Defended & Desired Page 4

  “Does Trey Soren know about this?”

  Devon shook her head. “No, I didn’t mention anything to him, and I realize Soren Security needs me.” More than ever since the hacker struck. “Lately, though, I’ve had this itch to leave the corporate world. I’m thirty-three. I’ve busted my butt for ten years, living and breathing my work. Part of me is desperate to slow down, to reconsider where I see myself in the future.”

  Allison cocked her head. “Your version of slowing down is multitasking ten things instead of twenty. You thrive when things are hectic.”

  “I know,” Devon admitted. “But it would be nice to infuse more creativity into my work. To have a say in products that go directly to consumers who have the same interests as I do. Compare that to the work I do now, completely behind the scenes where nobody understands or realizes how I impact their world.”

  “Makes sense. I can see the appeal.”

  “I want to be part of something people actually enjoy. Sure, I love the challenge of this job, but it gets tedious after a while. I want a little more fun and a little less stress.”

  Allison grinned. “You could try dating. That’ll give you more excitement.”

  Devon crossed her arms. “Considering what happened last time, I think I’ll pass.”

  “You deserve to find happiness in a good relationship,” Allison encouraged gently. “One recent bad experience can’t take you off the market forever.”

  “Not forever. Just for now.”

  “You’ve been saying that for over a year.”

  Devon retreated behind defensiveness. “It’s amazing how going on an innocent date with a man who tells you everything you want to hear—then drugs you and ties you up in the back of a van—shatters your faith.”

  “I’m so sorry, Devon.” Allison’s expression of guilt and pain struck Devon through the heart. Allison didn’t deserve any blame. She couldn’t have known her psychotic ex-husband would use Devon to get to her. Trevor had blindsided them both with his cruelty and obsession with Allison. “I guess I feel responsible for what happened. I’m also your friend, and I want so much for you to find what I’ve found with Logan.”

  “Talking about me again?” Logan asked as he strolled from the hallway into the cavernous room. His light brown eyes glinted with amusement. Droplets from his damp hair dripped onto his white t-shirt. A towel draped around his hips.

  Devon shook her head, amused rather than embarrassed, because Logan was like a big brother to her. “You left your modesty in the shower.”

  He scratched his head. “Yeah, well, I seem to have misplaced my—”

  Sammy howled with abandon as he took an uncoordinated swan-dive off the back of the couch onto the cushions. Caught up in conversation, she hadn’t even realized Sammy had disappeared. Then Sammy wiggled off the couch and ran pell-mell toward Logan with a suspicious garment attached to his head.

  Allison gasped. “Logan, is that your underwear?”

  Devon let out a burst of laughter.

  Logan shrugged. “Well, that answers my question. I’ve found what I was looking for. Come here, little man.”

  Allison covered her face with her hands. “This is so embarrassing. At least they’re just boxers.”

  “Yeah, my Speedo was in the wash.” Logan winked at his wife. He scooped up his son and held him like a football. Sammy squealed with laughter. “You think that’s funny, huh, bud?” Logan plucked the underwear off his kid’s head. He said to Devon, “We’re hoping therapy will prevent him from riding the short bus later in life.”

  Allison rolled her eyes. “Charming, Logan.”

  “C’mon, buddy, we’ll let the ladies finish their conversation in peace.” Logan carted Sammy off down the hallway, blowing raspberries against his son’s bare belly. The boy’s joyous giggles echoed through the house. Such a happy child. So completely loved.

  Devon’s heart gave a tiny flutter of longing. Dampness pricked her eyes, and she blinked it away.

  Strange how the desire she’d let go of so long ago seeped back in to her soul when she least expected it. Years ago, she’d set aside the traditional image of a husband and children as though putting a nostalgic picture facedown in a drawer and shutting it away. At twenty-three, she had emergency abdominal surgery that saved her life—and left her without a hope in hell of ever conceiving a child. She’d absorbed that, grieved, made her peace with reality, and promptly dove into her professional life. Now her projects were her babies. Most days that was enough.

