Gunning for the Groom (6 page)

“That depends.” Aidan stepped up, his warm smile the epitome of devoted groom as he smoothed over her gaffe. “Since I met your daughter, it's been clear how important family is to her. One reason we haven't given the wedding much thought is that she wants to share that process with you.”

“Is that true?”

Frankie could only nod at the impending train wreck.

“I'm not one to waste time,” Aidan continued. “I lit a fire of sorts under my future bride. I sent résumés to several companies, including Leo Solutions, in hopes of landing a job right away.”

When he wrapped his arm around Frankie's shoulders, it felt so...normal.

“Frankie took leave from the Savannah PD,” he went on, “so we could spend some time out here and see how it goes.”

“Then you
must
stay here,” Sophia insisted. “There's plenty of room. I'll find places for you both within the company. Think of it as a test drive. No obligation.” She hesitated, hope shining in her eyes. “Or if you find the work suits you, we can make it permanent. It's what your father and I wanted all along.”

“Mom.” Just the mention of her father set her teeth on edge. “Your home—”

“Will always have room for you.”

“Thank you, Sophia.” Aidan stepped into the breach once more. “That's generous and we appreciate it, of course.”

Frankie rubbed the scar her mother knew about on her hip, the one still shedding bits of dirt from that wretched road. “I keep weird hours with the physical therapy and early-morning workouts. Besides, we're used to being alone.”

Sophia's cheeks turned pink. “I do understand. Why don't we get you set up in a corporate apartment? At least until you decide if you're staying.”

Frankie was about to turn that down, too, when she heard Aidan accepting it with enthusiasm. “A corporate apartment? That's not an imposition?”

“Not at all. I'm happy to do it. They're fully furnished, have a scheduled housekeeping service and provide great access to markets and entertainment downtown. The interns love the location.”

“Great. Thanks.” Frankie almost meant it.

Sophia glanced at her watch. “I'm supposed to check in at the office to review a client proposal before dinner. Why don't we all head over? You can meet my business partner, Paul Sterling, and we can discuss possible posts for each of you.”

Frankie couldn't get out of the house fast enough. She didn't try to convince herself it was all about the case and getting a look inside Leo Solutions. If her mother had been so determined to eliminate her dad, why did she keep so many reminders of the life they'd shared? The contradiction seemed like an unsolvable puzzle.

Or it would have if she'd been here alone. Few things seemed impossible as she walked hand in hand with the man pretending to be in love with her. The realization didn't make her particularly happy, but that analysis would have to wait for another day.

* * *

“Y
OUR
MOM
SEEMS
genuinely happy to see you again,” Aidan said, sliding into the driver's seat. He knew the opposite was true for Frankie and he wanted to give her space to vent whatever she was feeling, before round two.

Her lips thinned. “It would be nice if I could take anything she says at face value.”

Aidan appreciated her quiet insistence that they follow her mother to the Leo Solutions headquarters rather than riding with her. Frankie had held up like a champ, sticking with the safe topics, but she clearly needed a breather. “How are you doing?” He ignored the way her hands fisted in her lap.

“I'm fine. Thanks to your quick thinking. You're amazing at the undercover routine.”

The unexpected compliment sounded sincere. “Thanks. It got a little dicey here and there.”

“Did the wedding talk upset you?”

Yes.
“Not too bad.” Talk of kids had been worse. He concentrated on relaxing his grip on the steering wheel. A year ago fatherhood had been one of those murky, inevitable points in his future. Now he'd written it off as something he wasn't qualified to think about. “You made it sound as though she'd ask for DNA and blood samples.”

“She might yet,” Frankie replied, her gaze firmly on Sophia's car ahead of them. “It's probably part of the new-hire process.”

“Well, I think we're doing great.”

“You can't be sure,” she countered.

