Page 5 of Elusive Surrender

“I love how my hair looks. Do you have a card from your salon?” Katarina asks me.

I rummage through my purse and hand one to her as Sheldon’s phone swooshes with a text message. “We need to get you to Prestian Corp and Alexis back to the salon,” Sheldon states, and I watch as Katarina grimaces.

“Chase, make sure that Kate gets ready in less than ten minutes. I’ll work with the security team to ensure transportation to Prestian Corp is seamless. In the meantime, I’m going to assign someone to see Alexis home,” Sheldon directs.

“That’s such a sweet offer, but you have so much to do, and I’m perfectly fine to see myself home. Remember, I have my car?”

“Exactly the reason you’re not going home the same way. Someone will escort you, and then I’ll return your car to you later. Just routine security precautions,” Sheldon counters.

My eyes automatically roll at his high-handedness.

His eyes narrow as he catches sight of it. “It’s for your protection. We don’t have time to argue about it. I’ll walk you out,” Sheldon states, grabbing my bag while I gather my purse and say goodbye. He places his hand on the small of my back again, and the heat of his touch creates a tingling down my spine as he guides me from the dining room, through the open-concept living space, and into the foyer.

“Are you seriously always this bossy?” I whisper fiercely, stepping away from his touch and immediately feeling the absence of his heat as we enter the elevator.

Sheldon’s jaw tightens. He pushes the button to close the door and selects the lower level. “Affirmative. It’s for your own protection.”

“You do realize that you are speaking with an adult woman? One who happens to be perfectly capable of taking care of herself, and for your 411, I will be driving myselfhome!”

His eyes flash. “Is that so?” That’s all he says, looking away from me while he texts out a long message, presumably to the people he needs to deal with to take care of transportation for Chase and Katarina Prestian.

I busy myself on my phone. Two can play at this game, but then I remember to check the balance on my account, and sure enough, just like he promised, the rest of the money is already there. Enough to pay off the rest of my school loan and add to my savings. The savings that I desperately need, which causes me to soften a bit.

The heat of Sheldon’s gaze pulls me from my thoughts before the elevator dings and the doors open. “I know you’re in a hurry and have things to do. Thank you for the money. I see that you already deposited the rest of the payment in my account. I can find my way if you just tell me where my car is.”

“It appears right now we have other business to resolve,” Sheldon remarks, pointing to two policemen getting out of their cruiser as we step outside.

“Oh my God! In all this craziness, I forgot! I totally forgot to text Allie. She must have called the police. Oh my God, Sheldon. I am so sorry!”

“Miss Barrington?” one of the officers asks as they walk up to us.

“Yes, Alexis Barrington. I am so sorry that you drove out unnecessarily. I was offered a job styling hair this afternoon and didn’t know the people. I was worried about safety, so I texted my friend. You know, just in case something happened.” I’m rambling at this point, but so thoroughly mortified. “I completely forgot to let her know I was safe and there was nothing to worry about. She must have called in a report. I’m so embarrassed, and so very sorry to have wasted your time.”

“There must be some mistake. We’re here to give you a ride home. Sheldon, nice to see you again,” the dark-haired officer says, extending his hand in greeting.

“Likewise. Good to see you both, and thanks for the help. Ms. Barrington’s car will be delivered, but I’d like to make sure she gets home safely until then,” Sheldon replies.

I turn to him, and his eyes are twinkling with delight. “You called the police to give me a ride home?”

“As you so aptly pointed out, I have a few things to do this afternoon, and this will give you time to fill out the report that you haven’t yet filed.”

I look from him to the officers. All three of them are barely concealing their laughter. I have no clue where to look for my car, and even if I could find it, I would need a fricking key! Aargh!

“I’ll bring your car back to the salon when I’m finished with the meeting. Until then, you’ll be in good hands.”

I can’t even reply to him because he’s so bossy, and hot, and such an overbearing brute! “Thank you for the ride, gentlemen. In fact, I do have a report to make. A very, very long report!” I tell the officers, glaring at a smirking Sheldon as they say goodbye to him, and he continues having a good chuckle at my expense.

He turns to greet Katarina and Chase, who are walking out of the elevator with an entourage of security. I know Sheldon’s not going to be able to finish this conversation now, so I follow the men to their cruiser, sending Allie a text that I’m alive and well and letting her know not to call the police.

The tall blond officer opens the rear door for me. I get into the car, watching as Sheldon, the security team, and the Prestians climb into a limo that has pulled up in front of the police car. Sheldon’s dark brown hair is tousled by the breeze, and the way that black suit fits and the muscles flexing beneath it causes my center to heat.

“Sheldon mentioned a report you need to file,” the blond officer inquires, grabbing a notebook off the dash as his partner pulls into the midday traffic.

Clearly he’s serious about this now that the fun and games are over. “Sheldon thinks it’s a bigger deal than it is. I dropped my business card this morning when I was at a coffee shop down the street from where I work. A guy took it as an invitation to hit on me. I was scared that he’d know where to find me. Sheldon stepped in, got it back from the creep, and forced him to leave. He seems to think I should file a report, just in case,” I explain.

The officer spends the entire ride to the salon asking me questions about the man’s description and takes down details of the encounter. They finally drop me off at the salon, letting me know that I still need to come down to the police station and sign the report. And by this time, I will agree to absolutely anything to get them to leave! “Thanks for the ride. I’ll stop by as soon as I’m able,” I assure before hopping from the back, entering the shop through the employee entrance, and heading straight to the break room to heat up some leftover soup and call Allie.

She answers right away. “Where have you been? Jan said your first appointment was at three, so if you were late, I was going to call the cops and have them hunt your ass down!”

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