Vulnerable: (McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Book 1) (30 page)

* * *

The rest of Beth’s day moved at a crawl. She did her best to keep her mind on work and off of Shane, but that turned out to be easier said than done. When five o’clock finally rolled around, she grabbed her purse and sweater and headed out to the street. The weather was perfect – clear blue skies with a gentle breeze – so instead of catching the bus home, she decided to walk. It was only a 30-minute walk, which would give her plenty of time to get home and freshen up before Shane arrived at six.

She’d barely walked a block from the library when someone called her name.

“Beth! Hey, wait up!”

She turned to see Andrew Morton jogging toward her.

“Hi, Beth,” Andrew said when he reached her. He was breathless, his face flushed from his exertions.

Andrew was the last person she wanted to see, but good manners prevailed. “Hi, Andrew.”

“Where’re you off to?” he said, panting for breath.

“Home,” she said.

“I have class at six,” Andrew said, adjusting his backpack. “But it’s just a stupid ethics class. I can blow it off. Let’s go grab a beer.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t. I have dinner plans tonight.” And even if she was free, she wouldn’t be spending her time with him.

“You at least have time for one beer. Let’s go to Tank’s. It’s just down the block.”

“I’m sorry, but I really can’t. I have just enough time to get home and get ready for my date.”

“Date?” He looked horrified. “You have a date?”

“Yes,” she said. Andrew Morton gave her the creeps.

“You can make time for one drink,” he cajoled, reaching out and snagging her wrist. “I’ll buy.”

“I’m sorry, but no, Andrew.” She said it with a little more force than she had intended, so she smiled and tried to soften the blow. “Thanks anyway.”

Why couldn’t he just take ‘no’ for an answer? She tried to extricate her wrist from his grasp. He wasn’t hurting her, exactly, but his hold was strong. He was a big guy, and he had a large hand. She would have to use considerable force to break free if he didn’t willingly let her go.

“Andrew, please,” she said, tugging on her wrist as she began to feel trapped.

“Just one drink, Beth,” he said, as if she were the one being unreasonable.

“Andrew, let go,” she said, her anxiety steadily rising. Her heart rate kicked up and her chest tightened. Despite the fact that the sidewalk was crowded with students, she felt very much alone.

“Excuse me,” said a deep voice from behind.

Andrew glanced up over Beth’s head at the newcomer, and his gaze narrowed.

Beth glanced back and saw a stranger standing directly behind her. She sensed he was staring daggers at Andrew, although it was hard to tell because of the man’s dark sunglasses. She guessed from his lean, muscular body and smooth face that he was about her age. He was taller than she was, but not as tall as Andrew, with short black hair and a warm brown complexion. He gave her the impression of a panther, poised and ready to pounce on Andrew.

He might have been a student at Kingston, but for some reason, Beth didn’t think so. He was dressed like a college student – blue jeans, a t-shirt, sneakers – but he wasn’t carrying a backpack, and that was a quintessential accessory for a college student. He was also wearing a black leather jacket, which she thought was odd given the warm weather.

“What the hell do you want?” Andrew said, glaring at the stranger.

“Is everything all right, ma’am?” the new guy said, transferring his gaze to her as he ostensibly dismissed Andrew.

“Um, yes,” Beth said, her voice shaking as she gazed up into the dark sunglasses. She really wished she could see his eyes. “I was just leaving.” When she tugged on her wrist this time, Andrew let her go.

“Thank you,” she whispered to her apparent rescuer.

Beth took advantage of her freedom and put some space between herself and Andrew. She headed off briskly toward home, and when she glanced back a couple of blocks later, she saw her presumed rescuer standing toe-to-toe with Andrew, his arms crossed over his chest. Even from this distance, she could see that Andrew was glowering at the guy.

Beth hefted her purse strap more securely over her shoulder and started walking as quickly as she could. She couldn’t help peering behind her every so often, as if she expected to see Andrew creeping up on her at any minute.

* * *

Shane arrived at Beth’s house at five-thirty. He rang the bell to make sure she wasn’t home yet, but when no one answered, he sat on the top step to await her arrival. He hadn’t even been there five minutes when a call came in from Miguel.

