Page 25 of The One for Forever

Tanner and Devon spare Quinn only a glance, but several others seem to have set their sights on her. Leon Kozinski reaches her first. He’s someone I partner with a lot. Probably because I’m supposed to impart some wisdom and maturity on the kid. If you’d asked me yesterday how I feel about him, I would’ve had nice things to say about his growth and improvement.

But watching that predatory gleam in his eyes right now as he approaches Quinn?

Niceis the last thing I’m feeling about Leon.

My jaw clenches as I make my way across the gym. By the time I reach her, Quinn’s head is tilted in amusement and she’s got her arms crossed over her sweatshirt. “I promise I’m not lost,” she says.

“I’d still be happy to take you on a tour,” my junior colleague offers. “I’m Leon.”

“I’ve got this.” I reach them and aim a glare at him. “As you were.”

Leon lifts his hands, backing away. “Message received, Foxy. She’s all yours.” He’s smirking, and he quickly turns to lope back to the practice mats. Several other people are watching me, but they avert their eyes when I frown.

I’m not known for being grumpy. But I’ll gladly make exceptions when it means protecting my charges. That’s the only reason I’m getting territorial.

Touching her lower back, I steer her toward the door.

“Foxy?” Quinn asks. “What’s that about? I’m intrigued.”

“It’s a bodyguard thing. Never mind.”

I’m lying through my teeth.Foxyis an idiotic nickname Leon gave me after our last assignment together. Short forSilver Fox, because our female client seemed to have a crush on me and kept commenting on how “distinguished” I look.

“Did you finish up with Lana?” I ask when we reach the hall. “I was about to head back upstairs to check on you, but I didn’t want to rush you.”

“She needed to take a break.”

“Oh? Everything all right?” I remember when Lydia was pregnant with Cliff. She was exhausted by six months.

Quinn waves my question away. “You can ask Lana when you see her. Actually, I came down here on a mission. But I didn’tmean to…” She gestures at my clothes, her eyes darting over me and then away. “Interrupt.”

I smooth a hand down my shirt over my stomach. “Just killing some time. Tell me what you need.”

“Lana said something about gathering Max’s best people and making use of the resources here to unmask our secret witness. I’m eager to get started. I hoped you could show me around and introduce me to whoever I need to know.” Her shy smile turns sly. “Or I could ask Leon. He was friendly.”

I clench my jaw as a low sound rumbles in my chest. Almost a growl. “I’ll take care of you.”

Her eyes linger on mine. Then, as always seems to happen, she glances away. “I’d appreciate that. Thanks.”

“Just let me swing by the locker room. Then I’ll take you on the grand tour.” I can’t stop myself from adding, “A much better one than Leon could manage, rubbing together those two brain cells of his.”

“Never suspected you were so vicious, Rex. First my poor prom date, now Leon.” Her laughter sings like music up and down my spine. “I’ll be careful not to get on your bad side.”

A grin tugs at my lips. “Not much risk of that happening. I’ve got a soft spot when it comes to you.”

I probably shouldn’t be admitting that. But since the moment I saw her in that ballroom last night, my reactions to Quinn keep surprising me.

After a lightning fast shower,I take Quinn on an insider’s tour of the Bennett Security facilities, as promised. The server room, the infirmary, the shooting range. I don’t take her inside the weapons room, because we don’t take non-employees inthere. But I point out the sights from the large, bulletproof window.

“You should come in to shoot at the range sometime,” I say. “Lana comes in for practice about once a month. When she’s not pregnant.”

Quinn shrugs noncommittally. “I’ve been to a range with Cliff a time or two. I don’t usually carry.”

I make a note of that. When I’m guarding someone, I want to know where all weapons are at all times. Often, I don’t want my client carrying because they might make a poor decision that’ll lead to the client or my team getting hurt. But on the other hand, I want Quinn to have every possible means of protection.

“I’d like you to at least have basic proficiency with a gun,” I say. “We also offer self-defense lessons to our clients. It’s a failsafe in case everything else goes wrong.”

“Are you saying you’re fallible?” There’s sarcasm in her tone, but the question is a fair one.

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