Whatever It Takes (10 page)

Eli tore his eyes away from the man. A car behind him honked impatiently. Sparing the photographer one last glare, Eli pressed the gas pedal to move forward. A man jumped in front of the car. Sophia screamed, and Eli jerked to a stop. Though he held a camera, instead of taking photographs, this man just stood and stared at them. 

“What the hell!” Eli shouted. “Get out of my way, damn you!”

The guy smiled, tipped the baseball cap he was wearing, and sauntered away as if he was in no hurry at all. 

Eli was glad he’d had the foresight to employ a three-man security team to watch over his daughters. While one man dealt with the photographer, another headed toward the creep who’d stood in front of the car. The remaining guard pulled alongside Eli’s car and nodded.

“You said two bad words, Daddy. Are you gonna wash your mouth out with soap? Twice?”

Eli couldn’t prevent the laugh that erupted in his chest. In a matter of minutes, two different sleazebags had accosted their car, and the only takeaway his daughter had was that her daddy had cursed. Twice.

“You bet I will, sweetheart. Sorry about that.”

“That’s okay. I won’t tell nobody.”

“Thank you, Sophia.”

“Welcome, Daddy.”

Eli pulled in front of the school and parked. The private school was the most exclusive in Dallas with the finest security. That still didn’t stop him from walking his daughters inside each day. An added bonus was the kindergarten attached to the school. Other than the time he was with his children in their home, Eli was as sure as he could be that the girls were safe.

He had considered a private tutor but had rejected the idea for now. He wanted his children to experience life, not be so sheltered that they were afraid of everything. They were safe here. 

He knew a large part of him was projecting from his own childhood. He’d never been given the chance to just be a kid. His daughters deserved better. Even if he had to watch over them twenty-four/seven, he’d make sure they were given the chance to be “normal.” Whatever the hell that was anymore. Lately, he wasn’t even sure if such a concept existed.

Eli unbuckled Violet first. She blinked sleepily at him and gave him a smile that melted his heart. 

“Daddy, hurry!” Sophia screamed. “That man is coming for me.”

Eli twisted his head around. Macon Yates, part of Eli’s security team, strode toward them. The man’s “I eat nails for breakfast” expression was a normal one for him, but Eli could see where it might frighten a six-year-old.

“He’s one of the good guys, Sophia. He won’t hurt you.”

“He looks like the giant from that story you read us last night.”

Even though Yates was an inch or two shorter than Eli, his bulk did make him appear bigger and as mean as the evil giant.

“He’s here to protect you.”

Sophia nodded, but the fear in her eyes lingered. Giving “normal” to his kids was going to involve more than just taking them to school. He had in mind the one person he believed could make that happen. Now if he could just get her to agree.

Holding his daughters, one in each arm, he acknowledged Yates with a nod. The man’s duties when his daughters were inside the building were simple. Keep them safe.

And outside? When they were out in the real world? He had that covered, too. Problem was, just how long would he have to make them live like this? He was prepared to protect them for the rest of their lives. But just how long before it started to take a toll on them?

He had to find out who the hell had made the threats. And when he did? Perhaps the world had not seen the end of the murderous Slaters. 

Chapter Ten

Kathleen drove down the beautiful tree-lined drive and then pulled to a stop in front of Eli Slater’s home. She had agreed to inspect the modifications his security company had installed. Once that was done, once she had fulfilled her agreement, she would leave. There was no reason for her to ever see him again. 

In between her Justice assignments, she had been getting ready for this meeting. Armed with knowledge of Eli Slater, she was much better prepared to deal with him. She hadn’t handled herself well at their first meeting. She told herself it had been the surprise factor. Finding him to be the man she’d seen in Chicago had caught her off guard. It was nothing more than that.

When she’d left that night, she’d been mildly discombobulated. By the time she’d traveled across town to her apartment, anger had replaced the nerves. It was obvious that she had been set up by both Grey and Eli. She didn’t like being kept in the dark or manipulated. 

