Some Like It Deadly (6 page)

“Like names?” He nodded slowly. “That makes sense.” But he wasn’t buying it. Kate Braddock presented him with an enigma. “So how long do you retain these key pieces of data? I mean you worked with Anna for months. Can you name the top donors for the scholarship fund?”

He shut off the engine and opened the car door, stepping out into the sunshine. Unsurprisingly, she exited immediately and circled the car to meet him. She was good at that too—he’d thought it was because he’d been coming off his convalescence, that she always kept a step ahead of him. But he’d begun to suspect it was left over from traveling in Anna’s security detail.

“I could.” She slid her phone into the back pocket of her jeans and adjusted her purse on her shoulder. She carried a very practical bag, nothing frilly, but the one time he’d picked it up to hand it to her the weight had impressed him.

“And they are?” He motioned to her to proceed, then opened his trunk to retrieve his golf clubs.

“I said I
could
tell you, not that I would.” The corners of her mouth turned up into an amused grin and she glanced around.

“It’s hardly privileged information. I could look the names up.” He represented the fund.

“I was under a nondisclosure agreement that remains binding whether I work for Miss Novak or not.” She spared him another wry look. “A nondisclosure I believe you drafted.”

“Hmm, hoisted by my own legal acumen.” Richard set his club bag on the ground and closed the trunk. “Well played, Kate. Well played.”

“Thank you, sir.” She grinned and that twinkle gleamed in her eyes.

Loosening the handle on his club bag, he tugged it along and motioned her to move ahead of him as she would likely do anyway. “I said well-played. You haven’t won yet.”

“Oh?” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Are we keeping score in this game?”

“We are now.”

* * *

They managed the first five holes in relative peace and quiet, addressing only the most pleasant of topics. Bing, as it turned out, was not someone Richard knew at all. He’d expected an attorney or financial advisor and instead Bruno Bing turned out to be an actor and the brother-in-law of Kravitts—and wholly uninterested in the game.

Bing never took his attention off Kate.

“The problem we’re running into with this latest set of regulations from the EU is narrowing the market share.” Walsinger walked a half circle around the tee, his gaze on the hole 192 yards away. The man could never just take a shot. He had to cozy up to it like a woman he wanted to pick up in a bar. “First, it was just the German trades. Now France and Spain are adding in changes and adjustments. Belgium suggested three more and the U.K.—they’re proving intractable on Atlantic crossover.”

This wasn’t Richard’s first rodeo. Walsinger wanted Richard to talk to Armand and grease the wheels for him.

Bing stood off to the right, his mouth moving and his hand on Kate’s shoulder. To her credit, she glanced at the actor once and moved a half step away forcing his hand to drop off of her. She didn’t seem to pay him any attention, instead she watched Walsinger and his shot and then looked over the landscape.

What the hell is he talking to her about?

Bing did all the talking. Kate hadn’t said anything that Richard’d noticed.

Kravitts folded his arms. “Just take the shot, Harvey, so the rest of us can play. We’ve got folks two holes behind us and they’ll be asking to play through if you take much longer.”

Walsinger paused to give Kravitts a baleful look and then positioned himself, lining up his club, but he was nowhere near ready to swing. Richard ignored the theatrics of the shot to check on Kate. Bing touched her, again. Irritation flared along his nerve endings and he locked gazes with his assistant. He hadn’t brought her with him to be pawed by that clown.

Brows up, he flicked a look to Bing and back to her. The corner of her mouth curved and she crossed her eyes, but gave a subtle shake of her head. She didn’t need him to intercede.

“Don’t you think our long standing history should count for something? My company has maintained three factories in Germany since 1947,” Walsinger continued to grumble and twice he worked his arm, testing his angle.

Richard waited a beat for him to play before replying. “I think reminding the oversight committees that your company took advantage of post-war rebuilding to get a financial foothold in their country that funneled money out instead of in wouldn’t be prudent.”

Scowling, the older man pointed his golf club at him. “That’s not a particularly generous description of how my company does business.”

