Something pinged on Troys radar. Milas expression was perfectly neutral, and there was no reason for her to lie about something as innocuous as a baby. But for some reason his suspicions were up again.
He can be a terror, said Kassidy. Especially at night. Its going to take Troy a while to get used to all the crying.
Hello? Troy didnt like the sound of that.
The guest rooms were on the opposite side of the apartment from the master bedroom, but the kid seemed to have quite a set of lungs.
Im Kassidy Keiser, by the way, Kassidy said to Mila.
Mila looked surprised. She glanced to Troy. So, you two are...married?
No, they both barked out simultaneously.
Drake let out a cry of surprise.
Kassidy is my sister, said Troy.
Milas glance went to Drake. So the baby isnt yours?
No! This time Troy beat Kassidy to the punch.
I live in Jersey City, said Kassidy, taking Drake from Milas arms. That is, I normally live in Jersey City. But Ive relocated for a while. Me and Drake. Well be staying here with Troy until things calm down. She sat down on the sofa and popped the bottle into Drakes mouth.
The baby dug into the meal, his little hands clasping and unclasping as he sucked and swallowed.
Mila took an armchair, perching on the edge to watch. What things need to calm down? she asked Kassidy, concern evident in her voice.
Troy started to protest. Mila wasnt a guest. She had no business engaging his sister in chitchat while his lunch hour ticked away. He had a busy afternoon coming up, and he didnt intend to spend it starving.
Or until I get used to it all, I suppose, said Kassidy. And used to him. She smiled down at Drake, smoothing a lock of his dark hair. Isnt he adorable?
You could have put him up for adoption, said Troy.
The baby was adorable. There had to be dozens if not hundreds of stable, loving couples who would want him. Kassidy was in absolutely no position to take on an infant. She could barely take care of herself.
But her eyes flashed angrily at him. I told you, I promised.
What a thing to say, Mila cut in, adding her own glare at Troy. What kind of support is that? This is your nephew.
Hes not my nephew, said Troy.
He will be, said Kassidy. Legally, morally and in every other way there is. You better get used to it, Troy. Because little Drake here isnt going anywhere. Not anywhere.
Now Mila just looked confused.
Shes adopting him, said Troy, wondering why he bothered to explain. It was past time for Mila to leave.
Where are his birth parents? Mila asked Kassidy.
His mother passed away, said Kassidy, her tone going soft and her hand smoothing over Drakes head for a second time. She was a good friend.
The baby was blissfully oblivious to the discussion swirling around him. His hunger was being satiated, and that was all he cared about. Troy felt a pang of jealousy and then realized he could make that same decision for himself.
I need to get lunch, he announced, checking the time on his wrist.
He had less than thirty minutes before he had to be back downstairs. The Bulgarians had hired Pinion Security for an important upcoming UN reception, and he needed to get the team set up.
Help yourself to whatever you want, he told Kassidy. He dug into his pocket for a key card. This will get you into the exterior doors as well as this apartment. You should know there are cameras all over the building. His gaze moved to Mila. We can track anybody, anywhere, at any time.
She obviously understood. You knew I was coming.
We saw you hiding from Vegas on the elevator. We were curious.
Sneaky, she said.
Seriously? Me, sneaky?
You could have said something.
Why would I say something?
Kassidys gaze was ping-ponging back and forth between them.
I only wanted to talk to you, said Mila.
And you did. And were done. He gestured to the apartments front door. The control room will be watching you all the way out. So dont try anything.
Who are you? asked Kassidy.
Mila looked at Kassidy, but obviously hesitated over her answer.
I thought you were his girlfriend, Kassidy continued as she lifted Drake to her shoulder and began patting his back.
Im applying for a job, said Mila.
She means shes stalking me, said Troy.
Welcome to the club, Kassidy said to Troy.
Someones stalking you? Mila was quick to pick up on the inference.
