Page 10

Kayleigh’s world swam in the aftermath of the punch. The bricks of the buildings around her blurred as she struggled to breathe, to focus, to get up. Her heartbeat roared in her ear as she rolled to the side. Before she could stumble to her feet, rough hands pushed her into the concrete.

She tried to shake off her panic at being alone and vulnerable in this alley. Was this one of the same people who had come after her at the cabin? How had they found her? Or was it completely random—sheer bad luck?

Either way, she wasn’t going down without fighting. Between one breath and the next, she rolled back over and started throwing punches back at her attacker.

She shoved the guy, lashing out, using her arms and legs, yelling at the top of her voice for help. Some landed, some didn’t. She could hear him grunting on top of her as her fists connected with him as he tried to cover her mouth so no one could hear her scream.

Her vision swam when he punched her in the jaw again before she could throw up her arms to block it. Between the hits and her frantic movements, she couldn’t get a good look at her attacker. Was he wearing a hoodie? She tried blinking through the blurriness, but honestly didn’t care if she could see him.

She just wanted to get out of this alley alive.

Finally, a lucky elbow to his face did the job. The body on top of her rolled off. She tried to scramble up and get away, fighting the waves of nausea, but a hand hooked on her ankle and dragged her back, shoving her onto her belly.

She wiggled and screamed, knowing that her advantage was gone and she was vulnerable again. The attacker cursed, yanking the camera bag off her shoulder and wrenching her arm in the process. Kayleigh cried out at the unexpected pain in her shoulder and curled into herself as much as she could, trying to breathe through her pain and terror.

She didn’t even realize the attacker was gone until she heard running footsteps getting quieter down the alley.

For a moment, Kayleigh just laid there catching her breath. She rolled over, looking up at the sky.

“I’m alive,” she whispered. That was the most important thing, even though everything hurt.

But the bastard had taken her camera.

So this hadn’t been a kidnapping attempt, not connected to what had happened at the lake. Just a stupid mugging.

She sat up and did a quick inventory of her body. Her vision was clearing, although her jaw felt puffy and sore. Scrapes on her hands and elbows, but nothing too bad. Even the shoulder pain was already more manageable.

She gritted her teeth at the loss of her camera. It was her favorite, but it could be replaced. She picked up her purse, still on the ground next to her. Mugger would’ve been smarter to have taken that and gotten the cash and credit card. The camera would be more complicated to fence.

She struggled to her feet. She didn’t want to be sitting there hanging out like an idiot if the mugger came to the same realization and decided to return. She leaned against the bricks a couple of times to let dizziness pass then stood and began walking back toward the parking lot.

She’d barely taken a few steps when Jasper and one of his men burst into the alleyway, guns drawn, eyes darting everywhere.

Jasper saw her and ran in her direction. “Are you okay, Miss Delacruz?”

She wanted to tell him he shouldn’t even be there, that she was done with her father’s security team, but given the circumstances, that seemed childish.

“I was mugged. The guy stole my camera.”

Jasper nodded at the other security team member and the man walked a few steps away and pulled out his phone. No doubt to call the other Jasper clones.

Jasper took a step closer. “We should take you to a hospital.”

She shook her head, ignoring the pain it caused. “I don’t need a hospital. I got a little knocked around, but it’s not too bad.”

Jasper looked like he wanted to argue, but was smart enough not to. “Then we should take you home. To your father’s house. We can have a doctor come there.”

She gritted her teeth again. “I’m on my way to the San Antonio Security office. I need to talk to Weston.”

Jasper’s jaw tightened at the other man’s name. “I don’t think seeing him while you are bloody and bruised is a good idea.” His tone was much more friendly than the look on his face. “I will make sure someone escorts you to see him later, after you’ve gotten cleaned up and checked out.”

Once again, she wanted to argue, but knew it was childish. She could feel the swelling in her face, her blouse was ripped at the elbow and her palms were bloody. She needed to apologize to Weston but doing it looking like she needed medical assistance was not the best way.

She agreed and Jasper pulled out his phone and called for the car to be brought over.

K AYLEIGH CAUGHT SIGHT of herself in one of the car mirrors on her way back to Leo’s house and was glad she’d listened to Jasper. She looked a mess.

By the time they were pulling up to the gates, the adrenaline rush of the attack was gone, leaving her jittery and anxious. Jasper pulled the SUV straight into the garage. Normally he would’ve let her off at the front, but she was grateful she didn’t have to attempt the front steps.

She needed a shower, half a bottle of ibuprofen and industrial-strength makeup to get herself presentable again.

And she needed to talk to Weston. Despite her aches and exhaustion, and horror-movie-victim appearance, there was nothing more important to her than setting things right with him.

That’s why when she stepped into the hallway and found him talking with her father—his calm, low voice a balm to her overwrought system—she thought she’d gotten hit harder than she’d figured.

His dark eyes widened when he saw her and he was moving toward her in an instant. “What happened? Are you okay?”

Jasper stepped in front of her. “Back off, Patterson.”

“Jasper, get out of the way,” Kayleigh snapped, jaw clenched in irritation. But Jasper didn’t move. He just stood there like he was the white knight she’d never asked for.

The fact that he felt so strongly about protecting her from the one person she’d ever felt completely safe with was complete irony.

Weston looked him over before taking another step so the two men were shoulder to shoulder.

“A lot of people mistake my quietness for weakness. Don’t be one of them. If Kayleigh doesn’t want me near her, I will honor her wishes immediately. But until I hear the words from her, get the hell out of my way.”

