Beverly Long - Protecting The Boss

Seth was happy for his friend. Trey and Kellie were lucky to be alive. Kellie’s diabolical former boss had tried to kill them, and only because they were both supersmart and resourceful, they were here to tell the story.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen the McGarrys,” Abigail said.

“Actually, that’s why I wanted to stop in. We’re having a little party tonight, a combined baby shower for Kellie and me and a wedding shower for Rico, another partner, who is getting married soon. We’d love to have both of you join us. It will give you a chance to catch up with Kellie.”

Seth saw the quick look of distress in Megan’s eyes. “It won’t be pizza,” he said, reminding her that she’d let the cat out of the bag that she had a free night, “but I can promise the food will be good.”

“That sounds like so much fun,” Abigail said.

Megan turned to her sister. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”

“Absolutely. Where and when?”

“Here, and any time after six,” Trey said. “And please, no gifts. I know this is a last-minute invite and I don’t want you worrying about that.”

“I guess we’ll see you then,” Megan said.

“About that contract?” Seth asked. “Should I email it over?”

Abigail nodded. “We’re just so grateful that you were able to see us on such short notice and that you’re available for the assignment.”

He looked at Megan. She was staring at her sister.

Finally, she turned to him and very deliberately picked up the pen that he’d previously offered. She scribbled down her email address. “Yes, so grateful,” she echoed. The pen dropped back onto his desk with a thud .

“I’ll walk you out,” Trey said. Both women moved toward the door.

And just that fast, Seth was alone. The room seemed dimmer somehow, as if the sun had slipped behind a cloud.

He was going on a road trip with a beautiful woman. Hadn’t seen this one coming. And didn’t feel bad that he’d used circumstances to stack the deck in his favor when it had appeared that Megan might back out at the last minute. Could claim that he’d done it to preserve the $30,000 fee. Their business was successful, but that wasn’t pocket change and would certainly help the monthly financials. But he hadn’t really been thinking about that. Had been solely focused on the fact that he’d let Megan walk away from him once and he wasn’t going to do it a second time.

He didn’t profess to believe in fate but then again, he generally didn’t disavow the possibility, either.

The dynamics between the two sisters were interesting. He wanted to know more. They’d certainly have time to discuss it. The distances between those cities were all one-day drives but in places, there wasn’t much to see.

An hour later, Rico Metez walked by his office, whistling. For some reason, the man had started whistling after falling head over heels in love with Laura Collins and her four-year-old niece, Hannah, whom Laura had now officially adopted. Rico was going to become a husband and a father at the same time. And he couldn’t wait.

“Why are you whistling?”

“I’m just happy, man. Hey, Jane showed me the contract.”

“I know you normally take care of those things, but it was kind of a rush job and I wasn’t sure when you were returning to the office. I will be back for your wedding.”

“I saw that and the rest of it all looked good, too,” Rico said. “Ten days on the road and then finishing up the assignment with two days in Vegas. You want me to look in on your mom at Everpark? I know they watch their residents really closely but just in case.”

“I’m going to run out there tomorrow morning before the assignment starts. If something comes up while I’m on the road, I’ve got you, Royce and Trey all listed as emergency contacts.”

“And we’d all step in just this quick. Your mom is amazing.”

“No argument here.”

Rico smiled. “I’ll see you at the party.”

“I can hardly believe you and Laura are finally getting married.” He knew Rico would have done it last fall, but Laura had really wanted to wait until everything with Hannah was all straightened out and that had taken a while. “By the way, Trey expanded the guest list.”

“No problem. We have enough food for twenty more guests. Who?”

“The new clients, Abigail Chevalier and Megan North. They’re sisters. Megan is the one I’ll be traveling with.”

“I was talking with Trey about them yesterday. Sad situation with their parents, isn’t it?”

He had no idea what Rico was talking about. “What?”

“They were killed in a small plane crash.”

He could hear the concern in Rico’s tone, knew that the man was trying to be sensitive given that he’d lost his dad in the same way. “Recently?”

“No. Something like fifteen years ago. Kellie’s mom and Mrs. North were close friends and Mrs. McGarry tried to keep tabs on Megan and Abigail after the crash. But as the years went by, the visits were more sporadic and it was mainly a social media post here or there that kept them updated on each other’s lives. I got the impression from Trey that Mrs. McGarry was pretty impressed that Megan had done such a good job raising Abigail.”

“Raising?”

“Yeah, Megan is six years older. She was twenty and Abigail was fourteen. She gave up college to come home and take care of her little sister.”

He understood about helping family. He’d move heaven and earth and whatever else was in his way to help his mom, who had sacrificed so much for him. And he didn’t generally like to talk about it, either. In the early days of Wingman Security, he’d worked two jobs once it became apparent that it would be better for his mom to relocate somewhere where her home wasn’t so isolated. Sure it had been hard. But family helped family.

But she’d really been just a kid herself. He was more confident than ever that there was more to Megan than a pretty face.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet either of them. What’s your take on the sisters?”

“They’re very different in looks but I could tell they were sisters. Abigail seems very sweet.”

“Megan not sweet?”

“I don’t know yet. She talks fast,” Seth said. “Dresses pretty stylish. I suppose that goes along with owning a boutique.” He paused, unwilling to share that she’d knocked him off his stride. His partner would never let him hear the end of that. “Not my type,” he added, shaking his head.

Rico frowned at him. “I thought this was a work assignment, not a date.”

“Of course,” Seth said. “Just making conversation.”

Megan rarely had trouble deciding what to wear. She loved clothes. Occupational hazard. But she wasn’t sure what one wore to an office party that seemed to be less about babies and weddings and more about the friendship of the four Wingman Security partners. She felt terribly awkward, as if she were crashing a private event. It didn’t matter that she had an invitation.

More of a command performance.

But it would be good to see Kellie again, who was closer in age to Abigail. Megan had been closer to Anthony McGarry, who she understood was now some renowned spine surgeon. She’d always felt sorry for the McGarry kids, in that they’d lost their dad when Anthony had been in high school and Kellie had been just a little girl.

Of course, ultimately they’d been the lucky ones because they’d still at least had their mom. Odd how circumstances changed.

She hadn’t unpacked her clothes for the one night in Las Vegas, believing that she’d be staying in, ordering room service. Now she opened her large suitcase and pulled out a light blue silk dress with delicate cap sleeves. Then she slipped her bare feet into silver sandals. Changed out her gold jewelry for silver and was ready to go. Was halfway out the door when she remembered her umbrella. Definitely didn’t want to be caught in another torrential rain without it. She stepped back inside the room and scooped it up.