“Cassie? Are you okay?” Luke called out.
She yelled back over the barking, “I’m fine, Uncle Luke. Just my pride, but I saved the wine.” As she got up, Knight lifted her holster off her waist with his big jaws. “Knight, I’m going to kill you. Stop. It’s a good thing you’re cute. Knight, freeze!”
Cassie ran headlong into the den behind the naughty dog just in time to see Knight drop her slobbered-on weapon into the lap of the man sitting across from her uncle. Cassie pulled to a halt, almost dropping the wine again. “Oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry.” She was flustered by the man’s presence.
He seemed unfazed by the spit-soaked holster. “I’m guessing this belongs to you?” The man managed to catch the wine and hand her the weapon at the same time. His electric blue eyes widened.
Cassie couldn’t find her voice. The clean-shaven man—sitting there in jeans and a fitted navy-blue sweater stretched across a muscular chest, exposing a smattering of black hair with sleeves rolled to his elbows—looked magazine-cover handsome.
“Thank you.” Cassie wiped the holster against her silky parachute pants and hooked it back on her hip, unable to take her eyes from his.
Luke Paulsen moved around the couch to pull her into a bear hug. “Pumpkin! You’re early. I thought you were hanging with Sophie. Not that I am unhappy you’re here.” He pressed her back with outstretched arms. “Are you eating? You look too thin.”
Cassie winced from embarrassment. “Yes, sir. I’m eating. I didn’t mean to interrupt your meeting.”
* * *
Ian observed Luke’s worried gaze. Now standing, the six-foot-three-inch Adonis watched Cassie with a spark in his eye. The memory from six years ago flooded back to him. Auburn waves were pulled into a demure low bun, dressed in a vintage Halston ombré silk dress and sleek navy Valentino peep-toe heels. Her vibrant, jungle green eyes glowed as brightly as her smile.
“Well, Luke, where have you been hiding this beauty?”
At the compliment, Cassie smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. Her expression appeared well practiced.
“Excuse me. Ian Chase, this is my niece, Cassie.”
Ian grasped her extended hand and resisted the desire to lean down and kiss her cheek. Instead, he held her gaze.
“Have we met before?” she asked.
Ian nodded and smiled. “We have.” Doe eyes turned alarmed. He felt a sudden need to comfort her.Where did that idea come from?“Pleased to see you again, Dr. Ellis. We met at the National Gallery six years ago. You stole hearts and had the crowd eating out of your hands.”
A haunted look clouded her gaze. “It’s Modine now, but thank you for the compliment. It was fun. I had the waiters put laxatives in the appetizers. It loosened the group up a bit.”
Ian’s lips twitched at her sense of humor. “I’m glad I missed that.” A glance at her left hand kicked up his heartbeat — no wedding ring.
“Mr. Chase, could I borrow my uncle for a moment?”
Luke Paulsen’s facial expression shift was almost invisible, but Ian still managed to observe the slight change. His intrigue with Cassie was growing. Her body had changed since he first saw her at the museum. Her five-foot-one frame was tight, lean, and fit. Those striking eyes seemed less carefree and more guarded.
* * *
In the hall, Cassie asked about the two sedans. Luke’s laugh was hearty. “Cassie, come back into the den. Ian, your team is losing their touch. She noted both sedans.”
Ian’s brow arched with amusement. “I’m sorry to cause you alarm, Ms. Modine. They are part of my security team.”
She let her guard down for a brief moment. “Hmm, they must love the Ducati.” Protecting a person on a high-performance bike was not easy. A man of his economic stature faced a multitude of threats.
She scratched Knight’s ears to find something to do with her sweaty palms. Her heart still pounded with her earlier fear and something else. She remembered the feeling from once before in her life—the night she met a bearded stranger at the museum. It was the last moment before her life was torn apart a second time.
“Cassie, Ian and, Christian made it through BUD/S together.” BUD/S was basic underwater demolition and SEAL training, and Christian was the eldest Paulsen son. “Ian was also Caleb’s platoon leader for a short time.”
Cassie shifted uneasily.He is the same man. A man who made her heart flutter.
“Come sit. Ian and I just finished a bit of business. How’s work?”
Cassie frowned. “I hate him. Wilds is a misogynistic ass.” The words fell out of her mouth, and Cassie didn’t need to see her uncle’s expression to realize he was expecting a less upfront conversation. “I’m sorry, Mr. Chase. I usually think before I speak.”
“Please call me Ian. I’m assuming you’re talking about Supervisory Special Agent Greg Wilds and his ego.”
