Page 10 of Two Steps Ahead

Jasper crossed his arms over his chest. “It doesn’t matter. He shouldn’t be talking to you.”

She turned back to Weston. “Don’t listen to him. It’s fine.”

Weston shook the rest of the dirt off his hands. “No, Jasper’s right. I should get back to Leo if he’s waiting for me. But it was good to see you.”

“Yeah, it was good to see you.” They gave each other small waves, Jasper making it all awkward, and Weston left.

Kayleigh turned back to look at the jacaranda and the work Weston had been doing underneath it. He definitely wasn’t the silent little boy she’d followed around that summer after her mom died.

Maybe staying here at Dad’s house wouldn’t be so bad if it meant she could run into Weston each day while he did gardening work.

But no, she couldn’t. She’d fought too long and hard for her independence. Staying here would be a step backward. She wouldn’t do that.

Not even for the brown eyes that had enthralled her just as much today as they had back when she was a kid.

Chapter Three

Weston remained quiet following Jasper back to Leo’s office. Silence, a survival mechanism as a child, continued to work in his favor as an adult. Many people took his reticence as a sign of weakness.

Their mistake.

“Thanks for waiting,” Leo said as they arrived back in the office. “I talked to Kayleigh and she has agreed to live-in security until this merger is complete.”

The older man turned to Jasper. “Can you prep a security detail for the Lake Austin house? You know the property best.”

Jasper barely hid his preen. “I’m already on it.” He glanced over at Weston. “If it’s okay with you, sir, I think we should not use any outside team members for this situation.”

Leo nodded. “You have carte blanche. Do whatever you feel is necessary to make sure that property is secure.”

Weston didn’t say anything as Jasper left the room with a smirk. He wasn’t offended by Jasper not wanting him on the team. Their style would not blend well.

And if Jasper was who Kayleigh had agreed to, then it was not Weston’s concern. He certainly had no business being disappointed.

Just like he’d had no business getting so caught up talking to her outside—in studying the details of her face, the soft huskiness of her voice, tamping down the urge to touch a strand of her long brown hair falling out of her loose braid.

“This is the Lake Austin house I was referring to.” Leo passed an electronic notebook across the desk.

Weston thumbed through the images. “It’s impressive.” The damned thing was hardly anything less than a mansion.

“It’s got two separate guardhouses and security rivaling a military base. I wish that’s where Kayleigh would go to stay for us to keep her safe.”

Weston slid the tablet back across the desk, raising an eyebrow. “It’s not?”

Leo tapped something on the tablet then slid it back to him again. “No, this is the Lake Ray Roberts property. This is where she’s going.”

This house was much smaller and, to Weston’s eyes, much more appealing. He looked through the photos of the grounds. They were much more natural, less landscaped.

“You approve of that house more than the big one.”

Weston shrugged. “Let’s just say it’s more my style than anything quite as ornate as your Lake Austin property.”

“Kayleigh basically feels the same way. She wouldn’t last two days at Lake Austin with Jasper’s men before they drove her crazy and she took off.” He pointed at the tablet. “But she’s agreed to stay here, and you can guard her if that works for you.”

“Yes.” Weston kept his answer simple, although he was feeling a lot more. Hell yes, he wanted to make sure he was the one keeping Kayleigh safe, especially somewhere like this. If she’d agreed to it, he was all in.

“The property doesn’t have a lot of amenities, but it’s got plants for days.” Leo pointed at a slight bit of dirt that had gotten on Weston’s shirt. “It looks like you still have an affinity for plants, like when you were a boy and came with Henry.”

Weston brushed the spot. “I do. I spend a lot of my free time in the dirt.”

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