“I’ve got a straight friendI can introduce you to,” I offered. “Especially if you’re ever in need ofpersonal security services.”
“Is he anything like you?”she asked.
“Oh yeah. People mistake usfor brothers,” I said, beaming. “He’s got a really hot scar down his face, too.”
Emily licked her lips, whichmade me laugh.
Yeah, I liked her. Miles’ family actuallyseemed okay.
“I’ll get Miles to pass onhis number,” I promised. Loganwouldhave gotten a kick out ofbeing called out of the blue for a date. Emily was just his type, too. Feminineand fun.
“You always bring mesomething nice,” Emily said to Miles, still grinning broadly. “I have to go dothe rounds, but I’m so glad you’re here. And your bodyguard. You’ll have totell me why you have a bodyguard later.”
“I will,” Miles promised,and I could see that he was at least enjoying talking to his cousin.
She waved as she walkedaway, skipping—skipping,in four-inch heels—over to another couple.
“She likes you,” Milesteased. “Shelikesyou.”
“I noticed,” I said wryly. “ButI’ve already got a cute date, so I don’t really care.”
Miles chuckled. “Cute date, huh?Do I know him?”
“Dunno. He’s about yourheight. Your build. Works at Emerson Medical. I hear he’s the CEO’s son. Soundslike a catch, right?”
Still laughing, Miles shookhis head as he guided me toward the door.
“You could have introducedme as your date, you know,” I said. “Y’know. If that… if you wanted people tobelieve…”
Miles paused, looking up atme seriously for a moment. “I didn’t want to put you in that position. I… Ididn’t mean toinsultyou, I just…”
“I’m not insulted,” I saidsoftly, squeezing his arm. “Just wasn’t sure you’d want people to know you hada bodyguard trailing around after you.”
“I probably shouldn’t beclingingto my bodyguard.” Miles sighed. “Butyou’ll—”
“Miles!” a booming voicesaid from behind us.
Miles had been starting torelax a moment ago—I knew, because he’d just tensed up so quickly I thought he mightsnap. Which meant I already didn’t like whoever was behind us.
When we turned around, itwas to come face-to-face with a tall man in his fifties with strawberry-blondhair and a neatly-trimmed beard. He looked between the two of us, visiblysizing me up, and then turned his attention to Miles.
“Introduce me to yourfriend?” he asked, nodding to me while keeping his gaze fixed firmly on Miles’face.
He was the leastthreatening-looking man I’d ever seen, but he was still making the hairs onthe back of my neck bristle.
“Uh, this is Gray,” Milessaid, shuffling closer to my side. “Gray, this is John Bryant. He works at thecompany.”
John offered his hand, andshort of any excuse not to, I shook it. Firm, solid handshake. Bright smile. Nosignthat he was bad news.
My gut was still telling mehe was. Well, my gut, and the way Miles was squeezing my arm right about now.He didn’teven seem to be aware he was doing it.
It didn’t take a geniusto work out that these two had history.
“I won’t keep you, I justwanted to ask if you know anything about who broke into your office,” Johnsaid, which seemed like a weird choice of conversation topic at a party.Especially without any smalltalk first.
“Uh.” Miles shifted hisweight. “No, uh… obviously, we don’t have footage of the guy, so… there’sreally not much to go on. He didn’t take anything important. Or she. I shouldn’tbe assuming it was a man, I guess.”
John nodded. “Sure, of course.The downside of working in an office with no cameras, right? I only ask becauseit looks like whoever it was hit my office, too. He—or she—didn’t take anythingI noticed, but things on my desk had been moved and unless I’m going crazy, Ididn’t move them.”
