“And you think she’ll go for it?” Declan questioned.
“I think she’s a registered nurse with no prior history of working with her father in any way. She’s been living with her mother in Maryland.”
Dean said, “Whoa. You did a background check on her?”
I wondered the same thing. Though he acted like he didn’t know much about security, the man had done his homework on her. Could I blame him?
“Of course, I did. I’m not stupid. I don’t think she’s that involved with her father’s business activities,” David announced.
“Then why would she do it?” Declan asked.
“That’s what I intend on finding out,” David said.
Declan looked at his watch. “The arrogant bastard is over an hour late.”
“It’s a power play. Let him have it,” David responded.
“Yeah, as money flies out the window for security not needed for an extra hour. Or the helicopter we’re now renting,” Declan complained.
“You act like we’re broke. We are not. Cash light and investment heavy, yes. Besides, I’m paying for the helicopter. Don’t worry,” David announced.
Then the doorbell rang. I left the office without hearing the last thing they said. I backed into a heavily shadowed corner in the back of the house after hailing the extra security into place. I’d convinced David it would be better if any threats didn’t know that he had personal security, meaning me and what I looked like. That left me better able to protect him if any threat wasn’t looking for me. Thus, I wouldn’t be included in the show of force.
The housekeeper was sent to open the door. Then, David, flanked by his brothers and security personnel, entered the room.
I got my first sight of Natalie in weeks. Though the woman that came bared little resemblance to the woman I’d fallen hard for. She wore a dress that was so tight, there was no mistake about her curves. Then, there was the makeup. I honestly couldn’t remember if she’d worn it before. If so, it hadn’t been as noticeable as it was now and not in a good way. Then, there was her hair. It looked like she had stuck her finger in a light socket and her hair froze in place. I grinned. Maybe David wouldn’t find this version of Natalie appealing. I, on the other hand, knew exactly what was under the overdone look and it was gorgeous.
When Natalie broke ranks and followed the maid, I realized I hadn’t been listening. I was so focused on the woman and drinking her in. I’d failed on the job as head security by not paying attention to the conversation. Natalie looked mad as she disappeared into a side room.
“You can leave her here so we can get to know each other,” David suggested.
Natalie’s father laughed. “You think I’ll leave my daughter here alone with you? I don’t know you that well. For all I know, you’ll try to blackmail me for her safe return.”
“Fine. Give us a couple of hours,” David retorted.
“I’ll give you an hour and I’ll be here. My men will walk your lovely grounds just in case my daughter decides to wander off. I wouldn’t want her lost.”
“Mariel, please show our guest to the front parlor and get him refreshments.” The housekeeper nodded.
Once Nicolas’s security had been sent outside, I came into the light, assuming I had at least a few minutes before her father might come out again. “Two of you stay in the house. One on the front door, the other on the back,” I commanded to the crew. “The rest of you monitor his guards outside. Don’t let them wander. They should remain near or in their vehicle.”
There was a chorus of, “Yes, sir,” before they executed my plan.
“I want to speak to her alone,” David told his brothers and myself.
I nodded and headed back to the security room. Though I wanted to be a fly on the wall to Declan’s response, I went back and watched the feeds.
Shortly after, Natalie appeared. Her hair was wet, and her face was free of all that makeup. Damn. She’d showed him just how gorgeous she was.
They disappeared into a dining room. David said it had been converted into a conference room when his dad became ill and was working more from home until his illness had taken him out of the day-to-day operations.
As they spoke, I thought about how David had no idea how much we had in common. Royce was a few weeks from the same fate if he wasn’t so damn stubborn.
I didn’t like the idea of David and Natalie being alone to get to know each other. He wasn’t a bad guy. However, that didn’t mean I was giving up without a fight like I had with the love doctor.
She was mine, damn it. She’d proven that when she’d shown up to my house with a packet of condoms. I wouldn’t let him have her at any cost.