the ground-shifting sensation that came with the idea that he could walk away. My research had indicated he was the man for the job. I didn’t have time to find another. “You want me to pay you double? Is that it?”
The snap of irritation in his eyes indicated I’d caused offense. My stomach knotted harder.
“I turn away three out of five clients. Money isn’t an issue for me. If you want me, do better.”
“Fine. I was told you’re the best of the best. I need the best.”
He didn’t answer for several drawn-out seconds. His hands returned to his pockets, and he rocked on his feet before he nodded. “Great. You’ve got me.”
Convinced the loaded words were just in my mind, I ignored the heat pooling in my pelvis and pressed on. “It’s almost two in the morning. Every second that passes is a second I’m being kept from doing my job. So can we proceed, Mr. Steele?”
“Does anyone else know you’re being stalked?”
“Not yet, but if the threats continue I’ll have to inform Chance Donovan. He’s my boss and CEO of SDM.”
Thoughts of Chance cooled my churning jets. As the moneyman behind my project, he was under pressure from his board of directors to deliver the code on time. Over the past month, that pressure had been redirected my way, with hints of the unpleasant consequences should I fail to meet my deadline.
“I’m hoping you’ll fix my problem before that becomes necessary.”
Caleb nodded, and I caught a different gleam in his eyes. Respect. Maybe a little admiration. For some absurd reason, pleasure fizzed through me.
“I was going to suggest a safe house but I’m guessing you’ll draw attention to your absence if you don’t show up at work?”
“Yes. Usually, I can come and go as I please, but I have a team working with me.”
His eyes narrowed. “A team?”
“The algorithm I’m building is huge. I have three teams of three working independently on different aspects of the code to minimize leaking of confidential information. They all report to me.”
“So they don’t know exactly what you’re working on?” he fired at me.
“No.” That had been Chance’s idea. One I disagreed with but had no choice but to accept.
My expression must have given me away because Caleb frowned. “What aren’t you telling me?”
My gut told me Caleb was the kind of guy who needed full disclosure or he might walk. “Chance and I have a history.”
“What kind?”
“I was fourteen when I...came to his attention.”
His gaze stayed fixed on me. “Let me guess. You hacked him. He caught you and convinced you to work for him instead.”
A cute anecdote except for the part where I became tied to my so-called savior via a thousand wires made of veiled threats. I tightened the knots of pain and bitterness threatening to unravel. “Something like that,” I replied. “Anyway, I can’t be away from Sunnyvale for long. Which is why I’m going back tonight. What I want to know is will you be coming with me?”
A hard glint entered his eyes. “I will. On one condition. If we’re going into your stalker’s territory, you’ll agree to do things my way, including letting me step into a situation if I think it’s for your own good.”
“But—”
“No buts. It says so in the small print of my retainer.”
We faced off, a vortex of thunder and lightning swirling around us, eddying us dangerously closer. “It said I had to relinquish reasonable power to you. Not all power.”
“‘There will be times when the fixer may have to take an act-first-explain-later approach to a situation. The client agrees to comply if such a situation arises.’ Did you make a note of that line?” His voice was low but deadly soft.
“Sure, I read that part. And you’re probably used to having your every mandate agreed to immediately. Unfortunately, you and I will have a big problem if you insist on being...rigid.”
“I can be as flexible as any situation demands. But not in this case. You forget. You need me.”
I hated my words being thrown back in my face. Almost as much as I’d hated the thought of hiring a bodyguard and waiting the stalker out.
I was weeks from being free of Chance and my stepfather. The thought of adding even an extra hour’s delay to that liberating moment was unacceptable. Still, relinquishing control was hard. “Do you find a client taking charge of their own safety a deal breaker for you?”
My question seemed to throw him off. A tiny frown pleated his brow, and then his striking blue gaze left mine to scour my body before returning to my face. As I watched, he reeled himself in. Like the man, his expression was fascinating to watch. It was as if he’d been in danger of overstepping a line and had coldly and ruthlessly corrected his course.
“No, but if you want an obedient thug, feel free to pick one of those rent-a-cops outside.”
“All right. If you’re up to something more challenging, then I agree to your terms.”
The direct taunt to his supposedly flawless record—and yes, to his ego—was one I made with my breath held tight. For reasons I couldn’t fathom, I hated the thought of him walking away even more.
With a single step, he closed the gap between us and lowered his lips to my ear. “Be very careful where you throw your little gauntlets, Lily Gracen. One might come back to bite you in your delectable ass.”
It was impossible to stop the hot little shiver that raced through me. He saw it, and a bright blue flame lit his eyes.
“Well, be warned. I bite back.”
“This is going to be very interesting,” he mused. Then without taking his eyes from mine, he reached for his phone. I heard faint ringing in the background before it was answered.
“Maggie, is the primary crew in place?”
“Yes, they’ll land in Palo Alto in thirty minutes. They can be at Miss Gracen’s house in an hour. Do we have a green light?”
He lowered the phone. “Do I have the green light, Lily?”
“Your team is already in San Francisco. So you intended to take my case all along?”
He shrugged. “I needed to make sure you were fully committed but I saw no reason not to start the ball rolling.”
I took a steadying breath. “I don’t appreciate being toyed with, Mr. Steele.”
All traces of humor left his face. “Then we’re in total agreement because this is no fucking joke.”
His harsh reply tightened the skin on my
