a publicity stunt orchestrated by you, do you plan to sue the tabloid?”

After that, everyone seemed to be talking at once.

Tess looked from the crowd to Josh as he remained at the podium, saying nothing, his expression unreadable. Even so, she sensed his anger and his hurt.

After all he had done for the Keys, after all he had accomplished, these ghouls were only interested in those tabloid photos?

Well, to hell with that.

Moving quickly through this crowd, Tess went to his side. Before Josh could ask what she was doing, Tess leaned toward the microphone and said, “That's enough!”

Her voice was loud and cop hard.

Some shut up; others did not.

Tess addressed them personally, asking if they were having trouble hearing or just didn't understand English. “I can say it in Spanish if that'd help,” she said, then did.

That shut them up.

Tess seized the quiet to address everyone. “Josh was as surprised by those photos—no, he was more surprised—than the rest of you. It wasn't your privacy that was breached—it was his. Do you have any idea how terrible that is? As to your question,” she said to the woman who asked if this was a misguided attempt to gain publicity, “didn't you do your homework before coming here? Don't you know what this man has done for the Keys and this state? Do you really believe he'd need a tabloid, of all things, to promote his projects?”

Before the woman could answer, Tess looked at the young man who asked that first, stupid question. “And you—do you really believe that with Josh's track record, investors would question his credibility? Is anyone really that naïve? And you,” she said to another, taking him to task for his idiotic question.

Moving from him to the next and then to the next, Tess vented as she never had, until she had said it all.

In that moment, silence greeted her, along with more than a few raised brows.

Well, too bad. She wasn't about to keep her mouth shut when they were attacking Josh. If they wanted a fight, then she'd give them one.

“Who are you?” a reporter finally called out.

Josh grabbed her wrist, as if warning her not to say anything else. Leaning toward the microphone, he said, “This press conference is over.”

As he tried to lead her away, Tess held back.

Josh gave her a hard stare, which she ignored.

“Tess Franklin,” she said into the microphone.

Josh hissed, “Tess.”

“It's okay,” she said to him. She wasn't going to tell these nitwits that she was his bodyguard, which would just bring everything right back to that tabloid stuff. She wouldn't embarrass him that way. Turning to the crowd, she said, “Josh and I have been seeing each other for some time.”

He looked at her as if she was nuts, or as if he'd forgotten the pretend relationship was his idea.

“Where did you two meet?” a reporter called out.

“When?” another shouted.

Tess put up her finger, asking for a moment, as Josh pulled her away from that mike and whispered in her ear, “What are you doing?”

She turned into him and whispered, “Figuring out when we met.”

“Are you kidding?” he whispered. “This is a press conference. Those are reporters.”

“They're ghouls,” she corrected, “and we both knew we'd be asked about our relationship.”

“Not at a press conference.”

“Let's get it all out right here and now. Unless you've changed your mind and want me to just be your bodyguard in public.”

Straightening, Josh met her gaze, then moved toward the microphone. “We met a while back through Tess's dad, Fred Franklin. He owns Privacy Dynamics. Fred's company did all the security upgrades for my estate and will soon start on the security for this building and the others I own.”

Tess tried to hide her surprise. That wasn't the history they had agreed upon.

Didn't matter. During the following minutes, Josh raved about her dad's business, giving the man publicity he couldn't have hoped to get in several years.

At last, Josh scanned the crowd and said, “Peg, see to it that all of these good people get a copy of Privacy Dynamics' brochure before they leave.”

“What's next for you two?” another reporter called out.

As the other reporters laughed and smiled, Tess considered that question.

No matter how much she enjoyed being with Josh, even at a stupid press conference, this couldn't last forever. It was just a job. And even if he was promoting her dad's business, even if he respected her and wanted her physically, that didn't mean that he would ever love her.

Tess finally went to the microphone and said the only thing she could. “That's between Josh and me.”

T
he moment those words were out of her mouth, Josh knew Tess had made a mistake. Not as big as disclosing their relationship to the freaking world, of course, but a definite no-no. If anything, the reporters now seemed determined to find out all that they could.

There were more questions about the romance, then ones about her age, where she had grown up, where she lived now, what she did for a living. It quickly dawned on Tess that their pretend relationship should have been assumed when they showed up at various functions, not spelled out at a media event. Even so, she dug in her heels, answering all of those questions with ones of her own, just like a former cop.

That only made the press more persistent.

Josh figured this couldn't get any worse until he noticed Sammie and Hank in the back. They were staring at Tess, then frowning at him, rather than taking control of this crowd, especially that guy to the right. He had tabloid written all over him as he kept snapping pictures.

Sammie finally pulled out her cell, punched in a number, then talked until her face was red. Josh figured she was reporting this newest wrinkle to Freddy.

If that wasn't bad enough, late in the day, Hank, not Tess, showed up to drive him home.