“It’s not a particularly generous market, Harvey, and you are free to take the advice or not.” He didn’t flinch at the anger in the other man’s eyes, no matter how irrational. Harvey Walsinger knew how to cut a deal; temper tantrums were not typically a part of them. Something else was up.

“Let’s keep playing and allow cooler heads to prevail. We have a week until the consortium hands out its approvals for the next fiscal year’s contracts. Plenty of time to make this work.” Kravitts swept in with a conciliatory gesture. His gaze, however, remained fixed on Walsinger until Harvey lowered his club and grunted an assent.

“Kate.” Richard didn’t look at her, waiting while Walsinger and Kravitts headed out to take the next shot. Arriving at his elbow, Kate lifted a brow, but her tag-a-long hovered right behind her. Pausing, Richard eyed him. “The play is that way.” He continued to stare and Bing raised his hands in a mild offer of surrender that his eyes promised he had no interest in paying. He followed the other two men.

After Bilbo Bing was out of earshot, Kate glanced at him. “Do you want me to call your investigator to find out what is going on between those two?”

“Yes, text him. I assume you have the number—and then check the SEC filings tomorrow morning.” They had to know about the upcoming consortium announcement. No matter how quiet and low key he played it, Kravitts was fishing for an inside lead.

“Walsinger isn’t your problem.” Of course she’d noticed it too. Kravitts had requested the golf game.

“I know. What does Cousin It want?” The reference to the actor’s shaggy flop of blond hair earned an arrested smile from his assistant.

“An introduction to her royal highness.” Kate didn’t miss a beat. She had her phone out and quick typed the text to Mitch. “I think he’s supposed to be charming you, but he has a thing for breasts.”

Pivoting to face her, a quiet anger simmered to life in his blood. “Is he being inappropriate?”

“No, I think he’s going for charismatic or seductive.” The offhand dismissal in her remark didn’t alleviate his concern. Message sent, she tucked her phone into her back pocket and glanced behind them and then ahead to Kravitts taking his shot.

“About your breasts?” He wanted to be absolutely clear when he dealt with the man.

“Well, it started with my ass and moved to my breasts. I assume my lips will be the next topic of conversation if he can get his gaze above the neckline. For some reason he seems to be under the misapprehension that detailing his varied knowledge of anatomy will somehow coax forth an invitation to meet her royal highness.” Kate shrugged. “He’s harmless. Ignore him. Kravitts, however, is not.”

Kravitts definitely wasn’t. The man had an agenda, but he’d dealt with sharks before. “I’ll take care of Bing. You don’t have to put up with that crap.”

Club bag in hand he started forward, irked beyond measure with the sleaze. Kate’s hand touched his arm and he paused mid-step. “Richard, seriously. Ignore him. He’s harmless.”

“He keeps touching you.” An unfamiliar violence surged through him. He didn’t care what the other man’s motivations were, Kate was not an option for manipulation or abuse.

Her expression fluctuated, surprise appearing briefly before it shuttered away and his unflappable assistant reappeared. “I didn’t realize that bothered you. I’ll take care of it.”

“Of course it bothers me.” Did she think it wouldn’t? He ignored the other three men who had begun to look back at them impatiently. They were waiting for Richard to finish his shot. They could wait. “You’re my assistant. I bring you along for your brain, not so others can paw at you like a piece of meat.” Their behavior bugged the hell out of him. It was one thing for businessmen to try and use Richard to get to Armand and his family, he wouldn’t allow them to use Kate that way.

The corner of her mouth turned up and Kate inclined her head. “I didn’t think you had, but duly noted. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Still aggravated, he glanced down the fairway toward the others. Kravitts was using Walsinger to badger him and his brother-in-law to pester Kate, which meant he wanted Richard’s attention divided and elsewhere. “Keep an eye on Kravitts, and if Cousin It touches you again, I’m going to break his hand.”

Another flicker of surprise—apparently his candor
had
startled her. She brushed his forearm, a light caress, soothing and electric in one. The unexpected sensation lanced through his temper. “He won’t. No worries. It’s your turn and they’re impatient. I don’t think Kravitts is done with his show yet.”

