Fearless: (McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Book 2) Read online

  I feel a headache coming on.

  It’s two-thirty now, and I’m starving since I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. I remind myself to start packing my lunch. Lia stalks into the business office, and I could faint in relief.

  She hops up onto the corner of my barren, utilitarian desk. “Hey, Princess. I like what you’ve done with the place – very industrial chic.”

  I smile at her. “I’m starving. Please feed me.”

  She grins. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  Sam and Erin walk us down to the front entrance, and I thank them both for helping me muddle through my first day.

  “You did great!” Erin says, throwing her arms around me in an impromptu hug. I hug her back, laughing at her enthusiasm. When she releases me and steps back, she has a huge smile on her face, and the corners of her light blue eyes crinkle. I think I have a new friend.

  Sam gives me a gentle fist bump. “See you tomorrow, boss.”

  “Thanks, guys. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

  “Bye, Beth!” Erin calls, giving me a little wave as I follow Lia out onto the bustling sidewalk.

  Lia talks me into walking over to Hub 51 for lunch. I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never been there. We’re both starving, so we order an appetizer – a sushi sampler platter. I have the chicken tacos, which are melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and Lia has a burger and steak fries. After we finish our meals, she orders a slice of carrot cake for us to share. Apparently, their carrot cake is to die for, and after I take my first sinfully-good bite, my sweet tooth definitely agrees. It’s so good, I actually moan.

  Lia forks a big bite of her half of the cake into her mouth and licks the cream cheese frosting from her lip. “So, what’s on the agenda for this afternoon?”

  I shrug. “I guess I’m done for the day. My primary goal was to start working at Clancy’s today, and that’s done.” I take a sip of my iced tea and check my phone to see where Shane is at present – I’m really starting to love GPS tracking. He’s right where I expected him to be – at his office.

  I wonder if I have the nerve to do something I’ve been thinking about. He did mention he had a fantasy involving me and his office. The only problem is, the one and only time I’ve been in his office is when I had a total meltdown and broke up with him after I found out my brother was paying him to protect me. When I realized he’d been deceiving me, I freaked. And just a few days later was when the incident with Andrew Morton occurred.

  There are some bad memories tied up with his office, but I can’t live in fear of visiting him there again. That’s just stupid. I need to get over this and go see him. We need to make new memories in his office – wonderful memories – because I’m sure he remembers what happened the last time I was there just as keenly as I do.

  I take a deep breath and step off that ledge. “Let’s go surprise Shane at his office.”

  “Surprise him, or surprise him?” Lia says, giving me a pointed look as she finishes off her half of the cake.

  I blush. Ever since Shane told me of his fantasy of us having sex in his office, I’ve been having one of my own. I want to show up unexpected at Shane’s office and seduce him at his desk. Maybe I could give him a blow job while he’s working.

  Of course I don’t think I could ever do something that outrageous in reality. But it’s hot to contemplate. But, maybe I could manage a little seduction. After all, he does have that apartment attached to his office. We could sneak in there for an afternoon quickie. Just the thought of that makes me tingle.

  My face heats up, and I know it must be beet red. “Yes, I want to surprise him at work.”

  Lia’s eyes widen. “Oh, my god, you’re serious! Princess is going to make a booty call!”

  She gives me this mock scandalous look, and I ball up my cloth napkin and throw it at her. But she easily bats it aside before it makes contact.

  When our server arrives with the check, Lia hands the young woman several bills. “Keep the change.” Then she grins at me as she stands. “Let’s go, Princess. This I gotta see.”

  Chapter 19

  Shane’s building isn’t that far from the center of the shopping district, so we walk, and that gives me time to plan my seduction – assuming I have the nerve to go through with it.

  When we arrive at The McIntyre Building, it’s nearly five o’clock, but I know Shane’s still here. We take the elevator up to his floor and step out into a well-appointed lobby. As the owner and CEO, he rates some pretty fancy digs. We walk through the glass doors etched with his name and title, and there is Shane’s administrative assistant, Diane, seated at her desk outside Shane’s office.

