Simon nodded. He had met Harlan Blackmore in person a handful of times. The man was as bad as Cameron made him out to be. Sometimes worse. He was the CEO of Blackmore Inc., the company Cameron’s grandfather had started, but he’d had it in for his son ever since Cameron took over the Sydney branch—which Harlan used to be in charge of.
“And your father’s on board for moving the global business toward surveillance instead of just focusing on personal security?” asked Derek.
“I couldn’t give a shit what my father thinks. The board is interested. That’s what matters,” said Cameron with a shrug.
The move made sense, and Simon had already expanded the new surveillance team for the Sydney branch. He had spent a lot of time with the IT department, and it was coming along, though not fast enough. When Cameron got back to Australia, Simon would officially take on that division of the business. Not that he didn’t still get off on the intensity of high-pressure personal security jobs, but building the new surveillance arm of Blackmore Inc., Australia, would be a chance to use his education instead of just his physical skills. In time, he hoped to offer his expertise to the board if they voted to make it a global initiative.
“Sick of my job yet, Derek?” Cameron smirked.
“Glad Simon is back. Not sure it was wise leaving me alone with this clown,” said Derek, nodding toward Max. “The only jobs he wants are with women.”
While Derek was the team’s responsible father bear—and the hulking Pacific Islander knew how to get just about anyone in line—Max was the resident playboy and joker. Probably because he was used to getting away with a lot. He came from a wealthy ranching family, the closest thing Australia had to royalty.
“One day you’ll join the ranks and find a woman who’ll bring you to your knees, Max,” said Cameron.
For once, Max didn’t smile.
“The problem isn’t finding her,” he muttered.
Right. Natasha. Shy marine biologist who he was always obsessing over, the one with a famous model sister. Why the hell didn’t Max just make a move on her? He wasn’t known for holding back in any situation, especially not one that involved a woman. Didn’t make much sense.
But obsessing over a woman did strange things to a reasonably sane guy. He should know that better than anyone. Simon frowned.
“I hear you, Derek,” said Cameron. “Glad you made it back from Miami, Simon. How was the visit?”
Cameron knew exactly how that visit would be. He knew better than anyone in the world the way Marianna had torn his heart out.
“We don’t need to talk about this now,” he growled. “That has nothing to do with Blackmore Inc. business.”
“Actually, it is Blackmore Inc. business,” said Cameron.
Simon gritted his teeth. What the fuck? Derek and Max looked from Cameron to him.
“I got a call from Marianna Ruiz yesterday,” Cameron continued. “She’s coming to Sydney for a few days. And she wants to hire you as a personal bodyguard, Simon.”
“Hell, no,” he blurted out. A screech of feedback echoed from the video conferencing system. “Follow her around while she’s here? What the fuck is she thinking?”
Cameron put his hands up. “I know. And I said something like that, though not quite in those terms.”
Simon’s heart was pounding hard in his chest. Hell, no. Just thinking about her was making him crazy. Spending time in close quarters with her, keeping his hands off that sweet little body? Watching her smile at every guy who hit on her? Yeah, not going to happen.
“No way I’m doing that, Cameron,” he said.
Cameron raised his eyebrows. “She said you’d probably react that way. I don’t even want to know what went down in Miami.”
Did he have to use the wordswhat went down? Because that was all it took for that scene he had just imagined back in his office to flash in front of him. Vividly.
Simon closed his eyes. “I walked out on her, and she’s trying to get her revenge, Cam. That’s what’s going on.”
Max gave a low whistle.
“Now we know why you’ve been in a shit mood since you got back,” said Derek.
Cameron shook his head. “At first I thought it might be something twisted like that, too. But not anymore. She’s serious.”
Simon scowled.
“Simon, there’s a real threat,” said Cameron. “She was in a hit-and-run accident a couple days ago.”
