Page 24 of Two Steps Ahead

Any job.This had all been a job for him.

He began driving without the headlights on and she sat in the passenger seat, arms wrapped around her middle. Everything she thought she’d known for the past few days was coming unraveled. The Weston she’d enjoyed so much spending time with didn’t actually exist.

He reached over and she thought, for just a second, he might be trying to comfort her. She needed it. She didn’t understand and she was upset, but she needed his touch.

Instead his hand slid past her as he reached into the glove compartment and pulled out some sort of satellite phone. She recognized it from when she did shoots where the team was totally remote. The phones were expensive and could make calls from anywhere in the world, cell signal or not.

She knew who he was calling before he even started talking.

“Leo, we’ve just had a kidnapping attempt on Kayleigh.”

She could hear her father yelling, although she couldn’t make out the exact words.

“She’s secure. We’re headed back to San Antonio.” Another pause. “They didn’t expect that I had set up sensors, so I caught them unaware. I wounded one, but there was at least one more. I’m sure they’ll be coming back with reinforcements, so we got out. We’ll regroup at your house and figure out a plan from there.”

Her dad said something else and then Weston disconnected the call.

“Are you okay?” He glanced at her briefly before looking back at the road. She wasn’t sure how he could see, driving without his headlights on, but he was doing a remarkable job.

Was she okay?She didn’t even bother to answer. He didn’t seem to notice her lack of response. He just kept looking to make sure they weren’t being followed.

It wasn’t until they were out on the highway that he finally turned on the lights and seemed to relax a bit.

“We’re all right. If they weren’t following us by now, there’s no way they’ll find us on the highway.”

She wasn’t sure what to say to that, so she didn’t say anything.

“Hey, are you okay?” Now he reached over and grabbed her hand. “You don’t need to be afraid. We’re safe now.”

She looked down at his big, strong, capable hand holding hers and slid her hand away from him. She was too conflicted to touch him right now.

“I’m not afraid.” That at least was true. “I’m mad.”

“Why?”

Why?She shook her head. “You know, I expected lies from my father. He’s never made it a secret that he will tell me all sorts of lies as long as it justifies protecting me. But I expected something different from you. I don’t know why. I don’t really know you at all.”

“When have I ever lied to you?”

“You told me you were the gardener.”

“I never said that.” His thick brows were furrowed. “I told you I worked for your father, but I never said that I was the gardener.”

“I thought you were the groundskeeper, like Henry. Obviously, you’re much more than that.”

He was quiet for a long minute. “I thought you knew. I truly did. San Antonio Security, the company I formed with my brothers, specializes in personal protection. Leo contacted and hired me because he thought you might be more comfortable if you had a guard who you had a kinship with.”

“And all the plant stuff?” she asked.

He shook his head slowly. “I wasn’t trying to fool you. Leo told me I was welcome to do any landscaping. That’s what I love to do, and I thought you liked doing it with me.”

She stared out the window for a couple of miles. Shehadliked doing it with him. She had enjoyed spending time with him more than anything else she could remember in years, but she couldn’t help but feel betrayed. One more person who had tricked her. She’d opened herself up to him not really knowing who or what he was.

The rest of the drive back to San Antonio was made in silence. At some point, two more cars met up and flanked them. She knew immediately that was Leo sending out reinforcements when she saw Jasper driving one. Sure enough, the satellite phone rang.

She couldn’t hear what was being said, but it didn’t take much to guess.

“No, Jasper, she’s fine where she is. She doesn’t need to get into your car. We’ll see you at the house.” Weston hung up, cutting Jasper off midsentence.

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