“With all due respect, Mr. Watson, may I ask you to move away from the window? If someone is watching, you’re presenting a good target right now,” Rosie said, glad to hear her voice was steady.
There was a moment’s hesitation before Sam sat in his chair. There was a flare of frustration in his eyes before he veiled his expression.
No, not guilt. Frustration at having to place his life in someone else’s hands. Sam Watson was a pride-filled ego-driven walking pile of testosterone.
I’m not letting this whacko get you on my watch, buddy. Better a hit to your ego than your life.
As if sensing her challenge, Sam leaned back, dropping his chin to his chest. His gaze dropped from hers to her lips, then made a leisurely perusal of her chest before slowly travelling a reverse route and catching her gaze once more.
Ready to burst into flames, she dropped her gaze to his lips and imagined them kissing her breasts, his teeth nipping and catching her nipples, suckling them. His fingers flexed, drawing her attention. What would it feel like to have those long fingers caress her bare skin, blaze a trail down her stomach, down to that aching area between her thighs and stroke her clit, pressing deep inside-
“-you think, Rosie?”
Rosie blinked and looked at Kris, who nudged her with his knee. He was staring at her as if she’d grown a third eye in the middle of her forehead.
“Don’t you agree?” he asked as if repeating a question.
Agree? To what?
“Yes, I do,” she quickly answered. So unprofessional, her conscience lectured. Your boss needs a bodyguard, not a lover. Besides, she had an unbreakable rule about never dating co-workers. A glance at Sam and that one tilted eyebrow told her he knew exactly what she’d been thinking about instead of work. “Who else knows the security code of your condo?”
“Me,” Sam said with not a little irritation. “My cleaning crew, and it’s probably on file somewhere here in case of emergency-Sandy may have it. The IT guys possibly could access it.”
“I hate to say this, but it’s looking like an inside job.” Andy set the photos he’d collected on the desk. “I think we should look at Hauberk employees-those who might have received a bad report, or have recently quit.”
“Goddamn it! It’s not a Hauberk employee.” Sam laced his fingers together, clasping them so hard the nail beds were white.
“Andy’s right, Sam. We can’t rule anybody out at this time,” Chad said quietly. “Very few people have access to your private phone number. Even less to your security code.”
Rosie recognized the Voice of Reason coming out in him, and heard the steel behind it as well. As much as Sam Watson was bucking the truth, Chad wouldn’t let him ignore it.
Go Chad.
“They could have pretexted the phone number from the goddamned phone company. From security at the condo. You know how easy it is to get information-they phone up and pretend they’re me, or my mother, for Christ’s sake.” Sam took a deep breath and continued in a more normal tone, though his smooth southern accent had disappeared.
“Damn it, Chad. It’s not an employee. Not one of mine. You know everyone has to go through background checks.” He swiveled his chair around to the window again, his head resting on his thumb and forefinger at his temple. “It’s not an employee.”
She wanted to reach over and lay her hand on his but knew she couldn’t. Instead she sat back, considering the ramifications that it might be someone they worked with. The idea that someone she worked with might wish ill of their boss was terrifying, especially given the capabilities and backgrounds of some of her co-workers.
Chad cleared his throat. “We’ll assume Sam’s safe while he’s inside this building. Besides if anyone did try anything, there’ll be enough people around to stop whoever it is.”
If it was one of them, Sam might be safer out of the office.
“Outside of the office, I want you to treat this as a high-level protection assignment. We have no idea what type of attack to expect. We have no idea what to expect-watch for a sniper, a close attack, or even a bomb.”
Sam cursed-not low enough to be said it was under his breath, but loud enough to let them know Chad’s suggestion annoyed him.
He shot a look at Sam who sighed and nodded his head once. “I want at least two of you with him from the moment he leaves this building to when he walks back in the next day. You escort him everywhere he goes. Don’t forget to check his mail every day and make sure there are no nasty surprises in it. Don’t take anything for granted.”
“You can do that, Rosie. Real guys don’t check the mail.” Kris grinned and stuck out his foot until his toe bumped hers.
Sam shot out of his chair so fast that his chair bounced off the wall behind him. He leaned across the desk, grinding his fists into the desktop. “Ms. Ramos is one of Hauberk’s top CPOs. She deserves your respect, not your sexist bullshit. You hear me?”
A flush rose up Kris’s neck as his lips pressed together so hard they turned white. “Yes, sir, Mr. Watson.”
Chad cleared his throat. “Why don’t you three step out for a moment?”
Kris stood, his naval training showing in his rigid posture. From a movement of his hand, Rosie would have bet he was forcing himself not to salute as they left the office.
Chapter Four
Chad followed them out, closing the door to Sam’s office behind him. “Rosie, Kris, you guys go on over to my office. Andy? You got a minute?”
Leaving the two men, Rosie followed Kris into Chad’s office beside Sam’s and set the door against the jamb so they couldn’t overhear whatever Chad was saying to Andy. When she finally sat, she didn’t feel the need to perch the way she had in Sam’s office.
His fingers flexing and releasing at each turn, Kris paced the five steps of the office.
“I’m sorry, Rosie. I didn’t mean anything. I was just joking about you checking the mail.”
“I know you were, Kris.”
“Do you think I should go back and apologize to Mr. Watson? I don’t want him to think I’m a slacker.” He glanced back at the door to the executive office, his body angling as if he was about to do exactly that.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea. He’s a bit too wound up right now-let Chad get him cooled down.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Kris passed three more times before he paused halfway across the office, stabbing his fingers through his hair. He’d let it grow out from the high and tight he’d had when she’d first met him, and now his mahogany hair flowed around his fingers in thick waves. Normally she would have found it attractive. But for some reason, a certain almost-shaved head was more appealing to her right now.
Ay bendito, she shouldn’t be thinking of her boss that way. Not since he was now her principal.
When Andy came in and shot Kris a glare, Kris walked to the window and stared out, reminding Rosie of Sam’s posture earlier. After a few moments, he said, “You guys know I didn’t mean anything with that crack, right? I was joking-I’d never let anything happen to you or to anyone. I’d take a bullet for any one of you.”
“Yeah, we know, Skippy, but your timing sure sucks,” Andy added as he hitched a hip on the windowsill. “You need to control that case of diarrhea of the mouth you’re afflicted with.”
“Either of you hear anyone griping about Sam in the locker room? Or over at Charley’s?” Deciding a change of subject was in order, Rosie named the bar a lot of the operatives frequented to shoot the breeze and a little pool during the long slow stretches.
Chad walked into the office and threw the file folder of photos on his desk. His tie had been loosened and twisted askew, the top button of his shirt loosened.
“Okay, listen up, folks. Considering we think it might be someone inside, I think it best if we try to keep this on the QT. As far as I know, before today, only Sam, Sandy and I knew about the pictures and the threats. So if anyone mentions anything about either-consider them a suspect.”