Grateful to be on the same wavelength, Richard focused his attention on the men waiting for them. Had Miranda ever suffered this type of treatment? He couldn’t recall—but then he’d never brought Miranda to the course with him.

So why had he brought Kate?

They’d wanted a casual game, to curry favor and win points so they could wheedle a deal, or at least open the talks to one. It was how business was done in higher circles—meetings at the club, a game of golf, a drink afterward and the promise of potential business. A little oily and sometimes more than a little corrupt, but how men played at these levels. But Kravitts should have leashed his pet actor and never involved Kate; it just pissed Richard off.

* * *

After the last hole, Kate had ridden with Richard back to the clubhouse. He’d left her to wait while he vanished into the locker room. She leaned against the wall. After watching him handle the three men on the course, she wasn’t worried about them in the locker room with him, but she couldn’t say the same for anyone else using the club.

Though the club was approved by Peterson because the grand duke often used it alongside Richard, so she suspected they had an inside man, or three, on the staff.

Walsinger appeared in the doorway and gave her a pleasant nod before heading deeper into the club. No sign of Richard or of Kravitts and his little puppy dog, Bing, either.

The next fifteen minutes passed in agonizing slowness. Spending her day off at the golf course hadn’t been on her agenda, but when Richard showed up at her door without preamble or warning she’d agreed.

Not that I needed to
,
and I could certainly have made a case for staying home.

So why hadn’t she?

Pushing aside that thought, she glanced at her watch. What was taking him so long? Worry ratcheted the tension in her spine. Maybe he’d taken a shower—not that he’d seemed overly warm from the game, but then she didn’t know about his club habits.

“I’m sure it was a misunderstanding.” Kravitts’s voice echoed down the hallway, alerting her a second before the man himself appeared alongside Richard. Bing followed, a half-frown on his face.

“Well then, clarify the part for me that I misunderstood,” Richard said smoothly, but something dangerous lurked in his too polite tone. “You scheduled a tee time with me to discuss business, but invited along Walsinger—a man you know will never be allowed at the table—and your brother-in-law who is only suited for a blackjack table. You then avoid any presumptive discussion of business while letting Walsinger hurl insults. In the meanwhile, your brother-in-law spent the majority of his time hitting on my assistant in an attempt to get information on Her Royal Highness, knowing full well that’s a breach of ethics and privilege at this club.”

Both men had gone very still during Richard’s recitation and Kravitts shot Bing an angry look before his expression smoothed. “I didn’t see your assistant rebuffing him or I would have certainly said something—”

Richard lifted a hand. “I’m sorry, do you mean to imply that you have no problem with your brother-in-law pawing a woman and making sexual overtures during a
business
meeting—or any other kind of meeting, for that matter—provided she doesn’t complain?”

The temperature in the room plummeted. Kate wasn’t the only one who noticed the icy force of Richard’s temper. Bing paled and actually took a step back, but Kravitts struggled to find a response, mouth gaping like a fish.

“Of course not, you have my apologies. It won’t happen again.” Without another word, Kravitts turned and seemed to notice her for the first time. With a brusque nod, he hustled his brother-in-law away and left her alone with Richard.

She’d known Richard had been less than enthused about Bing’s behavior on the greens, not that it bothered her. The wanna-be-actor had presented all the danger of a fly, and only twice the nuisance because she couldn’t just swat him. But damn if Richard hadn’t shown his teeth.

No wonder he had the reputation he did—all good looks, smooth charm and the vicious bite to back it up.

“Lunch?” he asked with a charming smile, one that reached his eyes. Maybe the man did need a keeper, but after that display she found herself more intrigued by the man behind the attorney’s mask.

“I’d love some.” What other secrets did he keep so expertly hidden?

Chapter Four

The bartender set the bottle of beer on a napkin and picked up the ten-dollar bill she’d left for him. His security arrived ahead of them and she watched via the mirror on the bar back as they walked the room.