  Diane is the nurturing grandmother type. She’s soft spoken and petite, barely five feet tall, with boyishly short white hair and a softly wrinkled face. Her eyes are a pale blue, surrounded by tiny laugh lines. She adores Shane, like a grandmother adores her handsome, successful grandson.

  I haven’t really had a chance to get to know Diane very well yet. The few times I’ve seen her, she’s always been very cordial to me. But the last time she saw me here in this building was when I had my melt-down in Shane’s office. I’m sure she could hear me screaming at him, even from her desk.

  After leaving Shane’s office that day, I collapsed in the ladies’ room in a puddle of hysterical tears, and I know she witnessed Shane comforting me in the bathroom floor. I try not to contemplate what she must think of me, but Shane told me she was the first one to bring me flowers in the hospital, so she must not hate me too much.

  “Beth! Hello!” Diane cries, brightening as I approach her desk. She jumps to her feet and hurries around her desk to grab me and hold me at arm’s length to get a good look. “What a wonderful surprise! How are you? You look wonderful, dear. Are you feeling better?”

  Based on her enthusiastic welcome, I realize she’s not holding a grudge against me.

  “Hi, Diane. I’m fine, thank you.” I glance at Shane’s office door, which is closed. “Is Shane in?”

  “Yes, he is, dear.” Then she frowns. “But I’m afraid he has some people in there with him.” Diane’s voice drops to a whisper as she glances at Shane’s door, as if she’s imparting some top-secret information to us. “He’s meeting with a new client, and I take it he’s famous! I don’t know who he is, but the girls down the hall were practically squealing when he walked in.”

  “Oh.” Well, there goes my seduction plan. I guess I should have called ahead to see if he was free, but that would have ruined the surprise. “Would you tell him we stopped by?”

  “Of course, dear. Do you want to wait? I’m not sure how long they’ll be – ”

  The door to Shane’s office opens, and Shane is standing in the doorway, smiling at me. “Hello, sweetheart. What a pleasant surprise.” But he doesn’t look very surprised.

  “Did you know I was here?”

  “I knew the minute you entered the building.”

  “Well, you’re hard to surprise then. I guess I should have called ahead. I didn’t know you had a meeting.”

  Shane’s gaze flickers over to Lia, and he smiles. “Actually, I’m glad you’re here. Both of you.” He opens his door wide. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

  I glance past Shane and see two men seated in front of Shane’s desk. One of them is short and slender with a receding blond hairline, dressed in a gray pinstriped suit. The other one – oh my God! The other one glances back at us through the open doorway and smiles.

  I look at Shane. “Is that who I think it is?”

  Shane smiles, nodding. “Yes. Come say hello.”

  “What’s all the fuss?” Lia says, as she sidles up next to me. She peers through the doorway and catches a glimpse of the two men seated in Shane’s office. It’s sure not the skinny guy in the suit she’s staring at. It’s the other one. “Holy fuck,” she breathes.

  My thoughts exactly.

  Shane grins. “Come inside, ladies.”

  It’s not unusual to see celebrities in Chicago – after all, it’s a pretty sizable city. It’s not Manhattan or L.A., but it will do. Right now I’m looking at a very familiar face – and body – seated in front of Shane’s desk. I saw this guy on television recently when he hosted one of the big music award shows on cable. Jonah Locke is the lead singer of the four-member rock band known simply as Locke. They’re a relatively new band on the scene, but since their debut hit single, they’ve been dominating the charts and the radio airwaves.

  My first thought is that he’s even hotter in person than he appears on television – if that’s even possible. I try not to gawk, but it’s hard. He’s... gorgeous.

  As Shane ushers us into his office, Jonah rises to his feet. He’s about Shane’s height – six-two – and he looks to be in his late twenties. His hair is the color of dark chocolate with rich, burnished highlights. It’s long, and right now, he’s got it pulled back into a messy man-bun. His beard is the same rich color as the rest of his hair, trimmed close to his chiseled face. His eyes are dark, his brows dark slashes against a tanned complexion. The guy’s just stunning.

