Page 22 of The Agent
“We’re good,” Natalie said, sitting on the beige sofa while Tully took the knockoff of a Danish modern chair, and Deion sat on an overstuffed ottoman. “I need your help with a ... well, an issue in my life.”
Deion nodded. “Sure. Anything you want.”
“I have a stalker,” Natalie said.
“A what?!” Deion rocked back on his ottoman. “Like what kind of stalker?”
“He—we think it’s a man—started out by sending me emails,” Natalie explained, “but now he’s taken to delivering letters. One was put under the door here at the salon.”
“Shit!” Deion winced. “Sorry.”
“I’ve heard the word before,” Natalie said. “And it’s exactly the way I feel.”
“What kind of messages?” Worry creased Deion’s forehead. “Like threats?”
Tully spoke for the first time. “Sayings about beauty. Not overt threats but delivered in a menacing way. Have you noticed any people hanging around the salon who seemed out of place or were here at an unusual time of day?”
Deion tugged on one of his dreads as he considered the question. “I can’t think of anyone, but I haven’t been paying close attention. Now I will.”
Tully smiled. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say. If you see someone suspicious, don’t approach him or her,” Tully warned.
“I’ll take a photo with my phone,” Deion said. “I want to catch this motherf ... monster. I don’t want anyone hurting you, Natalie.”
“No photos if he can see you. I don’t want you to get hurt either,” Natalie said, her heart touched by his desire to protect her.
“She’s right. Don’t draw attention to yourself.” Tully looked around the stylish apartment. “You’ve got a good eye for detail. Just memorize the face and any other distinguishing characteristics so you can describe it all later. Get a license plate number if there’s a car.” He took out a business card and handed it to Deion. “Anything at all, any time at all, you callme.”
Natalie caught the emphasis on the last word. Tully didn’t want her to get the news first. It irritated her but it made sense. He would have a better idea of what to do.
“No one’s going to bother her when I’m around.” Deion’s beautiful face was taut with resolve.
“I’m counting on that.” Tully pushed up from the chair and held out his hand.
Deion rose with his usual grace and gripped Tully’s hand. Natalie saw one of those looks pass between them that meant “We men will protect our women.” It was very caveman, yet it caused her heart to do a little flip. It was her safety they were joining forces to ensure, so how could she object to that?
Chapter 8
“Deion’s a good guy,” Tully said as they walked back into the kitchen. “Why the hell is he selling suits instead of modeling them? He could make a fortune.”
“He says he doesn’t want to depend on his looks for a job. He’s a fantastic salesman and earns the highest commission payout in the store virtually every month.”
“I have news for him—people buy suits from him because they hope they’ll look like him when they wear them.”
Natalie chuckled. “That’s a partial truth but his boss says he’s amazing at upselling. He doesn’t stand around and pose to make that money.”
“You said he likes the outdoors?”
“He does intense activities like free climbing and sleeping in a hammock clipped to a cliff face.”
“Hmm, I might have a job for him at KRG.” Tully went over to the french doors and inspected the lock with a disapproving frown. “I feel better knowing he’s fully informed about your problem.”
“Would you really hire him?” She would love to see Deion get a better job.
Tully swung around. “He’d be a great asset. He likes a physical challenge and he’s got the protective instinct.”
Excitement bubbled up inside her until she remembered Deion’s record. “There’s something I didn’t tell you. He was arrested for shoplifting more than once when he was a teenager. Your fancy clients might not be happy about his past if they found out.”
A grimace twisted Tully’s lips, and Natalie’s heart sank. “You said he got in trouble for shoplifting. No drugs, no violence, no gangs, right?”
