Page 37 of The Agent
“It’s a deal.” Natalie didn’t want to see Dobs ever again. Her teakettle whistled and she reached over to turn it off.
“I’ll leave you alone to chill,” he said, disappearing from the doorway before she could thank him.
She steeped her tea and decided to jot down a few notes to share with Tully when he came to her house for the night. The thought of having his hard-muscled body in her bed sent such a wash of heat through her that she nearly choked on her drink.
“Oh my God, what is going on with you?” Her friend Dawn strode into the office, looking like a warrior princess with her dark hair scraped back in a ponytail and her lean body sheathed in skin-hugging workout clothes. “First a stalker and now a distraught husband. You’ve got to get out of here and stay with me in the city.”
“How on earth—?” Natalie sputtered.
Dawn sat in one of the chairs in front of Natalie’s desk. “The gym receptionist called for a hair appointment, and your receptionist told her you’d been accosted by some man looking for his missing wife. So the gym receptionist told me. Was his wife one of your—you know?”
“Yes, but I don’t thinkheknows that. He’s just looking everywhere he knows his wife went.” Natalie took a sip of her tea. It figured that Dobs would show up on the day that Dawn was at the gym to teach her self-defense classes for women.
“It’s a little too close for comfort, though,” Dawn said, her brown eyes filled with concern. “Come back to Leland’s place with me tonight.”
Natalie almost laughed. “I already have a professional bodyguard staying with me.” She wasn’t going to mention that it was Tully.
“That makes me feel better, but why isn’t there a bodyguard here at the salon too?”
“Because it’s ridiculous to waste a bodyguard’s time when I’m surrounded by people who will protect me. Dobs Van Houten wasn’t going to hurt me anyway. He was almost in tears.” She didn’t want Dawn worrying about her.
Dawn made a little huff of dissatisfaction. “At least come to my self-defense class tonight and refresh your skills.”
“Thanks, but I still have bruises from the last refresher.” An exaggeration, of course, but she wasn’t going to miss a minute of her limited time with Tully. “Besides, the last time you told me I had all the moves down pat.”
“You went after your attacker with conviction, I admit. I figured you were imagining it was Matt so you could give him what he deserved.” Dawn leaned forward and braced her elbow on her thighs, her tone coaxing. “We could have a girls’ night with action movies, popcorn, and that nasty drink you like.”
“I’ll take a rain check on that. I have to be here early tomorrow. Alice’s wedding festivities ate into my schedule, so I’m catching up on my clients.” She smiled at Dawn. “But I’ll look forward to it soon.”
Dawn rose. “Okay, but you be careful and listen to your bodyguard. I know how stubborn you can be.”
Natalie raised her eyebrows at her friend.
“I know. Birds of a feather.” Dawn grinned. “I have to get to my class.”
She’d just turned toward the door when Tully stormed through it. “Damn it, Natalie, I shouldn’t have let you talk me out of having Pam stay with you.” He came to a halt when he noticed Dawn. “Hello, Dawn. What brings you here?”
Thank God Tully was focused on Dawn, because the sight of him obliterated any coherent thought Natalie could muster. He wore a dark-gray suit that had clearly been tailored to his wide shoulders, trim waist, and muscular thighs, fitting his body like a fine wool glove. A deep red tie glowed against a snowy-white shirt. His presence ran through her veins like a swallow of fiery scotch.
Too bad he had been scowling when he blew through her door.
“Probably the same reason you’re here,” Dawn said. “The crazy husband?”
“How the hell did you hear about that so fast?”
“The receptionist grapevine,” Dawn said. “How didyouhear about it?”
“One of the stylists called Pam.” He pivoted toward Natalie and said in a milder tone, “Are you all right?”
“Are you carrying a gun?” Dawn interrupted, eyeing his suit jacket.
“Yeah, I needed to intimidate someone this morning.” Tully smiled in a terrifying way. “Sometimes I really love my job.”
Natalie was glad she wasn’t the person he wanted to scare because he looked downright dangerous.
“Nat, did he threaten you or frighten you?” Tully persisted, buttoning his jacket.
“No, but he nearly cried.” Natalie folded her hands on the desktop. She didn’t want to get into this in front of Dawn. “I would have felt sorry for him if I didn’t know he deserved every second of his suffering.”