  He’s wearing a pair of worn, ripped jeans and a faded gray graphic t-shirt that lovingly hugs his muscles. Both arms are covered to his wrists in intricate, black tattoos. I think those are Celtic knots. And he’s smiling expectantly at me and Lia, patiently waiting to be introduced.

  I risk a glance at Lia, who’s being uncharacteristically quiet all of a sudden. She looks shell-shocked, and that has to be a first for her. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lia speechless.

  Jonah’s companion stands, too, clutching a leather portfolio in his arms. He’s a slight man, much shorter than Jonah, and probably in his mid-40s. He has a pale complexion and not much left of his thinning blond hair. His suit is ill-fitting, and he seems antsy, fidgeting on his feet as if there’s somewhere else he needs to be.

  Shane shuts the door behind us. “Gentlemen, this is my girlfriend, Beth Jamison. And this is Lia McIntyre. She’s one of our undercover bodyguards – and my sister.”

  “Ladies, it’s a pleasure,” Jonah says, his voice deep and resonant. He talks just like he sings. When he sings, females swoon. Probably some men do, too.

  There’s a flash of heat in Jonah’s dark eyes as his gaze lights on Lia. The man is intense, and he’s staring at Lia like he’s a hungry man and she’s his next meal. I sneak another glance at her, and now she’s looking anywhere except at Jonah.

  “Ladies, this is Jonah Locke and his manager, Dave Peterson. Jonah’s in town for a few months to write and record a new album. And, he’s our newest client.”

  “Hello,” I say, feeling a little tongue-tied. I clear my throat, trying not to sound like a total fan girl – because who doesn’t love this band? I’ve got all their hits in my favorite rock playlist.

  I notice Shane fighting a grin as he looks at me.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Locke,” I say, managing a cool, polite tone. “Mr. Peterson.”

  Jonah smiles back and, surprisingly, it looks like a genuine smile. So many big-name celebrities have egos a mile wide, but this guy seems like... just a regular guy. “It’s a pleasure, Beth. Call me Jonah, please.”

  “Hello, Lia,” Jonah says, turning his gaze to Shane’s sister.

  Lia glances at him and nods her head dismissively, saying nothing. Where is the snarky comment, I wonder.

  “Jonah, we’d better get going,” the manager says, checking his wrist watch – a huge diamond-encrusted Rolex. “We have to be at the recording studio at six to meet the leasing agent.”

  Jonah nods, sparing just a quick glance at his manager. He steps forward and shakes Shane’s hand. “Thanks, Shane. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Shane nods. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Jonah smiles at me and then once more at Lia. “Ladies.” I feel the reverberation of his deep voice all the way down to my toes. I sneak another peek at Lia, and I swear she looks flushed.

  Lia and I watch, fascinated, as Jonah and his manager walk past us and out the door.

  As soon as Shane closes his door, Lia finds her voice. “Holy fuck.”

  I can’t help laughing – she pretty much hit the nail on the head. “No kidding.”

  Shane grins at his sister. “Jonah’s relocating to Chicago for a while because he’s had some stalker issues back in L.A. It’s too soon to know if the problem will follow him here. He’s going to keep a low media profile while he’s here, and we’re providing him close personal protection while he’s in town, just as a precaution.”

  Lia shakes her head. “That man is sex on a stick.” She looks at Shane. “So, who’s the lucky stiff who gets to guard that fine ass?”

  Shane smiles enigmatically as he studies his sister. “I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

  “Damn.” Lia shakes her head as she turns and walks out the door, muttering to herself.

  When Lia’s out of sight, I shut and lock Shane’s office door. “I’ve never seen Lia act like that. She seemed almost... I don’t know, nervous or something.”

  “Yes, that was interesting, to say the least.”

  Shane looks edible in his trademark charcoal gray suit and white shirt. He’s not wearing a tie, though, and the top two buttons of his shirt are undone, showing a little bit of tanned throat and a smidgen of dark chest hair – and that just makes him look a little bit rakish and a whole lot sexy. His blue eyes look bright and amused.

  “What are you smiling about?” I say as I walk toward him.