Josh wondered if she had been summoned to her dad's or was still hiding out. After the press conference, Josh had seen her only once, and that was when she was talking to Peg. From what Josh could overhear of that conversation, Tess admitted to losing her cool, something she never did.

“I just had to protect him,” she said with absolutely no regret in her voice, which got quickly ballsy, “and I'd do it again in a second, so shoot me.”

Josh would have hauled her into his arms and apologized for this mess he created, if not for Peg frowning at him to get lost before Tess noticed that he was eavesdropping.

After that, everything went downhill fast, which brought Josh to this moment with Hank. “Why are you driving me? Where's Tess?”

“She's got stuff to do.”

“Sounds important. How long will this stuff take?”

Hank's expression hardened. “Let's just say there's no need for you to wait up for her.”

“No need at all,” Sammie said as she came into his office.

By ten
P.M.
Josh started to believe that. He could only imagine what had happened at the Franklin house. It wasn't every day that a father learned that his daughter was romantically involved with a client she had met less than forty-eight hours before and had announced that at a press conference. Of course, Tess surely told her dad that the romance was just pretend, and that she had willingly lied about it to the press.

Josh guessed Freddy Franklin wasn't exactly doing backflips, and had probably explained how she was hurting herself, him, and the business with press that could turn ugly, fast. Could be Tess had finally listened to cold, hard logic, which explained why she wasn't here now; and might not be here tomorrow or any other day, for that matter.

He had to fix this, and not only because he wanted her back in his life. He had to tell her dad that what happened today was his fault, not hers.

After twisting the arm of a phone company exec, Josh finally got Freddy's unlisted number, punched in the first few digits, then hung up.

What if Tess had already gotten the situation under control and was on her way here, now? Getting her father worked up all over again, and at this late hour, wasn't going to help matters.

He should wait to call. If she wasn't back here by one, he would bite the bullet, wake Freddy, and have a man-to-man.

After all, he was still the client—unless Freddy had already torn up the contract.

By eleven she still had not.

Josh finally went into his office to lose himself in work. An hour later, he was deep into construction costs for another project, and had just finished calling an overseas client, when the phone rang.

Tess? “Yeah?” he said, answering the call.

There was a momentary pause, before the caller asked, “Is Tess there?”

Josh frowned to the question and that voice. It was male and young, possibly a teenager. “Who is this?”

“Is Tess there?”

Josh's voice hardened. “Who wants to know?”

“I'm a friend of hers.”

Was that right? So, how come all of the other people in her life seemed to be hard-assed ex-cops? Given this kid's lightweight voice, he wouldn't have made it as a hall monitor. “That's your name?”

“She knows who I am.”

Uh-huh. “I don't. So, you better tell me, buddy, if you want to speak to her.”

“So, she does live with you.”

Josh pushed out of his chair. “Who is this?”

The boy's voice got smug. “Just tell Tess we're looking forward to seeing her pictures everywhere, even on the Net. She is
so
hot.”

“Who are you?”

The kid had already hung up.

Josh sank to his chair. He recalled that man taking pictures at today's press conference. Surely those photos wouldn't be considered hot. So, was the kid talking about the ones the paparazzo took while Josh had been kissing her, or had someone pirated images of Tess walking around in her PJs—or even less—from the dumb security cameras Hank had set up around the pool and possibly in the rest of this place?

Was something like that even possible?

Oh, hell. Josh's heart continued to race as he pulled up Google, keyed in Tess's name and came up with fifteen hits.

He rubbed his temple as he quickly scanned the first, then the next, then the rest.

He lowered his hand. This stuff was press from her police days, not any of that other junk.

After taking a moment to calm down, Josh pulled up the first article and started reading about the act of bravery that had gotten Tess a commendation.

It was nothing,
she had said.
Just a domestic dispute. He didn't have a gun.

According to this report, the guy did have a ten-inch butcher's knife, which in Tess's world was considered little, not a machete. Josh rolled his eyes, then read that the man had used his wife as a hostage to make the cops back off.

Tess hadn't. She talked the guy into letting her be his hostage, even offering him money and safe passage, if he'd just let his wife go.

The man finally did, taking Tess instead, until she worked her magic.

At least, that's the way this article made it sound. They downplayed the fact that Tess had been banged up pretty badly as she wrestled the weapon away from that guy.

Josh shook his head. No way was he going to let her do stuff like that again. Having her pictures in tabloids and on the Net was bad enough. If he had to cuff her to his bed to make certain she was safe and was behaving herself, then he damned well—

The sound of a car approaching, then its headlights bleeding into this room, interrupted his thoughts.

Josh glanced at the time—half past twelve. He turned off the computer and moved through the darkened office to the window.

His Mercedes was pulling up. He hoped it was being driven by Tess, and not being returned by one of her dad's very devoted friends.

An eternity seemed to pass before Tess finally got out of the car.

She didn't look sad, but then, she didn't look like she wanted any company, either; especially his.

