Paladin's Woman

Addy sat up straight, looking away from Nick's lean, hard face. Glancing out the window at the stately old homes and towering green trees as they drove past Jefferson Street, she remained silent, unsure how to answer Nick's question.

Nick chose the route leading through downtown. He didn't like Addy's silence any more than he liked the way she'd turned all moody and distant the last few days. He'd done everything he could to reassure her, but the waiting—the endless waiting—for word from the threatening phone caller had played havoc with her nerves. It hadn't helped any that Rusty McConnell had been growling like a papa lion, frightened for the safety of his only cub. Nick knew that Addy worried more about her father than she did about herself.

But Nick worried about Addy. In less than a week's time, she had become important to him. Far too important.

Within ten minutes they turned into Research Park. Grassy green fields and majestic, tall trees lined the streets of the park, each street named after a space shuttle—Columbia, Discovery, Endeavor. Nick pulled the Jag into Addy's private space in the M.A.C. day-care center parking lot.

When she clasped the door handle, Nick reached across the console, taking her hand. 'He's bound to contact Rusty soon. Then we'll know what we're dealing with and how to handle the situation.'

Looking down at Nick's big hand grasping hers, she sighed. 'I hope you're right. I don't know how much longer Daddy's going to be able to endure the waiting.'

Nick squeezed her hand. 'Your father's tough, Red. He can stand a lot more than you think he can.'

'It's not fair for him to have to go through this again—living in fear of losing a child to a kidnapper.'

'That's not going to happen. I won't let it.'

Turning her head slightly, Addy glanced at Nick. A shiver of something akin to excitement raced through her. How had she allowed herself to become so dependent on this man? And why did his protectiveness make her feel safe and yet vulnerable all at the same time?

* * *

Nick met Addy in the hallway leading to her father's office. Rusty had summoned them both on an urgent matter. Addy's face was flushed, her eyes overly bright. Nick could see the way her hands nervously clutched her leather purse. Only someone who knew her well, someone who'd spent endless hours with her, could tell that Addy was upset. Although their acquaintance was less than a week old, Nick had come to know Addy in a way he'd never known another woman. Except Dina. The truth of the matter was that he'd never spent as much time with another woman. Day and night. Sharing meals with her, sleeping in the room next to hers, listening to her talk and laugh and argue, and catching glimpses of her elegantly slender body covered by nothing more than her sexy lingerie.

Addy McConnell, taken in small doses, could be dismissed as nothing more than a skinny redhead. Nick understood why so many men had overlooked the real value that lay hidden behind her Plain-Jane facade, and had taken an interest in Addy solely because of Rusty's money. But Nick had learned, to his own detriment, that Addy McConnell, taken in large doses, could prove fatal to a confirmed bachelor who'd always prided himself on being a love 'em and leave 'em ladies' man.

He couldn't remember ever wanting a woman so badly—not even when he'd been seventeen and thought he'd die from wanting his brother's wife. At forty-three, he'd known his share of women, and could easily have his pick of dozens of beauties. So, why didn't the idea of bedding some bosomy blonde appeal to him?

'Ginger wouldn't tell me anything,' Addy said, her long legs slowing their pace to keep step with Nick's slower, halting gait. 'Did she tell you why Daddy wanted to see us?'

'No. She just said to get to Rusty's office pronto, that it was urgent.' Reaching out, Nick pulled one of Addy's trembling hands away from the purse she clutched at her waist. 'Whatever it is, we'll take care of it. Rusty, you and me. The three of us together.'

Addy halted her steps, stopping to stare at Nick. 'You mean that, don't you? You actually think I'm capable of being part of the solution.'

Nick paused, then squeezed her hand. 'You're a smart lady, and from what I've seen, you're pretty tough. You're the one whose life is in danger, so it stands to reason that you'll want to cooperate with the two men who'd die trying to protect you.'

'Nick … I—' She'd never known a man like Nick Romero. He overwhelmed her by almost everything he said and did. And he constantly surprised her. Did he, she wondered, realize how possessive he sounded, how much like a man in love? Dear Lord, she couldn't allow herself to indulge in that particular fantasy.

'Come on, Addy, your father's waiting.' He tugged on her hand. She gave him a half-hearted smile and started walking again.

The receptionist stood up when they walked past, watching them enter Ginger's office. She wasn't at her desk, but stood in the open doorway to Rusty's office.

'He's on the phone with the police.' Ushering them inside, Ginger closed the door. 'Can I get either of you something to drink?'

'No, thanks,' Nick said.

Addy simply nodded.

Rusty slammed down the telephone, the crashing sound reverberating around the room. He turned his dark green gaze on Nick. 'From now on, I want you so close to her that she can't breathe without you hearing her.' He glared at Addy. 'And if it takes handcuffing you to him, then I'll see to it. Understand me, little girl?'

Addy rushed to her father, putting her arms around him. He crushed her in his arms, almost pressing the breath out of her. She knew that something terrible had happened. Rusty's ruddy face was flushed crimson, his thick lips drawn in a fine line of pain, and his big, meaty hands shook with the force of his rage.

'What is it, Daddy? What's happened? Has he called?'

With one big arm still draped around Addy, Rusty leaned down, picked up a sheet of paper off his desk and handed it to Nick. Nick took the paper, reading it silently, then looked at Rusty holding his only child protectively in his arms. Dammit, he wouldn't want to be in Rusty's shoes. But, in a way, he was. Addy wasn't his beloved child, but she was going to be his woman and her safety was as important to him as it was to her father.

'What's this?' Addy asked, reaching out for the paper Nick held in his hand.

Nick released the paper, allowing her to take it. Rusty kept his supportive arm around her. She scanned the letter, similar to the one her father had received almost a week ago, the morning after the failed kidnapping attempt.

'Oh my God!' The letter fell from Addy's fingers and floated to the carpeted floor. 'Now we know what the kidnapper wants.'

'If M.A.C. doesn't withdraw its bids on the NASP contract, then Addy's life is in danger,' Rusty said. 'That contract is worth millions. Hundreds of jobs that are threatened because of the economy can be saved.'

'The kidnapper isn't some madman who wants a ransom, is he?' Addy's mind rioted with a dozen different thoughts, finally calming to focus on one possibility. 'Gerald! It's Gerald, isn't it? If M.A.C. doesn't bid on the NASP contract, then New Age Aerospace has a good chance of becoming a NASP contractor, and not only would that add greatly to Gerald's standing with his father-in-law, but it would be the perfect revenge on us, wouldn't it?' Looking up at her father, she knew that he'd come to the same conclusion.

'New Age Aerospace isn't our only competitor,' Rusty said. 'We can't rule out someone at one of the other companies.'

'Rusty's right,' Nick said. 'Just because Gerald Carlton has a personal reason to want to see M.A.C. lose the contract doesn't mean he's the only suspect.'

'You can't agree to this.' Addy pulled away from her father. 'We have to make a bid on the NASP contract. There's too much money and too many jobs at stake to buckle under to this threat.'

'Baby girl, we're talking about your life.' Tears clouded Rusty's vision as he took his daughter's slender hands into his enormous grasp. 'Nothing is more important to me than you.'

'Oh, Daddy, I know that.' Addy wanted to comfort her father, but she was incapable of easing his fears. 'There's no way anyone can get to me with all the protection I have.' She focused her attention on the big, dark man whose very presence in the room made her feel safe. 'My God, how do you think anyone could get through Nick?'

'We have to consider all our options,' Nick said, his heart thumping at a deafening roar. Addy trusted him! Really trusted him. 'First, tell me about this NASP contract.'