Grayson’s initial thought when he first laid eyes on Claire Parker was that her picture hadn’t done her justice. She was even more stunning in person, with long auburn hair a man could bury his hands in and an innocent heart-shaped face. When she’d looked up at him from the car with those big brown eyes, his breath had caught.

No need to go there, buddy. A debutante like her would never be interested in a nobody like you.

The expensive diamond bracelet she was wearing on her slim wrist simply proved she was out of his league. Those gems were real; he’d bet a month’s pay on it. Hell, his government salary wouldn’t even touch the cost of a piece of jewelry like that.

But do debutantes normally hug the help?

Back in the park, Grayson had noticed when Claire had hugged her father’s driver, not once but twice. The affection between them had seemed genuine, which didn’t mesh with what he knew about how the rich and famous treated their employees.

Is she for real? A normal person?

For a second, Grayson wondered how it would feel if Claire hugged him like that—her tall, slim body pressed against his. He could imagine enjoying that light, clean scent of hers that he’d noticed in the car, filling his senses as he lowered his face closer to that silky copper-streaked hair, inhaling deeply. But his body’s natural reaction slammed him back to reality, making him shut his thoughts down.

Annoyed at himself for letting his thoughts drift, especially in that crazy direction, he surveyed the street for suspicious vehicles. An SUV approached and he watched it idly, pegging it as a Ford, then he returned his gaze to the convenience store after it passed by.

What was taking her so long? Claire should be back by now.

Jeremy, who was topping off the Suburban’s gas tank, seemed to be having the same thought. He stood looking toward the convenience store with a frown on his face.

Grayson swore hard as he released his seat belt and threw open his car door.

“Think she ran?” Jeremy called out.

“Shit!” Grayson burst inside the building, skidding to a stop as he scanned the store before glaring at the older man behind the counter. “Where’s the girl? She came in to use the restroom.”

The man looked toward the back of the store and frowned. “I saw her, but she hasn’t come back. Must’ve gone out the rear.”

Cursing under his breath, Grayson ran to the back of the store and checked the women’s room to be sure. When he found it empty, he pounded the restroom door.

“Damn it!”

Barreling through the store’s back door, he exited onto a small strip of asphalt that bordered a wooded area. As he scanned the woods, he could just make out a flash of Claire’s light-colored blazer in the trees, moving away from him quicker than he’d think a woman in high heels could run. She was at least a hundred yards ahead of him as he darted into the forest, weaving around low brush and slapping away limbs as he raced toward her.

A minute later, he’d nearly caught up with her. “Stop running, Claire!”

She darted a glance over her shoulder. But instead of slowing like he expected, the damn woman sped up.

He pumped his arms and lengthened his stride, eating up the distance between them. When her lead shrank to a few feet, Grayson tackled her and rolled her over, pinning her wrists to the ground as he used his size and weight to subdue her.

“Get off me! Get off!” She struggled, throwing her weight from side to side as she tried to buck him off her.

Embarrassed by his body’s natural reaction to having a woman’s soft body beneath him, Grayson moved off her squirming form and was about to apologize when Claire flipped over and scrambled to her feet, surprising him by taking off for a second time.

“Hey!”

This time he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her stomach and held her close as she struggled hard, kicking back her feet and catching his shin with one deadly high heel.

“Ow!” He tightened his grip on her. “Why are you fighting me?”

“You’re not an agent! You’re lying to me!”

The words jolted Grayson. She was afraid of him; that’s why she’d run. “Calm down. I’m exactly who I say I am. If you’ll give me a chance, I can prove it.”

Since it seemed like she was finally going to remain in place, he let go of her and glared at her designer heels as he reached down to rub his shin. The one time she’d connected had hurt more than he’d expected it to. “I’m only trying to keep you safe.”

Tension and fear radiated from her as she stared at him, but there was no time for reassurances. They could easily be found here; Claire’s phone had only been turned off a short time ago. Her would-be kidnappers could be in the area, searching for her.