  But for most men, it wasn’t.

  “What about Trey?”

  Devon froze. Then she forced herself to act nonchalant, though she couldn’t look Allison in the eye. “What about him?”

  “Are you really going to sit here and pretend your boss isn’t hot?”

  Devon lifted her eyebrows. “Good thing Logan’s not in the room.”

  Allison flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and came to sit beside Devon on the couch. “A fact’s a fact. Trey is a good friend of Logan’s. He’s a great person. A genuinely decent guy.”

  Exactly the type Devon didn’t believe existed. Her experiences with men hadn’t been stellar, her choices and judgment clearly flawed.

  “I know him well enough to say, without hesitation, he’s safe.”

  Devon sighed. “That would be nice for a change.”

  Then again, while she agreed he was trustworthy, he was not safe for her deprived libido. The way he’d kissed her in the server room, and the way he’d stared at her lips ever since, had prompted some ultra sexy late-night fantasies. While she was tired of fantasizing, and of her vibrator for that matter, becoming involved with Trey could be a hazardous mistake. He was her boss, and besides, she might not be in Denver much longer if her upcoming second interview went as well as the first.

  Allison gave her shoulder a squeeze, then returned to the carpet and started picking up Sammy’s toys, tossing them into a red bin. “Like I said, Trey’s a good guy, solid. Logan met him ten years ago. During one of Logan’s last covert-ops missions, a man on his team was killed in the crossfire.”

  Devon winced. “I’m sorry to hear that. Logan rarely talked about his time in the Army Rangers, before Stone Security.”

  Allison nodded, but said nothing further about the incident. She picked up several more of Sammy’s toys and continued, “Logan traveled back to the states with the casket to contact the man’s family. The only address he had led him to a group of bounty hunters in Las Vegas.”

  “Makes sense,” Devon said. Since it had never come up in conversation, she made a mental note to ask Trey how in the world he went from running a bounty hunter operation to owning a billion dollar bodyguard business. He was a fascinating man, and she’d barely scratched his surface.

  “The Sorens were the closest thing to family that Logan’s guy had. Trey worked hard, with Logan’s help, to create a memorial to honor their fallen brother. Trey bought the cemetery plot and basically paid for everything, no expense spared. Logan even teared up a little telling me the story.” The wistfulness on Allison’s face showed her respect and reverence for her husband. “If I’m not mistaken,” she added thoughtfully, “Trey’s bounty hunter business inspired Logan to hire his former military friends and begin his security system and bodyguard businesses.”

  “Then Trey bought the bodyguard business from Logan. It all comes full circle.” Devon appreciated stories like this, reminders that there just might be a greater plan for people’s lives. And maybe fate actually knew what it was doing. A comforting thought.

  “Yes, and when Logan sold the business, he added one proviso. He made sure you came with the package.”

  “What? Me?”

  Allison grinned. “If you hadn’t noticed, the Sorens aren’t your typical captains of industry.”

  Flattered by the news and amused by Allison’s observation, Devon thought of the two sets of brothers, as well as Trey and Adam’s…unconventional approach to solving business disputes. “O
h, I noticed. But what does that have to do with me?”

  “You know what you’re doing. You can walk into a room and take charge. People respect you, and Logan knew the guys needed someone with your expertise in the security field.”

  Devon’s shoulders slumped. “I wish you’d told me this before I agreed to an interview somewhere else. Now I’ll feel like I’m abandoning them.”

  Allison glanced at her wryly. “The company went public this week. Logan loaded his portfolio with IPO shares. Their projected profits, along with stockholder investments, ensure they’ll have a long, healthy, rich future. I wouldn’t worry.”

  Devon tapped her chin in consideration. “How rich?”

  “You work for a team of billionaires.” Allison narrowed her eyes. “Oh, now you’re suddenly interested in Trey?”

  “Who said I wasn’t before?”

  Allison snapped her fingers. “I knew it! Logan said you’d be into him, and I agreed. Trey is the perfect guy for you.”