“I am sure. You were right about the engagement tactic.” Her ego needed a boost and her mind needed the distraction. “She's in love with the idea of you being in love.” He waited, surprised when Frankie didn't give him an I-told-you-so. “I saw the way you sized up her place. Planning to break in?”

“No,” she said, her brief laugh tinged with exhaustion. “I was just startled by how many things sitting around were from our previous homes.” She scowled.

“You weren't thinking about floor safes and security systems?”

“Only a little.” She twisted the diamond ring on her finger. “Do you think she did the painting and other stuff just to impress me?”

“I doubt it.” He wasn't sure Frankie wanted his opinion right now. From his vantage point, Sophia was fully devoted to repairing her relationship with her daughter.

“Nice work buying your way in to a highly competitive job for the small investment of an engagement ring.”

“Small investment?” He faked indignation. “I would've gotten the job, anyway. Interviewers love me.” Though he was teasing, he felt her focus on him and he struggled not to fidget under that steady examination.

“I bet they do,” she said. “The flowers were a nice touch.”

Another compliment. It gave him hope for surviving the situation. “It pleases me that you're pleased.” He flashed her a grin.

She gave him one of those scoffing snorts. “Do you think her partner, Paul, will start us in the mail room?”

“She's surely discussing the options with him already. She's been on the phone since she pulled out of the driveway.”

“I noticed.” Frankie's hands tensed up again. “What sort of position does she think you're qualified for?”

“I can hardly say. I'm former Interpol. The agency loaded my résumé with fitness and combat training expertise. Self-defense, hand-to-hand, various firearms.”

“Nice.”

He felt his chest swell that she was impressed. “And you?”

“At the end of the day, I'm an analyst like my mom.”

She didn't sound happy about the comparison. “You're far more than that,” he said automatically.

Frankie shrugged one shoulder. “She could fit me in as a trainer, but she won't. I don't think she'll ever let go of how weak I was right after those early surgeries.”

Surgeries, plural?
He wanted her to volunteer more information about her injury and recovery so he could avoid an invasion of her medical privacy. “You look perfectly fit to me.”

“Is that a sincere compliment?” She was staring at him again.

“Yes.” He shot her a smile. “Did you think the things I said in front of your mother weren't sincere?”

“No other conclusion.” Frankie didn't sound the least perturbed. “You don't know me.”

Every word he'd said in front of her mom, he believed. Unfortunately, he couldn't give Frankie an answer she'd accept, so he changed the subject. “What do you know about Paul Sterling?”

“Only what we looked at last night.” She shifted in the seat. “Did you get the impression there's a personal connection?”

“I hope not.” Anything personal between Paul and Sophia threw a wrench into his assessment of the investigation. Bad enough he might have to anticipate how Sophia would rank her relationship with her daughter amid her commitments to the company. A lover only increased the twists exponentially, not to mention how Frankie would react. The last thing she needed was more pain. “We'll know soon enough,” he said, taking the last turn into an industrial park near the airport.

They followed Sophia past the security guard at the gate and parked in a space behind the one reserved with her name on it. He caught Frankie's hand before she could get out of the car. “You're doing great,” he said, his gaze locked with hers. “And you're not alone.”

She shocked him with a quick kiss on his lips and a hot smile. “Game on.”

Knowing this was all show for her mother, Aidan felt frustrated that his immediate reaction had nothing to do with the case. The kick in his pulse, the flash of heat under his skin were all about the woman. He watched her stride up to join her mom and wondered if his attraction was as one-sided as it felt.

“Paul's waiting for us in my office,” Sophia announced.

Another warning that the man's purpose went beyond business.

Like Frankie, Aidan was cataloging every detail as they walked into the lobby. The information placard showed Leo Solutions had offices listed on the top two floors and one lower level of the seven-story building, with other companies scattered in between. The place was quiet, the furnishings expensive and understated. A tall vase exploding with fresh flowers spanned the space between the banks of elevators. He imagined clients felt safe and reassured doing business here.

