Page 19 of One Hot Deal

"It's only two blocks away," I tell her."What do you say?"

"Yes, let's walk."

Though she wants to pay the driver, I insist on taking care of that myself.It is kind of my fault that she got shanghaied by Hugh and Avery.My sister seems to have decided she needs to find me a girlfriend.I know Diana is a billionaire, but a gentleman should pay for meals or cab fares, at least once in a while.

We amble down the sidewalk, passing by another large, swanky apartment complex.This is a ritzy neighborhood with amazing views, but I prefer my much smaller flat several blocks away in a more normal part of town.

Diana's cell phone rings.She digs it out of her hoodie's pocket and checks who's calling."I need to take this."

"Should I move away to give you privacy?"

"I don't think that will be necessary."

Just as she lowers her finger to the screen to take the call, a figure dashes out from behind a parked car and pushes between me and Diana.She stumbles into the parked car.I stagger backwards.

"He took my mobile," Diana shouts.

Without even thinking about it, I bolt down the street after the thief.

Chapter Eight

Diana

I stand frozen, helpless to do anything but watch as Derek races after the thief, who slams into a burly man.That slows the thief down enough that Derek can catch up to the wanker and grab the back of his shirt, yanking him to a halt.Derek spins the man around so he can snatch my mobile out of the thief's hand while gripping the man's arm with his other hand.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"Derek snarls."You slimy little—"

The thief kicks Derek in the groin.While Derek doubles over briefly, the wanker sprints around a corner, out of sight.But my bodyguard does not give up.He straightens, hardens his expression, and bolts after the thief.

For reasons I can't explain, I run after him.

I've just rounded the corner when I see Derek and the thief.My bodyguard has snagged the wanker's wrists and now holds them behind his back, held in place by Derek's hand.No cuffs required.

He yanks the thief's wrists, making his arms jerk too."I'm calling the cops, you worthless piece of shit.Assaulting a woman?Stealing from her?I should pound on you until you're nothing but a lump of ground meat."

The nasty snarl in Derek's voice sends a shiver up my spine, but it's not a fear response.That shiver feels warm and tingly in the most sensual manner.I can handle myself, but I like knowing Derek Hahn is always there to tackle a toerag for me.

He tosses me my mobile."Call the cops."

I start to dial, but I don't need to bother.A bobby has just jogged out of a coffee shop.He halts between me and Derek, his brows hiking up when he notices the thief.

"What's going on here?"the bobby asks.

Before I can speak, Derek steps in."This little shit"—He nods toward the man he holds captive—"stole that woman's cell phone.He assaulted her and me."

"You shouldn't have pursued the chap on your own."

"That woman is Diana Sangster, the business mogul.And I'm her bodyguard, Derek Hahn."My hero pulls his ID out of his hip pocket and hands it to the bobby."Check my credentials.I'm the CEO of Protection Services International and a licensed close protection officer in the UK, as well as in the US."

The bobby seems impressed, and though he glances at Derek's identification, he quickly hands it back to him."I know who Ms.Sangster is.I'll take this man into custody."He looks at me."Sorry I didn't recognize you at first, Ms.Sangster.I think everyone knows you now, after you saved Sommerleigh Sweets.My wife loves your candies."

"I didn't save it alone," I say."Hugh Parrish is the CEO and the driving force behind his family's company."

The bobby takes custody of the thief and asks us to go with him to the police station so he can take our statements.A few bystanders who saw the altercation volunteer to do the same.Derek and I climb into a taxi for the ride to the police station.

I'm still holding my phone in my hand.As I gaze down at it, I suddenly remember who had been ringing me when the thief appeared.It was Pippa.

"I need to make a call," I tell Derek."I never did speak to the person who rang me.It is personal, as I said before."

---