Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“But it’s too late to cancel. That would be rude. I should have told Oliver to cancel when he called in sick. What should I do? And Rhodes isn’t here either.”
“Maybe I can help you?” he asked. “What is it that Oliver does that you need? I mean, if it’s something work-related, I won’t be able to help.”
“I don’t need help with my work. But Oliver . . . he’ll let me know if I say something wrong or I’m missing something. If I’m being too blunt. This is why I hate these meetings.”
“How does he do that?”
“We have a signal. If he’s across the room, he’ll tap the front of his hand twice. Like this.” She showed him. “If he’s next to me, he’ll tap my hand.”
“I could do that too.”
“I don’t . . . I don’t know if they’d want you in the meeting.”
“I can sign an NDA if necessary.”
“Perhaps that would work. I could ask.”
“So you want to try?” he asked.
She glanced up at him. “Are you sure?”
“I’m here to help you, Cate. However you need me to.”
The clients had seemed a bit wary when he’d explained that he was Cate’s bodyguard. But he’d added that he was also there to support her. They’d been more understanding after that. And had let him sit in as long as he signed an NDA. He hadn’t understood most of what had been going on. And there was only one time that he’d had to signal her when he’d noticed the clients getting lost in her jargon.
She’d spent most of the time with her gaze on her laptop or the papers in front of her. She’d glanced up a few times but kept her gaze over their heads.
He nodded to them as they left, and Cate started packing up her laptop and papers. She swayed as she stood, and he leaped forward, grasping hold of her around her waist to steady her.
“Cate, how did that go . . . uh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”
An older man stepped into the room, giving them both a curious look.
“You didn’t interrupt anything, Jordan,” Cate said.
“Right.” Jordan’s gaze went to where he was still holding her waist.
“I’m Ethan Stone. Cate’s bodyguard.”
Jordan’s eyes widened. “Bodyguard?”
“This is Jordan Samuels,” Cate said. “One of the partners here.”
Ethan let Cate go, staying close for a moment in case she grew wobbly again. Then he turned and held out his hand to Jordan, who shook it briefly.
“Is there something I need to know, Cate?” Jordan asked.
“The meeting went well. Nothing to report.”
“Uh, no, I meant about you needing a bodyguard.”
“No. I don’t believe there is anything you need to know.”
Jordan glanced around, his eyes slightly wild. “Where is Oliver?”
“He’s ill. I told him to stay at home until he feels better. Is that all?” She had everything packed up and was staring at Jordan.
“I believe he wants to know why you have a bodyguard,” Ethan told her gently.
“Oh. You do?” she asked Jordan.
“Yes, Cate.” There was a note of exasperation in the other man’s voice.
Ethan frowned at him. He better not upset Cate.
“I think I should know if there is a threat to one of my staff.”
“Hmm. I suppose that is fair. But there isn’t really a threat to me, so I don’t know that you do. Although I did bring Ethan into the office and a meeting. So I suppose you should know. Yes, I apologize for not telling you. Ethan is here because Rhodes has a stalker and is worried about that stalker targeting me. Good day, Jordan.”
She tried to step past Jordan, but he held out his arm. Cate stumbled back to avoid touching her boss. Ethan scowled at him, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her. Then he moved her carefully behind him so he stood between the two of them.
“Do not touch her.”
Jordan’s eyes widened as he stared at Ethan. “I wasn’t trying to harm her.”
Ethan eyed him. He seemed sincere. But Ethan was in protective mode. And he didn’t like the way that Cate had stumbled in her haste to get away from his touch.
Had he tried to touch her in the past?
“It’s all right, Ethan. I was just caught by surprise.”
She moved around Ethan.
Oh, he wasn’t having that. As soon as they were alone, he’d let her know she wasn’t to do that ever again.
She was to stay where he put her.
But Jordan backed off, hands up. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to alarm anyone. I just didn’t want you to leave while I have questions.”
“About my work?”
“Uh, no. About Rhodes. And this stalker. Are you safe? Is he?”
“Yes. We have bodyguards now. Oh, actually, I don’t think I was supposed to tell anyone about the stalker.” She looked up at Ethan and he gave her a small nod. That was true, although he didn’t blame her for telling her boss why he was here.