Once again, the voice in his head was right. He couldn’t think about Cassie in that way. For multiple reasons.
At best, she was a client. An automatic hands-off. At worst, the mouthwatering bombshell was a murderer. Either way, nothing could ever happen between the two of them.
And wasn’t that a shame.
“I probably should have mentioned this sooner, but money isn’t an issue.” She fell in step behind him. “I only say that because I’m not sure what you charge for services like this. But I wanted you to know that whatever it is, I can either write you a check today, or?—”
“We’ll worry about that part later,” he rumbled. “For now, it’s just basic info to get you in the computer as an official E.N.S. client. Then I’ll drive us to lunch.”
“Wait, you’re driving? What about my car?”
Archer had just reached for the knob but stopped and turned his gaze back to hers. “I want to check it over good before you drive it again.”
“Check it over?” Understanding struck mid-frown. “You think it may have tampered with?”
“If what you’ve told me is true and you didn’t put the poison in the wine?—”
“I didn’t.”
“—then we have to act as if they plan to try again. Which means we can’t risk making assumptions to taking unnecessary chances with your safety.”
Cassie seemed to become slightly paler as the reality of her situation appeared to be sinking in. “Okay, so what happens after lunch?”
“We’ll come back here; I’ll brief my team, and then we’ll take a look at your car. If it’s safe to drive, I’ll follow you back to your place.”
“And then?”
“Then you’re going to walk me through that night again. As in physically walk me through the house just as you go back over what happened. We’re talking, from the time you got home until after the police left your house.”
“Okay,” she agreed easily.
“Once we’re finished with that, we’re going to make a list.”
“A list?” Those adorable wrinkles formed again between her confused stare. “What kind of list?”
With his hand curled around the doorknob, he was as serious as he could be when he told her, “The names of anyone who might want you dead.”
2
Archer Nash was arguablythe most physically tempting man Cassie had ever laid eyes on. She wasn’t quite sure what she’d expected upon entering the private security firm Ellie had recommended. But tall, dark, and belly-tingling sexy sure as heck wasn’t it.
If I wasn’t in the fight of my life right now…
She stole another glimpse of the alluring private security specialist from over the top of her menu. His focus was on the menu clutched in his strong, masculine hands, so she couldn’t see his eyes.
But she’d already seen them well enough.
The color of chocolate, Archer’s stare was as dark and intense as his presence. Unreadable, yet from the very first moment it had landed on Cassie—when their hands had first come together for an introductory shake—she’d felt an innate certainty that this was a man she could trust.
Even now as he perused the selections as if they had all the time in the world to spare, she knew he was on high alert and aware of their surroundings. And hereshewas, with the clock of her future ticking steadily away, and rather than thinking aboutall she stood to lose, Cassie found herself unable to break the unexplainable trance.
Dark, thick waves fell over the top of Archer’s head. Separated by a slightly off-center part, the soft arch of his bangs brushed along his temples, stopping just a touch above his dark brows. The strands there longer than those on the sides and back.
Sharp cheekbones framed a long, straight nose. Dark scruff the same color as his hair covered a strong, square jaw. And those lips…Cassie could only imagine what it would be like to feel them pressing against her?—
Really, Cass? Dead husband…murder charge…poisoned wine… Any of this ringing a bell?
Her inner voice was right. The truth was she shouldn’t care less what Archer or any of the men of Eagle’s Nest Securities looked like. All that really mattered was that they were as good as Ellie had claimed.