Page 5 of Defending Love

Chapter Four

Eli

D r. Danielle Sinclair was even more beautiful than I remembered.

When her tear-filled, navy-blue stare met mine at the gravesite, it took all my self-control to remain professional.

My body yearned to step forward, wrap her in my arms, shield her from the pain of losing her father, and warm her from the cool autumn temperatures.

There was more in her eyes than sadness.

This attack on her father was an attack on her family and their family business.

It was an attack on all the Sinclairs.

When Ben called, I was finishing up an assignment out of the country.

As a rule, I shied away from guarding celebrities.

The publicity, the frenzied fans, and the entitled attitudes weren’t qualities I found conducive to the job.

My last assignment wasn’t supposed to be like that.

She was a bestselling author on a book tour.

Her book had only recently been released, but almost instantaneously, it blew up.

Mobs of readers lined sidewalks around bookstores for hours.

Unsuspecting stores turned into something akin to a rock concert.

In my opinion, the tour couldn’t end soon enough.

The only positive about the assignment was that the author herself wasn’t an entitled diva. On the contrary, she was an introvert. Convincing her to stay in her hotel room with only her PR staff wasn’t difficult. She preferred the solitude to sightseeing or making unplanned appearances.

Dr. Sinclair stepped from the limousine, her shapely legs coming into view.

My gaze moved upward as the black skirt of her dress fluttered in the breeze.

Golden streaks shimmered in her light brown hair that was now pulled back into a low ponytail.

While I was haunted by her stunning blue eyes at the cemetery, currently they were obscured by her sunglasses.

“I’ll call you once Dr. Sinclair is settled,” I said to Larry Floyd, the point on this assignment.

Larry nodded. “I was surprised you said yes to Ben’s request.”

His comment caused my skin to tighten. Taking on the same assignment for a second time wasn’t my usual.

Larry continued, “I’ve never known you to repeat an assignment.”

“I guess I surprised everyone.” Even me.

Larry was correct. When it came to assignments, I was known for not forming attachments. Connections muddied the already-murky water. I’d made that mistake at the other end of this business. My hardened heart forbade me from repeating it.

However, the sight of Danielle crying near her father’s grave solidified my resolve that returning to Dr. Sinclair was the right decision.

The confident, sexual woman I’d met over a year ago—the chemist, the researcher, the eloquently spoken businesswoman with knowledge beyond my comprehension, and the woman that heated my blood—was buried beneath her grief and fear.

The fire within her wasn’t gone. It couldn’t be. That heat was too fierce to disappear. It was simply dimmed. This emotional state was not where I would or could leave her.

I stepped forward, meeting Dr. Sinclair on the sidewalk.

“Eli.”

My hand twitched, wanting to reach out to her. Instead, I remained stoic. “Dr. Sinclair.”

She looked around the sidewalk, as if hesitating to say what was on her mind. Finally, with a shrug, she said, “I guess you know the way.”

With a nod, I walked at her side through the glass doors.

With each step toward the elevator, I scanned the large first-level entrance.

There was a coffee shop on the right with customers paying no attention to those walking by.

The glass door of the boutique on the left was closed.

Up ahead was a restaurant bustling with lunch patrons.

We turned into the hallway with the bank of elevators.

After pushing the button, Dr. Sinclair stood back, staring at the door in front of her as the numbers on the display lowered. The riders disembarked, leaving the elevator car empty.

It wasn’t until we stepped inside and the doors closed that I spoke. “I talked to Melinda.”

The elevator began to rise, and Danielle nodded. “I didn’t know she was being replaced.”

There was a distinct chill to her tone.

“I would have come sooner, but I was on assignment.”

“It’s your job, Eli. I get that.” She turned toward me, her damn eyes still covered with the dark sunglasses. “Why come back here? To me?”

Because I couldn’t stay away.

That wasn’t my answer. I shook my head. “Because ever since I heard about your father, I’ve been concerned. This isn’t like last time, Doctor. Last time your brother was overreacting or maybe it was a power move to show the other Mr. Sinclair what he could do to keep his loved ones safe.”

She didn’t respond. Instead, Danielle sniffled and ran the top of her hand below her nose. The doors opened to the familiar hallway.

