Taking Control (Babysitting a Billionaire #3)

No way. His disbelief must have shown because Grantham continued. “Most of the employees at Knight Security have a military background.”


He wanted to ask more but it would look weird. He’d get a security check run on her once they’d left. He intended to discover everything about what Jessica Bauer was up to right now. Had she orchestrated this meeting? Maybe she’d had him shot herself, so he’d need a bodyguard… His mind raced ahead of itself, making up more and more far-fetched conspiracy theories.

Jess looked bored now. Staring out of the window, she tapped her foot on the ground, but a small tic twitched in the side of her cheek. She turned her head slightly and looked him in the face. “Are we done here?”

As she rose to her feet, her jacket swung open, and he caught sight of the shoulder holster and pistol nestled under her arm. Shit, she was for real. Why did the idea of Jess and a gun together make a shiver of apprehension run through him?

Because she hated him. She’d told him so at their last meeting in no uncertain terms. Shouted the words from her hospital bed as he’d turned and walked away from her.

“Mr. McCabe,” Grantham said. “I think you should reconsider this. Maybe you aren’t feeling quite yourself. You could be in shock from the shooting yesterday.”

Oh, he was in shock all right. But not from the shooting. “If I come to my senses, I’ll be sure to call.”

Jess gave a tight smile. “That will be nice. We’ll look forward to it.” She turned to Grantham. “Come on, Dave, let’s not waste anymore of Mr. McCabe’s valuable time. I’m sure he has important bits of paper to play with.”

Grantham was back to frowning. He glanced from Declan to Jess and back again, but then gave a shrug. “I think you’re making a mistake. But what do I know.” He rose to his feet and held out his hand. Declan stood as well and shook it. “Call us if you change your mind.”

He sat back down as he watched them walk away. Jess moved with a long stride, her hands shoved in the pockets of her pants, her ponytail swinging. Her hair was longer than it used to be; he was guessing loose it would touch her ass.

An image of that ass naked flashed up in his mind. Smooth and perfect and pointing up at him, thighs parted so he could see the damp blond curls peeking out. His dick twitched. Then the image was overlaid with another memory, and before he could think it was a bad idea, he called out to her, “Jess.”

About to open the door, she stopped short—maybe it was the use of her first name—and turned slowly. Her eyes were narrowed. “What?”

He grinned. “Do you still have the tattoo?”





Chapter Three


“Fucking asshole,” Jess muttered and slammed the door behind her.

Whirling around, she reached for the door handle, meaning to go back in there and find just what he was playing at.

“Are you going to tell me what that was all about?” Dave asked from beside her.

“No.” She forced her hand back to her side. No way was she going back until she had cooled down.

“Come on, Jess. I wouldn’t say you have the best of attitudes with clients, but even for you that was over the top.”

She opened her mouth to tell him to mind his own bloody business, then snapped it closed again. It was his business, but that didn’t mean she was going to tell him anything. What could she tell him anyway? She had no clue what was going on. “He started it.”

Dave’s lips twitched. “What are we, kindergarten children?”

She shrugged. “Maybe.” God, she needed out of there. Time to get her shit together. She’d brought Dave along in case they needed to start the job immediately. But also as a means of keeping her distance while she’d discovered just what sort of effect meeting Declan again would have.

Catastrophic. That about covered it.

So much for playing nice. But she hadn’t expected Declan not to recognize her. She hadn’t known why he had asked for her, but it had never occurred to her that he hadn’t. That he would have no clue it was her. That had thrown her totally off balance.

A whole nasty blast of unwelcome shock had hit her in the solar plexus when he’d said it was his father who had arranged for Knight Security’s involvement. Had some little demented part of her brain actually liked the idea that Declan wanted to see her again? Had she imagined some fond memories had driven the action?

Ugh!

Instead, it was Rory McCabe who had contacted them. What the hell was with that? Ten years ago, he’d pretty much ordered her to leave his son alone and never to darken his door again.

Yet he must have known it was her. He’d asked for her by name.

God, her head was going to explode. She tugged at her ponytail trying to ease the pressure.

“I take it you and Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome-Billionaire have history.”

Her gaze darted to Dave. “Mind your goddamned business.” But she couldn’t see that happening. Dave was an atrocious gossip and this would be all around the office within minutes of them getting back.