Kissed Blind (A Hot Pursuit Novel Book 2) (2 page)

Two

Had I known I was going to be working for Oliver Pierce, I would have stayed at my apartment to have had my full wardrobe to choose from, but my boring black pants and blazer would have to do. Vance and I had protected plenty of high profile people but never a Hollywood star, let alone the freaking King of Hollywood.

I gave my makeup one final check in the mirror. Everything that was supposed to be concealed was concealed, and all that was to be enhanced was enhanced. I called to Gabe as I stepped out the door. “Have a great day!”

“Have fun working for Oliver Pierce!” he answered. “And be good!”

Vance honked out in the driveway.

“You too!” I shuffled out into the crisp, spring morning. Pulling open the door to the Black B&B Range Rover, I was met with a warm rush of leather scented air and slid into the front seat.

“You look nice.” Vance’s eyes darted over my face.

“Thanks.” I flipped the visor down and tucked my hair behind my ears.

“Wearing your hair down today, I see.”

I’d had an extra minute to run a flat iron over it, a change from my usual low ponytail. “Well… yeah. You really think I look nice?”

He gave me a pinched look. “Are you serious? Since when do you care what you look like?”

“Since Oliver Pierce.
Oliver. Pierce
.
I’m freaking out a little.”

“Just keep in mind we’re working.” He flipped my visor up, nearly catching my nose.

“I don’t need reminding. Geez.” His eyes were surrounded by a darkness he only got when he’d had a sleepless night. “You’re in a mood this morning. Everything all right?”

“Sorry, got a lot on my mind.” He forced a smile.

“What’s up?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Okay, even though that’s obviously a lie.” I pulled the visor down again and checked my lip gloss. “I’ll listen if you need to unload.”

“I know you will. Later.” He batted his eyelashes and fanned himself, raising his voice to mimic mine. “We’ve got Oliver Pierce to worry about.”

I closed the visor again. “I hate you.”

He scoffed. “You couldn’t if you tried.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know there’s a difference between confidence and arrogance.”

“Your point?”

“You walk a fine line sometimes.”

“Aw, you think I’m fine? I’ve always suspected.”

I made a gagging sound in the back of my throat. “
Anyhoo
… do you think Camille Pierce is here too? You have to be excited you could meet her.”

“I mean, yeah, it would be cool if we got to meet her. She’s probably ten times more pretentious than any of the other women we’ve protected, but Cavanaugh didn’t mention her.”

Despite Vance trying to play it cool, the prospect of meeting Camille Pierce had to pique his interest a little. She was gorgeous to the nth degree, talented and her body was ridiculous, absolutely nothing a man couldn’t adore.

“So, where are we headed?”

“They’re staying in a penthouse in the high-rise on the bank of the river.”

I snapped my head toward him. “Why did you drive so far north if I could have just met you there? This was totally out of the way for you.”

“Pop is still in the hospital. I wanted to visit with him before the day started. I was over here when Cavanaugh called.”

“Your dad’s not out yet? I thought he was supposed to be released yesterday.”

“He had a little set back, but when you crack open a seventy year old man’s chest and thread coils into his arteries, it can take longer to bounce back than usual. Once he puts down the salami and meatballs Ma keeps smuggling into him, he’ll get better. He’s gotta start eating some fruits and vegetables.”

Worry had become a permanent fixture in Vance’s voice since his dad, Sal, had had a heart attack a week prior. He’d made it through surgery with flying colors, no doubt a nod to his gladiator ancestors, but Vance wouldn’t stop worrying until his dad was resting comfortably at home.

“Good luck convincing your mom she can’t do something.”

Vance’s mother was as bullheaded as they came. Think of a parent trying to rationalize with a three year old that they can’t have candy for dinner and multiply it times a thousand. That was telling Teresina DeLuca she couldn’t do something.

“That’s a whole other issue entirely. She’s killing me.” He shook his head.

“She’s got a stubborn streak, like her son.” I punched his shoulder, and he snorted. “When do they think he’s going to get out now?”

“A couple more days. He had a fever last night, but it seemed to be under control this morning. Probably a little infection. If this doesn’t kill him, it might kill me.” He gripped the steering wheel tightly and moved one hand onto the gear shift.

“Don’t talk like that. He’s strong and he’ll be stronger than ever soon. You’ll see.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.” I squeezed his hand.

“Oh, Ma wants you and Gabe to come for Sunday dinner. She knows the family will want to visit with Pop, and even though he should probably be resting, she won’t cancel it. You think you can swing that with Mr. Wonderful?”

Sunday dinner with the DeLuca’s was a misnomer. It was more like an all-day eating affair that stretched from early afternoon until late evening, and I loved it.

“You think you can manage to not kill each other?”

“I can manage it if he can.”

I opened my eyes wide and put my hand to his forehead. “You sure you’re not sick?”

“Ha. Ha. No.” He raised the corners of his mouth into a quick smile and dropped it. God, I hated when he did that. “Anyway, you think you can make it? Ma’s been wanting to have you over again forever.”

“Of course, we’d love to come.”

“All right then, settled.” He nodded and turned the radio up. We drove along, and I sang Meghan Trainor’s latest hit at the top of my lungs for our entertainment.

We pulled into a parking spot next to a tall building on the edge of the Ohio River. The sun was high in the sky, and the muddy waters danced with millions of lights. We took a moment to review any weak points in security and potential blind spots. When we’d covered everything, we were ready to meet Oliver Pierce. I tried to calm my skittering pulse by taking a few deep breaths.

Vance and I approached a set of glass doors and entered the lobby of the building. Twisted ficus trees and palm ferns were poised in the corners. Marble tiles led the way to a desk near the elevators at the back of the room, and we introduced ourselves to the security guard, Barry, seated behind it.