Before she came inside, Josh left his office and went up to his bedroom. It was only then that he realized Tess might have returned for her things.

When he heard her come up the stairs, then go to her room and close the door, Josh knew she was staying, at least for a little while longer.

But if things got worse than today?

Uh-uh. He wasn't going to allow that. No matter what it took, he was going to protect her from the paparazzi and everyone else. He was going to keep her here.

It wasn't a matter of choice, anymore, but something that his heart simply demanded.

 

 

The following morning, Tess made no mention of the press conference, nor did Josh. Instead, he kept bringing up the work he had done last night while she had been out, then waited for her to say what she had done.

Not a chance.

Tess sensed they had come to a crossroads in all of this, and that Josh might be questioning the wisdom of their contract. Having to fight for it at her father's weekly poker game with Sammie, Hank, and Vic, another retired cop, in attendance was not one of Tess's better memories.

The moment she had walked into the house, Sammie yelled, “Freddy, she's here!”

“Gee, thanks,” Tess muttered.

“You got some explaining to do,” her father said as he came out of the kitchen.

“Okay,” Tess said.

He frowned. “That's it? Okay?”

“Maybe you should tell her what this is about,” Sammie said.

“She already knows what this is about,” Freddy said, then spoke to Tess. “You actually like that guy enough to lie for him in front of all those reporters?”

“Of course she likes him,” Sammie said, then looked surprised when Tess gave her a hard stare. “I don't blame you,” Sammie quickly added. “He is very cute. I'd lie for him, too.”

Tess moved past them to the kitchen.

Her dad followed with Sammie and Vic bringing up the rear. “Are you gonna answer me or not?” her dad asked. “Do you like this man?”

If she allowed herself, Tess knew she'd be falling in love with Josh, and not getting over it any time soon. Not that she was about to hold a press conference on that. “He's a nice guy, Pop.” She dropped her purse on the counter. “It would be hard not to like him. Didn't Sammie tell you what he did for your business? All that free publicity? All these new jobs setting up the security for his other properties? You should be thanking me. You should be thanking him.”

“I'd be serving a life term if I thanked him the way I want. No, you listen to me,” Freddy said, interrupting her. “After knowing this guy for two minutes, you agree to move in with him? After knowing him for five minutes, you agree to start lying for him at press conferences? What's gonna happen after you know him for ten minutes?”

Tess figured that wasn't something she would ever discuss with her father. “I never said I was a saint, Pop. Besides, telling those reporters that I was his girlfriend was my idea.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

Apparently, given the fallout here and from the press. “So now I'm a nun? I can't date men anymore?”

“You just met him! You don't know him!”

“The reporters don't know that and they won't know that. He was in trouble and I just had to help.”

“She just had to help,” Freddy mumbled, grinding the heel of his hand into his forehead. “If the guy wanted you to rob a bank to help him out, would you do that, too?”

“Better not,” Hank said, as he came in the back door, “not with me around.”

Tess arched one brow. “Did you get Josh to his house without incident?”

“You see any bloodstains?”

“Hank, did you threaten him?”

“I'm leaving that up to your dad.”

Tess cried, “What is the matter with you people? Josh is paying big bucks for this contract.” She turned to her father. “I know I should have told you about pretending to be his girlfriend in public, but,” she interrupted him, “it just never came up until the press conference. And it's only to help him out with those women who are after him.”

“Guy's got a real problem fighting off the babes,” Hank said to Vic, bringing him up to speed.

“He is very cute,” Sammie added.

Tess swung her head to them both, then turned back to her father. “I'm not giving up this job, Pop, just in case you were thinking of asking. I got it for the company and I'm seeing it through. That's my right.”

“What about mine?”

Aw, Papa.
“I swear I won't do anything really bad.”

“How about moderately bad?” Vic asked.

Tess looked at the man. He was older than the rest, in his mid-sixties, wrinkled and gray, and wearing dark-rimmed glasses with trifocal lenses.

“We don't do anything bad, period,” Tess said. “So all of you, please back off.”

Didn't happen.

In the following days, Hank and Sammie always seemed to be around, not that that was entirely necessary as Josh had already severely curtailed any contact with the public and with her.

Tess endured his hands-off approach until she couldn't stand it any longer. She missed the possibility that they might have to kiss or hug to keep the babes away. It was grasping at straws, sure, but it was all that she had. Their private moments were still off-limits, and would be, because of the contract. No way did Tess think she could honor it if their relationship turned sexual, then tanked.

At last, she cornered Josh in his office. “What's up?”

He followed her gaze to his groin. “Huh?”

Tess lifted her gaze. “Why do you keep canceling all of your business functions? No, don't tell me,” she said before he could answer, “you're afraid I'm going to hold another press conference, right?”

A smile played at the corners of his sensuous mouth. “I don't blame you for that.”

“You didn't thank me for that, either.”

Josh came around his desk, but stopped well short of her. “Thanks. I appreciate how you came to my—”