Nick nods in confirmation. “Whatever you need, consider it yours.”
“Thank you.”
Beck’s serious gaze moves from Nick to me. “Does Evie know about any of this?”
“No. Not yet. I wanted to bring it to you first.”
“Good. Let’s keep it that way for now.”
“Yeah, about that.” I clear my throat, working up towhat I’ve been wanting to suggest for several days. “This actually might be a good time to bring her up to speed on everything. I don’t think we need to keep her in the dark. In fact, I prefer we don’t. As the one tasked with keeping her safe, it’s my opinion that it will be easier to do that if she’s informed.”
“You’d rather scare her before we have answers?”
“From what I’ve seen, she’s a level-headed, strong woman. She can handle this.”
Beck’s misgiving is written all over his face. “You’ve known my sister for, what, barely a couple of weeks? You’ve been watching her from a distance, Gabe. I’ve known Evie all her life. I’m fairly certain I know what she can handle, or not. I’ve seen up close what stress and anxiety will do to her.”
I sympathize with him, all the more now that Evelyn has shared some of her past struggles with me. I also know that it was her brother who protected her. He’s still trying to fill that role now, still seeing her as the fragile young woman she had been when her life had spun so dangerously out of control.
The last thing I want to see is a repeat of those troubles for her. The woman I know is stronger than that. I’ve seen it myself. I trust that she can handle anything life throws at her now, but at the end of the day, that’s not my call to make. I’m the hired help, even if my feelings have crossed that line a long time ago.
“Someone slashed her tires the other day,” I remind both men. “And now we’ve got hard evidence that the boutique has been compromised. Not to mention her personal belongings. I don’t think her purse went missing by accident last week.”
“You think one of the employees took it?” Beckasks.
I shrug. “I think someone did. And I think if we find out who it was, we’ll find out who’s responsible for everything else that’s going on.”
“Then go dig up those answers, Gabe. When you get to the bottom of this, then I’ll explain everything to my sister. But don’t expect me to put her through any unnecessary pain in the meantime. I love her too much to see her hurt for any reason.”
I can’t argue that. No more than I’m prepared to admit just how intimate my knowledge of Evelyn has become. And I can’t tell him how every moment I withhold the truth from her—about the potential threats I’m aware of, and about my covert responsibility to protect her—is the worst kind of torture I’ve ever endured.
Beck seems to take my silence as agreement.
“Do you think she’s in danger right now?” he asks me, his low voice filled only with concern.
“Not if I have anything to say about it, no.”
“That’s what I’m counting on,” he says. “I’m counting on you, Gabe. I know you’re not going to let me down. I also know I don’t need to tell you how grateful I am for everything you’re doing for us. I can’t thank you enough for dropping everything to watch over her.”
I nod, trying to ignore the pang of guilt that claws at me. My friend wouldn’t be thanking me if he knew how I’d greeted his sister this morning. Or all the other mornings—and nights—I’ve spent in Evelyn’s bed this week.
I avert my gaze, looking at Nick as he inspects the cooked spying device. “What are you thinking this isabout, Gabe? Corporate espionage, or something more personal?”
“I don’t think we can rule out anything.” I glance at Beck. “How much do you know about her coworker Kat?”
He shrugs. “Only the basics, and things my sister’s told me. I do know Katrina Davis came to L’Opale from another lingerie house. She’s been Evie’s design partner all this time, so that’s five years now. Why do you ask?”
“She walked off the job today.”
“You got to be kidding.”
I give a sober shake of my head. “When the electrician and I arrived, Kat was storming out of the shop after what sounded like a heated argument with Evelyn over a difficult client.”
“Shit.” Beck scrubs a hand over his jaw. “That doesn’t sound like Kat. To hear my sister tell it, she’s always been a consummate professional.”
I nod. “That’s my understanding too. Even so, I’d like permission to check her background. Just to see if there are any red flags we should be aware of.”
“Are you saying you think she might have something to do with all of this?”