Barry was a round-bellied, mild-mannered man. He verified our names on a sheet in front of him. One phone call later for confirmation, and he escorted us over to the correct set of elevators. The doors parted, and shortly after, we arrived on the twenty-seventh floor. We approached a lacquered red door with a placard that read “Swanson.”

“You ready?” Vance asked.

“Of course I am.” I kept my voice steady and cool, even though a giddy little girl danced inside.

Vance raised his hand to knock, but the door opened before he had a chance. A young, heart-shaped faced girl stood before us.

“Hi, I’m Cici,” she said in a high-pitched, childlike voice. “I’m Oliver’s personal assistant. Please, come in.” She shut the door and led us into the foyer, her short, silky hair swayed like onyx corn silk.

I took her hand first. “I’m Diana Cain. It’s nice to meet you.” Remarkably flawless skin surrounded her radiant blue, China doll eyes. They were some of the prettiest I’d ever seen.

“A pleasure, Miss Cain.” She smiled, and two dimples indented her cheeks reminding me of Gabe’s. She turned toward Vance, and they set in a bit deeper. “And you must be Vance DeLuca.” She giggled.

Vance smiled wide, and his large hand swallowed hers. Her lacquered fingernails were a deep aubergine, a stark contrast against her creamy skin. “I am. It’s
very
nice to meet you.”

They both stood motionless, staring at each other. An irrational desire to smack their hands apart came over me, but I cleared my throat instead. She laughed again and released his hand.

“Anyway, welcome,” she purred. “Oliver just got back from meeting with a trainer and a masseuse. He’s showering. Make yourselves comfortable, and he’ll be down in a minute. Can I get you something while you wait?”

“No, thank you, we’re fine,” I said for the both of us.

She waved her arm, welcoming us into a spacious living room while a phone rang in her palm. She raised it to her ear. “Oliver Pierce’s phone.” It was said with such fluidity, she must have spoken it a thousand times.

Vance and I walked across large, wooden-looking tiles as Cici stepped into the kitchen. The walls were an inviting shade, and random pieces of original artwork were hung about. A sofa floated near a twisted staircase and sat next to ceiling-high windows looking out onto a private wrap balcony. Outside was a breathtaking view of Kentucky and the restaurants lining their shores.

Cici covered the mouthpiece of the phone and whispered, “Have a seat if you’d like.” She walked up the flight of stairs near the couch to the second level. Her square heeled boots tapped on each step until she reached the top where they became muted. Vance took a seat in an overstuffed, coffee-colored leather chair facing the windows, and I stood next to him with my arms crossed.

“Really nice.”

Vance looked at me with pinched brows. “What?”

I dropped my voice low to mimic his. “‘It’s
very
nice to meet you.’ And you were reminding me that we were working.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Like you don’t know. She’s probably eighteen, barely legal.”

His eyes opened wide. “Um, okay. I shook the girl’s hand and said hi. If you saw something else going on, I think that’s something in your girl brain.”

I groaned. “Your eyes practically bulged out of your head, but whatever. Try to keep it professional.”

He shook his head and acted like I was crazy, but I know what I saw. I walked over to the double doors leading to the balcony, turning my back to him, and watched a barge creep down the river. From above, I heard the first real sounds of Oliver Pierce’s voice. Deep baritone and smooth, it grew louder as he descended the stairs. The closer he got, the harder my heart pounded. The opportunity most women would kill for was about to be mine.

“Sorry to keep you guys waiting,” he said as his bare foot touched the floor beside me. I squeezed my fists to keep them from shaking. Perfectly tattered, faded jeans hugged his hips, and a white oxford shirt was open enough to give a peek at his well-muscled chest. His usual brown hair was damp, but showed subtle blonde highlights on the tips, something new added to his appearance for his current role. “I’m moving a little bit slower this morning after the accident last night.” He held out his hand. “Oliver Pierce, but please call me Oliver. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Diana…Cain. It’s really nice to meet you too.” I shook his hand and reveled in the fact that I was really touching him
.
“I heard about your accident this morning. Glad to see you weren’t hurt.” I smiled so big my cheeks started to hurt.

“Yeah, me too.” He chuckled, flashing me a smile more striking than anything I’d seen on the big screen. “I’m sure the director would have loved a delay in filming before filming got started.”

My mind raced with a million things to say, but every time I opened my mouth nothing came out. Thousands of people had probably uttered the same flattering and completely unoriginal phrases. “Um, this is Vance DeLuca,” was what I finally settled on. Vance had appeared at my side chuckling under his breath.

“It’s nice to meet you too.” Oliver took his hand. “I was going to try to stay under the media radar and lay low this trip, but after last night, I more or less broadcast my presence to the entire city, shooting my lofty ambitions into oblivion. My assistant called around. Your company has quite the reputation.”

“Diana and I are the best you can get, rest assured.”

“Happy to have you two watching my back.” He sat on the couch and rested his elbows on his knees.

Vance reached into his pocket. “Before we get started, I wanted to offer you something new from our company, if you’re interested.” He handed him something small and rectangular.

“What’s this?” Oliver inspected it.

“It has a tracking chip embedded in it. If you’re ever separated from us, we’ll be able to find you.” Vance glanced at me and saw my pinched expression. “I’ll tell you all about it later. You missed the meeting.”

Oliver looked it over a bit more and frowned. “I don’t know. I don’t think I’d need something like this. Maybe sometime I won’t want to be found.” He twitched his brows and flashed a half-smile.

“Totally up to you. It’s just an extra precaution. We try to cover all our bases, especially with higher profile clients. We like to offer everything we can.”

Oliver flipped it over in his hand a few more times. “It looks like a credit card.”