“Hopefully you.” His grin is pure sin. He reaches over to my desk and picks up the black silk corset I spared from Kat’s fury. “What are the chances of my convincing you to wear this for me later?”
I arch a brow. “With or without panties?”
“Definitely without,” he growls, closing the distance between us and taking me in a bone-melting kiss. Then he smacks my ass. “I need to get out of here before you give me any other wicked ideas.”
We straighten ourselves and arrange our clothing, then Gabe walks to the door and silently unlocks it. He sends one last heated glance at me before he exits. No sooner does he step outside than the electrician calls to him from the back room of the boutique.
“Hey, Gabe? There’s something here I think you should take a look at.”
“Sure thing, Don.”
I walk out of my office a second after him, just to get another glimpse of Gabe striding down the hallway looking all business once more and sexy as hell.
It’s virtually impossible for me to curb my satisfied smile—or to tamp down my desire for the man who’s not only seduced my body, but my heart as well. With my purse in hand and my body still buzzing with residual pleasure, I head for the staff washroom to freshen up and wait impatiently for that lunch date he promised me.
22
~ Gabriel ~
Dominic Baine and Andrew Beckham are seated together at the executive suite conference table reviewing a large collection of blueprints when Nick’s assistant, Lily, shows me into the office.
“Sorry to interrupt,” I tell both men. “I didn’t want to discuss this over the phone, but I didn’t think it should wait.”
In fact, I left L’Opale as soon as I saw what the electrician had discovered in the utility room a short time ago. Making excuses to Evelyn about postponing our lunch date, I headed directly back to Baine headquarters. I hated lying to her about my abrupt need to leave. Realizing that she trusts me so implicitly she had accepted those excuses without question doesn’t make me feel any better, either.
I owe her the truth. Not only about my role as herprotector and my suspicions that her safety could be compromised, but about everything. Including how much she means to me.
But as I step inside Nick’s office, the only thing stronger than my guilt over all of the secrets I’ve been asked to keep from Evelyn is the grave concern that’s sitting like a cold rock in my stomach.
Nick glances up in question. “What’s going on, Gabe?”
Once Lily has left and closed the door behind her, I reach into my jacket pocket and remove the small square of black plastic and the singed wires attached to it. The men stand up to look at the device I’ve placed on the conference table.
“What the hell is it?” Beck asks, his dark brows furrowed.
“Some kind of digital intercept device. The electrician found it in the boutique’s utility room.”
Nick frowns. “Someone bugged the shop?”
“From the looks of it, yes.”
“Jesus Christ,” Beck hisses. “Bugged it for what reason?”
“Specifically? I haven’t determined that yet. But this kind of device coupled with specialized software can enable someone to hack into just about anything. Computers, mobile connections, cell phones, cameras. It can even tap into security systems, if the operator knows what they’re doing.”
“Shit.” Beck swallows, and I see some of the same cold fear in his face that I’ve been feeling ever since I was alerted to the problem. “Are you saying someone had to be physically inside the shop in order to install this fucking thing?”
I nod. “I’m going to be looking into L’Opale employees, current and former, as well as chasing down a list of service and maintenance workers. Anyone who may have had access to the shop in recent weeks or months.”
Beck swears under his breath. “You think it’s been there that long?”
“I don’t know. But it’s possible.” I clamp my jaw, if only to maintain some level of calm when I consider that someone has had digital access to Evelyn and her workplace for an indeterminate time. “According to the electrician, equipment like this can suck down a lot of energy when it’s in use. This one caused an overload on the shop’s electrical system, which is why the power went out last week. The only good news is the surge also fried the components of the device.”
“Evie was working late that night by herself. She said she thought she heard someone trying to get in the back door.”
“Yes. All the more reason to expedite the new security system and camera installations. I made a few calls on my way here. I have a crew available to work the weekend to get it completed as soon as possible.”
“Okay, I agree.” Beck lets out a weary breath. “I appreciate all you’re doing, Gabe.”