“We need to get out of here.” He reached for her elbow but she pulled away and glared at him, although her hands trembled at her sides.

“No way. Prove who you are!”

Realizing he was fighting a losing battle, Grayson snatched his phone from his pocket and thrust it at her. “Dial four-one-one and have Information connect you to the Phoenix Task Force in DC. Ask for Joanne; she’s our admin. She’ll tell you who I am. But for God’s sake, hurry.”

Her doubt written all over her face, Claire did as he asked. Within thirty seconds, she had the confirmation she needed and didn’t meet his eyes as she handed back his phone.

“Happy now?”

Staring at the ground, she nodded.

As he grasped her elbow firmly, Grayson steered Claire back toward the gas station, trying not to feel bad about the dirt stains on the rear of her expensive slacks and jacket. If she’d only listened to him, though, he wouldn’t have had to tackle her.

Damn stubborn woman . . .

Jeremy had come through the convenience store and was waiting for them at the edge of the woods. “Everything all right?” His worried gaze shifted from Grayson to Claire.

“Everything’s fine.” Grayson tossed him the keys. “You drive. I’ll keep Miss Parker company in the back.”

They hadn’t even gotten into the Suburban before she stopped short and said, “I can’t go anywhere until my family knows where I am.”

Grayson closed his eyes and did his best to summon more patience. It was like drawing water from a dry well. “You said they couldn’t be reached.”

“Then I need to call my father’s chief of staff.”

“Fine.” He yanked his phone from his pocket—again—and handed it to Claire.

“But I don’t have his number. I need my phone.”

Grayson huffed out a frustrated breath as he fished her phone from his pocket and set the battery pack inside. Once she’d retrieved the number, he removed the battery again and stuck it and the phone back in his pocket.

“Peter!” Claire spoke quickly once she reached him on Grayson’s phone, explaining what was going on. She was silent for a few seconds as she listened before saying, “Yes. With a unit called Phoenix.”

She handed the phone to Grayson. “He wants to speak with you.”

As Grayson set the phone against his ear, an angry voice boomed, “This is Peter Cooley, Senator Parker’s chief of staff. What the hell is going on?”

Grayson identified himself and gave the man a rundown very similar to the one Claire had relayed. When he’d finished, Peter demanded, “I need to know exactly where you’re taking her.”

“I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t tell you that.”

“Then I’ll need the name of your supervisor.”

Clenching his teeth at the man’s rude tone, Grayson rattled off Eli’s name and number.

“Nice guy,” Grayson muttered once he’d ended the call.

Claire gave him a sheepish look. “We need to stop at my place now.”

“What?”

“I need to get my dog.”

She no longer looked scared. If anything, she looked embarrassed. And she should be. His leg was still throbbing where she’d kicked him.

“I’m here to worry about you, not a dog.”

In a move he’d thought only a three-year-old could pull off, Claire folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not going anywhere without my dog.”

Exasperated, Grayson shook his head in disbelief. What is with this woman? Doesn’t she get the danger she’s in?

“Who cares if we die as long as the dog’s okay,” he said sarcastically as he glared back at her. “Do I have it right?”

Claire drew in a sharp breath through her nose and clamped her mouth shut.

Dropping his chin forward, he rubbed the back of his neck as he thought, trying to summon patience. “Who was taking care of your dog while you were gone?”

“My dog sitter. She should have dropped him off at my place by now.”

Grayson’s head snapped up. “Then let her keep taking care of him.”

“How can she if I can’t communicate with her?” Claire’s voice rose, sounding shrill. “Please take me home. If you don’t, this really is a kidnapping.”

Jeremy caught his eye. “Let’s get the dog, Gray. Metro has been keeping an eye on her place since we left, so it should be fine.”

He met his partner’s gaze and grimaced. Jeremy might still have patience with this debutante, but he hadn’t been the one who’d had to chase after Claire.

Grayson threw his hands in the air. “Fine. We’ll go back for the damn dog.”