Exposure - Kelly Moran Page 0,29

was spent. He touched, and she let him. She didn't know if it was because it was him or if she'd been wrong in her needs all along.

Nicole sighed and slumped onto the chair in front of Raven's desk. "Two things. First, this Max guy is driving me batshit."

Max was Noah's bodyguard and, as of a few days ago, had been pushed onto Raven, regardless of her objection. Glued to her being, he drove her to and from work and wherever else she went, such as the coffee shop for lunch. She had no idea why. Noah wouldn't tell her, just said it was necessary. The dread pitting her stomach eased when she realized he was probably just taking precautions because of his mysterious past. Another thing he refused to talk about.

They've killed people, Raven.

She shuddered at the reminder, still not knowing what he'd meant.

"I can't do anything about Max." He was her shadow until Noah said otherwise. She hated to admit it, but having Max around brought a sense of security. She still hadn't shaken the crazy feeling she was being watched. Which was probably Noah's paranoia rubbing off.

"He just stands in the corner, watching. It's creepy."

Raven grinned. "At least he's good looking." She glanced at him through the glass wall and down on the show floor. Built like a wrestler, his brown hair was cut short in a buzz and he had a wide jaw. Long dark lashes complimented his brown eyes. He always wore a suit, not a wrinkle to be found. By her best guess, he was in his early forties.

"Word. Except I have no idea if he's plotting a world takeover or stripping me naked. His expression never changes."

Raven laughed. "Perhaps both. What's the other thing? You said you had two reasons for coming in."

Nicole wrinkled her nose. "Vincent Soreno is here to see you."

She barely resisted a shiver. She'd been hoping the would-be photographer had gone back to the lower forty-eight and not taken her suggestion to come back. "Send him in." When Nicole got up to leave, she added, "And sit in on this meeting, would you?"

By the end of the day, she was looking forward to getting home. The fact that she thought of Noah's condo as home she'd worry about later. Running through her day, she glanced out the window as Max drove them down the dark, snowy streets in a non-descript SUV.

Mr. Soreno might prove to be a problem. There was some justification in that he gave Nicole the creeps, too, but it offered Raven no comfort. A big, intimidating man, he'd been upset when she told him the shots just weren't strong enough to offer a showing at this time. Of course, he said he'd be back.

Other than that one blip, her afternoon was productive. She'd put the final touches on their opening for Saturday and got a head start lining up dates for Noah's. Or Hoan's. Whatever. She'd have to talk to him about it tonight. Glancing at Max in the front seat, she wondered if he'd be attending as their security. As far back as she could remember, Max was always around, hovering in the shadows.

"How long have you been Noah's bodyguard, Max?"

He glanced at her in the rearview. "Thirteen years, ma'am."

Wow. Since before Noah moved to Alaska freshman year. "You knew his parents?"

"Yes, ma'am. Good people. Shame about the accident."

"It was." It had hit Noah hard and made her face her own mortality. That one icy road could wipe it all away. "Who guards Noah when you're with me?"

"We have a full security team. You've only seen me, ma'am, because that's how Mr. Caldwell wants it."

She sighed. What wasn’t he telling her? If it was serious enough to create an alter ego and lie to her, it had to be noteworthy.

They've killed people, Raven.

She shivered. "Do you know why he's insisting on my protection detail?"

He was silent a beat and changed lanes before answering. "Yes, ma'am. And no, I won't tell you. That's something to take up with Mr. Caldwell."

Except Noah wouldn't tell her anything. Then again, she hadn't pushed very hard either. For all she knew, it was his parents' old ghosts, someone who once threatened the former senator and now Noah was playing it safe. What would be the harm in telling her? He had to know she'd never do anything to risk or out him.

"He cares about you a great deal, ma'am."

She met his gaze in the rearview before facing the window. Why