I kept in step with her. “There is a real possibility of present danger.”

With a stiff chin, she nodded as she continued walking toward the door to her condominium. As she reached for the keypad, I stopped her.

“I’ve changed your code.”

Danielle took a step back, inhaled sharply, and stared incredulously at me. “Without consulting me?”

“Melinda and I discussed it.” I entered the code. “The fewer people who know, the better.”

“Maybe I could be included on that list?”

“You will be.” After entering the new code, I tipped my chin and looked up and down the empty hallway. “Stay here a moment, Doctor. I’ll do a sweep.”

“My name is Dani. I think we’ve passed the formality.”

A punch to the gut.

We had passed that formality. That was my mistake.

When I didn’t respond, she pressed her lips together and tilted her head toward the open door. “How could anyone be inside there? You’re the only one who knows the code.”

Leave no stone unturned.

“Please wait a moment.” Removing my gun from my side holster, I entered the condominium. The security upgrade we did last year had been cutting edge, but technology has improved quickly. I would make a few adjustments to bring it up to speed.

The large floor-to-ceiling windows filled the front room and kitchen with sunlight. A smile threatened to curl my lips at the sight of the gray walls, white trim, and stylish furniture. Everything about this home reflected Dani Sinclair’s style and need for control.

The immaculate kitchen glistened from the stainless-steel appliances to the granite countertops. Down the first hallway, I checked the bathroom, laundry room, second bedroom, and office.

The small office was the only room that wasn’t spotless.

Her desk had stacks of notes and there was a coffee cup to the side of the monitors.

Back through the living room, I entered the primary bedroom.

Her bed was meticulously made, even the throw pillows were in place.

Inside her attached bathroom, every towel was hanging as if it were a hotel on check-in day.

“Come in,” I called as I again neared the door to the hallway.

With an exaggerated huff, she entered.

I closed the door and set the lock.

Dani laid her purse on the counter, kicked off her high-heeled shoes, and picked them up.

“I’m exhausted. I’m going to take a shower and lie down for a little while.

I have work to do here. If I’m really your assignment, tomorrow we’re headed to the Villages.

I know the routine. You can book our flight and two hotel rooms.”

“Why won’t you take the company plane?”

“Because it’s extravagant to take the plane when it’s only two people.”

“Traveling commercial?” I said with a questioning tone. “If the suspect is halfway decent at hacking, he’s probably watching for your or Mr. Sinclair’s name to pop up on a manifest headed for Florida, knowing you’ll be checking in on your mother.”

“Then he’d also have someone watching private airports for the Sinclair plane.”

“Statistically, there’s a better chance of him being a lone wolf. Those are also historically more difficult to find.”

Dani removed her sunglasses and laid them next to her purse. When she turned my direction, I saw the redness and puffiness in and around her eyes.

“I know I look like shit. My head is throbbing.”

She was wrong. Danielle Sinclair was still staggeringly beautiful even with her defenses down. “Follow through with your plan.” I lifted my palm toward her. “I need to assess your phone and access the computer in your home office.”

“Melinda already did that.”

“Dani,” I said, forgoing the formality, “you are my assignment, now my responsibility. I trust Melinda as much as I do any of the members of Guardian Security, but when it’s my job, I do it my way.”

She went to her purse and pulled out her phone. “Fine,” she said, handing it to me. “Do you need the passcode, or have you changed that too?”

“I haven’t yet.”

She shook her head as she turned toward her bedroom. There was an unusual slump to her shoulders and posture. For a few brief seconds when she first spoke on the sidewalk and again when she learned I’d changed her security code, the sassy, strong woman was back.

“Dani?”

She turned around and faced me.

For a split second, I focused on her lips, remembering the hunger in her kiss.

I blinked and saw her gaze. That kiss was why I left her before.

I shouldn’t even think about it. “You’re going to be safe.

Your brother and his family will be safe and your mother too.

The police are working on your father’s case, but so are we.

Guardian Security is one of the best. You will get your life back. ”

“But not my father.” She turned and closed the bedroom door behind her.

Not her father.

Another punch to the gut.

Dani was right. I couldn’t get her father back, but I could keep her safe.