Hell or High Water (11 page)

“Am I your first customer?”
 

“No.”

“Then how can you afford to babysit me?”

“Kaycie. I’m not in this for the money and neither are Tyrell and Marcus. This is about your safety, and we’re with you because we care.”
 

He brushed his hand over his jaw, and she remembered how his stubble abraded her chin minutes ago. “How can you care about me? You and I are total strangers. We’re not those dumbass kids from college anymore.”

“Right.” The expression in his deep-blue eyes had gone cold. “Whatever you say, boss.”
 

Typical Nate. She’d tried to talk, and he’d slammed the door in her face. If he was unhappy because she’d insisted on paying for his services, too damn bad.
 

“While your contact is checking the license plate, we can go talk to Hank’s family.” Nate logged off his laptop. She watched his fingers punching keys with a vengeance.

“Okay.” She’d faced facts, and he’d have to eventually. The years had molded them into different people. Poles apart from the twenty-two-year-olds they used to be. Surely, he got that. Never mind that their bodies fought the idea. Common sense said otherwise.

Didn’t mean her heart wouldn’t shoot over the moon with him around, just meant she had to control her emotions.
 

“I don’t leave the bike outside. I’ll pull around back and come in through the back door. We’ll take my truck. First we change into something more official looking.”

 
****

Nate stopped at the bottom of the stairs, waiting while Kaycie scanned the area. They’d stopped by her place where she’d changed clothes. As soon as he’d redressed, they’d go to downtown Dallas.

“I didn’t spot a tail. Did you?” Apparently satisfied, Kaycie joined him.

“I made sure we didn’t have one. This place needs to stay off the grid. If things get sticky you can move in with me.”
 

She paused and then moved on without comment. Nate held the door open to his loft and decided to lighten what had turned into a somber drive.
 

“I’ll be right back. Unless you’d like to help me, then it will take a lot longer.”
 

She snorted her disgust and perched on the arm of his couch, leaving him to head down the hall to his bedroom alone.

 
She’d been distant since they’d had their confrontation in his office. If she believed he would deposit her check and be her hired man, she was dead wrong.

Damn, the slacks and shirt he slipped on were as uncomfortable as if he’d put on a suit. Wranglers and a T-shirt were more his style. He emerged to find her in the exact same place he’d left her.
 

“Ready?” She sprang to her feet when he returned.

She’d rushed through their stop at her place and managed to transform herself into a sophisticated, badge-wearing, gun-toting Child Protective Services investigator. She was beautiful, but he preferred her long hair flowing down her back, her tight butt in jeans, and her soft breasts under a T-shirt.

Or wearing nothing at all.

Still pissed, Kaycie stood like a new military recruit. Back straight, eyes forward.
 

“Kaycie, the girl I remember used to be impulsive, a little undisciplined and a lot passionate. Where did she go?”

Seconds turned into an eternity while she stared at him.
 

“You remember the night I gave you the Saint Jude medallion?”

“Of course I do.” He unbuttoned his shirt and displayed his. “I never take it off.”
 

She reached inside her blouse, pulled out a chain and dropped the Saint Jude medallion on her chest.
 

“You still wear yours.” His mouth went dry.

“Every single day.” She rubbed the charm with her fingers. “It reminds me not to waste my time on lost causes.”

“Meaning?” Shit, the more she talked, the less he understood.
 

“Meaning I loved you. Trusted you. And you broke my heart. Eventually, I grew up, got over you and moved on.” She blew out a sigh. “I never made the same mistake with anyone again.”

Somewhere, in the back of his mind her comments sprouted roots of confusion. She hadn’t fallen in love with anybody—since him. Hadn’t given her heart away—since him. Hadn’t removed the medallion—since him.
 

Kaycie was out the door and down the stairs. He caught up with her, turning her to face him.
 

“I’ve said I’m sorry. If that’s not enough, tell me what my penance is.” He captured her medal in his fingers, searching her eyes for a clue. Finding none, he carefully dropped the medallion inside her blouse. “I want you. More than I want to breathe. Just know I won’t stop trying.”
 

He leaned down and grazed her lips with his. It was brief, and she didn’t kiss him back, but then, she didn’t bite him. All in all, he figured that was a good sign. He slid his thumb across her bottom lip with a sigh. “Now that we’re all dressed up, you ready to rub elbows with the rich?”

“Yep.” She moved out of his reach. “Where do we start?”

“At the top. Let’s pay a visit to Hank’s father.”

“You think we can get him to talk to us?”
 

“If he cares about his son, he will.”

Chapter 11

Kay did her best to ignore Nate. She concentrated on identifying the elevator music playing in the background while they rode to the eighteenth floor. Who could forget the theme song from Titanic?

“By the way, you look very professional.” His breath brushed against her bare neck.

“Thanks.”
 

“And beautiful.”

Her skin warmed with the added compliment.
 

The doors swished open to reveal the Walsh Enterprise lobby. “Why’d we start with Hank’s father?”

 
“Best I could learn he’s Hank’s only family. We’ll need to ask how much he knows about his son’s extracurricular activities.” Nate winked and wrapped strong fingers around her elbow, guiding her across the plush carpet.
 

Kay moved away from him as they approached a receptionist’s desk. The woman turned her perfect-toothed smile toward Nate as if Kay hadn’t arrived at the desk first.

“How may I assist you?” Ms. Teeth asked Nate.

He flashed his ID and passed her one of his cards. Kay couldn’t help but notice the strong set of his jaw. He was definitely in the don’t-mess-with-me zone. He used to wear the same expression before a big football game, only now, he spoke with a lot more confidence.
 