Quiet, high-end and exclusive, the Felicity was not a downtown hotspot and, between the hours of nine and ten at night, it was damn near dull. Patrons picked up at ten-thirty when the local theaters lowered their curtains. Until then, the very public venue provided an ideal backdrop for an “accidental” encounter.

“Ms. Braddock.” Armand Dagmar, Grand-Control-Freak and prince-pain-in-the-ass took the seat next to her.

“Your Highness,” she murmured quietly. They really needed to stop meeting like this.
Seriously.
“You wanted to see me?” She rolled the bottle between her palms and refrained from taking a drink or tacking on the
again
on the end of the sentence. An evening kicking back in a chair with a beer in one hand and some mindless action flick on the television sounded good, but in the three weeks since she’d taken the job as Richard Prentiss’s assistant, she hadn’t had more than five consecutive hours to herself and she needed every one of those for sleep.

“Yes and thank you for taking the time this evening. Where does Richard think you are?” As tempted as she was to tell him that Richard knew she was here reporting to his best friend, she decided against being glib.

“Does it matter?” The grand duke’s constant need for hands on reports threatened the operation, but apparently he didn’t care.

“I suppose not.” Armand accepted the tumbler with amber liquid in it and the bartender retreated to a discreet distance. “How is he doing?”

“He’s exactly as he appears.” Discomforted by the questions, she chanced a direct look at the grand duke. She’d had a front row seat to his near self-destruct with Anna. He was a man who wore his responsibilities like a hair shirt, but more—he was overprotective of those he loved. They’d already gone through a few rounds of this her first day on the job. Maybe she could cut him some slack. “And he’s secure currently, as secure as we can make him, Your Highness.”

Concern deepened the grooves around the grand duke’s mouth. “Peterson’s kept you up to date on the current chatter?”

“Following the consortium announcement? Yes, sir.” Kravitts continued to maneuver to be a power player, but Richard had begun to string him along. He’d even taken a particular glee in it after the day on the course. “Peterson also said that security for the Voldakovs was doubled as a result. But none of that chatter includes Mr. Prentiss.” Though that seemed too simple. She’d continued to work her way through the attorneys at his firm and their previous caseloads, but it was taking forever. Richard continued to juggle a caseload that would make an associate attorney blanch, much less the major shareholder in his own firm, he handled the work—not to mention the projects he refused to allow her to sit in on. Impressively well.

Leaning forward, the prince clasped his hands together on the bar. “Ms. Braddock—Kate—how is he
doing?
”

She understood the question and, while she sympathized, she gave him a brief albeit regretful smile. “As I told you, I’m not permitted to discuss the behavior of my protectee.”

“And as I told you, you work for me.” The first time the grand duke cornered her on this issue, she’d had Peterson to back her up. Since then, Peterson was never present. The grand duke really didn’t like being told no.

“Yes, Your Highness, and you hired me to protect Mr. Prentiss, and before that, you charged me with the protection of your fiancée. In pursuit of these goals, I have been employed by both. I would no sooner betray her secrets, than I will his.” They really needed to nip this in the bud. “Whether Mr. Prentiss knows I am his bodyguard or not, I can’t protect him if he feels he has to do things behind my back and so I am not permitted to discuss the behavior of my protectee.”

“You realize I can replace you.” It was an empty threat.

“Your Highness, I don’t discuss you or your family or Mr. Prentiss with anyone. You can obviously replace me. That is absolutely at your discretion. But you’ll choose one of these men around you or someone like them. They will not give you the answers any more than I will. I am happy, however, to meet with you regularly to tell you no if it brings you peace of mind.”

Whatever the grand duke might have said in response ended when the door to the street opened and Richard entered.

Adrenaline flooded her system and she picked up her beer and took a long drink. She’d have about twenty-five minutes to find food before the alcohol on an empty stomach messed with her reactions, but they needed this to look like a casual encounter. Two other familiar faces entered with Richard.

“Alyxandretta.” Armand rose smoothly and opened his arms to embrace the dark haired princess.

