Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Matthieu came to an abrupt stop as those words reached him.
Wow.
He recognized the police chief’s voice. He’d met with him earlier this morning. The guy didn’t immediately scream corrupt. But Matthieu knew that the evillest minds could be charming.
You should never judge a book by its cover.
And listening to him speak to his daughter now, Matthieu knew that he’d been right not to judge too quickly.
Had he really just told her that? What an asshole thing to say.
“My husband is quite stressed right now.” Kathryn Monsoon, the chief’s wife, pressed closer to him. She gave him a small, polite smile but there was something in her gaze that put him on edge.
She was assessing, analyzing. He felt like a bug under a microscope.
“Of course,” he said. “Understandable.”
“It will cost us quite a lot to employ you. We will need to find this person who is sending these threats quickly.”
“Right. So you don’t lose too much money protecting your daughter,” he said dryly.
“Actually, she’s my stepdaughter and, of course, money isn’t as important as her safety.”
But she’d felt the need to point out that they weren’t related.
Right.
“It’s just that she’s being very stubborn. If she would move in here it would save us a lot of money.”
He barely managed to hold his tongue.
“Please, come and meet my sons.”
“And Maya.”
“Yes, of course,” she said. “I thought that was a given.”
This woman was interesting. On the surface, she appeared to be perfect. Someone who gave her time to charity. A pillar of the community. But there seemed to be another side to her.
However, he hid his suspicions as he followed her into the room. And came to a stop as he saw the woman sitting on the sofa.
It was her.
The lavender-haired girl from yesterday. The girl who had barely been able to speak. Who’d run off from him.
For some reason he’d thought about her several times since, wondering if she was in some sort of trouble.
And here she was.
And she was definitely in trouble.
Had she been going to Callahan Security for help? Had something happened?
“I don’t need a bodyguard, Dad,” she said to her father. “I will be fine.”
“If Maya doesn’t want you to hire a bodyguard for her, I’ll take some time off and look after her,” one of the men in the room said.
Matthieu glanced over at him. He was around Maya’s age with dark hair and eyes. And a neatly trimmed moustache. He was smirking as he offered that.
And Maya actually shuddered before her head rose and she glared at the guy.
“Aww. Thanks so much. But the day I need your help, Vince, will be the day that hell freezes over.”
“Maya!” Mrs. Monsoon said. “That’s so rude! Apologize immediately!”
Was this woman for real? Why was she talking to Maya like she was a child?
Wait . . . Vince. Wasn’t that the cop that Reeves had said was harassing Maya the other day?
Matthieu took another look at him. Yeah, he could see it. The guy stunk of overconfidence and self-importance.
“It’s all right, Mrs. M,” Vince said with a slimy smile. “I’m used to Maya’s ways.”
Maya glared at him. Matthieu couldn’t believe this was the same woman that he’d seen on the steps of Callahan Security the yesterday. Then she’d barely been able to get a word out. She’d been shy and quiet.
Almost sad.
Right now she was full of sass and vinegar.
She was . . . magnificent.
Matthieu shared a look with Ink, who was frowning. Matthieu wasn’t sure what the other man was thinking.
The Police Chief stood as he saw them. “Good, good, you’re here. Come and meet Maya. Don’t mind her and Vince. They’re always like this. They’re very close.”
“We’re not . . .” Maya’s words died off as her shocked gaze hit his. “Oh shit.”
The last two words were a whisper, and her gaze immediately shifted away from him to Ink.
And that’s where it stayed.
Oh.
He did not like that. At all.
He wanted to demand that her gaze come back to him and stay on him. Matthieu had never felt possessive over a woman before.
But right now, he wanted to gather Maya close and demand that no one look at her. And that she only see him.
This could be a problem.
“Please tell me you’re my bodyguard,” she said to Ink desperately.
“Maya!” her father said, sounding shocked.
“I cannot believe how rude you are being,” Kathryn gasped. “I’m so sorry. This isn’t how she usually acts.”
“Yes, it is,” one of the other men said.
“This is always how she is, Mother,” another added. “Best they know what they’re getting into.”
“Well . . . I . . . this is . . .” Mrs. Monsoon actually stumbled over her words.
He was willing to bet that didn’t happen often.
“Actually, I’m Tracey Callahan.” Ink held out his hand to her.
Maya reached out and shook it.
Yep. There went that jealous beast. It rose up inside him, demanding to be set free.