  He props his hands on his hips and eyes me with a good measure of curiosity. When I reach him, I slip my hands inside his jacket and smooth his shirt over his chest. He’s fighting a grin, as if he’s already in on the game. Am I that obvious?

  “I’m smiling because you look like trouble,” he says, pulling me into his arms. “What can I do for you, Miss Jamison?”

  I take a deep breath, determined to go through with this. “It’s not about what you can do for me.”

  He arches a brow. “Oh, really?”

  I nod, running my hands slowly up his chest to his shoulders, and when I squeeze his shoulder muscles, he groans, and that makes me smile. Maybe this won’t be so hard after all.

  I gaze into those beautiful eyes of his. “Are you done for the day?”

  “I certainly can be.”

  “Good. Then we won’t be interrupted.”

  “Well, that I can’t promise. What did you have in mind?”

  Reassuring myself that I’d already locked the door to his office, I channel my inner seductress and slowly release the next two buttons of his shirt. I spread the material wide, exposing a good deal of his firm chest to my appreciative gaze.

  I lean forward and lick one of his tiny, flat nipples, my tongue catching on the firm little tip. His big body tenses as a shudder rips through him, and he groans, his voice loud in the quiet hush of his office. How unprofessional of him. Inwardly I chuckle.

  His hands come up to grip my arms, not to push me away, but to pull me closer. I smile. I’ve dreamed about doing this so many times, and now I have him right where I want him. The knowledge is heady, and when I flick my fingernail lightly over the nipple I just licked, his body jerks.

  I push his jacket off his shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Then my hands return to his remaining buttons, and I start slowly releasing them. His gaze is glued to my fingers.

  “I just thought you could use a little relaxation,” I say. “I’m sure you’ve had a long day, what with hobnobbing with rock stars and electronically stalking your girlfriend.”

  “And you think undressing me in my office will relax me? Think again.”

  His shirt is completely unbuttoned now, so I push it off his broad shoulders and it slips to the floor to join his jacket. The view of Shane’s bare chest – his chiseled muscles and well-defined abs – is mouthwatering. My eyes follow the path of his chest hair as it converges into a dark happy trail that leads beneath his belt buckle. I lean into him, pleased to feel the hard ridge of his erection through his slacks.

  I put my mouth on his chest and kiss him from his sternum down to his belly button, moving slowly, mixing sensuous kisses with a little bit of licking and sucking and tasting. His entire body is thrumming now with barely restrained energy.

  Since Shane has a corner office, there are two walls of windows overlooking busy N. Michigan Avenue and the cross street. We’re on the twentieth floor, so no one can really see into his office unless they’re in the building directly across from this one and holding a pair of binoculars. But still, there’s an air of exhibitionism going on. As I run my fingers along the outline of his erection, his gaze darkens and his eyes narrow with a sudden ferocity.

  There’s no going back now.

  “Is this for me?” I say, stroking his erection through his clothing. I swear he grows even harder, longer right before my eyes.

  “You know it is.” His hands slide up to cradle my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks, and he leans down to kiss me, pressing his warm lips gently against mine. He makes a noise deep in his chest and then his kiss grows firmer as his lips nudge mine open.

  Out of the blue, I have a flashback to the last time I was in his office. I remember screaming at him at the top of my lungs. I remember the agony of feeling betrayed. I start shaking, and Shane pulls back, still holding my face in his hands. “What’s wrong?”

  My eyes shoot over to the door that leads to his apartment, and then he knows. I can tell by the sudden change in his demeanor.

  “Beth.” He pulls me against his chest and holds me close, his warm hand stroking my back. “It’s all right.”

  But I can’t stop thinking about it. The last time I was here was the morning my life unraveled before my eyes. I was devastated. I felt so betrayed and utterly gutted.

  It all comes back to me now, like a film reel playing in my head. I remember yelling at him here in this office with my then-bodyguard, Miguel Rodriquez, looking on. When Gabrielle told me the truth that morning – that my new boyfriend had in fact been paid to protect me – I stormed out of the townhouse and confronted Miguel in his car parked out in the street. I demanded to be taken to Shane, and I had it out with him right here in his office.

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