Page 13 of The Agent
“That’s a nice offer, but I’ve got the alarm system and I’ll make sure the police know what’s going on. The chief’s wife is a client of mine. I also have pepper spray and I’m not afraid to use it. Dawn has made sure of that with all her self-defense classes.” She gave him a smile to soften her refusal.
“You asked for my help. You need to accept it.” Tully’s tone brooked no disagreement.
Shock and a touch of irritation straightened her spine. “You’re right. I asked for your help and I am very appreciative of everything you’re doing. However, now that I know what I’m dealing with, I will take precautions.”
He made a slashing gesture that brushed her words aside. “Most stalkers are not violent, but I’m not going to have it on my conscience if you get hurt.”
She should have guessed that he would take personal responsibility. But although it might be sincere, his statement was also a touch manipulative. She’d learned to recognize that from her experience with Matt. “Look, if you insist on sending me a bodyguard, I insist on paying for the service.”
He shook his head. “This falls under KRG’s Small Business Initiative. Free assistance to small- business owners who need it. And you need it.”
She could tell his answer had been prepared ahead of time, but she had a response for him. “This is personal, not business.”
“We haven’t established that. Besides, if you are out of commission, your business will suffer. You’re the key person.”
“Do you have an answer for everything?” she snapped in exasperation.
She caught a twitch of amusement at the corner of his mouth. “If I did, I’d be able to tell you who your stalker is.”
“You must annoy the hell out of your partners,” she said, her own lips starting to curl upward.
He snorted. “I’ll text you the bodyguard’s name and photo as soon as I get things set up. But I’m going to give you a series of code phrases to confirm identity when the guard arrives here.”
“I don’t remember agreeing to the bodyguard.”
“You said you wanted to pay for it.” He tried to look bland but didn’t quite pull it off. “Do you have a piece of paper so I can write down the codes?”
She retrieved a pad and pen from a kitchen drawer and walked back to where Tully sat. Handing them to him, she stayed by his chair as he wrote. When he finished, she bent slightly to read what he’d jotted down, his closeness bringing that hum of physical awareness back to life.
Bodyguard: I’m here to take a look at the toilet you’re having a problem with.
Natalie: I didn’t expect you to come on a Sunday.
Bodyguard: The boss says you’re a good customer, so you get special treatment.
“Okay,” she said, although she wanted to make a disappointed comment about how mundane it was. She’d expected something more exotic.
“The bodyguard will use those exact words. You should too. No variations from either of you.” Tully folded the paper in quarters and handed it to her, their fingertips brushing so her skin tingled. “Read along as you both talk.”
“I understand.” She straightened and slipped the paper into the back pocket of her jeans.
“You think I’m being overly cautious,” he said, “but I’ve learned from hard experience that you can’t be too careful. So humor me.” He smiled fully for the first time since they had started talking about the stalker, accentuating the indent in his chin and the slight dimple in one cheek. It was such a contrast to his stern professional demeanor that it sent another thrill of heat through her.
“Now that you’ve foisted a guard on me, what next?” she asked.
“We’ll see what Leland finds out. You report any new messages to me immediately. You contact the ex-wives to see what you can find out.” He pinned her with those intense gray eyes. “But your main job is to stay safe.”
She sat down on the sofa again. “I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful about the bodyguard because I really appreciate your concern. I just”—she waved her hand in a gesture of frustration—“find this whole situation so surreal. I’m a hairstylist in a small suburban town in New Jersey. Why on earth would anyone stalkme?”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re a successful businesswoman who had the strength to escape from a bad marriage. You help other women escape from bad situations.” He hesitated a moment before continuing. “You’re beautiful and desirable. Any of those things can trigger a stalker.”
His words exploded around her like fireworks, igniting every inch of her body. For a long moment, she didn’t breathe. He found her desirable. She somehow gave him a sideways smile. “I think that might be a compliment, so thank you.”
“It’s definitely a compliment.” His gaze roamed her face in a way that sent the heat up a notch.
She thought again about asking him to stay. He could be her bodyguard ... with an emphasis on thebody. No, bad idea. She was still recovering from one domineering man. She didn’t need another one in her life, even just for sex.
When she didn’t respond, he looked away. “I’d better get back to the office. I’ll let you know when Leland has answers for us.”
