Live Wire (Ramsey Security #2)

"Nothing important. I still want to set up surveillance in this area," I say, jumping down. "This is an area of the property where someone could slip in without anyone noticing from the road. I'll call the office and have them fix this blind spot."

Brad stares at me, showing me none of the feelings behind his cool blue eyes. "You found something, right?"

"I'll deal with it."

"How about we do this? You don't treat me like a child, and I won't treat you like an employee."

"I'm fine being viewed as an employee."

A flash of something in Brad's eyes startles me. Before I can speak, a smile spreads across his handsome face.

"No, you're really not." Brad begins walking again. "My first girlfriend was a redhead," he says after we've walked half of the property. "She ate glue and bit me when she was mad, but I loved her."

My laughter breaks free before I even register the feeling. I don't know why I find his comment hilarious, but I just do. Only when I gaze at his amused expression do I understand why I laugh. This man crawls under my skin, infecting me. I'm forced to control my every breath to avoid giving away how much power he possesses over me. All that tension builds until I need this release.

"What was her name?"

"Melanie. She liked puppies and rainbows."

"You remember all that?" I ask, walking away as my flushed face cools.

"Yes. She was my first love. Mom insisted she wouldn't be my last, but I was convinced."

"How long were you together before she dumped you?"

Brad scoffs. "For your information, I dumped her. The biting thing was painful, but that's not why I had to say goodbye to my love. See, while I had no interest in kissing her in kindergarten, I knew one day we'd grow up and kiss like adults did. The glue thing was a real deal breaker for me."

I smile at his happy tone. "It's good to have standards."

"What about you?" he asks while I study a weak spot on the fence. "Who was your first love?"

"His name was Vito, and he drove a limo for wealthy foreigners," I lie. "He wanted me to give up my career. I obviously didn't, so he married someone else."

"Do you miss him?"

"No."

"Do you miss anyone?" he asks, startling me.

I study him, but he refuses to look at all concerned about offending me.

"Yes."

"Want to share?"

"No."

"By no, do you mean never or not right now."

"Yes."

Smiling, Brad follows me as I finish checking the perimeter.

"Do you eat breakfast?" he asks.

"Yes."

"Nell makes pancakes on Tuesdays."

"Okay."

"Are you always this chatty?"

"Yes."

Grinning wider, Brad sighs dramatically. "You know what I think?" he asks, stepping in front of me before we walk inside. "I think you put on a show for people, but deep inside, you're a teddy bear. In fact, I bet you're really shy and sweet."

I frown at him, but he only smiles. Even wanting to be annoyed, I finally give in and smile at him.

"What if you're wrong?"

"I guess a shallow grave's in my future then."

"You shouldn't joke."

"How would you carry my body out to the grave when you're so little?" he teases, following me inside.

"Easy. I'd take you in chunks."

Brad laughs loudly behind me, loving the idea of me murdering and dismembering him. The guy is weird, addictively so. I'll be relieved when I get some space from him and regain my common sense.





7


Brad

No Second Choices

The security woman who arrives on the property just after breakfast is what I imagined when I thought of a woman badass. Tall and lean, Minka possesses the dark gaze of someone capable of stabbing me in the face if I wrong her. While she's beautiful, I only have eyes for a tightly wound redhead.

I follow Saskia as she heads to the door. During breakfast, she became quiet and focused. No more smiles. I know she saw something on the other side of the fence, and a part of me wants to find out what. Saskia chose to hide it from me for a reason, so I don't push the subject. I'm that far gone with my obsession. I don't even care about my safety. I only want to watch Saskia who ignores me. Though she hides behind her professional facade, I feel her thinking about me.

"When will you be back?" I ask.

"Minka will be here."

"For how long?"

Saskia frowns at me. I frown back at her. She hates when I do that.

"Minka is trigger happy. You'll be safe."

"So you're not coming back? That's what I'm getting from your evasive answers."

"I'll be back later."

Crossing my arms, I frown darkly down at her. Saskia refuses to back down. She fights me because deep inside she doesn't want to fight. I chase her because deep inside I know she's worth catching. Saskia possesses a million secrets hidden behind her cold eyes.

"I wasn't hired to coddle you, Brad."

"Don't be pissy, just because you'll miss me."

Saskia rolls her eyes and opens the door. "I'll be back."

"When exactly?"

Slamming the door behind her, Saskia reveals a rather sexy temper hiding behind her cold exterior.

I stare at her shadow through the front door's textured glass. She pauses for nearly a minute before opening the door and sticking her head inside.

"I'll be back at four," she mutters.