Chapter 4
As soon as the door to the office shut, Martin stopped and turned on his designer shoes effectively blocking the hallway.
Tilting his head to the side he let out a prolonged sigh. “Ricco has called five times.”
“Wait. What?” She lifted her phone and it didn’t show any missed calls.
“You had me forward everything when you went in to give your statement.” Martin spoke slowly.
“Oh, right.” Maxi shook her head as she remembered that she’d been afraid that Ricco or his manager might try to contact her, and she didn’t get service in the police station. “What did you tell him?”
“That you were dealing with real life problems and you’d get to his prima donna ass when you were done.”
“You didn’t.” Maxi was sure that he was kidding, but she still felt her stomach drop.
This was Martin after all. He surprised her. A lot.
“No, but I should have. I don’t know how you and Jessie deal with these drama queens.”
Maxi couldn’t help the smile that pulled at her lips. That was the epitome of the pot calling the kettle black, which she was sure was intentional on Martin’s part. He loved his drama queen reputation.
The phone attached to his hip buzzed and he looked down. “Duty calls. Do you want me to keep fielding calls from the diva?”
“No, you can send them to my phone.”
Before he headed back down the hall towards his office he stepped up to Billy. She’d spent enough time around alpha men to recognize the showdown for what it was. Martin was sizing Billy up. Silently. She didn’t have a doubt in her mind that whatever criteria Billy Marshall was held up to, he wouldn’t just meet it, he would exceed it.
Well, unless that criteria involved a committed relationship. Then he would fail miserably. His longest relationship had lasted three weeks. And she was pretty sure that had only happened because the woman was a Brazilian model who was here on holiday.
Part of her thought she should tell Martin that he didn’t need to do…whatever he was doing. That she’d known Billy for half her life and he would never let anyone hurt her, especially not Billy himself. At least, not intentionally.
But she didn’t. If Billy didn’t want Martin sizing him up, he’d put a stop to it. If she’d learned anything growing up around all that testosterone, it was that it was best to let situations like these play themselves out.
As she watched the staring contest, she couldn’t help but note how interesting it was to see the two of them toe to toe. They were around the same height, about six two. But that’s where there similarities ended. Martin had a slim and athletic frame, dark hair and dark eyes. He was manicured to perfection. Billy had light brown hair, golden eyes, a square jaw, and full lips. His shoulders were wide and rounded with muscle. His chest was broad. His arms where thick with hard-earned strength. His hands were…well, as was a common trait of boxers, his hands were large.
Whatever Martin had been looking for, apparently he got his answer. “Good,” he said with a single nod of approval before brushing past them.
“Okayyyy,” she whispered as she watched him go.
“Are you?” Billy asked as he turned and looked down at her, the intensity in his stare caused her breath to hitch.
The second their eyes met, the air that surrounded them felt like it had been sucked out of the atmosphere. The walls on either side of them felt like they were closing in. Like the entire world was shrinking down to the two them.
“What?” Her voice came out as a small whisper. Almost inaudible.
“Are you okay?” His gaze turned even darker and her legs started doing their best noodle impression once again.
“I’m fine.” It was the standard answer that she’d been giving to everyone today, but this was the first time it really felt like a lie.
His jaw tightened at her answer and she was pretty sure that she knew what he was going to say.
“Sorry.” The apology fell from her lips. She wasn’t even exactly sure what she was apologizing for. For not telling him what had been going on with her. For him finding out from his boss. For her arguing about him being on her security detail. For all of the above.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for.” His deep voice rolled over her in a soothing wave as he took a step closer to her.
They were maybe an inch apart. She had to tilt her neck to meet his gaze. Heat radiated off his body and the air was filled with the soap and musk scent that was uniquely his. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, letting herself luxuriate in the moment that felt suspended in time.
It was cut short when her phone chimed. She looked down and saw that it was Ricco’s manager, the legendary Alan Turner.