“Report,” Shane said. Miguel was on guard duty. He wouldn’t call unless it was pertinent to Beth.

“There was an incident as she was leaving work,” Miguel said. “I had to step in.”

That certainly got Shane’s attention. “What kind of incident?”

“She was accosted on the sidewalk outside the library by some kid, a student, I think. He tried to strong-arm her into going somewhere with him. I had to step in and break it up.”

“What exactly did he do?” Shane said.

“He grabbed her wrist and wouldn’t let go until I intervened. Once he let her go, I stayed with him to keep him from following her. Otherwise, he would have. This kid doesn’t know how to take ‘no’ for an answer.”

“Did Beth seem okay?”

“She was a little shaken, but otherwise all right. She should arrive at your location any minute now.”

“Were you able to ID this kid?”

“No. He eventually gave up and went inside one of the buildings.”

“Stay there and see if you can ID this guy,” Shane said. “I want a full background report. I’ll be with Beth for the rest of the evening and hopefully overnight. Let Miles know he’s not needed tonight.”

“Roger that.”

“Thanks.” Shane stowed his phone. Great. One more variable for him to worry about.

* * *

When Beth turned the corner onto her street, her eyes went right to the Jaguar parked in front of her house, and her anxiety over Andrew faded instantly.

She spotted Shane almost immediately sitting on the step outside her front door. He was dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, sans tie, the top button of his shirt undone. He looked relaxed and disreputably gorgeous sitting there, waiting for her. Her stomach did a little flip.

Shane stood when she reached the steps and met her halfway, taking her in his arms for a long, luscious kiss. When he finally ended the kiss, he held her at arms’ length and studied her.

“Are you okay?” he said, frowning.

“Sure,” she answered. “Why?”

His eyes narrowed. “You seem a little flustered. What happened?”

Chapter 27

“I’m fine, Shane. I’m just excited to see you.” Beth smiled as she went up on her toes and kissed him.

Shane hid his disappointment that she didn’t tell him about the male who’d accosted her on her way home from work. He wanted her to come to him with stuff like this. He wanted her to rely on him.

When they broke apart a few moments later, he said, “Are you ready to go? I’m starving.”

“Give me a few minutes to clean up first.”  She headed for the front door. “Come inside and have a seat. I won’t be long.”

* * *

Shane waited upstairs in Beth’s bedroom as she freshened up in the hallway bathroom. He paced as he read Miguel’s follow-up text.

No sign of the perp. I’ll keep looking.

It hadn’t been a good day for Shane. First, the news that Kline had purchased a handgun illegally, and now this. Beth had been practically assaulted on the sidewalk outside her workplace.

He knew what needed to be done to protect Beth. He needed her out of this townhouse and into his custody, 24/7. He could install her in the Lake Shore Drive apartment, but he’d prefer she go to his house in Kenilworth, just a half hour north of the city. She’d be safe there. No one could get onto the Kenilworth property uninvited. First, though, he’d have to deal with Tyler.

Beth swept into the bedroom, looking refreshed and energized. She’d put her hair back, and a few blond strands cascaded over her shoulders. She’d also put on a little bit of pink lip gloss which made it even harder to stop looking at her mouth. She’d done something with her eyes, too, because her lashes seemed a tad darker and longer. Shane grinned at the efforts she’d made, knowing she’d done it for him. But she didn’t need make-up. She was stunning without it.

“Just one more minute!” she said, disappearing into her tiny walk-in closet. She closed the door, and he heard the rustling of clothes.

A moment later, she hobbled out of her closet as she slipped on her sandals. She’d changed from the skirt and blouse she’d been wearing into a sleeveless dress and a thin white sweater.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said, coming to a standstill. Her face was flushed, and she was slightly breathless. “I’m ready.”

Shane reached out and took her by the waist, drawing her to him. Her breasts pressed against his chest as he pulled her close. For just a moment, he wondered if they could skip dinner altogether and make good use of her bed instead. But no. She needed to eat.

