Kat Martin - Against the Sun

“For that caliber of buyer, the boutiques may close the doors to the public while we’re in there.”

“I’m sure they will. Just think of all the money we’ll be bringing into the community.”

Jake grinned. “Maybe we ought to march around with a sign that says Marine Drilling—Spending Saudi Money in America.”

Sage laughed. “Maybe.” Her laughter slowly faded. “They’ll be safe, won’t they?”

His gaze shifted, darkened. “They’ll be fine. More importantly, you’ll be safe. I promise you that, Sage.”

And when she looked into those blue, blue eyes, she knew he would keep his word.

Knew that if he had to, Jake Cantrell would protect her with his life.

Eight

They left the office shortly after six that night. The heat outside was intense, but the sun was a little less vicious as the days marched through September. The crowd had thinned some and the media cameras were gone, which was a hopeful sign. Jake sat next to Sage in the backseat of the SUV, slightly more relaxed now that they were away from the building.

So far no one seemed to know the Saudis had arrived in Houston, or if they did, they were more interested in Marine Drilling’s involvement than they were in the Saudis themselves. Jake wasn’t sure if that was bad news or good.

The Escalade had traveled only a couple blocks through the office high-rise district when his cell phone rang. Pulling it out of the pocket of his suit coat, he checked the caller ID and saw it was Tanya Porter. Tanya was the mother of the boy he sponsored in the Big Brother program Linc had gotten him involved in when he’d first returned to Texas.

“Jake, I’m sorry to bother you,” she said, “but I’ve got a problem. I was wondering if you might be able to give Felix a ride home.”

“What happened?”

“He went to the show with his friend Desi, and Desi’s older brother, Bo. I guess they got to arguing and the boys ended up leaving him there. I know you’ve been working downtown. He’s in front of the AMC. Is there any way you could pick him and bring him home?”

“I’m on the job, Tanya. I can’t get to him for at least another hour.”

Sage reached over and caught his arm. “What is it?”

“Hold on.” He covered the phone. “A friend of mine’s got a problem, young kid named Felix Porter. I’m his Big Brother. He’s stuck at the AMC theatre and needs a ride home.”

“The theater isn’t that far. For heaven’s sake, pick him up.”

“You sure?”

“I’m done for the day. It isn’t a problem.”

Jake smiled. “Thanks. Felix is a good kid. Not the kind to make trouble. Some of his friends, however, are another story.” Jake spoke across the front seat to Linc. “You hear that?”

“On my way.”

Jake let Tanya know he would pick up Felix and bring him home. The theater was only a few blocks out of the way. When they got there, Felix was waiting on the corner, the cell phone Jake paid for in his hand. Jake rolled down the window and motioned him over. Linc opened the front door and the kid climbed in beside him.

Felix turned in the seat. “Thanks, Jake.” He was a lanky kid, with feet and hands still a little too big for his growing frame. Beneath his shiny black skin, his face looked tightly drawn.

“Felix, say hello to Ms. Dumont. She’s the one who’s giving you a ride.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Felix.”

“What happened?” Jake asked as Linc began to move the big SUV through traffic.

Felix shrugged, stared down at his hands. “Desi and me… We had a fight. It was no big deal.”

Jake knew it was probably Desi’s older brother, Bo, who was the troublemaker, but Felix wouldn’t snitch on the dumb-ass kid. As soon as Jake got the time, he’d have a little talk with Felix’s friends. “No big deal, huh? Seems like with those two, something’s always ‘no big deal.’”

Felix glanced away.

They left the downtown area, slugged their way through traffic and headed for the house south of Holcombe where the twelve-year-old lived. His mother was waiting on the sidewalk as he slipped out of the front seat.

“Thanks, Jake. Ms. Dumont.” The kid closed the door and ran to where his mother stood. Tanya waved, and the two of them headed into the house.

Jake turned to Sage. “Thanks for letting me pick him up. Like I said, Felix is a really good kid.”

She smiled as Linc pulled away from the curb. “The Big Brother program is extremely worthwhile. Our company’s a big supporter. I’m really glad you’re helping him.”

He nodded, realizing the kid was another tie he would have to cut when he took off on another job. This was the second time he’d lived in Houston. The first was after he’d left the service and returned from the Middle East. He’d gotten his P.I.’s license and taken a job freelancing for Trace.

Though he’d enjoyed the work, eventually he’d grown restless and taken a corporate protection job in South America. He’d traveled and worked there for a while, and had just finished a job in Mexico when he got a call from Dev Raines and met up with him, Trace and Johnnie Riggs, old military buddies.

When the job was over, he’d returned to Texas, which had begun to feel more like home than any other place he’d been.

He flicked a glance at Sage, his current, far more intriguing assignment, and looked back out the window. Nothing but traffic, no one on their tail, and aside from the occasional bad driver, nothing that posed any sort of danger.

He was doing his best to keep his eyes off her, trying not to think how pretty she looked even after the long, grueling day. Trying to keep his thoughts in check and his blood from flowing south.

Once the SUV reached the high-rise where she lived, Jake escorted her upstairs, went in and checked her apartment. Finding everything in order, he made himself head for the door—though every ounce of testosterone in his body wanted him to stay.

He reminded himself the lady belonged to another man, that he had a job to do and there was no place in it for his attraction to Sage.

He reached for the doorknob. “I’ll pick you up in the morning.” He stopped and turned. “Unless you have plans to go out tonight.” So far the threat posed by the demonstrators had stayed confined to the downtown area around the office, but until this was over, he didn’t want her going out by herself.

Sage hesitated, then smiled. “I’ve been sticking pretty close to home. I figured it would be safer that way.”

“Good girl.”

She walked him to the door. Knowing he shouldn’t, he lingered. “You did really well today. You said all the right things, made the right moves. I think the Saudis were impressed.”

Her smile reappeared. “Thanks. Coming from you, that means a lot.” She didn’t move away, and he wanted to reach for her, haul her into his arms. He wanted to kiss her until he had her begging him to take her to bed.

He couldn’t. Wouldn’t.

Jake turned and walked out the door.

It wasn’t until later that night that he found himself thinking about her brief moment of hesitation. It didn’t mean anything, he told himself. Sage wouldn’t risk going out alone.

But it bothered him.

After he finished the rest of the leftover spaghetti he’d picked up at Mama’s Take-Out a couple nights ago, he found himself dialing Sage’s home number. The answering machine picked up and his nerves kicked in. When he phoned her cell and his call went directly to her messaging center, he tamped down the worry beginning to knot his stomach, damned her for the little witch she was, and headed for the door.

* * *

“Are you sure we should be doing this?” Dressed in a sapphire-blue mini that set off her eyes, Rina sat across from Sage at the Post Oak Grill, one of Sage’s favorite restaurants.