“Do you always work on Saturdays?” he asked, when the three of them stepped into an elevator.

“Not always,” Sophia replied. “We have a new client we're courting.” Her eyes sparkled as her gaze danced between the two of them.

Aidan took Frankie's hand in his, a casual gesture of affection that Sophia noticed.

“Paul pulled your résumé, Aidan. I know some people might see it as favoritism, but I'm glad you told me you'd applied.” She held the door open when they reached her floor. “Welcome to Leo Solutions.”

Frankie's fingers tightened around his hand. He gave them a reassuring squeeze.

“We have offices on this floor and the next floor up. And a fully equipped gym and training space on the first sublevel.”

“Is there anywhere in Seattle that doesn't have a great view?” Aidan asked as they strolled by a bank of windows.

“The views, the weather and the recreational variety were the things we enjoyed most as a family. Right, Frankie?”

“I remember.”

“I just couldn't see planting the business anywhere else. Your father and I even looked at this building together.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Sophia's reply was a whispered echo, her gaze locked on the view beyond the wide windows running the length of the far wall. “Let's not keep Paul waiting. He's eager to meet you both.”

Aidan hoped she wasn't putting words into her business partner's mouth. He hadn't been able to get through the company finances or the partnership agreement, so he didn't know if Paul would see Frankie as a threat or an asset. Although Sophia's warm welcome gave him the impression Frankie, as her only family, would be a beneficiary at the very least, it was too soon to know for sure.

Sophia led them down a hallway framed by cubicles on one side and small offices on the other. Her office suite was preceded by a receptionist's desk and double doors, currently standing open. Paul, seeing them, walked over from the seating area near the corner window. He smiled as Sophia made the introductions, but Aidan didn't feel any warmth in the expression.

“It's good to meet you,” Paul said to Frankie as they settled into the seating area. “You mean the world to your mother. She's missed you.” He took a seat at one end of a long couch and Sophia sat next to him.

Mentally, Aidan swore. There was a romantic liaison between the business partners. As he and Frankie took the chairs opposite the older couple, he noticed the way she eased her body into hers. That cautious transition from standing to sitting was the only allowance he'd seen her make for her injury. He wasn't about to jeopardize any progress he'd made by mentioning it to her.

“Sophia tells me we need to find positions within Leo Solutions.” Paul cocked an eyebrow at Aidan. “For both of you.”

“Only if it's convenient,” he answered. “I'm happy to look for work elsewhere.”

“Nonsense. You'll be family soon.” Sophia's sharp gaze slid to her partner. “Aidan has the background and qualities we prefer.”

He gave Paul his best easygoing smile. “I don't intend to force my way in.”

Paul tapped the closed tablet balanced on the arm of the couch. “I'd flagged your résumé for an interview before Sophia called.”

Aidan pretended to believe him.

“We didn't come out to insert ourselves into your business,” Frankie interjected quietly as she reached for Aidan's hand. “I'm sure you know things were rough between Mom and me, but when Aidan proposed, I knew I wanted to tell her in person.”

“She's willing to stay, Paul,” Sophia said, her voice catching. “You know we could use her skills.”

He nodded. “Would you rather work a desk or be in the field? I'm sure Sophia's told you we have three divisions offering cyber security, property security and personal protection solutions.”

“A desk,” Frankie replied, avoiding her mother's gaze.

Aidan saw the tension fall from Sophia's shoulders. It was such a typical, caring, maternal reaction. If he'd suffered Frankie's injuries, his mother would do the same thing. He'd reviewed the bulk of what Frankie labeled as evidence against her mother and he didn't have enough to verify the documentation as real. Still, he wasn't seeing any of the cold animosity Frankie insisted lurked under Sophia's reserved and polished surface.

“Based on your record with the navy and the Savannah Police Department, we can add you as an analyst.”

Aidan listened as intently as Frankie while Paul outlined the details of the position.

“You'd be working closely with me, as well,” Sophia added.