Chapter 2

Emma

Another Monday. The start of another week buried in work at Dad’s office. If I wasn’t here to keep things in order, the bills would never get paid. The customers would never get called back. Hell, Dad and Matt would probably forget to eat and sleep. Maybe even breathe.

Still, I loved my boys and my job. Even if it, and they, dominated my life to an extent that left room for little else (like a love life, for instance), I didn’t think I’d be happy anywhere else.

And who knew? Maybe that was all about to change. My eyes on the glass doors, I watched as an incredibly handsome man walked into the office. He was gorgeous, with the body of a Greek god and a face that could be plastered across magazines. What was he doing in Shadow Security?

He had dark hair, cut short, with a mustache and just the right amount of stubble so that I knew it would tickle my skin when he kissed me. Kissed me? Boy, I’ve got it bad already.

Brown eyes that had a depth I hadn’t often seen stared at me, perched in tan skin. His features were strong, and so was his muscular body. I always hesitated to give men a perfect 10, but this guy looked like an 11 if I ever saw one. So who was he?

A fancy new client? A male model with a psycho female stalker? I really couldn’t blame a girl for going over the edge for a guy like this. Or maybe he was a rich heir to an empire who needed security for his black-tie event. I doubted it. This guy looked buff enough to take on an entire army of thugs himself.

I recalled my sense of professionalism just as he reached my desk. I greeted him, asking how I could help. In reply, he just stared at me.

I wondered for a moment if maybe I had something in my teeth. The silence stretched out between us. “Hello?” I asked, my voice coming out in a croak that I hoped he didn’t notice.

The god’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. I traced the angles of his face with my eyes, thinking that he didn’t need to be able to talk. A man that looked that good could exist on his appearance alone.

Then it hit me. I knew this guy.

And then he spoke.

“Jack Walsh,” he said, his voice a deep rumble that did strange things to my insides. “I’m starting today.

Starting what? I wondered. Starting your starring role in my naughty daydreams?

He thrust out a hand towards me and I stared at it for a moment like an idiot. What was Jack Walsh doing here?

When I took his hand, a tingle of electricity tap-danced up my arm and into my chest. “You’re home,” I said, unable to think of anything else. Then I realized he probably didn’t remember me. I’d only been 15 when he and Matt had shipped out.

“I’m Matt’s sister, by the way,” I blurted out, hoping he couldn’t see the heat rushing to my cheeks.

“I remember you, Emma,” he said, his voice low.

He remembered me! Why did that make a thrill run through me?

I pulled myself together long enough to remember my job there. I showed him into the office, pointing out the reception desk where I worked, the printer and fax machine, the water cooler, and every other inane piece of office furniture on the way to the conference room. I knew I sounded like a blathering idiot but for some reason I couldn’t help myself.

We entered the conference room and I asked him to have a seat. He did, and we locked eyes again. I felt like I couldn't catch my breath, so I pasted on a smile and said, "My father will join you soon." Then I turned tail, silently berating myself for letting a handsome face affect me. It had really been too long since I'd been on a date.

I hurried towards Dad's office, wondering why I was the last to know that Jack was joining the team. Before I reached it, I saw Matt in the break room so I veered off course, making a beeline for my brother.

"Hey," I said, elbowing him hard and making him awkwardly swallow the gulp of coffee he'd been taking. "Guess who's in the conference room?"
"Someone with sharper elbows?" he wheezed.

"No." My eye roll served as punctuation.

"Right. Because that person doesn't exist." He rubbed his stomach, an offended look in his face. "That hurt, Em."

"Yeah right." My brother was six foot five and a wall of pure muscle. "I was lucky I didn't break my arm against your abs."

Matt smiled his crooked smile. "Jealous? You could hit the gym every once in a while, Sis."

I frowned, then changed the subject. "Back to the conference room and who's in it."

"Jack's here, then?"

His deadpan did not impress me. "Yes. Jack Walsh. Your best friend. And our new hire."

Matt nodded, then shoved his head into the fridge. His stomach was an endless pit, and he spent most of the day trying to fill it. When he wasn't working out, that was.

"So what's he doing here? He left Delta Force with you?"

"Couldn't live without me," he replied from inside the fridge.

My brother, the comedian. Jack didn't look like the type of bro who needed to hold hands with his best friend. "Why didn't Dad tell me he was hiring Jack?"

Matt straightened, his hands full of what would become his breakfast. He shrugged, then set about assembling his mountain of food.

I groaned, realizing that I was getting nowhere. Coming out of the break room, I headed towards Dad's office. Then I heard his voice from across the office. He was walking into the conference room, two cups of coffee from the shop down the block steaming in his hands.

Shit. I'd missed my chance to ask him about Jack. As I watched, he handed a cup to Jack, then patted him on the back, a warm smile on Dad's face.

I shook my head and walked back to my desk. I had all day to yell at my father for his momentary lapse in memory. There was no reason I could think of for him to keep the information from me, so he must have just forgotten to tell me.

Well, there was one reason, but it was extremely unlikely.

My dad and brother watched over me like a hawk where guys were concerned. No one was good enough for me, according to them at least. As two hulking military types, they didn't hesitate to strike fear into the hearts of those brave enough to ask me out. It didn't take long for any of the guys I liked to find easier targets.

Could Dad be worried that something might happen between me and Jack? Besides being patently ridiculous--I mean, a guy like that could have any girl he wanted--any relationship between us would violate bro code and skirt the boundary of taboo. Jack was my brother's best friend, after all, and now he was an employee of Shadow Security.

Meaning that I was the boss's daughter.

That meant I was doubly off-limits.

I tried to focus on the stack of invoices in front of me but the numbers didn't make sense as I turned over the issue in my brain. Me and Jack. It would never happen.

But if it did... I exhaled heavily, sneaking a glance over my shoulder at the glass walls of the conference room. He's so fucking hot.

I shook my head. It wasn't going to happen, no matter how hot he was. Better to get over such thoughts now.

The phone rang and I grabbed it, glad for the distraction from my distraction. "Shadow Security. How may I assist you?"

"Gimme Smith."

I frowned, recognizing the voice. I should recognize it, since I'd heard it often enough. Dexter Jansen called at least three times a day, sometimes as many as a dozen. He was our newest client and current pain in my ass.

"I'm sorry. Mr. Smith is in a meeting. May I take a message?"

"You know who this is?" His voice was gruff.

"Yes. Mr. Jansen."
"Get your boss on the phone, sweetheart."

I held back a sigh, gritting my teeth. "I'll be sure to tell him you called, and I'm certain he will call you back right after the meeting."

"Don't fucking hang up," he growled. "I want to speak to your boss, right now. So get him on the line."

"He's in a mee--"

"I don't care if he's on the fucking can. Get him."
I stood up, taking the cordless phone from my ear and stomping towards the conference room. There was no dealing with Jansen. He didn't respect women, or subordinates. Probably both. Besides, putting him in his place was above my pay grade. Let Dad deal with his bullshit.

The conference room was empty, but the door to the safe was open. I headed towards the safe, covering the microphone on the handset as I approached my father. Walking into the safe, I discovered two ex-military men delighting over the racks of firearms like a group of ladies who lunch at a designer handbag sale.

Just another ordinary day at work. Welcome to my life.