“They are, but not with the sense of urgency I expect.” Lauren’s blue eyes glittered with anger. “Ariel being released has lulled them into complacency. They aren’t taking the threat as seriously as I’d like.”
He arched a brow at that. When Rex didn’t say anything, he nodded. “Okay, let’s start with who might have a grudge against you.”
Lauren glanced at Lucy, then back at him. “I’d be happy to discuss this at length when we get home.”
Grady almost argued, but then realized Lauren didn’t want to go into details in front of her daughter. With a resigned sigh, he nodded. “Fine. What’s your address? I can meet you there.”
She arched a brow. “I’m not leaving without you. My driver dropped us off and escorted us up to the tenth floor. From here, I expect you’ll be handling all aspects of our transportation.”
She expected him to be her chauffeur? Great. He did his best to hide his annoyance. “I’m driving a Jeep, not a limo.”
“I didn’t expect a limo.” Her tone held a note of disdain. “And there’s one more thing we need to discuss.”
He glanced again at Rex, who grimaced as if he knew what was coming. He braced himself for the worst. Did she expect him to wear some sort of chauffeur’s uniform? Or some other uniform to make sure he blended into the background when she did—whatever rich socialites did?
“I need you to pretend to be my fiancé.” Lauren turned to face him. “I don’t want the world to know my daughter is in danger.”
He blinked. That was so not what he’d expected. “Your fiancé?”
“Yes.” A faint blush stained her cheeks. “From what I understand, you’re not involved with anyone, correct?” When he managed to nod in agreement, she went on. “Then there’s no reason the public in general won’t buy our story.”
“Except for the fact that we’ve only seen each other for the first time today,” he drawled. Or the fact that he was a former army sergeant from Cody, Wyoming, about as far from the high society page as you could get.
Annoyance flashed in her eyes as she glanced toward Rex. His boss cleared his throat. “Mac, er, Grady will gladly take on the role of your fiancé to keep you and your daughter safe.”
He would? Swallowing a flash of irritation, he forced a nod. “Of course. Whatever you think is best.”
“Thank you.” Satisfied with the arrangement, Lauren rose. She dug a check from her handbag, which doubled as a computer case, and set it on Rex’s desk. “For the first week as agreed. I’m hoping you, Grady, and the police are able to figure out who is responsible for abducting Ariel by then.”
“Thank you.” Rex glanced at the check, then rose. He held out his hand. “Mac, er, Grady will protect you and your daughter with his life.”
“I’m counting on it.” Lauren’s expression was grim as she shook Rex’s hand, then turned to him. “Would you like to be called Grady or Mac?”
He cleared his throat. “Grady is fine. It’s only my army buddies that call me Mac.”
“Fine.” She nodded briskly. “Let’s go then.” She placed her computer in her bag and was about to sling it over her shoulder when he held out his hand. It took a moment for her to realize he intended to carry it for her. “It looks like a purse,” she said, clearly flustered by his action.
“That’s okay.” He didn’t care what it looked like, he wasn’t about to let her carry it. He shrugged into his leather bomber jacket and took the bag from her hand. “I’ve got it.”
“Thank you.” She turned to her daughter. “Let’s go, Lucy.”
As he followed Lauren and Lucy out of the office, he turned to shoot one last look at Rex. He wasn’t the only single agent Rex had working for him. They were all single, although Brody was seeing someone last Grady had heard.
The only reason he was going along with this pretend fiancé/bodyguard deal was the video of the masked man snatching Ariel off the street in broad daylight and knowing Lucy was the intended target.
Rex was right about one thing. He’d protect Lucy and her mother with his life if necessary. Although he grimly hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
* * *
Lauren glanced furtivelyover her shoulder as she stepped out of the office building into the bright sunshine. Her face felt like it might crack from her forced smile. Every nerve ending was on high alert, waiting for the masked man to pop out of the shadows at any moment.
She hadn’t slept in the two days since Ariel had been abducted by mistake. And even with hiring a bodyguard, she couldn’t relax. One man could only do so much. She’d been tempted to ask for an entire team of bodyguards, but that would only advertise the danger.
“Stay a few feet in front of me.” Grady’s low, husky voice had her glancing at him. Then just as quickly, she looked away. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and incredibly handsome if you liked rugged-looking men with hair that was too long and needed to be cut.
Which to her dismay, her long-dormant hormones did.
Grady put his arm around her waist, keeping her positioned to his left. She kept Lucy close, then stiffened when she realized Grady held a gun in his right hand.
