Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

P lacing a hot cup of tea in front of Lindy, Chris took his seat next to her again. "Drink this."

Her hands shook as she picked up the cup and he was ready to jump into action if it looked like she was about to spill the hot beverage over herself. Yet, his Lindy gripped the cup and took a sip, grimacing at the sweetness.

"Ugh, that's awful."

He laughed, pleased to see that some color had returned to her face. When he'd confirmed that her attack wasn't random, he'd worried that she was about to faint, her face had gone so pale so quickly. "I know but it helps with shock."

"You'd think I'd have gone into shock last night. "

"Shock can manifest in different ways. Last night you may have thought you were fine, but you weren't."

Lindy nodded and took another sip of the tea, before pushing it away. "I can't take any more of that. What do we do next?" She might have been looking at him but the question was directed to the others in the room, too.

"Wilt will review the footage again to see if we can extract a reasonable face image of the guy who took your bag. As well as the gentleman who took it from your attacker." Steve drummed his fingers on the table indicating to Chris he was itching to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Join the club, buddy .

Not able to keep his hands resting casually on the table any longer, he inched his fingers across the shiny tabletop until they rested against Lindy's.

Pleasure warmed him when she hooked her little finger around his. "It's clear they were looking for something. Do you have any idea?" he asked the question that he knew everyone else was thinking.

"God, it could be anything. I'm working on a lot of things at the moment. Trying to keep my head above water. The board is breathing down my neck. I'm trying to get myself up to speed with what Dad was working on before he died. It's a lot. "

Her comment about being a lot reminded him of the evening, how she'd said she'd had quite the day.

"Okay, I think we'll need to break it all down so that we can tackle all those points one at a time. Is there anyone who isn't happy about you taking over your father's role? Like his 2IC?"

Lindy shook her head. "I was his second in command. He was coaching and preparing me to take over from him. Only we both thought we had more time for the handover than we did. More time to ease the board into believing I'm capable to the do the job." She looked up at him, her blue eyes brimming with tears. "I am good at my job. I am the right one to take over. Dad believed in me and I'm not going to let him down."

Chris cupped her cheek, his thumb catching the lone tear that'd broken the barrier. "I believe in you. We'll find out what's going and make sure that they don't hurt you or your mom."

Her eyes widened at the mention of her mum. "Oh God, I didn't even think she might be in danger. Her mental state is a little fragile after Dad's death, I'm scared if I say anything it might tip her over the edge."

"Where is she?"

"She's living in the house she and Dad were going to live in after he retired. It's in Yallingup. "

He threw a glance at Steve, who gave a slight nod.

"We'll make sure she's kept safe," his friend said.

"I'll pay whatever is necessary to ensure that happens." Determination lit her voice.

Chris imagined when she was in the boardroom, Lindy was a formidable force. He would bet that she didn't believe that she had the ability. Her father's untimely death had obviously rocked her confidence and someone on the board, or close to the board, was no doubt playing on that.

"I know." He pushed back from the table and stood. "How about we go sort out your car?" No way was he going to let her out of his sight, not while there was danger lurking around her.

"You don't have to come with me. I'm sure you've got things to do."

Chris stepped close to her, not caring that Steve and Damon were still in the conference room.

The rest of the team had departed, no doubt digging into Lindy's company to see if they could find any leads that could help solve why she was being targeted.

The need to touch her all the time was one he couldn't ignore and he didn't plan to. He held her hands against his chest.

Could she feel the rapid tattoo of his heartbeat ?

"All I've got to do is whatever you need to do. I'm not leaving you."

"Why?"

In the periphery of his vision, he clocked Steve and Damon leaving, the click of the door a tiny sound.

He appreciated them giving him and Lindy privacy. This wasn't a conversation he wanted overhead by his friends.

"Because I care for you Lindy Jones."

"How is that possible? We only met last night."

"I know and it sounds impossible, it really does, but the thought of getting on that plane and heading back to the United States turns my stomach." Chris's explanation was pretty weak, because he couldn't put into words what was happening inside him.

His myriad of racing thoughts was confusing but also comforting.

After all these years he'd found his person.

The one he wanted to spend time with.

Was he in love with her?

No one fell in love in a little over twelve hours, but Chris cared more for her than the woman he'd dated exclusively for the six months he had been stateside years ago.

"I don't understand any of this, either. Being deliberately targeted by God knows who. Meeting you and spending the night in your arms and now this," Lindy paused, taking a deep breath, and he kept still, not wanting to give her a reason to run. "This incredible feeling of security and comfort being in your arms brings me."

He sucked in a breath and let it out on a whoosh, relieved that she was feeling the same intensity and connection that he was.

