Page 36 of Tough as Steele

Nate heard footsteps approaching and turned to see Londyn heading toward him. She’d dressed in a black pantsuit and frilly white blouse along with black heels. For some reason he’d expected her to put on comfortable casual clothes, but the suit was fit for an office. With her hair pulled back now instead of flowing freely over her shoulders, she looked professional. Strong. Muscular. And yet, soft and feminine.

Her sisters and cousins were watching him with a practiced intensity. He worked hard to keep his mind on the job. No way he would give away his budding interest in Londyn.

He would open with a joke. “Please say you’ve come to rescue me. My head is spinning over who’s who.”

Londyn looked at the other women.

“We might’ve gotten a little distracted.” Bristol winked.

“What else is new?” Londyn chuckled. “Would you all mind a real quick chat to run through ways you could help us find Mimi?”

“Of course we’ll help.” Teagan, still standing, stared at the others. “Dining room now.”

The women got up, no questions asked, and followed Teagan out of the room.

Londyn looked at Nate. “Sorry for the impromptu decision to actually meet, but I figure we can prioritize just as well here and get them going right away on their interviews.”

Nate nodded. “Would be good to have a whiteboard.”

“No worries. We have one for when we hold company meetings. And we have a few slices of pizza.” She picked up the pan to head out the door.

He followed her, catching and inhaling the strong smell of pepperoni trailing her. She led him to a large room with wainscoting on the lower walls and bright wallpaper above. A long dining table with twelve chairs sat in the middle. The women were already grouped on the end nearest the door.

Londyn set down the pizza at an empty spot near the head of the table. “Dig in.”

“What about you?”

“I ate something at the precinct.”

He looked at the other women. “Do you mind me stealing the last of your pizza?”

“A man with manners,” Peyton said. “ Be still my heart. Have at it.”

He sat and chomped into a slice of tangy deliciousness as Londyn took down a large canvas painting to reveal a whiteboard. She faced the group and explained how far they’d come in the investigation.

“These are outstanding items we could use help with.” She wrote,deep dive on Guardians staff.

“You think one of our own is bent.” Teagan eyed Londyn, her cousin’s stare intense.

Londyn didn’t even flinch. “No, but we have to check every avenue. I know we background checked them when we hired them, but it’s been some time since that was done.”

“People change and it’s not a bad idea,” Teagan admitted. “I can take care of that.”

“Might be better if someone not directly involved in the company handled it,” Nate said.

Teagan’s fiery gaze landed on him, and feeling like an outsider, he picked at his nail under the table.

“You might not like it, Teagan, but he’s right,” Bristol said. “Ryleigh or I should do it, and Ryleigh’s the computer guru so…”

“Thanks for volunteering me.” Ryleigh shook her head. “I’ll be happy to do it.”

“Thanks.” Londyn noted it on the board and wroteWendy, Charles, Clarice Deep Dive. Charles finances, affairs, and former cellmates.

She turned to look at the group. “Can you handle all of this too, Ryleigh?” She paused. “Oh, and this too.” She jotted down,List of companies under Vandervoort Enterprise’s main umbrella.

“I got it, but I can’t do all of it at once, so you’ll have to prioritize the tasks for me.” Ryleigh opened the laptop she’d carried into the meeting.

Nate swallowed the last bite from his first slice of pizza. “Start with Wendy, Charles, and Clarice.”

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