But once again, Pepper Jack proved he only had it out for me. He sniffed around the living room for a few seconds and, before I could even blink, he jumped on the couch and fell asleep. “Pepper Jack, off.”
“He’s fine. I don’t mind him on the couch.”
“Are you sure, Caroline?”
She smiled and placed the cat carrier on the ground. “I’m sure. She unlocked the latch and Harmonica jumped out. She turned toward Caroline, hissing once, and wound herself around my legs before sashaying across the living room, jumping on the back of the couch, and climbing into her window swing. It was attached by suction cups, and her face was turned toward the lawn as she watched the street. I chuckled.
“See? She’s all attitude.”
“Still think she’s sweet.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. Isaac and Emilio had already gotten started on hooking up the last items, leaving me to chat with her. “I can’t believe she’s nice to you. She’s mean to everyone. Even me and I’m the one who feeds her, gives her treats, and brought her home!”
I shrugged. “She likes me.”
Caroline scoffed. “Don’t know why.”
I ate up the distance between us, leaned down, and whispered in her ear. “Same reasons you do, sweetness.”
Her cheeks flushed as I stood to my full height and walked away to help Emilio and Isaac. “We won’t be long,” I called over my shoulder. “I’ll teach you how to use it before I go.”
“Thanks, Kiernan. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She wandered down a hallway. I watched her until she was out of sight, and a moment later, I heard a soft click as a door shut. I turned back to my work and finished wiring the cameras and motion sensors. Every square inch of her lawn, front and back, was covered from multiple angles by the cameras. They were small and unobtrusive and could potentially go unnoticed. Hopefully, they would and if Caroline’s stalker showed up, we’d have him.
Several panic buttons had been installed on light switches throughout her house. If she pressed one, MarxMen and I would be notified immediately. I’d done as much as possible to make her feel safe here and honored her one wish—no cameras inside. I couldn’t blame her. After being watched on camera, she was leery of the technology and worried that the hacker could find a way in.
He wouldn’t though. There was no way he’d hack into our measures. Caroline came out of her room a few minutes later, changed out of her scrubs. A few strands of wet hair fell from her ponytail. I wondered if she had showered.
“Can I get y’all anything?”
“No, thanks.” Isaac stood, wiping his hands on his jeans. “We’re done. Emilio is clearing out the boxes, but we’re headed out, boss.”
I nodded. “Thanks, guys. See y’all later.”
The door closed behind Isaac. Emilio was already outside waiting on him. I watched through the window as they pulled off; then it was just the two of us. I turned toward Caroline. “Ready to learn how to use this thing?”
Caroline followed me around the house as I pointed out each panel and panic button, explaining what they did and how she could use them if she needed help. I picked up the tablet I had set down in her living room. It showed a live feed of the cameras outside and the different options she had. I set up her phone with the same monitoring system.
She listened and nodded. Occasionally she asked a question, but mostly she stayed quiet with a small wrinkle between her brows as she concentrated on every word I said. The stiffness in her shoulders was easing by the minute.
“Do you go above and beyond like this for all your clients?”
I stopped pointing at the feed I was referencing and gazed at her. She was watching me intently. I cleared my throat. “I do all I can to help anyone who comes through our doors.”
The truth was no, I didn’t. I did what I could to keep our clients safe, provided for their security needs, whatever they may be, and suggested further ways to improve their security. But I’d never taken it on myself to install a system in someone’s home before they asked for it. And usually Emilio and Isaac set up the systems without me being there. I trusted them and knew their work. I was typically more in an overseeing position, but with Caroline, I’d taken point, handled the grunt work, and done everything in between.
“But do you go above and beyond for all of them like you are for me? You make sure I’m safe every day and check in with me. You’re walking me through this system, when I’m sure one of your guys could’ve done it. You’re high up at the company, right? Do you normally supervise an installation?”
“No, I don’t do this for all my clients. Hell, I’m hardly ever in the field anymore unless I’m needed. Roman has been asking me to buy into MarxMen, so I can be a co-owner, since I’m already in a managerial role. Or head guy. Depends on the day.” I shrugged.
Her lips twitched. “So it’s just me?”
“Yeah, it’s just you. You’re special.”
She smiled fully, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her or her full lips. Her lips twitched often and she smiled softly, but it was rare that she broke out her full smile, showcasing the small dimples in her cheeks and her straight teeth and revealing the brightness in her eyes. I felt like I’d earned this smile, and I wanted to earn it every damn day.
Caroline was always beautiful, but when she smiled, she was heart-stopping—stuttering-over-your-words, losing-your-mind, devastatingly gorgeous.
15 Caroline
“Do you want to stay for dinner?” I asked Kiernan. My belly swarmed with nerves, as if I were asking him on a date. I wasn’t. Kiernan stared at me intensely, scanning my face. “To say
