He knew that posture. Knew that tone. Knew that look in her eye. Just like there was no way anyone was going to stop him from being here, there was no way he was going to stop her from going.
“Even if I wanted to,” she began as she opened the fridge and leaned down, “Detective Grover said that I needed to go through my daily routines like everything is normal. So I am.”
Now, instead of wanting to punch the wall, he wanted to punch Grover. But as mad as it made him, he knew Grover was right. In fact, the detective had specifically instructed him to pose as a friend staying with her, not a bodyguard. To act natural in public, not hovering over her. If this creeper went into hiding, they may never find him.
The sooner this was over, the better. Patience had never been a virtue he’d possessed. If he wanted something, he went after it. And most of the time, he got what he wanted. With one exception…and she was standing in front of him wearing a dress that would tempt a monk to sin.
Which, apparently, was how she dressed on dates…not that he would know. He didn’t know anything about her private life. Where she went. Who she went with.
That thought transformed into a revelation. He’d never seen any of the guys she’d dated. And there was no one to ask because none of the guys at the gym had either, including her own father. This was a rare opportunity to do exactly that. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons. He would get to meet one of her mystery men. See her in her dating habitat and not leave her side. She would be safe. No one would lay a hand on her, including her date.
“Okay,” he conceded.
Like a Meerkat in the Serengeti, her head popped up and the fridge door shut. “Okay?”
“Okay.”
Her baby blues narrowed. He waited for her to push him more on the subject, but instead she doubled back to her initial question. “Who was on the phone? Was it Grover? Does he have a lead?”
“It was Seth.”
For a split second her face fell, but she quickly masked her disappointment. “Did they find anything in their sweep?”
“They found three cameras.”
Horror registered across her pretty features. “Three?!”
“Yes.” He hated that she had to hear about any of this. All he wanted to do was shield her, protect her from…everything. But, she had a right to know.
“Where?” Her eyes scanned the front room and kitchen. “Where are…or uh…were they?”
“One in the front room. One in the bedroom and one in the bathroom.”
“The bathroom?” Her eyes widened with shock.
“They’re gone now. Seth has our tech guy Nate working on finding where the feed was being sent.”
Her lips pursed and she nodded her head. It was obvious to him that she was trying to be strong, trying to hold back tears. The strength in her vulnerability shredded him.
With renewed determination brimming in her eyes she leveled him with a probing stare. “Are you sure they got them all?”
“Yes.” Even though he’d asked the same question and Seth hadn’t responded, he was confident in his answer. Seth and the men he hired were the best at what they did. Not to mention, Maxi wasn’t just some client. This was personal, and not just to him. She was Jessie’s employee, and Jessie was family. That meant that Maxi was family in Seth’s eyes.
With a shaky breath, Maxi rested her hands on the marble countertop and leaned forward slightly, as if she were bracing herself. Every cell in his body was screaming for him to go pull her into his arms. He wanted to be her support. He wanted to be the one holding her up. He wanted to be the one that she leaned on.
She swallowed hard, inhaled through her nose and blew a breath out of her mouth. It was a technique that he’d seen her use when she was trying to remain calm and not lose it. Sometimes at him. Most of the time at him. Over the years, he’d pushed her buttons any chance he got. Not because he was being a dick, just because he wanted a reaction out of her. Any reaction. Even negative attention was attention.
“So there are no cameras in here,” she clarified calmly as she stared down at her hands.
“Only the ones that we installed. Cameras with eyes at all the points of entry. There will be someone monitoring the activity day and night.”
“Watching me?!” The horror was back as her eyes flew to his as she pushed off the counter and turned so that she was facing him.
“No. Not you. Just the points of entry. Windows. Doors. That’s it.”
“Are you sure?” Her voice trembled as she looked up at him with total trust and vulnerability.
The ache in his chest expanded and his feet moved without permission. He needed to be closer to her. He’d been doing his best to give her space. He knew that even him being here went against every independent bone in her gorgeous body. He wished he knew how to take all of the fear, worry, and stress from her. Assuring her wouldn’t be enough. His mind raced to try to find the right words to give her some peace.