  Annoyed, Devon crossed her arms. “Attraction doesn’t equal a relationship. Besides, it’s pointless to get involved with someone now, if I take the job in Phoenix.”

  “Phoenix?” Allison’s face fell. “Then you’ll be leaving?”

  “If I take the job. I haven’t completely made up my mind.” Though if they presented her an offer, she would probably take it.

  The disappointment in Allison’s expression touched a chord of distress in Devon, because the fact that she’d have of leave all her friends, and the place she’d come to think of as home, hadn’t sunk in yet.

  “Keep me posted, okay?” Allison asked.

  “I will.” Devon stood and hugged her friend. “I get an invitation to Logan’s birthday party next weekend, right?”

  Allison smiled. “Of course. I’ll drop it at the front desk of Soren Security. In the same envelope with Trey’s,” she added with a conspiratorial glint in her eye.

  “You aren’t going to leave this alone, are you?”

  “Not a chance. I have a good feeling about you and Trey.”

  “We’ll see,” Devon replied vaguely.

  Allison walked her to the door. “Yes, we’ll see you next Saturday—with your date.”

  Devon chose not to mention that Trey was coming over to her house Friday. And they’d be alone. Together. All night.

  The thought was both troubling and arousing. As she traveled down their long driveway toward the main road, she considered her options for Friday night. She might have to organize a distraction to take her mind off his tall gorgeousness and heaving testosterone, or she’d invite him inside and lead him straight to her bedroom.

  Then again, so what if she did?

  Trey was obviously interested in more than a professional relationship. His kisses held the unspoken promise of steamy pleasure. She couldn’t stop thinking about him, and her body came alive in his presence, ached for his touch.

  Should I…or shouldn’t I?

  It wasn’t as if they’d have time to take a relationship deeper than quenching their desires. Normally, if she both liked a man and was attracted to him, she ran in the opposite direction. She’d learned to keep men at a distance emotionally. No strings meant no disappointment when the guy learned she couldn’t have kids, the ultimate relationship deal breaker.

  But in this situation, she was pretty sure she’d nail her upcoming interview, and ActionNet would offer her the position in Phoenix. What could it hurt to enjoy a sexy fling until then?

  The thought of his big muscled body tangled with hers made her inhale a sharp breath. Yes.

  Anticipation tugged at her core.

  She knew what—and who—she’d be doing Friday night.

  Chapter 3

  When Trey rang Devon’s doorbell Friday after work, he had his hands full. A dozen roses, a hand-selected bottle of pinot noir, and Chinese takeout.

  A flurry of commotion came from within. The sound of four paws scampering across hardwood floors and the incessant barking of a pint-sized dog surprised him. Devon never mentioned she had a dog. Then he frowned. Unless her dog had the teeth and bite strength of a great white shark, it wasn’t going to defend against burglars or evil genius hackers, but Trey gave him high marks for enthusiasm.

  Hopefully, Logan had hooked Devon up with a stellar security device when she’d worked at Stone Security. While she lived in a nice neighborhood with newer townhouses, a single woman couldn’t be too careful, and he’d make it a point to investigate the extent of her alarm system.

  Her miniature guard dog approached the screen door, baring its equally miniature teeth.

  “Peanut, knock it off.” Devon opened the screen door with one hand, while holding her dog back with the other. “Come on in, Trey. Don’t mind Peanut. He likes to assert his authority for a few minutes, but eventually he’ll calm down.”

  Trey entered, and the scent of vanilla and peaches greeted him. He stared down at the barking white furball. When the dog reared onto its hind legs to get a better sniff, it barely reached Trey’s knees. “Hey there, killer.”

  “Yeah,” Devon snorted. “In his dreams.”

  “At least he has high aspirations. About knee-high.”

  “Hey, don’t knock his manhood with short jokes. He gets testy.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” Trey stared at the little dog with bemusement. As a bounty hunter, he’d encountered plenty of pit bulls and junkyard dogs out for blood. A stab of phantom pain shot through his forearm, where a scar remained from a wicked dog bite. He was used to ferocious, but he had no idea what to do with this small bouncy thing. Except try not to step on it. “My ankles won’t know what bit them.”

