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Nathalie gave a defeated sigh. “What does this threat assessment entail? I’ve got a project deadline to meet.”
“I’ll need to know everything there is to know about you and your company over the next few days, so I can recommend what steps to take to keep both you and your technology safe.” Ryder paused. Arched one haughty brow. “That’s not going to be a problem, is it?”
Of course it’s going to be a problem.
For her, at least.
But not for him, it seemed. Whatever feelings he once had for her were gone.
It was what she had wanted, wasn’t it? For him to move on with his life? Her gaze fell to his left hand. No ring—not that it meant anything nowadays. He could be happily married with three kids.
She swallowed past the sudden tightness in her throat. “No problem. It’s only for this week, right?”
He nodded. “Give me a couple of days to do the assessment and make my recommendations. Then you can decide what you wish to do. If you accept protection from Dìleas, I’ll assign my agent, Caleb Varella, to you.”
He’d hand her off to his employee and return to his life. She’d probably never see him again. The lump in her throat spread to her lungs, pressing on them. Her fingers crept up to the gold hoop in her ear.
“You still play with your earrings when you’re anxious.”
She dropped her hand, her cheeks heating. He still knew her tells. She’d have to be careful around him.
Locking away her feelings, she focused on the man standing before her. He’d changed so much he might as well be a stranger. “You can start tomorrow. We’ll say you’re part of the security audit. My employees don’t need to know there are concerns about my personal safety.”
Ryder had survived without her. Thrived even, although she didn’t understand the path he’d chosen. Maybe this was an opportunity to banish her memories of the old Ryder and rid herself of the guilt that was inked beneath her skin like an ill-advised tattoo.
“I start now.” Ryder held up his forearm to glance at the silver Rolex strapped to his wrist. “I’ll escort you home. From this moment on, you don’t go anywhere without me.”
Wait.Not only had her former lover reappeared in her life out of the blue, but she’d be forced to spend all her waking moments in his presence?
“My home is my sanctuary, and I won’t have it disturbed.” The words left her mouth like a blast from a pellet gun, peppering the room with her panic. “You won’t be sharing my, uh, personal space.” Her face caught fire. She’d almost said bed. No way could she handle having Ryder in her home.
He stepped closer, put his hands square in the middle of her desk, and leaned across it. Close enough that she could smell his aftershave—leather, bergamot, and spice. The woodsy, citrus scent differed from the one she’d picked out for him in college and hinted at a strain of ruggedness beneath his refined persona.
“I will be at your home, either inside with you or sitting outside. Your choice.” His blue eyes, aloof and filled with resolve, held her captive.
Her eyes widened, then narrowed. The Ryder she’d known at Oxford would never have spoken to her like this. She should put him in his place. After all, she was the client.
Too bad a traitorous flush of desire arrowed to her core and made her thighs clench instead.
“I’ll be in the lobby making phone calls. Let me know when you’re ready to leave.” He strode from her office, taking the oxygen in the room with him.
Nathalie’s breath sailed out in a whoosh. Talk about having a grenade dropped into the middle of what had been a perfectly normal day.
Ryder was back in her life, older, harder, and colder.
Yet a part of her still ached for the sweet, shy boy she’d loved.
Her lips firmed. His presence was a temporary disruption. She needed to focus on her upcoming briefing to the military. He’d be out of her life soon.
Again.
Ryder followed the hallway back to the seating area in the lobby. Most of the offices he passed were dark. The receptionist’s desk sat empty. He took a seat on the couch.
Digging out his mobile, he rang up Lachlan. “Caleb couldn’t get away from the Mexico job early. I’m handling the initial threat assessment and if Ms. Williams accepts my recommendations, I’ll bring in Caleb as the lead agent.” He told Lachlan about the cybersecurity breach.
“Have you arranged for Nathan to be on site?”
“I sent him a text and will follow up as soon as we finish speaking.”