They hadn't even kissed yet. How could he possibly know that what was growing between them was anything of substance?

"Linds," he whispered before lowering his head toward hers.

She lifted hers as if in silent agreement with him. "I like that name," she whispered as their lips melded together.

He groaned, unable to keep the sound contained at that first touch. He loved that she liked the nickname he'd given her. The word had fallen off his lips as easily as taking a breath.

He still had possession of her hands against his chest, but he released them so that he could wrap his arms around her and crush her against his chest.

The way her fingers dug into his back; she didn't have a problem with this forward move. Heat consumed him and his body kicked to life, becoming hard in seconds. He wanted nothing more than to drag Lindy over to the table in the middle of the room, peel off her sexy black pants and taste the sweetness between her legs.

Chris trailed his fingers down her back, until he found her waistband and plucked her blouse out, touching her warm flesh.

Lindy moaned against his mouth and he kissed his way along her jaw, down her neck until he found that sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder met.

"I want you." He peppered the words against her flesh with soft nibbles.

"I want you too, but," she pulled back. "Not here."

The words were like a bucket of cold water over him and his surroundings came into more focus.

After Chris's initial thought about taking her on the boardroom table, he'd gotten so lost in their kiss that even that had slipped from his mind and he didn't care that they could've potentially been interrupted.

Losing control wasn't something a Delta soldier did on a mission because it could lead to the shit hitting the fan and the mission going sideways. His iron control over his emotions was something he'd always been proud of.

You're not a Delta anymore .

The little voice whispered in his mind and it was right.

He didn't have to have iron control over his emotions, not in a room with the woman he was falling for. Yes, all indicators pointed to her being in danger, but right now, there was no danger. Unless he counted his overflowing desire for her.

"You're right, I don't normally lose control and forget where I am."

Lindy smiled and wiped her thumb across his bottom lip. "Neither do I. You make me want to give up the legacy my father left me. Let whoever is trying to scare me, because that's what I think they're doing, take over and deal with it all. I'd do it to be with you."

The mention of what happened was another douse to his ardor for her. "Not on my watch. Even though I like the idea of you giving everything up for me, I don't believe that will make you happy." Chris took a couple of steps away. If he remained as close as he was, he'd forget his intentions to keep his hands to himself and kiss her again. "I think there are a few things we need to do."

Lindy tucked her shirt in and ran a hand down her hair, smoothing it out. "Yes, and I really need to check in with the office as well."

"Let's do that then." He held out his hand, inwardly sighing in pleasure when she slid her palm against his, entwining her fingers with his.

As they walked out, he lifted his chin in Steve's direction and received a wide grin in return, his gaze dropping to his and Lindy's hands.

Yes, he may want the woman next to him. Yes, he'd momentarily forgotten about the danger lurking around her. However, Chris wasn't going to get so distracted that he let his guard drop totally and the assholes who had tried to hurt Lindy wouldn't get the opportunity again.

Once he got to her office, he planned to observe those around her. Watch for any indication of who may want her out of the picture. If they thought the task would be easy, they were in for a big surprise. Lindy now had a guardian.

L indy flopped on the couch, her head hurt, her wrist began to ache and every muscle in her body felt as if it had been pummeled.

As the day had progressed, the tension inside of her had grown. Even with Chris walking beside her, scanning every place they went into, she still expected someone to come out of nowhere and attack her.

Her assistant, Ian, had assured her that he was able to reschedule all her meetings and would email any reports he received to her. For the last hour, the new phone she'd purchased, had been pinging with incoming emails but the thought of opening her laptop and looking at what she was receiving, sat like a lump in her belly.

The couch depressed beside her and strong arms encircled her, tugging her gently, so that she fell against a warm chest.

"I can hear your mind working. Relax for a bit, your work isn't going away."

"I know."

"But?" Chris's fingers were brushing up and down her bicep in a soothing manner. With each stroke the tension was leeching out of her.

A yawn wracked Lindy's body and she snuggled into his hard chest. "I'm so tired," she whispered, but that wasn't what she'd planned to say when he'd first asked the question.

"Have a little nap. It's been a chaotic few hours."

"I want to, but I don't have the luxury."

"What if I promise to wake you in thirty minutes, will that work? "

Lindy lifted her arm to see her watch, the motion feeling like she was pulling her limb through mud. Exhaustion was taking over, and even if she tried to get up and go to her desk, she'd probably fall face first onto her laptop. "Yes."

"I promise I'll wake you." Chris's voice sounded like it was coming from the end of a long tunnel.

She should really fight this sleepiness but the comfort of letting herself fall into it, was too tempting to ignore.

Lindy fell and hoped for a soft landing.