Guarding Kelsey ((Books We Love Romantic Suspense)) (5 page)

T
o
o much information and
more than he wanted to hear. The very thought that some bastard had already physically terrorized her once penetrated even his desensitized emotions. He couldn’t talk his way out of this assignment now.
She needed his protection and he could not let another person down.
"No mother?"

"She gave up her daughter in a divorce settlement when Kelsey was five years old.
She's been married twice since then and visits her daughter infrequently.
More often since Kelsey's father died, leaving her a fortune."

For a bitter moment Wolf thought his partner spoke about his own mother.
Only she had left when Wolf was ten and she had only needed one rich husband after that to make her happy.

"How did you find that out?" Wolf asked.

"The doorman.
He thinks the world of her."

"Did the doorman mention seeing anyone suspicious entering the building yesterday?"

"He said no, but there is another entrance from the underground parking lot.
Tenants need an electronic card to get their cars in but it wouldn’t preclude someone slipping past security on foot."

"Is that all?"

Martinez tossed the reports onto his desk.
"Unless you'd like a few pointers on how to eat crow."

His assessments rarely strayed so far off base but Kelsey Winston was a walking paradox.
Tough, yet vulnerable.
Living a charmed life that wasn’t quite so charming.
"Maybe you'd like to take the night watch while I investigate on the streets," Wolf said.

"My wife would kill me and Captain Reynolds would kill you.
Her father was a big time contributor to the PBA, and Reynolds is adamant that
you take
charge of her welfare.”

Was this his boss’s way of putting him
on
a leash?
So, he might have ruffled a few of Kelsey Winston’s pretty little tail feathers during questioning.
This was a murder investigation not a tea party.

“You’re stalling Krieger.
Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a helpless little woman.”

"Afraid of her?” he said with a laugh.
“Couldn't you tell?
That woman wants me."

Martinez chuckled.
"Yeah.
She wants your sorry head on a platter."

Wolf came to his feet and grabbed his gun. "Sterling silver, no doubt."
It was going to be a long night.
He would prefer to come up against a mob
hit man
than an irate heiress.
Especially one with killer curves and a lethal wit. Guarding Kelsey might prove to be his most dangerous assignment to date.

Chapter
Three

“You are lucky to be alive young lady,” Daniel Carlyle lectured for the third time that day.

Kelsey rolled her eyes and shook her head.
She never should have told her uncle about the incident.
He had enough on his mind with the estate affairs. Uncle Daniel was a chronic worrier and more over-protective than her own father had been.
They constantly battled over her research work. He couldn’t understand why she didn’t switch her major to business and follow in her father’s footsteps.

"Why social work, Kelsey?
If you want a career, all you have to do is say the word and you can move right into managing your father's properties like you should."

Kelsey pulled a face.
She didn't want to be a spoiled society princess who lived off her inheritance.
She wanted to make a difference.
Summers in Europe and winters in Aspen were not her idea of setting the world on fire.

"You know I was never interested in that.
You do it so well.
That's why Dad hired you in the first place. Unless
.
."
Her voice trailed off.
Was she being selfish?
It never occurred to her that her uncle might not want to handle that any longer.
Although he earned a percentage of the profits to take care of the holdings, it might be too much for him now.
“Maybe I should hire an outside firm to handle the probate issues.
I shouldn’t have asked that of you.”

Daniel touched her arm. "I told you, I don't mind doing it Kelsey.
My concern is for you.
And now this mess with some mad
hit man
on the loose.
You’re lucky nothing serious happened to you."

Kelsey glanced towards the police officer in a chair by the front door. She didn’t feel lucky. She wasn't sure which was worse; knowing someone wanted her dead or being confined to the house all day.

"If they don't catch that man soon I might throw myself out the window from sheer boredom.
They wouldn't even let me go to the store for myself."

Daniel huffed and straightened his small shoulders. "Well, I should hope not.
There is some psycho out there threatening you.
What could you possibly need that is more important than your life?"

Kelsey shook her head. "Feminine things.
Would you like to get them for me?"

He let out a deep grunt. "I wish you would take this more seriously."

