John’s life. His phone rang and stirred him from his thoughts.
“Do you have any news for me?” Charles got right to the point. He had waited to hear from the man who ran the search on John Reynolds months before.
“Good morning Charles. I got your message. I thought John Reynolds died. Is there a need for further investigation into his life?”
“You didn’t do a thorough job. There was a man at my daughter’s home last night. Find out who he is.” Charles demanded.
“Yes, sir, I will get on it right away.”
“Do it discretely, of course.” Charles wanted an answer but he also had his reputation to uphold.
Chapter Five
Lauren hadn’t said a word. Brett could respect that she didn’t want to talk. He kept quiet about his connection to John and ‘last night’ for the time being. Now he felt hungry. They had a couple of hours before they reached Ocean City. His superior would have another car ready for him about fifty miles from his place. Used to being undercover, Brett knew the importance of shaking anyone from his tail. He pulled the car into a diner off the road. Lauren tossed him an empty look.
“I know, it’s still not the Ritz, but I’m hungry. We must eat.” Brett felt empathy for her. He knew how she lived and tried to understand how difficult this must all be for her.
“I’m not hungry,” she announced rather stubbornly.
“I am and you can’t stay here alone.” Brett opened the door for her and she pouted as she followed him into the run-down diner. He pointed to a back-corner booth to keep their visibility low, and then followed Lauren, observing everyone in the diner as they passed by. He felt safe enough to quickly grab a bite to eat. He ordered for both of them. He hoped she might eat something. Lauren picked at her food. Brett inhaled his.
“Are you done?” he asked. She’d barely touched it.
“I told you I wasn’t hungry,” she snapped back.
Brett ignored her tone, stood up and left money on the table. “It’s time to go.”
Lauren got into the car and removed her shoes immediately. She rubbed her feet.
“Sore?” he asked with genuine concern.
“You try running in these shoes through the woods, and then walk for miles afterward!”
Brett keyed the ignition and began to drive. He knew he couldn’t say anything to make her feel better. He remained focused on his assignment to keep her alive. He ignored what his heart felt. The flashbacks of her in his arms, his lips against hers, made it difficult.
They stopped not long after the diner. Brett pulled into a parking lot behind a second-hand store. He knew another snobbish comment would come his way.
“First a dive-motel, then a run-down diner; now a second-hand store.” Lauren threw a fiery-eyed look at Brett. “Have you no clue that I am a Vanderholm?”
Brett smiled only to irritate her further.
“I refuse to go in there!”
He held the car door open and waited for her to storm past him again. It started to become a usual routine and a rather amusing one to him.
“My job is to keep you alive. Your job is to follow my orders.”
He motioned for her to get out of the car. Her eyes were on fire as she exhaled a quick breath. Lauren entered the second-hand store standing out like a sore thumb. Not just by the way she dressed in a Chanel pant suit, but with her snobbish attitude. She stood with her arms crossed and a pout on her face while Brett picked out a new outfit for her disguise.
“These should fit.” He handed her a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He figured he knew her size. His hands had travelled every curve of her body the night before. Making love to her burned in his memory. He shook those thoughts and remained focused. Brett had one-night stands before. This one was different. He wondered why. He couldn’t get her out of his thoughts and it wasn’t the assignment to protect her. Lauren grabbed the clothes from his hand after he ordered her into the changing room and to bring the