“You look beautiful,” he said, and then he leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her glossy pink lips. One of his hands snaked up between their bodies to cover her breast through her dress, giving it a light squeeze. Pulling back from the kiss, he smacked his lips and tasted the residue of her lip gloss. “Mmm, strawberry. I approve.”

They left Beth’s townhouse and walked hand-in-hand to the market district just a few blocks away. The area was bustling with early evening foot traffic as shoppers patronized a small organic grocery store, a used bookstore, and a florist shop.

“How was your day?” he asked as they strolled down the busy sidewalk. He wanted to know who had accosted her after work.

“It was fine,” she answered, smiling at him. She seemed genuinely happy.

“You seemed a little flustered when you got home.”

“Oh, it was nothing. I had a slight run-in with a student as I was leaving work. He can be a real pest sometimes.”

So it wasn’t the first time this kid had bothered Beth. Shane tucked that little bit of information away. “You know him? What’s his name?”

Beth squeezed his hand. “It’s nothing, Shane, really. Please don’t worry about it.”

“But you do know his name?” Shane persisted, frustrated by the fact that she was downplaying what had happened. It wasn’t nothing.

“Well, yes,” she admitted. “I know him. But I don’t want to get him in trouble. He’s harmless.”

A shadow passed over Beth’s eyes when she said this, and Shane knew he’d be having a private conversation with this kid soon, once they’d identified him. Shane didn’t mind one bit getting the kid in trouble.

They passed a jewelry boutique, a Chinese buffet, and a small Italian bistro before Beth stopped in front of another restaurant. The sign above the door said
Hal’s Bar-B-Q
.

“It’s not fancy,” Beth said. “But the barbecue is really good. I think you’ll like it. And they play blues.”

Shane felt an odd sensation in his chest when he realized she’d picked this place because she thought he’d like it. He opened the old wooden door for her, and they were greeted with a blast of blues music, along with the aroma of sizzling barbecue.

The restaurant was just a hole in the wall, sporting a collection of randomly placed tables covered with red-and-white checkered tablecloths and misfit wooden chairs. The wood floors were scarred and warped. Along one side of the restaurant was a long counter with barstools, and behind the counter was a full-service bar. Classic Mississippi Delta blues was pouring out of the juke box.

“I like it already,” Shane said, squeezing her hand.

A middle-aged woman with her hands full of empty plates buzzed past them. “Sit wherever you like, folks” she said breathlessly. “I’ll be with you in a minute.”

They sat down at one of the few available tables and picked up their menus.

The woman who’d greeted them at the door arrived at their table with two glasses of ice water. “I’m Cheryl,” she said as she set the glasses on the table. “Welcome to Hal’s. Do you know what you want?”

Shane ordered a brisket platter and a bottle of local beer. Beth ordered a grilled barbecue chicken breast and a Root Beer float.

Beth glanced at the door when a young couple with a baby in a stroller walked in. The couple sat at a table near them, and the father bounced the baby on his leg, entertaining him with silly faces while the mother looked on with a satisfied smile on her face.

As she watched them, Beth felt a small, secret thrill. She knew the odds were against it, but still the idea was somewhat tantalizing. She wasn’t ready to be a parent. She was only twenty-four; surely that was too young for her biological clock to start ticking. Still, she found the little family an appealing picture. She glanced at Shane, who was perusing the beer menu, and pictured him with a baby in his arms. It wasn’t hard to do. She knew he’d take as good care of their baby as he did of her.

Their food arrived, and she shoved away her fanciful thoughts. As they ate and chatted, Beth’s eyes kept wandering to the young couple with the baby. The baby had since gotten cranky, and now the mother was cradling him, trying to get him to nurse beneath a strategically placed blanket.
Get a grip and quit staring.

When their server brought Shane the bill, he handed over his credit card. “This was a great idea, Beth,” he said. “Thank you.”

They walked back to Beth’s house holding hands. The neighborhood had started settling down for the evening. There were still some people out on foot, but the neighborhood had more of a small-town, relaxed vibe to it, far different from the frenetic energy of downtown.

When they reached her house, Shane pulled Beth into his arms and kissed her. “Can I spend the night?”

Her face lit up at his unexpected request. “Sure.”