She took the threats very seriously.
But fear would never rule her life again.
She had lived like that once before, and she had sworn she would never give into it again.

The chimes struck eight times on the grandfather clock at the same moment the doorbell rang.
The police department gave new meaning to the expression 'like
clockwork
'. Officer O’Brien checked the door before letting in his replacement.
Kelsey stood up to meet the new arrival.
She could only hope he had more personality than O’Brien.

The smile faded when Wolf Krieger entered her home.

"Oh, no," she muttered under her breath.
Stuck in the entire night with him!
He was worse than O’Brien.
With all the police in the city of New York, why did he have to be the one who showed up?

* * *

Wolf caught Kelsey’s stricken face and bit back a laugh.
Judging by her angry stance, he was about as welcome as the plague.
Her torn sweatshirt and gray sweat pants had seen better days.
Black rimmed glasses rested firmly on her classic nose.
Her hair, pulled back into a ponytail, swung across her back as she turned her head away in aggravation.
Few women would be caught dead in that outfit let alone while entertaining a visitor.
Quite a change from their first two meetings.

He sent her a nod, which she barely acknowledged, then turned towards O’Brien.
"Who's the visitor?"

"Daniel Carlyle.
She says he's an uncle, but aren't they all?"

Wolf cringed from the insulting words.
Wouldn't he have assumed the same thing?
"He
is
her uncle."

O’Brien shrugged. "I'm out of here.
Make sure you have plenty of hot coffee to stay awake.
When no one's here she sits at her computer with a set of head phones and doesn't say a word."

Wolf could well imagine that Ms. Winston wouldn't have much to say to the NYPD.
He took a seat at the door and began his twelve-hour shift.

"Excuse me, Detective," her uncle called.

"Uncle Daniel!" Kelsey cried out.

Wolf rose and strode into the living room. From the blush on Kelsey's cheeks he figured her uncle planned to embarrass her.
"Yes, sir?"

"Would you please tell my niece that this is no laughing matter?
She seems to think it would be amusing to slip out the front door when you're not looking and roam around the streets."

Wolf turned his head towards Kelsey and raised his eyebrow.
"Then I'll have to make sure I never take my eyes off her."

"You'd better not, because I'm holding you personally responsible for her welfare.
I’d better warn you, she's a little too fearless for her own good."

He would bet her uncle hit the nail on the head.
She had more spunk than the average Park Avenue heiress, but apparently little concern for the danger her willful actions could cause.
"I’m sure I won’t have any trouble handling her."

Daniel came to his feet.
"I have to go.
You call your aunt an
d tell her what you need
and I'll bring it by on my next visit."

Her eyes rounded anxiously.
She clutched his wool suit jacket and turned a pleading gaze in his direction.
"Stay for dinner.
I'll cook."

Wolf would bet that his presence, and not fear, caused her alarm.
He hadn’t made a good first impression
.
. or second
.
. or third for that matter.
Not that she’d win Miss Congeniality either.
He’d have to use their mutual distrust to his advantage.
His job was to keep her alive, and he could only
do that if he kept up his guard
against outside dangers and against Kelsey herself.

"If you're afraid to eat alone I'm sure the police officer would be happy to join you in the dining room," Daniel said.

“Never mind." She spun on her heel and headed towards the door.

"No!" Wolf yelled.
In three long strides he was next to her, covering her hand as she reached for the handle.
His fingers locked around her wrist and he hurled her backwards.
"Don't ever open that door."

Kelsey stumbled into him.
For several seconds, she stared at him with those incredibly blue eyes of hers.
Warm breath fanned his neck.
Something similar to emotion constricted in his chest and the rest of his body tightened in an equally uncomfortable manner.
He was in deep water and sinking fast.
Before he did something stupid like kiss that sensual mouth of hers, he turned her lose.

It had been a long time since a woman had had such a potent effect on him.
Why her?
Why now?
He didn’t need this.
And he sure as hell didn’t want it.

She shot him a cold glare.
"I wasn't going anywhere.
I was only going to open the door for my uncle."

"And if the gunman is in the building, Mrs. Winston?
It wouldn't be the first time."