“Okay, I adore you and accept you as family, but can you please just call me Alyx?” The woman laughed as she hugged him. Her blond husband wrapped an arm around his wife when she stepped back, and grasped Armand’s hand in a firm grip.

Richard gave her a curious look. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Because it would be far more noticeable if she pretended to not notice any of them, Kate stood and turned her attention to all the new arrivals and gave Richard a chagrinned smile. Saluting him with her beer bottle in lieu of a greeting, she chuckled. “Busted.”

“So I see.” Amusement softened the note of curiosity in his gaze. “Join us? We ran into each other at the theater... Alyx, Daniel, you remember my new assistant, Kate.” Fortunately, neither had been aware of her position as security for Anna Novak, only as her assistant.

“Of course I do.” Alyx tossed her a friendly grin. “Anna misses you terribly at the foundation, but I can understand why Richard lured you away.”

“He didn’t.”

“I didn’t.” Richard chuckled and they all moved to one of the larger tables in the back. Security filtered in until the population in the bar had nearly tripled. The prince, princess, and Prentiss were all in the same place.

“Actually, Richard found himself in dire straits and I persuaded Anna to part with Ms. Braddock’s very capable services to help out an old friend.” The prince delivered the explanation smoothly and distracted the couple by asking about the show.

Arm draped casually over the back of her chair, Richard leaned closer. “I thought you were dropping off papers with Judge Harding?”

“I did.” She kept her voice low. “And then I thought I would sneak out for a beer while you went to the musical.”

“You could have joined me,” he reminded her, because he had invited her.

“I thought you said it was pleasure, not business and—” Kate shifted her chair, and glanced back at the entrance, “—what happened to your date?”

“Oh, that woman.” Alyx perked up and grinned. “Poor Richard, his date stood him up. That’s why Daniel and I rescued him.”

Stood up?
Kate made a mental note to check on the woman. The waitress delivered a round of drinks.

“She was unavoidably detained.” Richard shrugged, though for once his poker face wasn’t in evidence. “She didn’t miss much.” But there was something in the way his gaze flicked to her. He’d invited Kate to join him earlier in the day, but she’d seen the name Diane Fowler on the calendar and reminded him—Kate shook her head. Classic workaholic forgetting he needed balance in his life. Enjoying his company each day in the office while she also provided him with security didn’t mean she needed to police his romantic life—or lack thereof. If it had been a business event, fine, but he’d not indicated anything of the kind. In fact, he’d appeared genuinely surprised when she’d reminded him of his date. She suspected he’d forgotten the engagement altogether. So perhaps his date had as well.

“I really wanted to like it.” Alyx propped her chin on her hand. Despite her royal heritage and the acknowledged place in the Andraste family, Alyx Voldakov remained true to her American upbringing.

“That’s because you wanted to play the part of Esmerelda,” her husband teased and she stuck her tongue out at him. The playful, easy affection was a pleasant distraction from the undercurrents at the table. Richard stopped watching her and focused his attention on Armand. Both men spoke in such low undertones that she would have to lean toward them to hear what they were saying.

Not that their topic was any of her business.

“I think I would have been brilliant and the show would be sold out.” Alyx’s mock petulance gave way to another wide grin. “Did you see the text Victor sent during the second act?”

“Bland, pedestrian and insulting were the politest words he used.” Daniel shook his head and slanted a look at Kate. “You were smart to turn Richard’s offer down, Kate. If he makes you go to one of those, ask for a raise first.”

She chuckled. “If I can handle eighteen holes of golf, I think I can handle a dreadfully dull show.” Awareness slicked over her. She had Richard’s attention once more, but she kept her gaze on Alyx and Daniel. It went against the grain to have her back to the door, but she knew every one of the five men stationed around the room. They were all good.

“It wasn’t dull.” Alyx grimaced. “It was painful.”

Another round of laughter and the waitress returned. “Yes, let’s eat.” The prince glanced around at all of them. “Anna is with Penny and I’m not allowed back at the tower for another two hours.”

