Guarding His Body. A.C. Arthur
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Название: Guarding His Body
Автор: A.C. Arthur
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
Серия: Mills & Boon Kimani
isbn: 9781472019455
isbn:
Sabrina pulled away first.
Renny continued to stare, dumbfounded and looking silly, his empty hand still outstretched.
“Ah, Renny, I assure you that Sabrina is very capable. As you are the only one of the Bennett men not directly involved in the business, it’s most likely you’re not the target. Still, I’d like to keep a close watch on you just in case,” Sam said, moving closer to Bree.
“I’m sure that Ms. Desdune is good at what she does.” He doubted that very seriously; she was a woman, for goodness’ sake. Why on earth her brother was letting her run around playing cops and robbers was beyond him, but that was not his concern. “I simply don’t think I need any protection.”
“That’s what they all say.” Bree couldn’t help it; the words were out before she’d had a chance to consider the company they were in. A quick glance to her right and she saw Sam’s frown. She’d promised him she’d be on her best behavior, that she’d complete this assignment without any mishaps. The Bennetts were very wealthy and very influential in the Greenwich community. Their charity work and financial contributions around the state were well-known and much appreciated. Besides that, Sam needed this job. His security company had only been open for two years and he was making a steady amount of money, but he was getting married in six months to Leeza Purdy—Connecticut’s very own Paris Hilton. But that was another story for another day.
Behind her she heard a snicker. Renny Bennett glowered over her shoulder, then lowered his eyes to her again.
Sam glowered at her, then turned his attention to their new client. “What she means is that most of our clients that receive personal attention are against it, but your father has hired me to do a job and I would not be doing that job if I didn’t cover all the bases.”
A muscle in Renny’s jaw twitched and Bree found herself staring at his face, the finely chiseled features, strong jaw, dark bronze skin, dark eyes and thin beard and mustache giving him an air of danger. She remembered that one of his parents was Brazilian, the mother, if she wasn’t mistaken. That would explain the exotic look all the Bennett sons had. They were certainly a triplet of beautiful men. When she made her way to his eyes again she realized with a start that he was staring at her as intently as she’d been staring at him. She cleared her throat and stood a little straighter, her mouth suddenly going dry. “Mr. Bennett, I can assure you that I’ll guard your body as if it were my own.” The moment the words were out she knew they were an even bigger mistake than her previous comment.
Sam grabbed her by the arm. “Yes, Mr. Bennett, Desdune Security will take very good care of your family. Now, if you’ll excuse us we’d like to get a better look at the grounds to decide what other precautions we need to take here at the house.” He pulled her to the door, barely masking his anger.
“Taunting the client is not good business, Bree,” Sam scolded when they were well down the hall from the dining room.
Bree had already pulled away from his bullying grasp and was checking the locks on the windows in the living room as Sam spoke. “I wasn’t taunting him. He was the one looking down his nose at me, a mere woman assigned to guard his body.” And what a wonderful body that was, she thought surprisingly. “These windows are the pits.” She stood back and looked at the almost floor-to-ceiling windows and held in a sigh. “Besides giving you a breathtaking view of the landscape, they aren’t the best safety choice. I think we should line the entire house with a new alarm system. Possibly some motion sensors since they seem to have a lot of valuables in here.”
Sam wanted to be mad at her; he wanted to continue to drill into her head the importance of this job, but he just couldn’t. Bree was his baby sister. Not only that, she was his fraternal twin. They were as close as two people could possibly be and he loved her with all his being. But she could be a stubborn pain in the ass when she felt like it. Still, she was smart and good at what she did. She’d studied weaponry and hand-to-hand combat in her sixteen-year stint with the Marine Corps. Despite her small frame and wispy appearance she could beat the hell out of you without batting an eye—he’d seen it done.
He moved through the elegantly decorated room and had to agree with her. The windows were gorgeous, but wouldn’t protect the Bennetts from an intruder. He pulled his notebook out of his back pocket and scribbled down some notes. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. I think a security gate to get on the property would be good, too. I can’t believe they have this huge estate and never thought to have one installed.”
Bree chuckled. “We live in Greenwich, Connecticut, Sam. Who the hell needs security out here? We’re only a step away from Smallville.”
Sam couldn’t help but laugh with her. Bree always hated Greenwich. Her spirit and energy fit New York or L.A. much better. That had him wondering again why she’d come back. “Actually, we’re only a step down from Beverly Hills, which has its share of crime and danger. Now, I’ve already bugged the office phones. Mr. Bennett’s direct line and the lines of Alex and Rico, as well. I doubt any calls will come in through the other staff. We need to come back and set up the lines here in the house and we need to do each of the private home phones, as well.”
He looked over at Bree, who had paused at the mantel looking at the family portraits. “Are you writing any of this down, Bree?”
She didn’t wince, didn’t even turn before replying. “Nope.”
He let out a deep breath. “And why not?”
She tapped her temple as she turned toward him. “I’ve got it all up here.” She gave him that award-winning smile. That smile that made whatever else you were thinking fly right out of your mind.
Sam shook his head. He felt sorry for the man that fell for Sabrina Desdune.
“That’s some bodyguard you’ve got there, little brother.” Alex moved to the minibar and poured himself a drink, still grinning after what had just happened.
“I don’t need a bodyguard.” Renny moved to the window, looked out at the cloudy October sky. “This whole thing is ridiculous. Just call the police and let them handle it. That’s what they get paid for.”
Rico sat down at the table, opening a file and poring over its contents. “It’s too delicate a situation for that. If word gets out that we’re being stalked the publicity alone will be a nightmare. Not to mention our stockholders who’ll probably get jumpy and start selling off stock. We’re going about this the right way and you’ll just have to deal with it.”
Renny jammed his hands into his pockets. He hated when Rico talked in that highly professional, full-of-crap tone. He’d learned it from his father and now did it more often than not. Renny missed their teenage years when they’d talked like normal boys about sports and girls and everything in between. He knew he was the outcast because he hadn’t gone into the family business, because he’d rather wear jeans and tennis shoes than a Brooks Brothers suit and tie. But they were still brothers.
“It was only two notes, Rico. It’s not as if the house was broken into or a threat was made on our lives. Two little notes that said basically nothing.” He frowned and continued to stare outside. He’d much rather be in his studio or on his deck drawing whatever came to mind. Being cooped up in this big house was stifling.
Alex jumped in, now over his petty laughter. “They said something, Renny. And we can’t ignore it.”
“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t СКАЧАТЬ