I dont know, Kassidy answered. Maybe. I have these fans. She gave a little burst of laughter. I guess if youre not dating Troy
Im not dating Troy.
then you wouldnt know I was a singer. Im a singer. And I have some fans. Not a whole bunch of fans, but enough. And some of them have been sending me emails. Theyre a bit creepy.
Mila looked to Troy.
He gave a shrug to indicate he wasnt unduly alarmed. Ive forwarded copies to a profiler.
Can I see them? asked Mila.
Sure, said Kassidy.
No, she cant, said Troy. She doesnt work here, and theyre none of her business.
Why doesnt she work here? asked Kassidy.
Thats none of your business, said Troy.
Im serious, said Kassidy.
So am I.
Kassidy turned to Mila. Why dont you work here?
Im trying, said Mila. But your brother doesnt hire women.
Kassidys blue eyes went wide and she stared at him with patent disapproval.
Thats not true, said Troy, wondering why he was feeling defensive. I have three women working in this building alone.
Not as security agents, said Mila.
Troy glared at her, sending the unmistakable message that she should shut up.
Why not as security agents? asked Kassidy. Using one hand to hold Drake, she dug into her shoulder bag. Ill show you the latest emails.
Mila is leaving, and Im having lunch. Troy had to try at least.
Go ahead and have lunch, said Kassidy. I want a womans opinion on this.
He turned his tone to steel. Goodbye, Mila Stern.
Dont you be a jerk, Troy, said Kassidy.
I wont charge you, Mila said, rising to her feet and heading for Kassidy.
Charge me with what? He was baffled by the statement.
Charge you for the time, she said.
You dont work for me.
This new one came yesterday, said Kassidy, holding out a sheet of paper.
Despite himself, Troys curiosity was piqued. He hadnt seen this one. Whos it from?
Mila was quicker on the draw, taking the printout from Kassidys hand.
BluebellNighthawk, said Kassidy.
Mila was reading her way through it, and Troy went behind her to look over her shoulder.
The message rambled about Kassidys hair and her eyes, her voice and a song shed written that BluebellNighthawk seemed to think was about him.
Is this the only new one? asked Troy.
Is there any significance to the word window? asked Mila.
Troy stared down at her. Why?
None that I can think of, said Kassidy.
He uses it twice, said Mila. And both times its the end of a thought followed by an awkward transition.
Troy reread the note. Its all awkward.
True, said Mila, sitting back down in the armchair, still gazing at the printout.
Troy summoned his patience. They were going backward here.
Im starving, he said to both of them.
So go have lunch, said Kassidy.
Mila merely waved him away.
* * *
Mila had managed to stay in Troys apartment with Kassidy while he went downstairs for some meetings. She now had a hundred fan emails sorted into piles on the dining room table and had reconstructed Kassidys recent concert schedule on a digital map on her tablet.
Drake cooed in his baby seat in the corner of the living room. Kassidy chatted on the phone to her business manager in the kitchen, the occasional word or burst of laughter filtering out.
Mila was matching the emails to the performance dates, and now she needed to link them all on the map. For that, she needed a scanner.
She glanced around and spotted an open door that looked promising. She rose to look more closely and discovered it was Troys home office. Sure enough, she found a scanner on the corner credenza.
It looked straightforward enough, and she loaded in the documents.
Can I help you with something? Troys deep voice came from behind her.
No. She turned to meet his decidedly annoyed expression. I think Ive got it working.
I didnt mean that literally. His frown deepened.
What did you mean? she asked conversationally.
She refused to let herself be intimidated by his scowl. Kassidy was living here with him, and she had invited Mila to stay and sort through the emails.
I meant, what the hell are you doing in my office without permission?
She held his gaze. Im scanning documents.
He advanced a couple of paces, shrinking the space with his presence. I thought youd be gone by now.
You have cameras all over the place. Youd have known if I left.
I dont monitor the control center.
Your staff wouldnt notify you?
He paused at that. It was obvious from his expression they would have contacted him immediately.
