Page 25 of Two Steps Ahead

His words made her more angry. “I see you’re making decisions for me just like Dad. Nice.” She knew she was being childish, but she couldn’t help it.

He looked over at her calmly. “Would you prefer to ride with Jasper? We can stop and you can get into his vehicle. It’s probably armor fortified, so it would actually be safer.”

“No, I don’t want to ride with Jasper, but it should be my choice.”

He only nodded, which made her even more upset. But the problem was she wasn’t really angry. She washurt. That was worse.

As soon as they pulled up in front of her father’s house, she was out of the car. She removed her camera equipment and looked back at Weston.

“Your services are no longer needed. I’ll make sure Dad pays you for the time you spent with me.”

She slammed the door and walked away.

Chapter Eight

Weston sat at his desk, watching the sunrise through the windows of San Antonio Security, thinking about Kayleigh. Thinking about her face when she’d realized he was her bodyguard—how hurt she’d been.

So when she’d gotten out of his car, he hadn’t gone after her. He’d understood her need for space.

Instead, he’d followed Jasper—his smugness almost tangible after seeing Kayleigh storm into the house—to Leo’s office and debriefed them both on the attempted kidnapping. He’d remained cool and professional. Jasper would be taking over and sending some men out to the lake to see if anything could be found.

After reporting, Weston had left. He wasn’t needed as protection detail at the house, Leo hadn’t asked him to stay, and Kayleigh definitely didn’t want him around anymore.

He gripped his coffee cup tighter. He may have remained quiet and professional while talking to Leo, but it had taken effort to push down the fury that had pooled up inside him.

Kayleigh wasn’t the only one Leo had tricked. The man had put his daughter’s safety on the line by not giving Weston all the information needed to protect her. He’d ruined whatever trust Weston had managed to build with her. She was convinced that Weston had lied, and hadn’t even stuck around to try to find out the truth.

Not even after that earth-shattering kiss. She’d decided he wasn’t worth her time anymore. Whatever had been growing between them had been lost.

Before he could think better of it, he smashed his hand into the filing cabinet.

“Whoa, there. What’d that cabinet ever do to you?”

Weston turned to find Chance lounging against the door frame. Clenching his jaw, Weston didn’t even bother to check his hand. He already knew nothing was broken, just a slight ache across the side.

“What are you doing here so early?” It was barely past dawn.

“I could ask the same of you.” Chance tilted his head, eyes roving over Weston’s wrinkled clothes. “Aren’t you supposed to be with—”

“Assignment’s over,” Weston said shortly.

He didn’t want to discuss Leo’s lies. Or the way Kayleigh’s lips felt against his. Or the look on her face when they’d parted ways. He squashed the temptation to hit the filing cabinet again.

“What are you really doing here? We don’t open for another hour.”

Chance shifted his shoulders. “Trying to get some work done before Maci gets in and starts pestering me. Wasn’t expecting to have to referee a fight between you and the filing cabinet.”

When Weston didn’t answer, Chance stepped farther into the room, folding his arms over his chest. “Seriously, Wes, what’s wrong?”

Weston scrubbed a hand down his face. It was in his nature to be silent, but his family had never let that stop them from getting him to open up. “Kidnapping attempt on Kayleigh.”

“Unsuccessful, I assume.”

“Yeah, I got her out, and everything is fine. But there was a...misunderstanding between her and I. Doesn’t sit well with me.”

Because even now he was wondering if she was okay. It had been a hard night for her.

Chance’s head cocked to the side. “You knew her before the assignment. You care about her.”

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