“CPS investigator Kaycie Taylor and Nathan Wolfe to speak with Mr. Walsh.”

“We have two Mr.—”

“The elder Walsh.” Nate corrected his error never breaking eye contact her.

“Do you have—”

“No. Tell him it’s in reference to his son.”

“If you’d like to make an—”

“We’ll wait.”

Judging from the pink rushing up the receptionist’s cheeks, if Nate interrupted one more time, the top of Ms. Teeth’s head would explode. Nate leaned over the desk, his huge shoulders blocking Kay’s view.

“Tell him we can speak with him or we can chat with the press. His call.”

Nate stepped back and smiled, showing off his own perfect set of pearly whites. Kay bit the inside of her cheek to suppress a laugh.

The receptionist pressed a number on her desk phone, turned her back, and spoke softly into the mouthpiece. Seconds later, a door opened and a middle-aged woman dressed in a dark suit strode toward them. She snatched Nate’s card off the desk.

“Tony—Mr. Walsh— will give you ten minutes. If you’ll follow me.”
 

Kay fell in step with Nate as the woman stomped across the thick carpet.

Tony Walsh rose when they entered his office. Tall, thin, and frowning, he shook hands as Nate made introductions. His office, decorated in rich, polished wood, and complemented by Southwestern furniture, screamed money to Kay. A wall of windows overlooked the busy Dallas streets. The cool reception they’d received wasn’t mirrored by Mr. Walsh who waved them to a small conference table and dismissed their escort.

“You’re here concerning my son?”

“We are,” Nate answered.

The old man’s shoulders dropped, his mouth drooping at the corners.

She hoped a female touch might lessen the blow of accusing his son. “And we’ll get right to the point. I was kidnapped and after I escaped, a second attempt was made.”

“I’m sorry for your misfortune, but what has that got to do with my son?” Mr. Walsh asked as he leaned toward her. Watching his expression, she read nothing but curiosity.

“We’re trying to find the reason for these sudden attacks.”

“I still don’t understand. Why do you think I can help?”

 
“The first incident happened right after I visited a young woman in the hospital who’d accused your son of abducting and raping her.”

“Hank is innocent of those charges.” His back straightened. “I see no correlation between her false accusation and your unfortunate attack. What are you insinuating?”

Nate’s expression hardened. “Surely you’ll admit it’s more than a coincidence connecting the death of the only witness to your son’s crime and the abduction of the girl’s caseworker.”

“Look, my son may be spoiled, but he’s incapable of hurting anyone. If I believed those charges, I’d have insisted he seek psychological help and own up to his responsibility.”

“If he’s responsible, as you put it, now would be a good time to tell him to back off. I’d be very upset if something happened to Ms. Taylor.”

Nate’s tone sent chills straight to Kay’s spine. His message was a mix of threat, hate, and vengeance. Mr. Walsh’s eyes flashed wide.
 

“Threats should be directed to my attorney.” Tony Walsh glanced at his watch. She sensed he was through talking. He rose, hurried to the door and opened it.
 

Kay paused on her way out, placing her hand on his arm. The older man trembled under her grasp.

“We didn’t come to upset you. We came to gain insight.”

“I’ve told you my son is innocent. Direct any additional questions to the offices of Hammond and Hammond.”

Mr. Walsh opened the door and motioned to his assistant. Before Kay could ask anymore questions, she and Nate were whisked out of the building like yesterday’s dirt. As soon as they hit the sidewalk, Kay spun to face him. “What the hell was that macho act you pulled?” She stabbed a finger in his chest. “We went to talk not piss off an old man.”

“We went to send a message. You can bet Hank will get an earful.”
 

Nate’s hand closed around her hers, pulling it to his mouth. Kay watched mesmerized as his tongue slipped out to lick the tip of her finger. Moisture zinged straight to the juncture between her legs.
 

“That’s twice you’ve poked me in the chest. Do it again and there will be consequences.”

“You think you can scare me?” Kay straightened her five-eight frame and cocked her head to the right, delivering her version of a don’t-mess-with-me glare.
 

“Yeah. I do.” He shrugged. “Call Holly, see what she and Marcus dug up.”
 

Tugging her cell from its holder, Kay slid into Nate’s pickup, muttering to herself. He’d grown into the most frustrating, confusing, arrogant, sexy man she’d ever met.

She wouldn’t give into his charms. “No way.”
 

“No way what?” Holly’s voice boomed over the line. “Are you talking to me?”

 
“Holly?” Kay didn’t remember hitting speed dial. Apparently, she had. And if the expression on Nate’s face was any indication, she’d been talking out loud. That damn grin, the one she’d told him didn’t work anymore, was plastered across his face.

“What’s up?” Holly asked.

“Nate and I are headed to my apartment.” Kay struggled to keep her voice steady. “Where are you and Marcus?”

“Walking to the car. Meet you there in twenty.”

Kay ended the call and gazed out the window while Nate drove onto the freeway, heading south. She froze when his hand gave her shoulder a shake. The look she gave him was a warning to never mention what he’d overheard.

“Sweetheart, old man Walsh wasn’t going to tell us anything. Parents protect their kids.”

“I know that. I deal with them all the time. But his son is a monster.”

God. He’d stopped calling her Kaycie and switched to sweetheart. She’d relaxed her guard and allowed him to move in.

“Hank needed to know you’re not alone. If we tracked him down and told him, it would mean nothing. Dad telling him with fear in his voice might carry more weight.”
 

“You could’ve mentioned your plan to me. That’s twice you’ve treated me like I’m less capable than you. Do it again and there will be consequences.”