Their gazes stayed locked, and a tickle of awareness found its way into her pores. There was no denying he was a good-looking man. And masculine strength was definitely a turn-on for her. But it was odd that his belligerence wouldnt have counteracted those two traits. She wasnt blindly attracted to just any tough guy.
The scanner chugged and whined in the background.
You need to leave, he said.
You dont want to know what I found?
We both know Kassidys in no real danger.
We do?
Mila wasnt ready to go that far. Though it did seem likely Kassidy was experiencing the harmless, if annoying, adoration that could be directed at any pretty young woman in the public eye.
Youve given it a nice try, he said. Youve given it a terrific try. Youve gone above and beyond in trying to get me to hire you. Ill grant you that.
Thank you. So, hire me.
Im not hiring you.
Why not? she asked.
He rolled his eyes with obvious derision. Youre stalling again.
Im serious. In this day and age, what possible reason could you have for not hiring women?
You want the truth?
Id love the truth.
Okay. Here it is. Its a simple equation of muscle mass.
She gave herself an extra beat to frame her response. She knew this was her last and only chance to change his mind. Simple, she decided. Simple and direct was her best bet.
Skills can overcome muscle mass.
Maybe, he allowed, surprising her.
She felt encouraged. And dont discount knowledge and intelligence.
He squared his shoulders, not looking at all like somebody who was about to capitulate. I dont discount knowledge and intelligence. I hire for skills. I hire for intellect. I hire for experience. I hire for proficiency. And when all of those elements are present, I then hire for strength and power.
I have all of those things.
How much do you even weigh?
A hundred and twenty pounds. Almost.
He shook his head in a pitying way. Two guys come at you, big guys, five hundred pounds between them. What do you do?
Shoot them, she said without hesitation.
Youre unarmed.
Mila knew two could play at this game. What about you? How do you control a situation where the other guys are armed and youre not?
Im never not.
You know what I mean. She stared levelly across at him. There are times when even you, Mr. Two Hundred...whatever
Two-fifteen.
Mr. Two-Fifteen, all muscle and sinew, are overpowered by the opposition.
Less often than you, he said softly.
Something had shifted in the depths of his eyes, and she felt the sexual awareness all over again. Hed moved closer as they spoke. Or maybe shed moved closer. But she could smell him now, and he smelled good. Another couple of inches, and shed feel the heat of his body.
She told herself she wanted to fight him, not kiss him. But she knew it was a lie. Shed been trained to face the honest reality of any physical encounter. Anything less put her at an absolute disadvantage.
Youre trying to distract me, she said.
Youre the one trying to distract me. He leaned in, closing the gap between them even farther.
Its not on purpose.
Of course it is.
You think I can do that? she asked, easing closer. With you? With all that self-discipline you must have, I could distract you with sex?
His expression faltered.
If I can, she continued, you should probably hire me, because thats something over and above what any of the muscle-bound brotherhood can accomplish.
Thats your strongest attribute? he taunted. I wouldnt think youd want to brag about it. But his gaze kept hers trapped, and the air seemed to thicken around them.
She realized her mistake. Its not my strongest attribute. As she spoke, she surreptitiously shifted her right hand around his side. My strongest attribute right now is the knife pointed at your kidney.
You dont have a knife.
Its in its sheath. But I do have a knife.
He moved, and she instantly jerked her fist against him to show she could have stabbed him.
He grabbed her wrist, and his other hand went to her throat.
Youre dead, she told him.
Im bleeding out, he agreed. But youre dead, too. His hand gently stroked the skin of her neck.
Am I hired? she asked.
Youre insane.
His voice was a whisper. His face hovered over hers. She smelled his skin, imagined the taste of his lips, the feel of his body enveloping hers.
He was going to kiss her. It was in the smoke of his eyes, the twitch of his fingers, the indrawn breath that tightened his chest. She shouldnt let him. She couldnt let him. But she knew she was going to let him. And it was going to be fantastic.