  “Clever,” Devon remarked on his pun. His breath caught in his chest when she smiled at him and her eyes sparkled like a deep lake in the moonlight. Then her smile molded into an “o” of surprise when she took in the extent of his gifts. “What’s all this?”

  “A few things I picked up along the way.” He raked a long, slow gaze over her.

  Devon looked ready for a night on the town. She’d straightened her shiny dark hair, the ends brushing her bare shoulders. Her black slinky tank top clung to her slender curves, highlighting her small pert breasts—and the fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her jeans hugged her ass perfectly, and he followed the long lines of her legs to her high heels showing a hint of her red polished toes.

  He swallowed, his mouth going dry. My God, she’s gorgeous. There was no way he could keep his hands to himself tonight. If she was going for that effect, she’d succeeded.

  “You look insanely hot.” He paused, realizing how crass that sounded. “Sorry. I seem to lose my mental filter around you.”

  “Do you hear me complaining?” Her teasing smile sent his blood rushing south, and he had to shift to ease the sudden tightness in his pants. When she touched the soft tips of one rose, her expression melted into pleasure. Trey experienced a sense of victory. Then she shifted her focus to the wine, and a sultry look stole into her eyes. “You had me at the roses. But Martinelli Pinot Noir? Now you’ve earned bragging rights.”

  Trey needed to distract himself, or he’d blow his chance of seducing her by slinging her over his shoulder and hauling her to the nearest bed. Or couch. Or horizontal surface. “Do you have a vase and a wine opener?”

  She nodded. “Why don’t you wait in the living room? I’ll put the flowers in water and pour two glasses of wine for us.”

  She disappeared into her bright, white-on-white kitchen. On his way to her living room, he wandered through her first floor. Her home appeared well-kept and stylish, with cream walls, pastel contemporary art, and warm hardwood floors. A stark contrast to his 1970s, outdated ranch-style house. He hadn’t bought it for the décor, but for the view, and he’d already met with several contractors to redesign the floor plan and build an addition.

  On first impression, he found her home spacious and welcoming. He wondered if her heart held similar attributes. From the moment he met he
r, he’d been attracted to her sexy legs and beautiful smile. When he’d come to know her, that attraction had morphed into something beyond lust. Something that screamed permanence. Something that scared the hell out of him, but for whatever reason, he refused to walk away from. He wanted Devon. Not just in bed, but in his life.

  He passed her front room office, almost as decked out as her workspace at his company, then entered the dining room. An assortment of antique-looking spoons hung on racks on the wall. He wondered about their history, if she’d inherited them or collected them. He also noticed a display of sepia-toned prints showing women dressed in outfits from the ’20s or ’30s. A smile touched his lips.

  Maybe for Halloween he’d buy her a real vintage flapper dress, hand-sewn beads and all. He enjoyed being generous and missed purchasing gifts for the woman on his mind. Now he had Devon. Once he’d bought the dress for her, he’d find himself a pinstripe Zoot suit, slick his hair back, and wear a classic fedora. Considering his past, the gangster persona would feel right at home.

  Memories of his old life surfaced.

  The daredevil danger. Car chases. Dodging sprays of bullets. Renegade justice. An eye for an eye. All that crap. Mercenary glory hadn’t worked out so well for his dad—gunned down and murdered in cold blood, a case the police had never solved.

  No life for a man who wanted a secure future. Especially one that included the smart, sophisticated woman a few rooms away. The type of woman Trey had hoped, believed, one day he’d meet. Now that he had, he intended to protect the future he envisioned. Separate and safe from the garbage heap he’d left behind.

  With the exception of a lone, obsessed hacker, Trey was so close to everything he wanted, he could taste it. And he planned to taste Devon’s lips again by the end of the night.

  An ear-piercing yip startled him.

  “Jesus!” Trey leaped back, praying he hadn’t flattened her dog. He bent to investigate, and, to his relief, Peanut appeared intact. “Dude. You can’t sneak up on me like that.”