Weston’s voice didn’t rise; he didn’t growl or do anything threatening. But there was danger dripping from every syllable he uttered.

How could she have ever thought he was only a gardener? This man was a warrior.

It was written all over him. Even in jeans and a T-shirt, he looked formidable, and she knew firsthand he had muscles under those clothes to back it up.

“Move, Eeley.” If anything, Weston’s voice was a little softer, in complete juxtaposition of his body language.

Kayleigh had no doubt Jasper hated to be told to stand down, but he moved to the side. He shot them both a dirty look before going to stand beside Leo.

Once Jasper was out of the way, Weston wrapped one of his hands gently around her upper arm, the other slid into her hair at the back of her neck. He took in every scrape and bruise.

“I got mugged.”

His eyes narrowed. “This close to the kidnapping attempt? Are you sure it was a mugging?”

She shrugged, leaning her head to the side so it rested more fully in his hand. She didn’t care that her father or Jasper were watching. It felt so right to lean into Weston’s strength.

“It was only one person and he wasn’t trying to get me out of the alley. He took my camera.”

Weston nodded. “That does sound less like a second kidnapping attempt. Where were you?”

“I was coming to see you. To apologize.” She locked eyes with him. “I cut through an alley and got knocked to the ground.”

“Looks like you took a couple of hits.”

Conceding, she shook her head gingerly. “But it could’ve been much worse.”

Before he could say anything further, Gwendolyn burst into the hall. “Kayleigh, look at you. Come in the kitchen and sit down. Let’s get you some ice.”

Weston led her into the kitchen, standing by her side as Gwendolyn tutted over her and rested an ice pack against her cheek. Leo and Jasper followed them in.

“Did you get a look at your assailant?” Weston asked.

“Not really. Everything was blurry, but I think he had a black hoodie on? I don’t know for sure.”

“That’s all right. The important thing is that you’re safe,” Gwendolyn said, patting Kayleigh’s hand. “I’ll bring you something soothing to drink.”

“This is about the merger,” Leo said. She was surprised he’d been quiet for this long. “This is why I said you need protection, Kayleigh.”

Here we go again .

“Like I said, Dad, it wasn’t a great plan if it was a kidnapping,” she argued. “I think it was bad luck.”

Leo opened his mouth to speak but Weston beat him to it. “I agree with Kayleigh, Leo. If they were after her specifically, it would’ve been more than a punch and some minor scrapes. And it would’ve been more than one person in that alley with her.”

Leo frowned. “You may be right, but she needs—”

Kayleigh stopped him before he could go back into her need for a permanent security detail. “I’m okay, Dad. More angry that someone stole my camera than anything else.”

Leo walked over and put his hand on her shoulder gently. She patted his hand. “We’ll get you a new camera.”

She made more than enough money to replace her own camera, especially since it was covered by a robust insurance policy. That reminded her of something they’d insisted on.

“Actually, we may not need to. My insurance company insisted I get a tracker placed on the camera in case I lost it on assignment. We might be able to get it back and find the guy who took it.”

“Can you access the tracker on your computer?” Weston asked. “With crimes like this, time is important.”

“Yes, I just need a laptop.”

Leo tipped his head at Jasper, and the other man left to get one. Gwendolyn reappeared with the tea and Kayleigh sipped it gratefully. She was still exhausted and in desperate need of that shower, but the tea helped a little.

Having Weston here helped most of all.

Jasper returned and handed the laptop to Kayleigh, who quickly typed in the website she needed. Logging into her account, she smiled when she found the tracker still active.

“Here it is,” she said, twisting the laptop around so the others could see.

Weston and Jasper both looked at Leo, waiting to see who would be assigned the task. Kayleigh didn’t want this to turn into another standoff.

She looked up at Weston. “Can Jasper and his men go get it? I... I’d love for you to stay with me, if you don’t mind.”

He nodded. “Absolutely.”

“We’re on it.” Jasper took the laptop from her and disappeared out of the kitchen without another word.

“We’ll be going, too,” Gwendolyn said. “We have business to attend to. Call if you start feeling worse or if you think you need a doctor.”

Gwendolyn pulled a protesting Leo from the room. She shoved him out of sight around the corner and gave Kayleigh an exaggerated wink that made her chuckle under her breath.

Finally, she and Weston were alone.

“Why are you here?” she asked. Even if she had made it to his office, she would’ve missed him.

He gave her a small smile. “I came to apologize. I guess great minds think alike.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. Dad tricked both of us. He admitted the truth after you left.”

“He wants to keep you safe. I can’t fault him for that.” The way Weston looked at her, like she was precious to him, made Kayleigh’s heart race. “But I’m sorry you felt betrayed. I would never mislead you like that.”

She reached up and squeezed his hand that was resting on her shoulder. “I’m sorry I overreacted and didn’t get to the truth before accusing you of something pretty awful.”

He smiled. “Let’s just call it a reaction to a stressful situation. Besides, now we both know the truth and we can move on.”

“You want things to move on between us?”

“I do. Do you?” Weston asked.

“Yeah.”

He smiled, lifting one of his hands to caress her cheek gently. His thumb brushed over one of the scrapes, but it didn’t hurt.

“It means I’ll have to quit working for Leo. That kiss definitely wasn’t professional of me. You can no longer be my client.”

Kayleigh grinned, leaning closer. “Then you should kiss me again, since I’m not a client.”

He didn’t say anything else, just tangled his hand into her hair and pulled her closer. Their lips met, and though this kiss was much gentler than the one last night in the lake house kitchen, it was still every bit as passionate.

And this time there were no secrets between them.