“I do swim,” Kip admitted.
“Come over here and let me get the rest of your measurements.” Richard walked toward a triple mirror surrounding a small stage.
Kip followed, pulling Harper along with him. She smiled brightly. How could she not with Kip? And this was amusing. Kip was a good sport, even when Richard showed him a jacket made of a vibrant pink plaid cotton fabric. Harper swallowed her lower lip at his expression.
Kip slipped out of his jacket and suit pants. Carefully, he removed his gun and holster, handing it to Noah. The operator moved toward Josh and took his weapon from him. Kip stood in his shirt and underwear, unfazed that he was in front of a group of strangers.
His shirttails covered the front of his cotton boxer briefs, but she could see the definition of his buttocks. Saliva began to fill her mouth as her eyes took in the muscles in each of his legs. Not body builder definition, but definition from exercise. As he turned, she also saw a round white scar on his thigh. A bullet wound? Her mind turned to the Afghanistan story.Mr. Security Guy.
“I am about to take charge of about eight thousand employees who are providers of corporate security. Hot pink is not going to go over with this crowd,” he said politely.
As the tailor was finishing Kip’s measurements, his phone rang. “Brennan.” His face went from amused to focused. He seemed to transform as his shoulders moved back, and his posture grew commanding.
She grew up with men who were going places in their career. This was a man who was there. Goose bumps erupted on her arms. He walked toward a corner of the shop, but it didn’t grant much privacy as everyone could hear his side of the conversation.
“Titan?” Kip paused to listen.
She shivered at her growing attraction.
“Negative. Take him into custody. Yes, our license permits that. I want to know how he got past our safeguards. Did someone chock a door? I don’t care. No sympathy. I can’t have that. We’re lucky he’s an armed, curious oaf. What happens when someone comes looking for my staff?” He rubbed his brow. “Whew, he almost… I know. When this mess is taken care of, go up one side and down the other. Knock some sense into him.
“Now back to Sommerstone Security. The floors are marked in red with yellow reflectors. I learned in kindergarten the difference between a six and a twelve. Do we need to hire that purple dinosaur or the blue dog? Hold him, and I’ll call the district commander.”
Harper chewed her cheek. Even mad, he was funny, invoking Barney and Blue.
Kip disconnected and made a call. “This is Alpha 1 King Bravo 41978, request conference with Mike Juliette Charlie Ocean Ocean and the NOPD Commander of District 8, New Orleans, forthwith.”
He paced a small circle. “Hey, Boss, we had a breach. Someone from Sommerstone Security. He made it to twelve. We have him in custody for trespass, but Titan is having trouble getting NOPD to take him off our hands. Rich, Coop, and I are off-premises. I figured you’d want to hear my call. Roger.” He creased his brows and paced another circle. “Communications, please connect to Captain Moreaux.”
“Thanks for taking my call. I’m Kip Brennan, Executive Director of the New Orleans branch of Chase Security International… Exactly, that building. On the call with us is Mike Johnson, COO of CSI. I planned to come in and take you to lunch, introduce myself, and offer to provide your people with some state-of-the-art training through our domestic law enforcement division.
“Unfortunately, I’m about to piss on your cornflakes. At this moment there is a male and a female officer inside my building who are refusing to take a trespasser into custody.” He paused to listen. “The trespasser is an employee of the Sommerstone Women’s Center, which occupies floors two to six of my building. I’m curious, according to your officers, that makes a difference. I’d like to know why.”
Harper watched his eyes glaze over. Josh, redressed in his uniform, grabbed Kip’s suit bottoms and handed them to him. Kip tucked his phone in his ear as he stepped into his slacks, his every movement as graceful as he was on the dance floor.
“Captain, I understand wanting to have good relationships with local business. But it doesn’t mean you turn your head on crime.” He sighed. “Your officers are colorblind too. The steps and floor numbers are in green, yellow and red. I don’t know what the Sommerstones did to drop you to your knees, but I’m sure the superintendent, the city council, and the mayor would want to know your inability to do your job caused a billion-dollar investment in the city to disappear?”
Kip smiled. “I thought you’d understand the big picture. Thank you, Captain.” He exhaled, and his shoulders rose to his ears. “Yeah, Boss. Of course I realize we weren’t going to pull out, but he didn’t. Hahaha. Okay, not funny.” He sighed, dropping his chin to his chest.
“Carpenter should be in the building. He closed on another apartment building. Ninety units. And two more houses.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not in the office. I’m being Owen and Barryized.” He rolled his eyes. “1900 hours. See you then.” Kip rejoined the group.
Harper and he sorted through fabric samples. A couple of the swatches were too small to decipher the patterns, so Harper made the tailor bring out the bolt. Music played in the background, inspiring Kip to twirl her into his arms, turning them both until they were wrapped in huge swaths of fabric, making her laugh and relax. He disarmed her fears, one by one.
As the last pattern was chosen, Kip continued to laugh. “Okay, Owen, you have two more hours of my time. Where to?”
“Hair or There,” Barry said and rattled off the address.
“Good.” Kip twirled Harper into his arms once more, dipping her and placing a kiss on her mouth. His eyes crinkled with affection.
Harper blushed. Public displays of affection, or any affection other than from Channy, were new to her.
The group walked into the salon after a short drive. Again, they were the only customers. A woman dressed head to toe in black kissed Owen and Barry on each cheek. Seeing Harper, she squealed. “I never expected to see you with this group. And after Channy’s call last night?”
“Hi, Raven, Channy’s doing better, but I still worry. This is my friend Kip. He’s here for a haircut.” Harper’s eyes brightened.
“Security Guy, and you must be his sexy bodyguard. Chantal called me about the Bump and to check on the spirits that follow you.” Raven walked over to Kip and ran her fingers through his tight brown curls. “Yummy,” she said. “Come sit. Owen, what are you thinking?”
“A side part on the top and taper the sides and back,” Owen replied.
