“Like I said, we shouldn’t rule out anything.” I glance at both men. “I want to run background checks on all L’Opale employees and everyone with access to the boutique.”
“Fine with me,” Beck says.
Nick gives an affirmative dip of his head too. “Based on this development today, I’d personally feel a lot better knowing Evelyn has eyes on her around the clock.”
“Gabe, do you have the resources on hand for that?”
I practically choke at the idea of putting othersecurity personnel on Evelyn’s watch. Especially when the person she’s spending the most time with lately is me.
“I’ll make sure she’s covered,” I answer, mentally signing myself up for the job.
It’s not as though I would entrust her safety to anyone else, no matter how much confidence I have in my other team members.
Evelyn’s well-being, and her exquisite body, are mine to protect.
And as I agree to extend my secret duty to watch over her, I can only hope that this decision to covertly keep her safe isn’t going to cost me her heart one day.
23
~ Evelyn ~
Gabe’s rain check for our missed lunch date yesterday was an early dinner of Chinese takeout and a sleepover at my place.
Not that either one of us got much sleep.
I’m pretty sure my satisfied smile hasn’t faded even a little since I arrived at the boutique this Saturday morning. Of course, it doesn’t help that he’s spent nearly the whole day in the shop with me, he and a small crew of technicians showing up first thing to install the new security cameras and wireless alarm system that I thought weren’t due to arrive until next week.
Megan and I closed the boutique early to give the guys space to work, and I sent her and the weekend sales team home to enjoy some time away from the shop for once.
I have to admit, it doesn’t seem the same withoutKat here. I still regret the way things ended yesterday. I’ve tried calling her a few times since she walked out, but she won’t pick up. Meanwhile, I’m scrambling to decide between gearing up to hire someone new or finding a way to juggle all of L’Opale’s clients on my own.
It’s after five o’clock and I’ve still got several projects open in front of me on my design table when Gabe appears in my open doorway. His white shirt is unbuttoned at the collar, the sleeves rolled up over his sexy forearms. He wore jeans in to the shop today, and I’m not sure which Gabe I find hotter—laid-back in denim or take-no-prisoners in his usual dark suit and tie.
Fortunately, I don’t have to choose. I have them both. And I must have done something right in this life, because by some gift of fate, I also have naked and glorious Gabe, which is the version I’m craving now.
“The guys are wrapping things up and taking off,” he says, his tone low enough not to be heard over the sounds of chatter and jangling equipment carrying in from the back of the shop. “How long do you need before you’re ready to call it a day?”
I glance at my desk full of work. “About three months. But how does five minutes sound?”
“Like four minutes too long,” he says, giving me a hungry look that almost melts me in my seat. “I want to take you out tonight, Ms. Beckham. Not here, but in my neck of the woods. I want to show you where I live.”
I raise my brows, surprised and delighted by the invitation. “I’d like that very much, Mr. Noble. What do you intend to do with me?”
“Everything.” He studies me for a moment, his hazel eyes serious and contemplative, promising more thanjust a date. “Five minutes, Ms. Beckham. Then you’re at my mercy for the entire weekend.”
I lick my lips, my pulse skittering with excitement. “I can hardly wait.”
~ ~ ~
When we get to my apartment, Gabe instructs me to change into casual clothes and pack an overnight bag. Wearing a T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, I have no idea where we’re going, or what to expect when we get there.
I’m even more confused twenty minutes later, when he parks outside a gymnasium near Harlem. There are only a couple dozen vehicles in the lot, mostly pickups of various types and a few beefy SUVs. Although the lights are on in the building, for a Saturday evening in New York, the place is far from busy.
Gabe turns off the Lexus’s engine and smiles at me. “You like watching basketball?”
I frown, confused. “Sure.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Come on.”
