Page 37 of Hunting Pretty

I snapped out of my thoughts and focused on Ebony’s PA who was holding open a door for me.

Inside was a service room, a water boiler in one corner and various electrical panels on the walls. All the house’s security cameras and alarm system ran through here, monitored by the security box near the front gate.

The PA unlocked the security control panel for me from a small key around her neck.

I set down my tool bag and wiped my hands on my coarse workman’s uniform, the Celtic Guard Security badge positioned proudly on my chest. “Thank you, miss.”

My fingers itched to get into this wiring.

Soon every inch of this property would be under my control. Not just Ava’s bedroom.

She placed a hand on my arm and it took everything in me not to snatch it away.

A dimple popped out in her pale cheek as she smiled at me through her lashes. “Please, call me Siobhan.”

I pretended like I didn’t notice her flirting and turned to the panel, knocking her hand off me and effectively dismissing her. “I’ll let you know when I’m done,miss.”

She made a little huffing noise, then her heels clicked away on the marble flooring.

Installing the new system,mysystem, took little time. Wiring it up so that it also broadcast to my computer took a little longer.

By the time I finished, I knew I had a little less than fifty minutes to finish up here and get back to campus to rejoin my darling Ava.

Plenty of time.

I replaced the panel, sure that myextra workwouldn’t be noticed unless a real security professional were to inspect it.

I left the utilities room and closed the door behind me, my tool bag over my shoulder.

“Miss, I’m done,” I called into the hallway.

“Who’s that?” Ebony’s voice called out from one of the open doors.

I froze in place.

I hadn’t heard Ebony come in.

I sank back against the wall so that I was out of her line of sight.

I wasn’t sure she’d recognize me. But better safe than sorry.

Through the door, I could just make out Siobhan leaning over Ebony’s desk. “The security man. Yes, of course, he was vetted. Did you want to talk to him before he goes?”

Shit.

I tugged my cap farther down and rummaged around for a dirty rag that I could smear over my face.

“Miss?” I called into the office. “Could you point me in the direction of the nearest bathroom?”

“Yes, of course,” Siobhan whispered to Ebony before calling out, “Upstairs, right, and third door on the right.”

“Much appreciated, miss,” I said before hurrying up the grand staircase above the black-and-white marble tiled floor.

Instead of turning right, I turned left.

I stopped at Ava’s bedroom, glancing around before entering it silently.

The day outside was gray and dreary and it gave the room an impersonal dullness. More luxury French hotel suite than a young woman’s bedroom.

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