That was her cue to excuse herself. “Actually, if you will all forgive me...” She rose and so did all three men at the table. Impeccable manners, all of them. Her gaze clashed with Alyx’s and the woman’s amusement was palpable. “I have a few items to prepare for tomorrow’s agenda.”

“Oh, now that’s not fair,” Alyx protested before she could take a step. “Richard is staying, so you should be able to as well.”

“I don’t mind if you join us for a meal, Kate.” Richard gave her an odd look. “I looked at the calendar before I left, we don’t have any early meetings or court appearances. You’ve dropped off the documents with the judge.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to have dinner with her boss.” Daniel, at least, seemed to be on her side.

“But if she goes and you three begin discussing business or sports, I may die of boredom.” Alyx steepled her hands together. “Besides, you haven’t finished your beer. You should stay and order the largest steak they have.”

“Yes, Ms. Braddock, you should feel perfectly welcome to join us.” The prince added his weight to the tables being turned against her. Socializing with a protectee was off limits. However, she couldn’t play that card and Armand’s smug smile told her he was well aware of the fact.

“Come on, Kate. Sit down, have dinner and, I promise, no work tonight.” Richard took hold of the back of her chair and his voice dropped to a lower note. “Please, have dinner with us.”

“You know, speaking of work.” Daniel looked thoughtful. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you two about— Ow.” He rubbed his arm and grinned at his wife. “Fine, no work.”

Richard gave her a sly look, one that spoke of shared secrets. “Come on, Kate, it’s easier to say yes and then we bill them for the hours later when they forget and start talking business anyway.”

More laughter met the droll statement and she couldn’t hold back a grin. Uncertain whether she was more uncomfortable with the invite or that she
wanted
to stay, she let Richard coax her back into her seat. “Fine, but the first mention of under par, over par or contract language and all bets are off.”

“Oh, I like you.” Alyx held out her wine glass and clinked it to Kate’s beer bottle. Beside her, Richard’s attention remained almost laser focused on her and every hair on her body stood up and took notice.

This is a mistake.

* * *

One hour turned into three and Richard insisted on seeing her home, until she’d pointed out he’d shared a limo with Alyx and Daniel to the bar and sent his own car home. By the time they’d reached that realization, however, the royals and their vehicles had departed, which was how she ended up driving him to his place.

Fortunately, she’d switched to water after her beer and the fish and chips she’d ordered for supper had offset any lingering effects of the alcohol. Richard leaned his head back against the seat, a hand against his eyes. “I have no idea why I do it sometimes.”

“Do what?” She kept her attention on the road. The follow car had drifted back and the lead car was only two ahead of her. Tiredness weighed on her. She should have had a cup of coffee, but bar coffee was only slightly above military grade industrial solvent.
Soft living and wealthy clients are spoiling me.

“Keep up with Armand when he decides he’s in a good mood.” Richard’s rueful words held a trace of a slur. “I should have stopped at the first glass of wine instead of finishing the bottle with him.” He patted her thigh lightly. “You were the smart one, paying attention and switching to water so you could be sober to drive, but I suppose you had to be. You drive everywhere, even when you let me drive.” His laugh came out a little hollow and Kate considered how many glasses of wine he’d drunk.

She’d counted three and a half—enough to share one bottle. The second could have happened when she had to excuse herself for the restroom. If they’d traded out bottles, she might have missed it. “Did you take your medication at six?”

He’d eaten sparingly—he and the prince had begun a debate on French politics and the elections approaching in the U.K.

“You watched me do it.” He walked his fingers against her leg, back and forth, as though fascinated by the fabric.

Waiting until after she’d gotten on the highway heading toward his house along the coast, she tapped his fingers lightly to get him to move.

“Sorry,” Richard mumbled, but he didn’t sound apologetic. Stretching an arm behind her, Kate flipped open the cooler in the well behind the driver’s seat and took out a bottle of water.

“Drink,” she told him sternly. It was mineral water she kept in the car for post workouts and when she was feeling rundown. It did have some caffeine in it, but not enough to upset his current restrictions and better to flout that one than the alcohol.