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“You got it. Now go,” he said, giving her backside a healthy swat.
“Ow,” she exclaimed as she jumped, “that hurt.”
“Hope it’s sore all day,” he said, winking at her.
She rolled her eyes. “I love you, you pervert.”
“I love you, too, Mrs. Preston-Fletcher,” Derrick said, his wide grin displaying his dimples.
And with that Taylor left, because those dimples, well they had just incinerated her panties.
* * *
Mick and Ianwere waiting by the Range Rover to take Taylor to the office. “Where’s Henry?” Taylor asked as she climbed in.
“He had some behind the scenes work to do, Taylor,” Mick said cryptically.
“Ah,” Taylor said nodding. “Gotcha. Okay, well let’s head out then.”
They drove in silence and Taylor watched as they turned and exited, and she realized she had never actually driven to Preston Corp. In fact, she had not driven in years, and back then it had only been in the large Preston Manor driveway. She promised herself that when all this hysteria was behind them she would drive again, because maybe there would be a time she could leave her home without a security team.
A girl could dream at least.
As they arrived at Preston Corp, Taylor spied a small cluster of paparazzi who went insane at the sight of their tinted-windowed SUV. She watched as they bumped into each other and dropped their drinks trying to get out their cameras and phones.
“Looks like you will be world news tonight, Taylor,” Mick joked.
Taylor laughed, both because he was right and because she noticed the guys were much more relaxed without Henry nearby. “It would seem that way,” she agreed with a smile.
They pulled into the underground garage of Preston Corp and over to the private parking area for Taylor. She waited in the back, as she had been trained, until the two men surrounded her door and opened it for her.
Taylor exited the vehicle and was walking behind it when a loud bang echoed around the garage. Taylor was shoved behind the two huge men and pressed against the back of the SUV. Mick and Ian had guns drawn and pointed at the sound.
“It’s just me, just me!” a familiar voice shrieked and Taylor realized it was Charlie who had burst through the door to the garage area, effectively scaring the shit out of everyone. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting Taylor today.”
“It’s okay, guys,” Taylor said, and released a breath. She became rapidly aware of how scared she had been, and could feel herself shaking as the adrenaline waned from her body. She swallowed hard and took a calming breath. “Hello, Charlie,” she said in a voice that was steadier than she currently felt.
Charlie smiled broadly at her. “Hello Taylor, so good to have you back,” he said, embracing Taylor.
“I thought it was time,” Taylor lied as she led the way into the building.
Charlie rambled constantly the entire way up the elevator to the floor where Taylor’s office was housed. “The financial meeting we were going to Skype you in for is happening in twenty minutes, Taylor,” he announced as they arrived at Taylor’s office door, “so I will leave you to catch up.” Charlie opened the door for her.
“Thanks, Charlie,” she said as she made her way through.
“Taylor,” Charlie called in after her, and Taylor turned to look at the older man. “So good to have you back home,” he smiled and shut the door.
This was home, she realized, and Derrick was right. It did feel good to be back in a routine.
Taylor sat at her enormous and ornate desk, the one that used to be her grandfather’s, and heaved out a breath. She had just booted up her desktop and pulled up the financial reports for a final refresher when her door blew open, and Todd barreled through.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded.
The ease Taylor felt at having any sense of normalcy disappeared and her jaw tensed at Todd’s words. “Close the door,” she ordered, narrowing her eyes.
Todd did as instructed but irritation at being told what to do radiated off of him. “What—”
Taylor shot to her feet. “Do not come into this office and try to boss me around,” Taylor stated sharply to the stone-faced man before her.