Ghost Seer (32 page)

After a few seconds, the big man smiled and took a few steps toward Zach, half the distance between them. Zach came the other half and offered his right hand that he kept free for his sidearm under his own jacket. Both of them were carrying and Rickman probably had a weapon in easy reach.

“Good to meet you,” Zach said.

“Likewise,” said Rossi. A quick, hard grip and then they retreated at the same time.

“Rossi works mostly as a bodyguard,” Tony said.

Zach nodded. “Looks good for that.”

Rossi gave a quick grin, ostentatiously adjusted his shirt cuffs.

Returning to his chair, Zach said, “I don’t think Clare needs a bodyguard . . . yet.”

With a bland smile, Rossi said, “Not with you around.”

“Looks like we need Clare,” Tony said.

“Is that so?” asked Zach.

A quick double buzz came from the door lock as the receptionist opened it.

Clare walked in and Zach had the novel experience of having his heart jump in his chest. Damn she looked good.

Rickman stood and so did Zach, automatically moving toward her. Just a step or two and he scented the exotic fragrance she wore that reminded him of more than kisses. He fought to control a hard-on. Did the damn multiplication table.

Still, she looked good, better than he’d last seen her the morning he’d crawled out of her bed and headed to Montana. Better than he’d ever seen her.

She’d come into her own, was done with the worry over closing out her great Aunt’s estate, moving into her own home, and dealing with a gunfighter ghost. The yellow sundress she wore accented her golden skin and hazel eyes. Her brown hair with red tints was rich and glossy. He thought he made a noise in his throat.

She smiled like she was glad to see him and all his irritation at the wearying day vanished.

“Hi, Clare.” Moving quickly, he took her hand, kissed her cheek. Oh, man, that perfume and her natural scent did a number on him. He didn’t want to be with her here, with two other guys in the room. He wanted to be in her bed, or have her in his.

She brushed a kiss on his lips and relief flooded him. They were still on the same page, goddam good.

“Hi, Zach.”

He didn’t put his arm around her as he turned to face the men, but kept his body intimately close. “Clare, the guy behind the desk is the head of Rickman Security and Investigations, Tony Rickman. Beside him is Harry Rossi, another of Rickman’s men.” Zach had no clue how much she observed. As far as he knew she wouldn’t recognize a military man by his stance, his movement, his attitude. Wouldn’t know when a guy was armed. She’d once said she didn’t watch crime shows, so she was learning about police officers from him.

“How do you do,” she said politely.

Rossi nodded and stood at ease. Rickman came from behind the desk and offered his hand. Clare donned her professional-woman manner, gripped it and shook.

“Please, have a seat,” Rickman said. “Would you like some tea?”

She gave him a cool stare. “You’ve been talking about me with Mrs. Flinton? She’s the one who offers me tea.”

Rickman’s gaze cut to Zach. The guy wanted back up. Zach decided to test his luck, put his hand around her upper arm and gave the lightest of tugs toward the chairs, stepped toward them himself. She slid her glance to him, and followed, answering Rickman’s question. “No tea, thank you. Coffee would be good.”

“Fine.” Rickman returned to his desk and pressed the intercom. “Coffee, cream and sugar for Ms. Cermak.”

Zach took the last chair left, after Clare sat down. He wished it were closer.

“You asked for this meeting?” Clare said.

Rickman lowered into his executive chair, but kept his manner casual. “Thank you for your work on the accounting ledgers in Mrs. Flinton’s case. She has spoken highly of you,” he said.

Clare inclined her head.

“We have a problem we’d like you to help us with,” Tony Rickman said.

Clare stilled beside Zach, wet her lips. “As a forensic accountant?”

A long, thumping pause.

“I’m afraid not. As a ghost layer,” Rickman said.

Clare flinched. Her fingers tightened on a small purse she’d moved from her shoulder to her lap. “I’m not in that business.”

“Can you please hear me out? We have a problem,” Rickman repeated. “Or rather, one of our clients has a problem.” He gestured to Rossi, who treated Clare to a smile that showed male appreciation and twinkling eyes. Zach revised his first good impression of the man.

“I’m the bodyguard to Dennis Laurentine,” he said.

“The billionaire,” Rickman said.

Clare blinked. “Dennis Laurentine? No. He’s not. As of last month Forbes’s website listed his net worth as being valued at approximately nine-hundred-sixteen million. That makes him a multimillionaire, but not quite a billionaire.”

Rickman looked disconcerted. Rossi’s smile widened.

“Never argue with an accountant about money,” Zach said, lounging even more in his seat.

Clare sighed. “Well, Mr. Laurentine is very wealthy, and a client my former firm would have loved to have—would love to have. What does that have to do with me?”

“Why don’t you, ah, tell the story, Rossi,” Rickman said.

“Sure.” He moved to the front of Rickman’s desk, leaned against it, his gaze focused on Clare. “Mr. Laurentine has a ghost problem on his ranch in South Park.” The ends of his mouth lifted in a half smile. “Or, to be accurate, a bone problem. A dead guy is leaving his bones around.”