All night long, she’d tossed, turned, and stewed. The next morning, armed with several cups of coffee and a ton of self-righteous indignation, she’d presented herself at Grey’s office. Needless to say, the confrontation hadn’t gone as planned. She winced at the memory.

“Did Eli Slater ask you to hire me?”

As usual, Grey’s expression was unreadable, implacable, the arch of one dark brow the only indication that she might have surprised him. “And good morning to you, too, Kathleen. Did you sleep well?”

“No, I didn’t sleep well.”

“Bad dreams?”

“Yes…no… That’s not the point. Why didn’t you tell me that Eli Slater was the man I met in Chicago?”

“Would it have made a difference to the job? Would you have assessed the mansion’s security differently? Broken in another way?”

“Of course not, but going in blind was—”

“Discomfiting, I’m sure. Eli’s a friend. I’m protective of my friends, including you. If I thought giving you a heads-up about Eli’s identity would have been beneficial to the job, I would have included that information in your assignment.”

“I’m not buying that, Grey. But I’m past that. What I’d like to know is, did Eli ask you to hire me?”

“I’ve said Eli is a friend. He’s not my adviser, personnel manager, or boss. If I thought you weren’t the best person for the job, I wouldn’t have offered you a position.” He eyed her speculatively. “What happened last night that upset you? Was he rude to you? Did he make advances or say something off-color?”

Since explaining that her discomfort was caused by her extreme attraction to Eli Slater was out of the question, she’d simply shaken her head and mumbled something about having all available information on a client was an important part of assessment.

She was sure Grey could have argued that point and won. Thankfully, he hadn’t and had moved on to other things. 

Just because she had overreacted didn’t mean she was wrong. Eli had wanted to meet her this way. Grey had obliged.

But now that she knew, now that she was prepared, she anticipated this meeting going much differently. She would give him her opinion on the upgrades, make recommendations if necessary, and then she would be on her way. This was just another job…Eli Slater was just another client.

With that self-lecture boosting her confidence, Kathleen got out of the car. The instant she did, the man himself walked down the steps to meet her. His tall, lithe body and commanding appearance were even more devastating in the daylight. Dressed in a pair of black jeans and a black T-shirt that fit tight over broad shoulders, the short sleeves revealing impressive biceps, he was both stylish and masculine.   

Her legs suddenly weak, she was glad to have the car behind her to lean on. Who knew a multimillionaire could look that good in jeans?

His movements were surprisingly graceful for a man his size and build. The insane thought that he must be an amazing dancer flashed through her head. She hadn’t been dancing since her high school prom, and that had been a disaster. But for some reason, this man made her think of whimsical things her practical brain told her were unimportant. Such as dancing in the moonlight beneath a canopy of a million stars.

“It’s good to see you again, Kathleen. Are you well?”

“Um, yes. Fine, thanks.”

“Come, take a look at the upgrades and new equipment. Then we’ll have lunch and get to know each other better.” 

He held out his hand and smiled.

At that moment, Kathleen knew all the self-lectures and warnings in the world weren’t going to save her this time, because Eli Slater was quite possibly the most dangerous man she’d ever met.

She was nervous again, but this time doing her very best to hide it. Determined to put her at ease, Eli led her into his home. When she stopped abruptly at the entrance to the foyer, he shot her a quizzical look and said, “Everything okay?” 

“Yes. Sorry. Your home is beautiful…breathtaking.” Her sidelong glance was surprisingly teasing. “Seeing it with a flashlight didn’t do it justice.”

Glad to see her at ease enough to joke, he gave her a quick grin and then gazed around, trying to see things from her perspective. Having lived here for so long, he took much of the grandeur for granted. It was home to him. The place where his children played, slept, and were growing much too fast.

“My late wife, Shelley, had the home designed to resemble an English castle.”

“She was British, wasn’t she?”

“Yes. I went to university in England. Met her there, and we married. Sophia was born there.”

Shaking away memories he’d prefer to not dwell on, he said, “We’ll start on the first floor. I’ll show you the cameras they installed, as well as the new motion detectors. If you see anything you feel needs to be changed or added, just let me know.”

