“Okay,” I said, adjusting my body on the bed so that I could watch him a little more comfortably. I loved his voice, this deep, chocolatey tone that vibrated through my body. Only one other guy’s voice had ever done that to me, and he was long gone. One of those good riddance sort of things. But this guy…I wouldn’t mind spending a little time alone with him.
“My operative will have to spend twenty-four seven with you until this case is resolved and we have confirmation that the threat has been neutralized. Therefore, when they release you from the hospital today, he will drive you home and remain at your home.”
“Like move into my spare bedroom?”
“Yes.”
He watched me as he said that single word, waiting for me to object, I think. But I couldn’t think of a good reason to object if his operative looked anything like him.
“We currently have a team at your house installing surveillance equipment so that we can keep tabs on the house and the area around it.”
“Like cameras?”
“Yes. But rest assured that none will be placed in sensitive areas.”
“Such as my bedroom and bathroom?”
“Such as your bathroom.”
I sat up a little straighter, ignoring the pain in my skull. “You’re putting cameras in my bedroom? Where am I supposed to dress? Where am I supposed to go for some alone time?”
“You’ll have to dress in the bathroom. And your ‘alone time’ will have to wait until this is resolved, which will, hopefully, be in a few days.”
I shook my head. “It’s my house.”
“Yes, ma’am. But it’s very likely you witnessed a man being murdered last night. And the perpetrator will more than likely not be aware that you’ve lost all memory of the event.” He looked me full in the eye, an intense stare that frightened me despite my determination not to let any of this scare me. “It is very probable that he will not want you to identify him to police.”
“So that means you get to invade my house and watch my every move?”
“We’ll be watching for intruders, Miss Thompson. The rest of the footage will be disregarded and destroyed when the case is over.”
I didn’t like that idea. Didn’t like any of it. It was an invasion of my privacy. And privacy was what I liked most about owning my own house.
He waited, watching the emotion rush over my face. There was something about his gaze that left me feeling invaded already. As though he could see right through me to what I was thinking. It was a little unnerving.
I waved at him, encouraging him to continue.
“Our operative, and occasionally other members of our team, will accompany you to work each day, to any meetings you must attend, and any social gatherings you cannot get out of. However, while we are protecting you, it would make the process simpler if you could restrict your comings and goings to home and work.”
“I have to give up my social life for this?”
“It would be easier to protect you that way, yes.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
He seemed shocked, like no one had ever said no to him before. Well, he was about to get a shock, wasn’t he?
“I won’t cancel my plans just because my dad hired a bunch of ex-military goons to follow me around.”
“Miss Thompson—”
“My name is Kate. If you’re going to be watching my every movement over the next few days, we should be on a first name basis.” Again something danced in his eyes that suggested he was a man who was used to getting his way. “Your name is Ashford?”
He hesitated, but then he inclined his head. “Ash.”
“Ash?” I let my eyes move down the length of him. I think he actually blushed as my eyes lingered here and there—those guns were definitely impressive!—especially when I went back for a second look. “Well, Ash,” I said, dragging out the single syllable of his name, “there is a party on Friday night to celebrate my bank manager’s retirement. I helped set everything up, so I’m not missing it, even for this.”
“I’m sure the bank will cancel the event.”
“I doubt it.”
I almost laughed when his eyebrows rose so high that he looked a little like Phyllis Diller.
“Bankers are ruthless people, Ash. I doubt they’d care enough about a security guard that they’d cancel one of the biggest parties they’ve thrown in six months. These events are a great way to woo new customers, especially those types of customers who have six figure balances all year long, if you know what I mean. They’ll still have the event.”
He studied me for a minute, as if he was struggling to decide what to do. Then he inclined his head again.
“Then we’ll need to know where the event will take place, see a guest list—”
“I can do that.”
“And you’ll have to take my operative as your date.”
I wanted to protest, but the truth was, I didn’t have a date to the party. And it would be a real coup to walk in with a strange man that all the other women in the bank haven’t already gotten their claws into. I could just imagine their faces when I walked through the doors with a good-looking man none of them could touch. And if Ash’s operative looked anything like him…
“Okay,” I said, making a gesture like I was giving him a huge advantage, “I’ll concede that much.”
“Thank you, Miss—”
“No. Kate.”