Page 79 of An Indecent Longing

Ben shook his head. “I have to agree with Ian. You can have my bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa. Tomorrow’s Sunday. Ian and I can do some detective work and you can chill.”

“I have plans tomorrow.”

“What plans?”

“I have to check on Blank in the morning then I have a game in the afternoon.”

“Game?” Ian frowned.

“Soccer. At Fairmount Park.”

“Cancel.”

Her brows raised in challenge. “No. There’s no need for that. Whoever those men were, they tried to grab me at night. They’re not going to try during broad daylight. And I’m still not convinced they were after me specifically. How would they know I would be at the office that late? I was…with you then we went to my office. I didn’t tell anyone. No one knew I was at the office.”

“Except building security.”

She immediately shook her head. “No. Those men have been vetted extensively.”

Until Ian checked those men out himself, he wasn’t taking anyone’s word. But he made sure he didn’t say that out loud either. He’d just add background checks to the list he’d started in his head.

He and Ben exchanged a look, definitely on the same page about this. “Did you tell any friends where you’d be tonight?”

Her teeth lodged in her bottom lip. “No. I only told one person I had a date with Ben but I didn’t tell her where we were going because I didn’t know.”

“What’s her name?”

“I’m not telling you that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not having you drag anyone else into this. If you want to interrogate me, I’m willing to put up with it for now. I’m not willing to offer up my friends. Besides, there’s no way my…friend would’ve said anything to anyone.”

“Not even if—”

“I trust her with my life.”

The problem, Ian realized, was that he didn’t trust anyone but himself or Ben with her life.

Shit.

When the hell had he decided her life was his to keep safe?

Fuck it, he’d think about that later. Or never.

Right now, he wanted her back at their home where he knew the security system inside and out and where he had access to the rest of his weapons. The Ruger in his back holster gave him some comfort but, at this moment, it wasn’t enough.

“Okay, no problem.” Ben spoke up. “How about you pack a bag, bring your gear for the game, and we go back to our place now. Everyone’s tired and I think we’ll all sleep better if we’re under one roof.”

Ian could tell she wanted to argue with Ben but surprisingly, she didn’t say anything else. Instead, she shocked the hell out of him by nodding.

“Let me get my stuff together. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Then she disappeared up the stairs at the rear of the apartment.

And he turned on Ben.

“What the hell’s going on?”

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