Page 45 of Protecting Love

She had crossed her arms, annoyed with herself for noticing and feeling so much around him.

Annoyed with being put on the defensive. With the way her attention kept drifting back to him no matter how hard she tried to focus on the conversation at hand.

He’d met her eyes and she’d had the unsettling sense that he saw everything. Not just the composed consultant. But the woman beneath the facade.

That he saw her nerves and annoyance. The things she refused to show.

She didn’t like feeling read.

“Paris. Paris!”

“What?”

“I called your name a few times and you didn’t answer me. I thought maybe the call dropped.”

Nope. Just her walls as her mind flashed back to the sexy guy who was now on speed dial to the cameras in her office.

It made her wonder if he was watching her too. Did he have access to that or just his staff doing it in the pit?

That was what she’d been told it was called. The men in uniform watching the entire building but also those on the two floors above her.

Men in suits blending into the building along with those in uniform.

West took no chances with anything or anyone.

“Sorry. You drifted out for a second.”

Which was a lie. It was more that she’d drifted out of the conversation.

“Well, I’m back. Or you’re back. So what is the next step? Anything?”

“You know the cameras are here. Fletcher, the Head of Security, sat down and got all the information of what happened for West. Not sure why or what he’s going to do with it.”

She wanted to ask more but then told herself it was best not to.

Sometimes not knowing was better, even if it was putting her head in the sand.

“I’m just glad West is looking out for you girls.”

“Did you really think otherwise?” she asked dryly.

“Of course not and don’t get snippy either. So cameras and nothing more?”

“A wall,” she grumbled. “It’s going to not look as inviting, but I understand the reasoning. This weekend a wall will be put in front of Molly’s desk, a steel door will be there with only badges letting staff in or staff letting visitors behind. The new staff I’m interviewing were happy to hear that also.”

It was easy enough to push it off as they were only a few months old and adding more security on as they could.

She didn’t want to scare anyone she planned on hiring and had two good candidates. Both who London met yesterday morning and gave her nod of approval for.

Today would be about checking references. She didn’t think there’d be a problem, and if there wasn’t, then they’d be passed on to West’s HR department for background checks.

“That’s always good.”

“So once that is done, we’ll be nice and safe and you don’t have to worry.”

“I’ll always worry. That is a mother’s job.”

She smiled. “You’ve got eight other kids to do that to,” she said.