Knowing Cera’s faith in the department’s ability to find the person harassing her was already less than impressive, Ivan kept that knowledge to himself.
“In the meantime,” Dec continued, “I suggest you find somewhere else to stay for the night.” He gave the building another sideways glance before amending his advice. “On second thought, I’d steer clear of this place altogether. Find a different hotel. Preferably one with interior doors, rather than out in the open like this one.”
A flash of alarm erupted behind Cera’s golden gaze. She recovered almost instantly, but the valiant recovery came a moment too late. Ivan had already seen it, and now his mind raced to compilate clues that might lead him to the source.
Given all that had happened, he’d think she’d want nothing more than to get the hell away from this place. It begged the question, why the sudden panic when Declan suggested she switch to a nicer hotel?
It’s there. You just have to look for it.
Doing what he did best, Ivan gave the scared woman—and the situation in its entirety—a closer, more scrutinizing glance. This time, he focused more intently on the whole picture, rather than her words or the look in her incredible, apprehensive stare…
The black hoodie that looked two sizes too big. The shit-ass car and even shittier motel. The desperation now covering her beautiful, angry, terrified face. And then it hit him.
She doesn’t have anywhere else to go.
That’s why Declan’s suggestion scared her so. It was also safe to assume she’d picked this condemnable motel for its low daily rate rather than staying someplace nicer.
“Oh, uh…yeah.” Cera nodded with a forced smile. “Of course. I mean, I’ll have to check around, but I’m sure I can find someplace decent to stay.”
Neither man bothered to ask about family or friends. If she had either, it was safe to assume she wouldn’t have been staying here.
Before he could keep from it, Ivan heard himself saying, “I’ve got you covered.”
The impulsive offer came as much of a surprise to him as it did Cera. Mainly because he didn’t have jack shit covered. Yet.
But one phone call was all it would take to make it happen.
I’ll be making that call as soon as we’re done here.
“You do?” Cera’s wide gaze filled with a mixture of shock and confusion as she stared back at him. Her brow scrunched together with a furrow he found fucking adorable.
Of course, everything about this woman struck him as adorable. Forehead, eyes, that straight nose that turned up ever-so-slightly at the tip. The way she rolled her lips inward when she started to get pissed.
Even the way she’d swung around on him earlier, ready to gouge his eyes out with those damn keys of hers made his dick swell. So yeah, pretty much everything about this woman was adorable as hell.
Adorable.
Sexy.
Guarded as fuck.
“You taking her to The Douglas?” Declan looked over at him with confidence.
A slight nod of Ivan’s head told the other man he’d guessed right. It came as no surprise to Ivan that the decorated detective was privy to the deal Jax had secured between Monroe Investigations and Howard Roxbury—the owner of The Douglas.
Butted up close to the base of the Rockies, The Douglas was one of Colorado’s most luxurious mountain resorts. More importantly, thanks to he and Jax, it was also the most secure.
One suite more than the others.
The classified agreement between owner and P.I. was recent, having been finalized after Roxbury had come to Jax for his and Ivan’s investigative services. The billionaire had paid them handsomely, both for their successful outcome, as well as for their impenetrable discretion.
A common practice among the stupidly rich.
Like Roxbury, most wealthy men Ivan had crossed paths with during his thirty-two years were willing to do just about anything to protect their reputation. Money, cars, women… The offers that came rolling in no longer surprised him.
But the deal with Roxbury was different than those that proceeded it. Because this offer was one Monroe Investigations couldn’t refuse.
Not only had the owner of The Douglas rewarded them each with a hefty cash bonus, but the powerful man had also offered up a room of Jax’s choosing to use as safe house of sorts. A secure, unsuspecting place to hide a client or asset in need of laying low.