As they made their way from room to room, he was pleased to see the lessening of tension in her shoulders. Her comments and questions were pointed and intelligent, telling him she was focused on the job and had forgotten for the moment that he made her nervous. He was glad for it. Since he had every intention of spending more time with her, the last thing he wanted was for her to feel uncomfortable with him.

He led her up the stairs to the second floor and heard her sigh.

“What?” he asked.

She shrugged, then sent him a small smile. “I’ll bet your daughters love these dual staircases.”

He laughed. “Oh yes, we’ve had quite a few conversations about racing each other on the stairs.”

They stood on the landing for a moment and looked down onto the large marble foyer. “I can only imagine the parties you and your wife must have had here. It seems like the perfect home for entertaining.”

Eli felt a pang to his heart. “I believe that was Shelley’s dream when she had the house designed. Unfortunately, her health never allowed her to live out that dream.”

She placed a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up sad memories.”

“Thank you, but I try to remember the good times.” He headed down the hallway toward the east wing and his daughters’ rooms. “The girls have separate bedrooms, share a playroom, a media room, and a small music room. However, most nights they want to sleep together and alternate between bedrooms.”

Tenderness then sadness flickered on her face. “My sister and I were the same way. Not that we always had a room to ourselves, but even when we did, we slept together.”

He had wanted to diminish her sadness and had only made it worse. Hoping to dispel it completely, he led her quickly through the rest of the second-floor bedrooms, parlors, and sitting rooms, the third floor with more bedrooms, along with game room, gym, and media room. Then he took her up to the fourth floor. 

“Oh my stars.”

Pleased at her reaction, he followed her into the tower room. Though she had made approving comments throughout their tour on both the additional security and the décor, this was the first time she had exclaimed her excitement for a room.

She walked into the middle of the room and turned around slowly, her lovely face glowing with pleasure. “It’s like being in the middle of the sky.”

The walls were a sky blue with puffy white clouds scattered throughout. The furniture was minimal, with only a few large chaise lounges and oversized chairs. It was a good place for quiet reflection.

“I’m glad you like it. It’s one of the few rooms I wanted any say in.” He pressed a switch, and the ceiling disappeared, revealing a giant dome-shaped skylight. “One of my favorite places when I was a kid was the planetarium. I could spend hours stargazing, dreaming. And there’s just something special about a Texas sky at night. It’s especially amazing during a meteor shower.”

“It’s wonderful.” 

He looked at her then and had to steel his legs to keep from moving closer. Her lovely face glowed, those miraculous eyes glinted, that beautiful mobile mouth lifted up in a delighted smile. Never had he wanted to kiss a woman more. But it was too damn soon. She didn’t know him, wasn’t sure if she could trust him. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off.

“The security upgrade is exceptional. I think you’ll be happy with the additions.”

He was glad he hadn’t made that move. The wary look was back on her face, and she had returned to business mode.

“I really appreciate your help,” Eli said. “I know you were upset with both Grey and me about the other night, but I promise you, your input was helpful. I can assure you that my children’s safety is priority one for me. Nothing is more important.”

“You’ve said that several times now. Has something specific happened that has you concerned?”

“Come have lunch with me, and we’ll talk about it.”

She glanced down at her watch. “Oh, I don’t know. I should really—”

“Nonsense. Teresa has it all ready for us.” He held out his hand. “Come meet her. She said she was dying to meet the woman who broke into the house without her knowing it.”

Even as her mind told her she shouldn’t, her hand reached out to his. She didn’t know what she had expected when they touched. Electrical sparks? Sexual arousal? Nothing? Surprisingly, what she felt when his hand closed over hers was a feeling she’d never had in her life. Safety, security…belonging.

That thought terrified her. Belonging? No way in hell.

Forcing a cool, bland expression on her face, she walked back down to the first floor and into the ginormous kitchen. Teresa Longview stood in the middle of it, grinning from ear to ear. The older woman was in her early sixties, sturdy and dependable looking. She had the appearance of someone who was both compassionate but no-nonsense.